
During World War II, Kyrgyzstan, then the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, played a significant role within the Soviet Union's war effort. Approximately 365,000 Kyrgyz citizens were mobilized to fight against Nazi Germany, contributing manpower to the Red Army's campaigns on the Eastern Front.
The republic also became a refuge for evacuees from the western regions of the USSR. In the first six months following the outbreak of hostilities, over 60,000 evacuees arrived in Kyrgyzstan, and by the end of 1943, this number had more than doubled to about 140,000. Local authorities were mobilized to offer assistance to those uprooted.
Kyrgyzstan's industrial capacity expanded during the war, as Soviet leaders implemented policies to disperse industrial capacity deeper into the hinterland for strategic reasons. Between 1940 and 1980, the volume of industrial output in Kyrgyzstan increased significantly, contributing to the overall Soviet war effort.
The republic's commitment to the war is commemorated in Bishkek's Victory Square, established in 1985 to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II. The square features a Victory Monument and an eternal flame, serving as a reminder of Kyrgyzstan's contributions and sacrifices during the conflict.
Notably, individuals like Ismailbek Taranchiev, a Kyrgyz Soviet aviator, exemplified personal valor. Taranchiev conducted a "fire taran"—a deliberate crash of his aircraft into enemy targets—during a mission in Estonia in March 1944, sacrificing his life in the process. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in recognition of his bravery.
Through both collective efforts and individual acts of heroism, Kyrgyzstan significantly contributed to the Soviet Union's endeavors during World War II.