Soviet ace pilot Fedor Shikunov flew the P-39 Airacobra, completed 206 missions, and shot down 25 enemy planes before falling in 1945. Posthumously awarded Hero of the Russian Federation. Read more
Soviet and American soldiers shake hands on the Elbe River, April 25, 1945 — a powerful symbol of Allied unity in the final days of World War II. Read more
German POWs march in a long column near Lviv in July 1944. Behind them, Soviet sappers stand with shovels — a chilling symbol of the Red Army's unrelenting push westward. Read more
Against all odds, Soviet officer Gilel Mirlin was reunited with his wife Elena near the front in Lviv, 1944. She brought news of his scientific success — and nine months later, a daughter was born. Read more
Dramatic WWII photo of a destroyed German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-5 fighter, burned on Soviet soil. Read more
Rare WWII photo of Soviet battery commander Gilel Mirlin during the grim retreat of 1941. Geologist turned Red Army officer — a story of resilience and science at war. Read more
Officers and personnel of the Artillery Reconnaissance Department of the 1st Ukrainian Front. Read more