Museum of the Afghan War Orenburg

After the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, Soviet soldiers and officers, assisting the peoples of different countries, continued to fight in different parts of the globe, where there were local conflicts. Afghanistan became the bloodiest and longest (over 9 years) war of the last period of the Soviet history of Russia.

The Orenburg region, perhaps more than other regions of our country, felt the consequences of that war. Six thousand Orenburg boys passed through the hell of Afghanistan, 368 Orenburgers died or died from wounds, four are missing.

The main goal of the museum is to perpetuate the military feats of our countrymen, preserve and enhance the military traditions and military glory of the Orenburgers, form a sense of patriotism and pride for their land among children and young people.

The main fund of the museum was created by bits. The parents of the deceased Orenburg residents and employees of the Orenburg regional organization “Brotherhood” took an active part in its formation. In a short time, about 200 genuine items were collected – personal belongings of soldiers and officers, their letters, diaries, clothing and military uniforms, awards, documents, weapons, photographs.

The first section of the exposition reflects the peaceful life of the youth of Orenburg in the late 80s. The complex includes their favorite books, musical instruments, cameras, sports equipment (skates, rackets, dumbbells), transistors, sailboat models, a set of working tools, photographs, sports accessories, a desk lamp, personal documents and other items. During these years, 18-19-year-olds had their own life goals, made plans, and prepared themselves for military service.

The second section of the exposition tells about the introduction of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, about the bitterness of the first losses in the war. And this is evidenced by diary entries, field uniforms of soldiers, their weapons and photographs.

The third section tells about military routines. The museum showcases items of military life, funerals, letters from hospitals, photographs from the scenes of military events, tape recordings of stories of soldiers-internationalists about military events, the diorama Helicopter in the Mountains, etc.

The exposition ends with sections: “Awards and Heroes”, “Homecoming”, “Memory”.

Relatively recently, stands were installed: “Chronicle of the events of 1979-1989”, “Conclusions of the war, results”, “Monuments to the dead combatants in other cities and regions”; memorial plaques “Heroes of the Soviet Union”, “Stand of the dead in the Orenburg region” (182 people). The collection of the “Book of Memory” published annually is collected.

The museum enjoys a well-deserved reputation among the schools of our city: courage lessons, conversations with children, meetings with their parents are held here. Every year the museum is visited by about 2-2.5 thousand people.

In 2007, the museum became the winner of the competition in the All-Russian Review of Museums of the Afghan War.