A TWO day photographic exhibition entitled *From Lenningrad to Berlin was held at the old Town Hall, Crediton to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Victory in World War ll.

The event was organised by the Lady Mayor, Natalia Letch of CISCO (Crediton International Social and Cultural Organisation), with support from the British Legion, Crediton History Society, Crediton Arts Centre and the Crediton Courier.

The exhibition was opened by Crediton Town Mayor Cllr Frank Letch and followed by an in-depth talk and slide show about the Russian War, by Natalia Letch, beginning with the reading out of a heartfelt letter from Maggie Bancroft, who was unable to be at the opening, but had very strong memories of the war, in which members of her family took part.

Natalia gave a general outline of the Second World War and what it was like for people living in Russia before the start of the war.

Her talk included details of how people starved in the Leningrad Blockade, the Battle of Moscow, where the temperatures of minus 40 helped the Russians to victory and the Kurst Battle.

She explained about the link, forged before the start of the war, between Starlingrad and Coventry; how they supported each other during the war years and how the city was completely destroyed with the loss of 40,000 civilian lives.

She spoke about the massacre at Babi Yar and how her father took her there to visit the mass graves when she was 14 years of age.

She described how her father was captured and imprisoned in Siberia, by his country, for 15 years, but never knew why.

Natalia was a professional singer in Russia and ended her presentation by playing guitar and singing a poignant war song, a tale of darkness and death that became a gospel for the people.

The photographs, that were on display, were taken by journalists during the Second World War and were on loan, free of charge, from the Russian news agency RIA Novosty.

The display represented the war seen through the eyes of witnesses and explained the history from the Leningrad Blockade up to the Berlin Battle.

They were a poignant reminder of the war years and of the suffering endured by Russians during these times.

Natalia explained: "I am very happy to be given this opportunity it's a chance for the Crediton Community to get to know the work of CISCO better.

Visitors to the exhibition found it a "most informative and interesting."

Presentations were also given by Malgorzata Silla about the Polish War.

A competition was held with a DVD and two books about Aushwitz concentration camp as prizes.

The winners were Jacques Sylla, Wendy Lankester and Doris Cann.