| In the morning of June 29, 1940, the Soviet troups enter the region of the Putna Monastery, in an attempt to take over this place of Romanian worship too, situated in a territory which was due to pertain to the Soviet Union.
In the Fourth Romanian Army withdrawing on the same day, an independent unit of volunteers was set up, for the protection of the Monastery. Among those who volunteered was also the soldier Avram Smil, son of a Focsani tanner. This group forced the Soviet troops to withdraw.
Many years later Nicolae Ceauşescu visited the Monastery and the action of the soldiers who prevented the capture of the establishment was mentioned. Presented with the list of the names of the seven soldiers, Ceauşescu deletes the name of Avram Smil.
Nowadays, upon the initiative of the Fildertnan Foundation, the Romanian Government authorized the placement of a new memorial plate, listing also the name of the Jewish soldier.
|
