1941-1945. MOSCOW. KREMLIN. RESCUED TREASURES

BADGE "KREMLIN VETERAN"
USSR, 1970s
Metal; enamel, stamping
Collection of the family of N.N. Zakharov N.N. Zakharov was awarded this badge in 1981.
SOLDIER'S BLOUSE FROM THE GENERAL UNIFORM OF THE COMMANDANT OF THE MOSCOW KREMLIN N.K. SPIRIDONOV
USSR, 1938–1939
Wool fabric, satin, metal; weaving, stamping
The Moscow Kremlin Museums
SKETCH OF THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE AND DECORATION OF THE HALL OF CAVALIERS OF THE ORDER "VICTORY" (GENERAL VIEW AND VIEW OF THE WALL)
Moscow, 1944
Cardboard; watercolor
State Archive of the Russian Federation, Moscow
VASE
Saint Petersburg, Imperial Porcelain Factory, 1834
Artist: A. Stoletov
Porcelain; shaping, glazing, overglaze painting, gilding, trimming
The Moscow Kremlin Museums
Included among the exhibits that were evacuated.
CUP
Saint Petersburg, Imperial Glass Factory, 1743–1761
Glass, silver; carving, engraving, faceting
The Moscow Kremlin Museums
Included among the exhibits that were evacuated.
CASE FOR THE STATUTE OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL ORDERS
Saint Petersburg, 1785–1798
Master: I. Bergström
Gold, silver, glass, silk, moire; casting, stamping, enamel, gilding, weaving
The Moscow Kremlin Museums
Signed by Emperor Paul I on the day of his coronation, 5 April 1797, the Statute became the first document defining the system of Russian Imperial awards. (The document is kept on display in the Armory Chamber, Hall No. 4, Showcase No. 29.) Included among the exhibits that were evacuated.
ORDER OF NAKHIMOV, 1ST CLASS
USSR, 1944–1945
Gold, silver, synthetic stones, metal; enamel, stamping, oxidation
The Moscow Kremlin Museums
ORDER OF GLORY, 1ST CLASS
USSR, 1943–1945
Gold, repp; enamel, stamping, weaving
The Moscow Kremlin Museums
ORDER OF THE PATRIOTIC WAR, 1ST CLASS
USSR, mid-20th century
Silver, gold; enamel, stamping, oxidation
The Moscow Kremlin Museums

25 April — 27 August 2025

State Anteroom of the Armoury Chamber

Organised by: The Moscow Kremlin Museums

Participants:

The Moscow Kremlin Museums, State Archive of the Russian Federation, Russian State Library, N.N. Zakharov family collection

In 2025, the entire country will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – an event of immense global significance. We pay tribute to the heroes of the war: the soldiers who defended the Homeland in battles on the front and the people in civilian professions who worked day and night in the rear to bring the great day - Victory Day - closer. To commemorate this holiday, the Moscow Kremlin Museums are presenting an exhibition dedicated to the history of preserving the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin and the collection of the Armoury Chamber during the war years.

As early as the end of June 1941, the question of the need to preserve monuments of Russian history, art and culture arose. The Moscow Kremlin – a sacred symbol of Russia – became a particular concern, as it faced air raids from the German military soon after the onset of hostilities. The walls and towers of the Kremlin were camouflaged to look like residential buildings, the domes of cathedrals, churches and the "Ivan the Great" Bell Tower were painted dark and the stars on the towers were extinguished.

The exhibition project pays tribute to the museum's staff during the Great Patriotic War, whose heroism behind the scenes saved priceless historical and artistic treasures of global significance. It is no coincidence that the exhibition has been set up in the State Anteroom of the Armory Chamber: most of the exhibits that visitors can see in the museum's halls today were evacuated to the Urals for three years and seven months in the summer of 1941, and returned safely to the Moscow Kremlin in February 1945, when the outcome of the war was already predetermined and the danger had passed.

Visitors will have a rare opportunity to see not only the artefacts that survived the evacuation, but also the personal belongings of the Commander of the Moscow Kremlin N.K. Spiridonov, and the Director of the Armory Chamber N.N. Zakharov. These items are being presented to the public for the first time.

A special section of the exhibition is dedicated to the Order "Victory". This unique military award was established by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on 8 November 1943 and was intended for the supreme command of the Soviet Army. At the same time, the Order of Glory was introduced as the equivalent of the St George Cross for soldiers of the rank-and-file and sergeant corps. The exhibition includes the Order "Victory" awarded to Marshal of the Soviet Union F.I. Tolbukhin, as well as various orders and medals of the Great Patriotic War: the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class, the medals "For the Defence of Stalingrad", "For the Capture of Berlin", the orders of St Alexander Nevsky, Kutuzov, Suvorov, Ushakov, Nakhimov, Zhukov and many others.

Among the exhibits, the wartime posters attract attention. At the very beginning of the war, artists N.N. Zhukov and V.S. Klimashin created the poster "We Will Defend Moscow!" depicting a Soviet soldier protecting the Moscow Kremlin. The exhibition also features one of the last posters of the Great Patriotic War: "Glory to the Victorious Motherland!", created by A.A. Kokorekin. Above the Spasskaya Tower and the Kremlin walls, amidst the sparks of an unprecedentedly beautiful salute, the Order "Victory" seems to hover, embodying the sacred holiday for us.

During the war, the protection of the Moscow Kremlin, with its architectural monuments and invaluable museum treasures, became a collective effort of many people. At the exhibition dedicated to the preservation of the monuments of the Moscow Kremlin and the collection of the Armoury Chamber from 1941 to 1945, we gratefully remember the heroic pages of the museum's history and those who, through their efforts, devotion to the homeland and love for their profession, succeeded in preserving the national heritage of our country for future generations.