50 BYR #40

Front

Brest Fortress (Brest Hero-Fortress), a 19th-century Russian imperial fortress in Brest, Belarus, that became a symbol of Soviet resistance during World War II. The fortress endured a week-long siege in June 1941 at the start of Operation Barbarossa, with its defenders holding out against overwhelming German forces. The inscription reads 'БРЭСЦКАЯ КРЭПАСЦЬ-ГЕРОЙ ХОЛМСКІЯ ВАРОТЫ' (Brest Hero-Fortress, Kholm Gate), showing the fortress's distinctive defensive towers and walls.

Back

Brest Fortress memorial complex, featuring the monumental star-shaped sculptural composition 'Courage' (the main monument of the memorial), with a Soviet soldier's head emerging from the star. The inscription 'БРЭСЦКАЯ КРЭПАСЦЬ-ГЕРОЙ УВАХОД У МЕМАРЫЯЛ' (Brest Hero-Fortress, entrance to the memorial) identifies this as the memorial entrance. The complex was opened in 1971 to commemorate the fortress defenders and became one of the most important Soviet war memorials.

History

Third Belarusian Ruble series, issued 2000–2016 following the second redenomination (1 new ruble = 1,000 old rubles in 2000). This series circulated during a period of economic instability and high inflation in Belarus. The 50-ruble note featured Brest Fortress, one of Belarus's most significant historical and patriotic sites. The note was demonetized on December 31, 2016, when Belarus implemented its third redenomination (1 new ruble = 10,000 old rubles), introducing a completely new currency series. This design is part of a series that emphasized Belarusian national heritage and World War II memory.