The victory in WWII would have been impossible if the entire progressive humankind, nations of various countries had not united their efforts in the fight against the world's "brown plague." The Uzbek nation made its contribution to the common victory over Nazism.
A total of 15 divisions and brigades were formed in Uzbekistan. Besides, tens of thousands of young Uzbeks were drafted into the ranks of the armed forces. Military academies in Tashkent trained several thousand commanders and political workers for the front. Shortly before the war, in 1941, 6.5 million people lived in Uzbekistan. A total of 1.5 million, or half of the population capable of handling weapons were dispatched to the front. A total of 420,000 people did not return home from the war; 640,000 were wounded.
Today the number of WWII participants in the republic exceeds 50,000 people; out of them 36,000 are those wounded and disabled.
From the first days of the war, Uzbekistan actively participated in the economic provision for the defense needs. The republic's population submitted some 650 million rubles, some 53 kg of gold and silver to the defense fund. Some 7.5 million shirts, 2,640 quilted jackets and over 2 million pairs of boots were sent to the front.
The Tashkent Textile Plant produced some 410 million meters of fabrics for the front. Foodstuffs were constantly dispatched to the front: some 1.3 million tons of grain, over 480,000 tons of potatoes and vegetables, 1,000 tons of melons and gourds, fruit and dried fruit. A total of 59,000 head of horses were taken to the front from the republic.
Each region, each city and district helped the front. Bukhara residents sent over 4,000 items of warm clothes, some 10,000 pairs of socks and mittens, about 6,000 warm caps, 3,000 wool coats. The city of Andizhan sent to besieged Leningrad some 8,000 kg of flour and wheat, some 20,000 tons of grain and rice, 8,500 kg of dried fruit, more than 400 sheep. Residents of the Surkhandarya and Tashkent regions also supplied to the front cattle, honey, vegetable oil, wine and dried fruit.
The Uzbek nation gave refuge and warmth to tens of thousands of residents of Russia and other republics of the U.S.S.R. evacuated to Uzbekistan. Many orphans were adopted by Uzbek families. In those years Uzbekistan became the patron of 113 hospitals.
Uzbekistan handed to the state 4.8 million tons of raw cotton. During the war, weapons produced in Uzbekistan played a large role as well. The main part of the republic's industry was transferred to the production of armaments and military hardware. Uzbekistan sent to the front 2,100 planes, 17,342 aircraft engines, 17,100 mortars. Military hardware manufactured on the personal money of Uzbeks was also dispatched to the frontline. It was enough to form a tank column and an air squadron.
Today, the republic pays much attention to former frontline veterans as well as people who selflessly worked in the rear. Downtown Tashkent has Memory Square with the holy image of the Grieving Mother and the Book of Memory. Carved in gold letters are the names of those who gave their lives on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War.