The National Archives of the Republic of Belarus presented the exhibition project «Daughters of the Fatherland: A Feat in the Name of Life»

On May 7, 2026, a meeting with distinguished archival workers was held at the Department of Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus. As part of this event, the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus presented the exhibition project «Daughters of the Fatherland: A Feat in the Name of Life».

War is no place for women. But there is a period in our country’s history when women, alongside men, fought for their homeland and defended it with their lives. Symbolically, one of the most widespread posters of the war was «The Motherland Calls». Tens of thousands of Belarusian women—mothers and wives—formed ranks alongside their men and fought alongside them against the German invaders. Heroic underground fighters, courageous partisans, brave women soldiers of the Red Army, and valiant home front workers fought and worked for the Great Victory. Hero of the Soviet Union and underground fighter Vera Khoruzhaya, Alexandra Stepanova—the first Belarusian partisan to be awarded the «Partisan of the Patriotic War» medal—Anna Maslovskaya, Maria Osipova, Elena Mazanik, and thousands of other Belarusian women—all together and individually—brought Victory closer. Women mastered a wide range of military professions: nurses, pilots, sappers, scouts, and snipers. Undoubtedly, our soldiers and our valiant men won Victory, but women’s contribution to this great national achievement cannot be denied. On the front lines, in the «partisan» camp, and in the rear, radio operators and nurses, mothers and very young girls – each contributed to Victory as much as they could.

At the exhibition, the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus presented combat leaflets and colorfully illustrated handwritten journals of partisan units, orders awarding and rewarding distinguished female partisans, award and personal records of female partisans, personal files of female Heroes of the Soviet Union, and drawings by partisan artists depicting women in partisan units during rare moments of rest.

Amazing destinies, very different, dissimilar. One thing unites these women – their selfless love for their homeland and service to it…

Head of Department of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus, M.A.Starostenko, introduced the exhibition to the participants.

1. Exhibition poster

2. Head of Department of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus M.A.Starostenko introduces archival documents to event participants

3. Head of Department of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus M.A.Starostenko introduces archival documents to event participants

4. Archival documents at the exhibition

5. Archival documents at the exhibition