On May 9, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, alongside First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, paid tribute to the brave sons of Azerbaijan who sacrificed their lives in the fight against fascism, honouring their memory on the anniversary of Victory Day.

The official website of the President detailed the commemoration, Caliber.Az reports.

Victory Day marks the historic defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 and the conclusion of World War II in Europe.

Azerbaijan, then part of the Soviet Union, played a pivotal role in securing this victory. Over 600,000 Azerbaijani soldiers were mobilised into the Red Army, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice, never to return home. These soldiers fought heroically on several critical fronts, including the crucial Battle of Stalingrad and the liberation of vast territories in Eastern Europe.

Azerbaijan's strategic significance during the war was also underscored by its vast oil reserves. The oil fields of Baku supplied approximately 75 to 80 per cent of the Soviet Union's fuel, a vital resource that powered Soviet tanks, aircraft, and naval fleets. The German failure to seize Baku during the 1942 Caucasus campaign proved to be a turning point in the war.

Beyond the battlefield, Azerbaijan's population contributed massively to the war effort through enhanced industrial production, the relocation of factories from occupied Soviet regions, and the care of wounded soldiers. These efforts further solidified Azerbaijan's indispensable role in both the Soviet and Allied victories.