As the world marks another anniversary of Victory Day, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany, it is essential to recall and honor the often-overlooked nations and peoples whose sacrifice made victory possible. Among them stands Azerbaijan — a republic whose immense contribution to the Allied war effort, particularly through the bravery of its soldiers and the lifeblood of its oil industry, played a decisive role in crushing fascism.

World War II was a total war that required the mobilization of not only armies but entire societies and economies. In this colossal struggle, Azerbaijan stood at the heart of the Soviet Union’s war machine. Its strategic value was unparalleled, and the resilience of the Azerbaijani people, both on the battlefield and at home, deserves a central place in the historical narrative of the war.

The military contribution of Azerbaijanis to the Soviet Red Army was immense. More than 600,000 Azerbaijanis were mobilized during the war, a staggering number considering the republic’s population at the time. From the earliest battles at the gates of Moscow to the final storming of Berlin, Azerbaijani soldiers fought bravely and with distinction. They were not merely footnotes in the Soviet campaign — they were frontline heroes.

One of the most iconic Azerbaijani war heroes was Major-General Hazi Aslanov, a twice Hero of the Soviet Union, who led armored units with great distinction in battles from........

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