Archival photo documents on the history of the evacuation of the population to Uzbekistan during World War II

The article focuses on the use of archival photographic documents in combination with written sources in studying the history of the population’s evacuation to the Uzbek SSR during the Second World War. A content analysis of photographs from the National Archive of Film, Photo, and Phono Documents of Uzbekistan, established in the midst of the war in 1943, reveals that these photographs are not merely illustrative material but a crucial historical source. Archival photographic documents provide additional information about the location, participants, and timing of events, while also capturing the visual and emotional aspects of the history. More than 30 photographs identified in the course of the research capture unique details about the actual living conditions, social composition, and emotional state of the evacuees. The article demonstrates a methodology for working with visual sources: their comparison with written documents makes it possible to verify data, identify discrepancies, and obtain the complete and multifaceted picture of the events. In conclusion, the author asserts that without the use of these archival materials, any research into the history of the evacuation would be incomplete. Photographic documents can serve as an independent type of historical source in reconstructing the “human dimension” of the war, preserving the visual memory of the tragedy and resilience of millions of people.