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Georgians in World War II: museum exhibition in Tbilisi



The Museum of Georgia is exhibiting ‘Georgians in World War II’ in commemoration of the 70th anniversary ‘victory over fascism.’

The ‘Georgians in World War II’ exhibition details the Georgian connections during the war. World War II started on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of German troops into Poland and ended on 2 September 1945 with the surrender of Japan. More than 60 States took part on 3 continents involving the territory of 40 countries with an estimated cumulative armed force of 110 million people. About 60 million people died (20 million were civilians).

The Soviet Union (USSR) had 34.5 million soldiers, which included 700,000 Georgians. Georgians fought in Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Kursk, and participated in the liberation of Ukraine, Belorussia, Moldovia, and the Baltic republics. Some participated in the final attack on Berlin, and about 8,000 Georgians were in Red Army regiments against Japan. Half of all Georgians working in combat areas never returned home, and 164 were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Others received titles of the national heroes of France, Italy, and Yugoslavia.

The ‘Georgians in World War II’ collection contains USSR and German weapons (guns, pistols, machine guns, and assault rifles), military uniforms, a Dachau concentration camp uniform, medals, certificates, greeting cards, photographs, war posters, flags, and letters.

Specifically the collection has unique pieces, such as the flags of Georgian partisans who were fighting in France and Italy. There is also the private pipe of Joseph Stalin and an ivory vase made for his 50th birthday. The exhibition includes maritime war memorabilia, such as a model of the USSR submarine ‘Maliutka’ owned by Russian hero Iorosalav Ioseliani. There is also the flight suit of Russian pilot Davit Jabadze.


The exhibition in Tbilisi is on display from 26 June to 31 October 2015 at the Georgian National Museum Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia (the Museum of Georgia has a network of museums, most housed in one complex, while others are in other venues).


www.museum.ge







MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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