Baku to host exhibition marking anniversary of victory in Great Patriotic War

Baku is set to host an exhibition showcasing archival documents in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Evgeny Kuivashev, Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region, and Rahman Mustafayev, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia, Caliber.Az reports.

The exhibition, organized by historians from the Urals, will highlight the significant contribution of the Azerbaijan SSR to the victory over Nazi Germany.

According to Governor Kuivashev, the exhibition will feature unique documents collected by Ural historians and archivists that illustrate the pivotal role Azerbaijan played in the victory.

This exhibition is part of the larger project “Historical memory of the peoples of Russia and Azerbaijan,” which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war.

"The exhibition will be organized in one of the venues recommended by the Azerbaijani side in Baku," Kuivashev stated.

Ambassador Mustafayev expressed his full support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of preserving historical memory and the shared legacy of the war between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Russia.

Azerbaijan played a pivotal role in supporting the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War, emerging as the primary supplier of fuel and vital resources for the Red Army. During the war years, Azerbaijan provided more than 70 per cent of the total oil produced in the USSR, 80 per cent of its petrol, and over 90 per cent of the motor oils needed for military operations.

From 1941 to 1945, Azerbaijan produced a staggering 75 million tons of oil, 23.5 million tons of petrol, and hundreds of thousands of tons of lubricating oils, all of which were critical to sustaining the Soviet war effort.

In addition to its industrial contributions, Azerbaijan made significant human sacrifices during the conflict. Approximately 640,000 individuals from the republic were drafted into the military, representing nearly one-fifth of the population. This included 10,000 women and 40,000 volunteers. More than 300,000 Azerbaijani soldiers and officers lost their lives on the frontlines.

Azerbaijani troops fought in key battles across the Eastern Front, contributing to the defence of the Brest Fortress, Leningrad, and Moscow, as well as playing crucial roles in the Battle of Stalingrad, the Kursk Offensive, the liberation of the Caucasus, and the battles for Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States, and Eastern Europe. Azerbaijani forces were also instrumental in the final battle for Berlin, marking their significant contribution to the ultimate victory over Nazi Germany.

By Vafa Guliyeva