This new exhibit highlights the untold stories of Jewish soldiers in Russia’s Red Army

“Jewish Fighters in the Red Army: 1941-1945” is a new exhibit that sheds light on the often overlooked stories of the Jewish soldiers who served in the Soviet Union’s Red Army during World War II.

Now open to the public at the Center for Jewish History (15 West 16th Street) through June 27, the exhibit is set against the poignant backdrop of “Anne Frank: The Exhibition”, a hauntingly detailed replica of the Amsterdam annex where Anne Frank and her family hid to escape the Nazis. The Anne Frank exhibition runs through April 30, offering an emotional and historical parallel to the stories told here.

“Jewish Fighters in the Red Army: 1941-1945” is the result of years of meticulous work by the Blavatnik Archive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of 20th-century world history, with a special focus on Jewish culture.

After the war, the Archive embarked on a mission to collect the testimonies of Jewish veterans, conducting interviews between 2006 and 2014 with nearly 1,200 veterans across 78 cities in 11 countries. In all, more than 1,500 hours of video interviews were recorded, and over 11,700 artifacts—including photographs, letters and diary entries—were digitized for future generations. The fruits of this extensive project are now on display, offering visitors a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Jewish history during the war, one that extends beyond the more frequently highlighted narratives.

“Speaking with the Archive’s staff decades after the war, these extraordinary men and women recounted their experiences with a blend of sorrow for the friends and family they lost, and pride in their role in the battle against Nazi tyranny,” reads the press release.

“This exhibit serves as a gateway into the powerful testimonies and artifacts we collected,” said Julie Chervinsky, director of the Blavatnik Archive. “As they spoke with us, these veterans were transported back to their youth—reflecting on moments that were tragic, miraculous and sometimes filled with joy. Not one of them left without expressing deep gratitude that someone took the time to listen.”