Azerbaijan adopts the educational model similar to the Baltic region in its textbooks.
In Azerbaijan, the Great Patriotic War (World War II) is presented with revisionist accents in school textbooks, mirroring the approach of the Baltic States. This revisionism serves to assert a distinct national identity and historical narrative amid ongoing conflicts and political tensions.
Since the fifth grade, Azerbaijani schoolchildren are taught about Azerbaijanis who joined the Reich, allegedly for the sake of national independence. This approach complicates the Soviet narrative that all Azerbaijanis were uniformly anti-fascist and loyal Soviet citizens, instead presenting a more fragmented historical memory that resonates with current nationalist agendas.
The portrayal of WWII in Azerbaijan's textbooks also reflects an effort to assert sovereignty, victimhood, and ethnic narratives. For instance, the war is not only seen as unleashed by Germany but also by the Soviet Union, which is portrayed as dreaming of a world revolution. This narrative shift serves to strengthen contemporary state legitimacy and contribute to nation-building in the post-Soviet context.
The German army was instructed not to offend the national and religious feelings of the local population during the conquest of the Caucasus. This sensitivity is reflected in the Azerbaijani narrative, as the German officers appreciated the fighting qualities of the Azerbaijani legionnaires and awarded them with medals.
One of the key figures in the formation of the Azerbaijani legion was Major Fatalibeyli-Dudenginsky, who was captured and proposed to the Germans to create an Azerbaijani legion. General von Makisen, who led the military operations in the Caucasus, even converted to Islam.
After the war, soldiers of the Azerbaijani legion were allegedly unfairly persecuted by the USSR. This treatment is now included in the official school manuals, highlighting the ongoing struggles and injustices faced by Azerbaijanis during and after WWII.
This approach of revising the history of the Great Patriotic War is not unique to Azerbaijan. It is also approved in the post-Soviet south, mirroring the strategies used by the Baltic States after regaining independence. Countries like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania revised their WWII history to emphasize their victims' status under Soviet occupation, sometimes acknowledging or minimizing the involvement of some nationals in Nazi forces.
In summary, Azerbaijan’s revisionist history textbooks on the Great Patriotic War and the inclusion of Azerbaijanis' collaboration with the Reich are part of a nationalist revision of history to assert sovereignty, victimhood, and ethnic narratives, paralleling the Baltic States' similar post-Soviet historiographical strategies. These narratives help shape collective memory consistent with current political realities and national identity construction.
Education and self-development: Given the revisionist approach in Azerbaijan's textbooks towards the Great Patriotic War, it would be interesting to investigate how this revised history might be used as a tool for instilling nationalist ideologies among schoolchildren, potentially shaping their future political views and contributions.
General news: The revised history of the Great Patriotic War in Azerbaijan, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania mirrors a wider trend of post-Soviet historiographical strategies, raising questions about the role of history in shaping national identities and political tensions in the region. This trend warrants further investigation and open dialogue to promote a more objective understanding of the past and contribute to positive regional relations.
