Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War

The Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War was the world's first museum to tell the story of the bloodiest war of the 20th century, and the only one in Belarus created during the years of Nazi occupation. 

The museum first opened shortly after the liberation of Minsk from the Nazi invaders, on 25 October 1944, making it the first World War II museum to open during the course of the war. It moved to its current location in 1966.

The museum has 24 exhibition halls. As of 2012 there were 142,676 items in the museum's collection.

The museum staff also engages in historical research: particular areas include Belarusians in the Red Army, local anti-fascist and partisan activity, and the history of the Auschwitz death camp.