The exhibition presents photographs and stories of Ezidi Red Army soldiers who fought in major battles during the Second World War.
An exhibition dedicated to Ezidi heroes of the Great Patriotic War opened on 7 May at the Yaroslavl History Museum in Russia. The exhibition, titled “Contribution of the Ezidi People to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War,” was prepared for the 81st anniversary of Victory Day.
For many readers outside the former Soviet sphere, the Great Patriotic War refers to the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany during the Second World War. It remains one of the most important parts of historical memory in Russia and other countries whose people fought and suffered during the war.
The exhibition highlights the role of Ezidi soldiers who served in the Red Army and fought alongside other peoples of the Soviet Union. According to the report, the museum displays photographs and information about several Ezidi front-line soldiers, including Lieutenant Vazir Javayan, Sergeant Chacho Kochoyan, Private Jamal Mamoyan and Private Alikhan Ayoyan.
Their stories are presented as part of a wider effort to show that Ezidis also contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany. Ezidi soldiers took part in major fronts and military operations, including the defence of Stalingrad, Moscow, the Caucasus and Crimea. They also participated in the liberation of Leningrad and fought in the direction of Warsaw, Vienna and Berlin.
The exhibition is important because it places Ezidi history within a broader public memory of the war. The contribution of smaller peoples is often overlooked when history is told only through large political narratives. By naming individual soldiers and showing their photographs, the exhibition gives a human face to Ezidi participation in one of the most defining conflicts of the twentieth century.
Information for the exhibition was prepared by Ezidis of the Yaroslavl region. The project is being held as part of Russia’s Year of Unity of the Peoples and is connected to wider local efforts to preserve memories of the Great Patriotic War. In April, Yaroslavl residents were also invited to share stories, archival photographs and video greetings about relatives who fought at the front or worked in the rear during the war.
The exhibition will remain open at the Yaroslavl History Museum until 15 May. For Ezidis, it is another reminder that their history is not limited to persecution and genocide. It is also a history of service, courage, survival and contribution across different countries and historical periods.
By remembering Ezidi soldiers who fought during the Great Patriotic War, the exhibition helps preserve an important part of Ezidi collective memory and ensures that their names are not forgotten.
