As we approach the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Geological Library presents a book fair ‘Our Immortal Regiment’ dedicated to the memory of the Karpinsky Institute employees who went through the Great Patriotic Wa

The exhibition tells about geologists who went off to war from its first days. Many of them were sailors of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, others served in tank, artillery and engineering troops, provided strategically important work on the war fronts, worked in the rear doing everything necessary for the defense, ensuring the protection of Leningrad. Some of them took part in the liberation of Europe, participated in the Battle of Berlin. Their names are in the lists of those awarded with orders and medals, and their fates are in the books, memoirs and scientific works presented at the exhibition.

After the Victory, the war veterans returned to the peaceful profession of geologist. They participated in large-scale geological expeditions, discovered mineral deposits, developed science and brought up new generations of researchers.

The exhibition presents unique materials from the library's collections: scientific papers and publications of veteran geologists testifying to their fruitful work in the post-war years. Books and collections of memoirs, telling about the frontline path of the Institute's employees. Photographs and archival documents allow you to learn the personal stories of these outstanding people.

Leafing through the pages of their biographies and scientific works, we see how closely intertwined their heroic path of a soldier and the fruitful work of a scientist are. Their lives are a vivid example of courage, endurance and devotion to the Motherland, both on the battlefield and in the scientific field.

Separately presented section: Immortal Regiment of the Russian Geological Library. It is impossible to overestimate the feat of the library staff, who performed it with their daily dedicated work during those terrible days of the Leningrad blockade. The RGL staff is deeply grateful to all those who saved and preserved the library. 

This exhibition is not only about the war, but also about moral courage, duty and scientific heroism. It continues the memory of the Immortal Regiment - the regiment of geologists, forever inscribed in the history of the country.

We invite everyone to study the history of the war years, pay tribute to the heroes and learn more about the people whose names will forever remain in the Immortal Regiment of the Karpinsky Institute.

The exhibition is available by the loan of the Russian Geological Library.