Finding information about relatives who fought during the Great Patriotic War often becomes a real historical investigation for families. Many people are faced with the need to find out the fate of a grandfather or great-grandfather in order to honor their memory or find a burial place. The key to this information is official documents stored in government archives and specialized online databases.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has a colossal amount of data, digitized and available for free study by every citizen. However, navigating these resources requires an understanding of the structure of archival collections and the correct search algorithms. Without exact knowledge of the last name, first name, patronymic and year of birth, it is extremely difficult to find a specific person, since complete namesakes are often found in the databases.
In this article we will look in detail at how to use resources effectively. Archive of the Ministry of Defenseto restore the history of your ancestor's feat. We will look at the main portals, methods for clarifying data and ways to obtain official certificates if online information is not enough.
Key government resources for finding veterans
To get started, you need to decide on which platforms to look for information. There are several key portals that aggregate data from the central archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense and other departments. The largest and most popular resource is the “Feat of the People” project, which contains award lists and documents on conferring titles.
The second most important source is the Memorial database, which contains information about missing and dead soldiers, as well as lists of burials. These two resources are complementary: if in the first you will find an award sheet, then in the second you will find information about the place of death or burial. It is also worth paying attention to the “Memory of the People” portal, which combines data from different archives and allows you to build battle routes.
It is important to understand that the data in these systems may vary in detail. Sometimes one resource contains only the last name and year of birth, while another contains a full description of the battle and the exact coordinates of the burial. Therefore, the search should always be carried out in parallel on several sites, using different combinations of filters.
Search algorithm by last name and personal data
The search process begins by entering basic data into the filtering form on the selected site. You will need to enter last name, Name and surname veteran. If the exact data is unknown, you can use only the last name and initials, but this will significantly expand the list of results and complicate identification.
Particular attention should be paid to the year of birth. If you know the approximate year, provide it with a range of ±2 years. This will help weed out full namesakes who could have served in other units or in other years. It is also useful to enter the date of enlistment, if known, or the name of the enlistment office, for example, Rivne RVC or Moscow RVC.
In some cases, searching by the name of the military unit helps. If you know which regiment or division a relative served in, enter this name in the appropriate field. This will allow you to find documents where his name is mentioned as part of lists of personnel or reports of losses.
If a search by last name does not produce results, try changing the spelling of your first or middle name, as there may have been errors or abbreviations in archival documents. Sometimes it helps to search only by last name and year of birth without indicating the middle name to see all possible options.
How to decipher the award sheet and loss document
Once you find a person's record, the next step is to examine the document attached to it. Award list - this is one of the most informative documents, containing a detailed description of the feat, the date of award and the title that was awarded. It often mentions co-workers, which can help you find more information.
Loss documents such as loss card or irrecoverable loss report, contain information about the date of death, the place of the last battle and the place of burial. These data can be indicated very approximately, for example, “in the area of the village of X” or “in battle on May 12, 1942.” It is important to read all notes carefully, as they may contain clarifications about reburials.
Often in documents there are abbreviations of military ranks and names of units, which may be incomprehensible to modern people. For example, ml. lieutenant or 162 sd. To decipher such abbreviations, there are special reference books available on the same portals or in printed publications on the history of the war.
If a document contains illegible entries or damage, do not immediately conclude that information is missing. Often deciphering becomes possible by comparison with other documents about the same person or part of him. Sometimes it helps to ask the archives for a clearer copy or extract.
What to do if the document is illegible?
If you see illegible writing or smudges in a digitized document that make it difficult to read, try zooming in on the image. Sometimes switching to other scan versions, if available, helps. If a document is physically damaged, notes on the record may indicate that the original is in the archives and requires special examination. In this case, it makes sense to submit a request to the archive to obtain a transcript.
- Feat of the People
- Memorial
- Memory of the People
- Official request to the archive
- I haven't started searching yet
Search for burial sites and reburials
One of the most common purposes of a search is to determine the exact burial place of a veteran. In a Memorial database, this information is often listed in the Burial Location or Interment Place field. However, the data may be out of date or inaccurate, as mass reburials were carried out in the post-war years.
If the document indicates that the warrior was reburied, this means that his remains were transferred to a mass grave or memorial complex. In such cases, the original burial site may be lost, but the current resting place is often indicated in burial registers. The “Memory of the People” portal has a map where burial places are marked, which allows you to visually assess the location.
Sometimes there is no information about the burial at all, and the document is marked “missing.” This does not always mean that the body has not been found. It is possible that the remains were found and buried without identification, or the data on the reburial have not yet been entered into the database. In such cases, it is recommended to search for information by the name of the military unit or the location of the last known battle.
To obtain exact coordinates and up-to-date information about the memorial where the veteran is buried, you can use burial search services, which are often updated by volunteer organizations. They can provide photographs of the monument and information about who carried out the exhumation and when.
☑️ Verification of burial data
Making an official request to the archive
If an online search does not yield results or there is insufficient information, the next step is to submit a formal request to the archives. This can be done through the electronic reception on the Ministry of Defense website or by visiting the archive in person. The request must indicate in as much detail as possible all known information about the veteran: full name, year of birth, place of conscription, military rank, military unit number.
The request is reviewed within 30 days, after which you will be sent a response with copies of the documents found or an explanation of why the information is missing. This could be a birth certificate, marriage certificate or a certificate from the registry office.
In the response, you may be provided with an extract from the award list, a copy of the funeral, or a loss report. These documents have legal force and can be used to obtain memorial signs, benefits or to install a monument. All copies are certified by the seal of the archive, which makes them official historical sources.
When submitting a request online, make sure that you fill out all the required fields and attach scans of documents confirming your identity and relationship. Misspellings of a last name or first name may result in the archive not finding the right person, so double check the data before sending.
Before sending a request to the archive, take screenshots of all the records you found in online databases. This will help archivists quickly navigate what you already know and focus on finding missing information.
A formal request to the archive is the most reliable way to obtain information if online databases do not contain complete data or require clarification.
Typical errors and ways to resolve them
A common mistake when searching is spelling the last name or first name incorrectly. Soviet documents often contained typos, abbreviations, or variations in the spelling of surnames (for example, “Ivanov” and “Ivanov”). If searching for the exact spelling doesn't yield results, try misspelling the last name or using the "*" character as a wildcard.
Another mistake is ignoring changes in regional boundaries and renaming cities. The place where a veteran was recruited could have a different name during the war than it does now. For example, the city of Kalinin is now Tver, and Leningrad is St. Petersburg. Use historical reference books to clarify the names of administrative units of that time.
It is also worth considering that the veteran could have been drafted in another region where he temporarily lived, and not at his place of permanent registration. If the search by place of birth does not produce results, try entering data about the place of work or study during the war. Sometimes this address is indicated in documents.
We should not forget that some documents may have been lost during the war or when archives were moved. In such cases, information can only be stored in private archives or in the memories of colleagues. Searching social media and veterans forums can help find such people or their descendants.
⚠️ Attention: Never trust sites that require payment for searching information in the archives of the Russian Defense Ministry. All official databases and services for providing extracts from archives for relatives of veterans are provided free of charge. Paid services can only be offered by private genealogy offices, which charge money for their work, but not for the archival data itself.
⚠️ Attention: Be careful with data obtained from unverified sources on the Internet. Information on private forums or social networks may be inaccurate. Always check the data you find with official documents from the archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense or the “Feat of the People” and “Memorial” databases.
The table below outlines the main differences between popular resources for finding veterans so you can choose the right one for your task.
| Resource | Main content | Search Features | Data Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feat of the People | Award sheets, documents on conferring titles | Search by award sheet number, part, date | Full access, scanned documents |
| Memorial | Lists of losses, reports of burials | Search by place of death, unit, date of loss | Full access, burial maps |
| Memory of the People | Aggregator of data from different archives | Smart search, battle path routes | Full access, federated database |
| Archive of the Russian Ministry of Defense | Original documents, personal files | Only upon official request | Limited access, request required |
Finding a WWII veteran is not just a technical task, but a tribute to the memory of heroes. Even if you find only a brief reference to the date of enlistment, this is already a step towards restoring family history. Don't stop at the first failure, try different combinations of data and seek help in search engine communities.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I find information about a veteran if I don't know his name?
Searching only by last name and year of birth is possible, but it may return many results, especially if the last name is common. In this case, it is better to know at least the initials or place of call in order to narrow down the search. If the name is unknown, try to find documents by the name of the unit or the date of enlistment.
What should I do if the database says “missing”?
This does not always mean that the body has not been found. In the post-war years, mass reburials were carried out, and data could have been lost. Try searching for information by the name of the military unit or the location of the last battle. It is also worth submitting a request to the archive, since the original documents may contain clarifications about the reburial.
How long does it take to process a request to the Ministry of Defense archives?
According to the law, the request is considered within 30 days from the date of registration. However, in some cases, if a search in remote archives or restoration of lost documents is required, the period may be extended. Check the status of your request on the website of the electronic reception of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Do I need to confirm my relationship to receive information?
To obtain information about a veteran in open databases, proof of relationship is not required. However, to receive official extracts from the archive or copies of personal files, if they are not digitized, you must provide documents confirming your relationship with the veteran (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.).
Remember that every document found is part of a larger story, and your search work helps preserve the memory of the deeds of your ancestors for future generations.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use the data found for commercial purposes or to spread false information. Data from the archives of the RF Ministry of Defense are intended solely for informational purposes, perpetuating memory and historical research. Any distortion of facts is unacceptable.