Opening of the documentary exhibition «Relics of the war years»
On August 22, 2023, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus opened a documentary exhibition “Relics of the War Years” prepared by the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus.
The Great Patriotic War became the most serious test in Belarusian history, when the entire people rose up to fight the Nazi invaders. About 400,000 people fought in the ranks of the partisans, and the whole people were essentially the partisan reserve. In this regard, Belarus is by right far known as the “Partisan Republic”.
In 1941-1944. the Nazis were never able to feel like masters on the territory of Belarus, thanks to the heroic efforts of the partisans, who over and over again thwarted the insidious plans of the enemy. At the same time, in the conditions, speaking in the modern language of the information war, in addition to hostilities, it was also very important to resist Hitler’s propaganda, when, as it was aptly said, “the pen was equated with a bayonet.” In the extremely difficult conditions of forest life and the lack of the most necessary necessities, the partisans drew home-made maps of the area indicating the location of the garrisons of the invaders, published wall newspapers and home-made magazines with the same humor, in which they placed sketches of their life and caricatures of representatives of the enemy authorities. Partisan publications carefully passed from hand to hand, thereby strengthening the morale of the partisans and the local population, faith in the inevitable Victory. Thanks to the unique partisan portraits preserved in the archive, we can still see the faces of the courageous heroes of the war years.
Many partisan drawings, despite all the difficulties, are made at a very high artistic level with special attention and love for details, thanks to which they are a colorful and valuable monument of a bygone era, a source of information about partisan life and, in general, genuine evidence of the great feat of our people.
Employees of the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus introduced the employees of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus and the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus to the exhibition.
