During the years of the Great Patriotic War, the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic made a significant contribution to achieving victory, demonstrating a high level of mobilization, economic, and social capacity. According to available data, about 300,000 people were mobilized from the republic to the front, which constituted nearly 30% of its population; more than 100,000 of them did not return from the battlefields. A substantial number of war participants were awarded state honors: over 55,000 residents of the republic received orders and medals, and more than 55 individuals were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The military contribution of the Tajik SSR was reflected in the participation of its national military formations in key battles of the war, including the Battle for the Moscow, the Siege of Leningrad, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the Berlin Offensive. A special place is occupied by the participation of natives of Tajikistan in the defense of Stalingrad, where they demonstrated mass heroism and resilience. The high level of personal bravery is confirmed not only by the number of Heroes of the Soviet Union, but also by the fact that 15 natives of the republic became full кавaliers of the Order of Glory.

Thus, Tajik servicemen were part of rifle and guards units that fought in the area of Mamayev Kurgan and on the approaches to the Volga River. In the conditions of fierce urban combat, soldiers from Tajikistan took part in holding strategically important facilities, including the “Red October” and “Barrikady” factories, where the fighting was prolonged and extremely intense. Many of them distinguished themselves as part of the 62nd Army under the command of General Vasily Chuikov, which played a key role in the defense of the city.

Examples of heroism include the participation of Tajik soldiers in assault groups operating in devastated urban environments, where high levels of training and personal courage were required. Some of them served as snipers, signalers, and sappers, ensuring coordination between units and the defense of key positions. Under conditions of continuous fighting and resource shortages, soldiers demonstrated initiative and self-sacrifice, contributing to the disruption of enemy offensive plans.

A significant contribution was also made on the home front. More than 20 industrial enterprises were evacuated to the republic and were quickly converted to meet defense needs. The Tajik SSR played an important role in supplying the front with strategic resources, including cotton, food, and rare metals necessary for the production of ammunition and military equipment. Industry and agriculture operated under wartime conditions, ensuring uninterrupted supplies.

The medical support system was also of particular importance: 29 evacuation hospitals were established on the territory of the republic, where wounded soldiers of the Red Army received treatment and rehabilitation. In addition, the population actively participated in fundraising for the needs of the front: tank columns “Kolkhoznik Tajikistana” and “Tajikistan,” as well as the air squadron “Soviet Tajikistan,” were formed.

Thus, the contribution of Tajikistan to the victory in the Great Patriotic War was comprehensive in nature, encompassing both direct participation in combat operations and extensive support of the front from the home front.

Karimov Osim A. – Senior research worker of the Hydraulic Structures Seismic Resistance Department Institute of Geology, Earthquake Engineering and Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan