Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum

The Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum is a military museum in Minsk with four main buildings near the Hero City Monument. The exhibition halls present thousands of artifacts and documents from World War II arranged chronologically across the buildings.

The museum was founded during Nazi occupation and became the world's first institution dedicated to World War II when it opened in liberated Minsk in 1944. Its founding during this period made it a living witness to the conflict and resistance of that era.

The collection includes personal items and wartime documents that show how people lived and fought during the conflict. These objects tell the story from the perspective of those who experienced it directly.

The museum is spread across multiple buildings, so it helps to get oriented at the entrance area before exploring the exhibitions. Plan enough time to see all the sections, especially if you want to read the detailed descriptions and examine artifacts closely.

One hall in the museum features a glass dome that replicates the Berlin Reichstag and commemorates the Soviet victory flag raised there in 1945. This image held symbolic importance for the war and is reimagined here through architectural design.

Location: Minsk

Inception: September 30, 1943

Official opening: October 22, 1944

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00

Phone: +3752030792

Website: http://war.museum.by/en

GPS coordinates: 53.91631,27.53789

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02