Moscow exhibition honours African contribution to defeat of Nazism

A photo exhibition highlighting the vital role of African peoples in the defeat of Nazism has opened in Moscow, shedding light on a largely overlooked chapter of the Second World War.

The exhibition, titled “Forgotten Pages of the Second World War: The Contribution of African Peoples to the Defeat of Nazism,” was inaugurated on 15th October 2025 at the Moscow House of Nationalities.

It was organised by the Commission on Public Safety and People’s Diplomacy of the Council for Nationalities under the Moscow Government, in collaboration with the Association of Business Communities “United Centre for Business Cooperation of the SCO,” and supported by the Moscow Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations.

The event forms part of the “Heirs of Russian Military Glory” project.

The opening ceremony drew historians, diplomats, representatives of national and cultural organisations, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Speakers at the event underscored that the Second World War was a truly global struggle, and that victory over Nazism was the collective achievement of all peoples united within the anti-Hitler coalition.

In his remarks, Sergey Anufrienko, Director of the Moscow House of Nationalities, emphasised the exhibition’s relevance in combating the distortion of historical facts.

He described it as a vital effort to preserve the memory of the true scale of the war and to strengthen mutual understanding among nations.

The exhibition features 59 remarkable works, including archival and contemporary photographs, historical documents, and personal testimonies.

Together, they highlight the bravery and sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of African soldiers and labourers who fought on the front lines and worked tirelessly in support of the Allied forces.

It also draws attention to the experiences of Russian émigrés and African servicemen who contributed to the shared victory.

“This exhibition is both a tribute and a restoration of historical justice,” said historian and co-author Nikolay Sologubovsky. “It challenges the perception of the Second World War as an exclusively European conflict and presents it as a global struggle against fascism. It is vital to remember that the fight for freedom was waged on African soil as well, and that every continent played its part.”

Visitors to the exhibition are introduced to personal stories of African heroes of the anti-fascist resistance, alongside displays that explore how the memory of their courage and sacrifice continues to be honoured in Africa and around the world today.