The Hazi Aslanov House Museum is, at first glance, dedicated solely to the memory of its namesake—an Azerbaijani officer with a distinguished record of service during WWII. The exhibit is focused on Aslanov’s life and possessions, yet, if one pays closer attention, they might also notice the nationalist undertones of the curator’s claim that Aslanov was killed by Ivan Bagramyan—a Soviet officer of Armenian origin—or the fact that pieces of memorabilia belonging to soldiers who died in Azerbaijan’s recent war with Armenia are displayed next to Aslanov’s own blood-stained uniform. Indeed, the museum deliberately connects the “martyrs” of Azerbaijan’s past with those of its present to shape the Azerbaijani national identity around an ideal of heroism, sacrifice, and a willingness to confront the “enemies of the motherland.” It is not alone in doing so either, as other museums, memorials, and heritage sites perform the same function. When combined with the indoctrination into this vision of national identity achieved through the educational system and mandatory military service, this practice primes the Azerbaijani population to die for their country—and creates more “martyrs” whose stories may encourage others to do the same. This paper examines this phenomenon and explores its ramifications.

This paper is available upon request.