“Laws of life dictate that many things are forgotten over time. But there is a great truth in this world that shall never change and never wear out. That is, the memory of those who showed courage and bravery in the cause of freedom of the homeland shall live forever”.

Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV,

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

One year ago from today some of the ideas and initiatives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan came to fruition in the form of “Victory Memorial Park” to commemorate the unwavering courage shown by the Uzbek nation during the Second World War. This magnificent memorial complex not only added to the beauty of our capital, but also presented to the citizens of Uzbekistan and the guests of our country as a symbol that shows how much we cherish the services of our forefathers. Therefore, the complex includes such important monuments as the “Eternal feat”, “Ode to resilience”, “Grief and Sorrow” and the Museum of Glory (“Pride and Honor”).

These efforts have already been recognized by about 350 thousand residents of Uzbekistan and tourists from abroad who have visited the “Victory Memorial Park”. As the President acknowledged, “we are glad that in a short time the Victory Memorial Park has become a sacred place, a place of remembrance, where various meetings, spiritual, educational, military and patriotic events are held regularly”.

It is worthwhile to dwell on the essence and significance of the Museum of Glory, built as part of the “Victory Memorial Park” memorial complex. Two years ago, 9 May 2019, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan launched an initiative to perpetuate the heroism of our people by restoring the Victory Park, noting that “of course, we will create the Museum of Glory, which will be built in its composition based on the most beautiful and thorough projects”.

The Museum of Glory consists of the outer and inner parts. The outer part of the Museum contains information about 301 Uzbek compatriots who were awarded the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union”, 74 three-level orders “Slava” (“Glory”) and 49 generals.

The Glory Museum is a hill surrounded by trees dedicated to Uzbek war heroes. The complex, called “Eternal Feat”, embodies the indelible memory of the legendary Uzbek general Sabir Rakhimov and all the brave warriors of Uzbekistan. On the back side of the museum, there is a park “Nurafshon” and this area forms the “Territory of gratitude” in accordance with the holistic concept of the Victory Memorial Park.

At the entrance to the Museum, there is a 22-meter panel of the work “Panorama of Tashkent railway station” belonging to the pen of the People’s Artist of Uzbekistan Alisher Alikulov. In this monumental painting, which is significant and impressive in that it fully reveals Uzbekistan's contribution to the Victory, the process of observing the soldiers marching to the front, the shipment of cargo from the front, the enthusiastic medical staff, in short, the processes in the territories of Uzbekistan during the Second World War of 1941-1945 were vividly reflected.

The interior of the Museum consists of two floors. The first floor consists of 5 sections, which are named as follows:

1. Mobilization of the population of Uzbekistan to the front. Courage on the Battlefield;

2. Uzbekistan - a reliable base for the front;

3. Science, education, culture, health, literature, art and the press in Uzbekistan during the war;

4. Memories of war and victory, joy and jubilation of the people;

5. The feat of heroes lives forever.

Courage and bravery of our ancestors in the war is the example to follow

The first part of the Museum of Glory tells about the introduction of mass mobilization in Uzbekistan under the influence of World War II, which began in 1939 with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany.

The Museum exhibits tell in detail about the life and work of Uzbek soldiers who were awarded the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union”, order the “Slava” (“Glory”) on three levels.

214,000 Uzbek soldiers and officers have been awarded military orders and medals for their bravery on the battlefield. A special place in the Museum halls is allocated to the history of rewarding Uzbek fighters with orders and medals of foreign countries.

The Museum has a wide range of historical documents on the courage and perseverance of 4,555 women who were mobilized from Uzbekistan to the front in those years.

Another chapter of the fate of our compatriots, which is illuminated in this section of the Museum, is connected with the sad fate of our compatriots who were captured in the war and died in the concentration camps or disappeared. During the war, 150 thousand Uzbek soldiers were captured, 50 thousand soldiers died in the conscripts, about 133 thousand of our compatriots were missing.

The exposition of this section also includes samples of “black letters” sent to Uzbek households. In particular, previously undisclosed archival documents about the tragic fate of 101 Uzbek sons who died under Nazi oppression on April 9, 1942, in the Dutch concentration camp “Amersfoort” were published.

In the first section of the Museum, there is also a place dedicated to the details of the mobilization of citizens of Uzbekistan to the “Working Battalion”. Because, as indicated in the documents from the 1943 year, the number of those mobilized from our republic to the “Working Battalion” consisted of 155 thousand people. The age of these compatriots was mainly 40-50 years and even higher, among them 16-year-olds.

The participation of Uzbeks in rescuing the peoples of Europe from the scourge of fascism has made a significant contribution. In general, the role of the “Resistance Movement” in Europe in crushing the Nazi bloc is enormous. Given that the traditions of this movement are effectively used by the peoples of the world to preserve peace on Earth, to appreciate the blessing of freedom, the museum also pays special attention to this topic.

Although the Soviet army had won the fight against fascism, World War II was not over. Favorable conditions were created to end the last outbreak of the war in the Asian continent and the Pacific region. In this regard, the museum also contains important exhibits about the active participation of Uzbek soldiers in all the battles in the Far East, contributing to the defeat of the Kwantung Army.

The Museum displays historical documents on the participation of Uzbek soldiers in the Soviet-Finnish war (Winter War) of 1939-1940, one of the least studied in the field of military history, but one of the most pressing issues that require deep research.

Uzbekistan – the land of tolerance

The second section of the Museum of Glory is devoted to the supply of agricultural products and equipment for the front, warm clothing, fundraising, energy and fuel for the front, economic activity, medicine, the work of Uzbek women behind the front, training. 

The expositions in this section of the Museum show the whole scope of the great work done on the reception and employment of the relocated. As a result, 1.5 million people relocated to Uzbekistan from the conflict zones have been provided with shelter, clothing and food. More than 250,000 orphans have been adopted by Uzbek families.

Koreans, Chechens, Crimean Tatars, Meskhetian Turks and their children, who were forcibly relocated to Uzbekistan during the war, were warmly welcomed and supported by the tolerant Uzbek people.

The Museum exhibits related to the transformation of Uzbekistan into an all-Union hospital during the war years are also noteworthy. The evacuated hospitals were provided with the best buildings in Tashkent and other major cities. At the end of 1942, 129 hospitals were evacuated to Uzbekistan.

During the war, there were 31 theaters in Uzbekistan, 16 of which were evacuated theaters. From July 1941 to 1944, 203 new plays were performed in the theaters of Uzbekistan, 13,568 performances and concert programs were presented to the audience. In the Museum of Glory, you can get acquainted with the creative environment of that time through many interesting exhibits.

Nation with strong mentality and high pride is invincible

The exhibits in the third section of the Museum of Glory are dedicated to some of the works and discoveries of cultural figures, artists and scientists who lived during the Second World War. The achievements in this area have aroused strong confidence in the military to narrow down the enemy and achieve victory.

The exhibits of the Museum reflect the activities of 34 higher, 12 higher military, 52 secondary special educational institutions, 9 research institutes existing in the Republic during the war, as well as information on the theater, cinema and concert areas of art, as well as 34 higher educational institutions evacuated to Uzbekistan. During the war years, 11,750 highly qualified specialists and 6,673 personnel were trained in these educational institutions. 

Historical documents, books and photographs related to the scientific conference dedicated to the 500th anniversary of Alisher Navoi during the siege of Leningrad in the Museum will not leave anyone indifferent.

Materials about the press, magazines and books published during the war in our country, in particular, newspapers published in Uzbek on various fronts are on display. Stands dedicated to the meetings and cultural performances of famous poets and writers, artists, scientists on the battlefields are organized.

 The originals of 13 front-line newspapers and 3 division newspapers published in Uzbek during the Second World War are preserved. 

Memory is sacred and eternal

The fourth section of the Museum of Glory is the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany; the victory of the war; Joys and celebrations of victory; war memories; series of the Nuremberg Trials; consists of expositions about war veterans and front-line veterans.

A significant book-album entitled “The contribution of the people of Uzbekistan to the victory over fascism” dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the museum's exposition, the book “the name of the brave sons is alive” and the footage on the multi-part documentary film shot on its basis can be recognized as exhibits of special importance.

 On the eve of this year’s holiday, as the President of our country drew attention to in his speech, it should be noted that books and albums entitled “Uzbekistan during the Second World War” and “Philosophy of the Victory Memorial Park” are published, which are an inalienable continuation of this work.

In addition, the Museum houses 40 battle flags of military units and formations created in Uzbekistan during the war and sent to the front. A copy of the invaluable historical value - the Victory Flag is also located here.

Man is divine, memory is sacred

The fifth section of the Museum tells about the post-war events aimed at perpetuating the bright memory of our ancestors who sacrificed their lives in the battles. In particular, expositions were organized about the Tashkent clock, the Brotherhood Cemetery, as well as the work done by the Prometheus search team, as well as the “Memory” squares built across the country and the “Mother of Sorrows” statues erected on these squares.

The 36-volume book “Memory” with the names of our compatriots who died in the war is also included in this section of the Museum.

Another noteworthy corner of the section is the section on information about prisoners. It was noted that more than 150 thousand people of Uzbekistan, who fell into the war, more than 50 thousand died as a result of torture in concentration camps.

 In the short period since the opening of the Museum of Glory, the museum halls have been further enriched with important historical exhibits. On the second floor of the museum, there are separate exhibitions dedicated to the Second World War by the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard, the State Security Service, the State Customs Committee.

In addition, on this floor, there is an exhibition of the great contribution of our people to the Second World War, as well as various items sent by the provinces for the rear. Here you can also get acquainted with the epics of former Soviet soldiers' wartime uniforms.

The most modern multimedia technologies, innovative and colorful equipment were used in the construction of the Museum of Glory. It contains comprehensive information about the courage of the people of Uzbekistan in the battles and the courage behind the front.

Scenes in honor of the long-awaited Victory: tears of joy, Victory Parade, moments of welcoming the winners with songs and flowers will not leave anyone indifferent. Besides, the museum displays work by writers and poets, artists and sculptors, as well as works on the theme of war.

The worthy contribution of our people to the victory and the noble work carried out to perpetuate the courage shown by us to save mankind from the scourge of fascism has embodied itself. All historical objects of the museum are evidence of the will of the people of Uzbekistan, their firm belief in the Victory and their great contribution.

 New initiatives to develop the Museum of Glory 

On May 9, 2021, the head of our state once again got acquainted with the exposition of the Museum of Glory. Emphasizing that the exhibits will serve to glorify the courage of our people, who made a great contribution to the victory in World War II, to educate the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism, the President put forward new initiatives to further develop the museum.

The following are the new initiatives of the head of our state in this regard.

The first initiative – the Museum of Glory should literally become a People’s Museum.

There is a deep philosophy behind the fact that this museum is called the Museum of Glory. No matter how much we honor and respect the incomparable heroism of the people of Uzbekistan in the battles of World War II. The hard but honest and glorious work of our people behind the front deserves all praise and applause. The fact that our people welcomed the people of different nationalities evacuated from the enemy occupied territories and homeless children, showed them kindness and sympathy, compassion and generosity is literally a symbol of glory.

The second initiative – the Museum of Glory, should be a lively, vital Museum.

First of all, the grandchildren of the heroes, whose historical artifacts and rare documents are on display, should always come here and meet the pilgrims. In addition, the museum contains information about the Uzbeks who fought in the Second World War, a variety of artifacts and equipment that allow you to fully feel the spirit of the time. More than half of these exhibits are presented by the population living in different regions of our country, and this process should be further encouraged. Today in the museum, as noted by the President of Uzbekistan, about 12.5 thousand exhibits have been collected and their number is growing steadily.

The third initiative is to take all necessary measures to make the Museum of Glory be a real people’s place of visit.

The fact that more than 180,000 visitors have visited in the past year is a positive sign that the number of visits is increasing despite the coronavirus conditions.

The fourth initiative - the Museum of Glory should become a place of national and modern enlightenment, educating our young generation in the spirit of military-patriotic, respect for national and universal values.

It should be noted that the Museum of Glory was built based on the most advanced achievements of modern art as well as information and communication technologies. In the symbol of the opening of the Victory Park, the virtue of remembering the victims of the war, honoring and respecting our brave and courageous compatriots who fought in the battles and worked honestly behind the front has risen to a new, radically higher level. Particularly, the impressive exhibits of the Museum of Glory clearly confirm this idea. 

The fifth initiative - the Museum of Glory should serve to restore the unity of history and life.

The Museum boasts a collection of unmatched material on the history of our country that should serve as an impetus to regularly publish new scientific, educational, literary, and artistic works. Memories and facts of the Second World War and the contribution of the Uzbek nation should live on and be passed to future generations through the work of the Museum and the scientific, educational, literary, and artistic works.

All in all, the Museum and all of the benefits stemming from the exhibitions should serve one final purpose, which is to bring up patriotic citizens who are well-read and well-acquainted with the far and near past of their motherland. It was for this reason that the “Victory Memorial Park” was described by the President of the country as a “unique spiritual, architectural and historical monument”.

Akmal SAIDOV,

First Vice-Speaker of the Legislative Chamber 

of the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan