Azerbaijan against fascism From World War II to the present

Azerbaijan made a significant contribution to the victory over fascism during World War II and has prevented its resurgence in the region in the contemporary era of world history.

Today, we live in times of fake news and biased insinuations, particularly in the ideological sphere. What is desired is presented as the truth, and the masses believe, quote, and share links without questioning the reliability of the information.

The same situation is observed regarding the outcomes of World War II. Some forces are attempting to privatise the victory over fascism, even though it is clear that representatives of various countries, peoples, and religions contributed to the defeat of the fascists.

The National Leader Heydar Aliyev noted in 2000: "During the Second World War, many peoples of Europe, the peoples of the former Soviet Union, including the Azerbaijani people, rose to fight against Nazi fascism. The war was harsh, and it brought great losses, inflicting a heavy blow on many countries and peoples, including the Azerbaijani people. The heroic sons of Azerbaijan fought, battled, and died. They demonstrated examples of great heroism in these battles. At that time, all of Azerbaijan rose. Part of its citizens fought on the front lines, while another part worked day and night in the rear for Victory, showing selflessness."

However, attempts to revise history continue. In 2016, during the presidency of Serzh Sargsyan, a monument to Garegin Nzhdeh—an Armenian collaborator with the Nazis—was erected in Yerevan.

In 2019, President Ilham Aliyev called on the new Armenian authorities to dismantle the monument, emphasising that the glorification of fascism has no place in the CIS space. Nevertheless, in 2021, a bust of Nzhdeh was erected in Khojavand, which was soon dismantled.

Azerbaijan played a key role in the victory over fascism. During the war, the republic supplied the front with 75 million tons of oil and 22 million tons of gasoline and other petroleum products. Baku produced high-octane gasoline essential for military equipment. Over 600,000 Azerbaijanis fought on the fronts, of whom around 300,000 perished. 123 Azerbaijanis were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1998, Heydar Aliyev stated: "We can never give away any part of our land to any country. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is sacred to us. Using all means, we will achieve the restoration of the country's territorial integrity."

In 2003, President Ilham Aliyev emphasised: "Everyone must know that although we do not wish to resume the war and strive for a peaceful resolution to this issue, our patience is not unlimited. Azerbaijan will, at all costs, liberate its lands."

In 2023, he stated: "20 years ago, I promised my dear people that, as President, I would do everything in my power to restore our territorial integrity…Armenia did not want to leave our lands of its own accord… The mediators who were involved in resolving the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict tried to freeze the situation… The Second Karabakh War resulted in a complete victory for the Azerbaijani state."

At the V Congress of World Azerbaijanis in Shusha, the president declared: "We have destroyed the occupier and the fascists. All their actions between the first Karabakh war and the Second Karabakh War, in the period between the two wars, were fascist in nature. They fired ballistic missiles at our peaceful cities to kill civilians during the war. If this is not fascism, then what is?... We have crushed fascism.

We have saved the South Caucasus from fascism. However, there are still manifestations of fascism there, as some circles in Armenia and Armenians of the world, Armenians living abroad are still trying to intimidate us. However, they should not forget the history of the Second Karabakh War."

In September 2023, an anti-terrorist operation was carried out, which concluded in a single day. The enemy army surrendered, and the puppet regime created in the occupied territories collapsed. Azerbaijan restored historical justice and territorial integrity.

Just as the Azerbaijani people made a unique contribution to the victory over fascism during World War II, they have not allowed its resurgence in the South Caucasus in our time. Attempts to revive fascism in the region will not succeed. Azerbaijan, adhering to international law, will not allow this to happen. Today, Azerbaijan is the leader of the South Caucasus, with authority extending far beyond the region. And, most importantly, the Iron Fist is in place.