FEMALE FACE OF VICTORY

On April 19, 2024, the Minsk City Executive Committee and the Minsk City Organization of the Belarusian Women’s Union held a conference «In the rear and at the front: women during the Great Patriotic War». As part of this event, the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus presented the exhibition project «Female Face of Victory».

A woman has no place in war. But there is a period in the history of our country when women, just like men, fought for their Motherland and defended it at the cost of their lives. It is symbolic that one of the most widespread wartime posters was the poster «The Motherland is Calling». Tens of thousands of Belarusian mothers and wives stood in line with the men and fought the German invaders on an equal basis with them. Heroic underground women, courageous partisans, brave women warriors of the Red Army, valiant home front workers fought and worked for the great Victory. Hero of the Soviet Union underground worker Vera Khoruzhaya, Alexandra Stepanova – the first of the Belarusian partisans to be awarded the medal «Partisan of the Patriotic War», Maria Osipova, Elena Mazanik and thousands of other Belarusian women, together and each individually, brought the Victory closer. Women mastered a variety of military professions: nurses, pilots, sappers, intelligence officers, snipers. Undoubtedly, our soldiers, our valiant men won the Victory, but women’s contribution to this great achievement of the people cannot be denied. On the front line, in the «partisan» and in the rear, radio operators and nurses, mothers and very young girls – each contributed what she could to the Victory.

At the exhibition, the National Archives presented: combat leaflets and colorfully designed handwritten journals of partisan formations, orders for rewarding and encouraging distinguished female partisans, award and personal sheets of female partisans, personal files of women – Heroes of the Soviet Union, drawings by partisan artists depicting women in partisan detachments and in rare moments of rest.

Amazing destinies, very different, dissimilar. These women have one thing in common – selfless love for their Motherland and service to it…

1. Head Department for the Use of Documents and Information of NARB M.A.Starostenko introduces the exhibition to the event participants

2. Head Department for the Use of Documents and Information of NARB M.A.Starostenko introduces the exhibition to the event participants

3. Head Department for the Use of Documents and Information of NARB M.A.Starostenko introduces the exhibition to the event participants

4. Exhibition «The Female Face of Victory»