On Monday in the Spanish town of Fuenlabrada took place the unveiling of the monument to the 1936 - 1939's Spanish Civil War participant, the Hero of the Soviet Union Haji Umar Mamsurov, a prototype of the hero of the famous novel by Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia, in the ceremony of unveiling the monument to one of the illustrious sons of Ossetia, was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia David Sanakoev, an official delegation from North Ossetia led by the head of the Republic Taimuraz Mamsurov, as well as the daughter of Haji Umar - Asya and his grandson Sergio Hernandez.
"David Sanakoev has expressed his gratitude on behalf of the leadership of the Republic of South Ossetia to the people of Spain, who remember the heroes fighting against the Nazism. According to the minister, this important event is one more reason to remind the world about fascism that has sprouted in Ukraine.
The initiator of erecting a memorial monument to the legendary Colonel "Xanthi" was the president of the fund named after Azanbek Dzhanaev, Zaur Dzhanaev.
The architectural structure was erected in the central park of the city - Parque de la Solidaridad (Solidarity Park). This place was chosen by Mayor of Fuenlabrada - Manuel Robles Delgado.
Haji Umar Mamsurov was the chief adviser to the Republican Army headquarters in Spain. Being the head of a small raiding party he personally carried out raids in the enemy's rear and disabling military facilities. Mamsurov is the prototype of the hero of the novel by Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls", the writer met him in Madrid and knew him under the pseudonym of "Colonel Xanthi".
Haji Umar Mamsurov was also fighting in the Great Patriotic War, in May 1945, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was also decorated with the First Class Kutuzov Order, the Second Class Suvorov Order, three Lenin Orders, and four Red Banner Orders.