WARFILE
History in files
The open digital archive of war history. Battle maps, declassified documents, photo chronicles, equipment dossiers and veteran memoirs — collected, verified and explained by historians. No myths. Only files, facts and context.
We preserve
what war tried to erase
WARFILE.ru started in 2012 as a small forum for reenactors. Today it is a full-scale research platform used by historians, journalists, students and families searching for their ancestors.
We digitize decaying paper archives, decode handwritten combat journals, georeference old maps and interview witnesses — so that anyone can understand history from primary sources, not slogans.
Three scanners, one garage, endless enthusiasm.
12,400 maps linked to units, dates and photos.
Every voice indexed, translated and searchable.
Find a soldier by name, unit, village or even face.
01 / Accuracy
Each file passes 3-level verification: source, historian, cross-reference.
02 / Neutrality
We show documents of all sides. No propaganda, only context and commentary.
03 / Memory
Free access for families searching for fallen soldiers. Forever.
From dusty boxes to searchable data in 48 hours
Our mobile digitization teams travel to regional museums, private collections and family archives. Scanning, restoration and publication — all documented.
Six vaults. One truth.
Choose your front. Each vault contains curated files, timelines, maps and expert podcasts.
Combat journals & orders
Daily logs, operation orders, after-action reports from 1914 to present. With transcripts and translations.
Interactive battle maps
Animated front lines, unit positions, breakthrough arrows. Compare 1941 vs 1943 vs 1945 in one slider.
Photo & video chronicle
Restored in color by neural lab. Faces recognized, locations geotagged, dates verified.
Equipment dossier
Tanks, aircraft, artillery, small arms: blueprints, performance tables, combat use and surviving examples.
Memoirs & interviews
Soldiers, nurses, pilots, home-front workers. Audio, transcripts, English summaries.
Find a soldier
Search by surname, unit or burial place. Our volunteers help families restore service paths.
From box to browser
Rescue & collection
We accept paper archives in any condition — damp basements, attic boxes, glued albums. 68% of our files were considered lost.
Restoration & scan
Vacuum tables, multispectral imaging for faded ink, tear repair. Each page scanned at 600 DPI, color-calibrated.
Decoding & verification
Historians transcribe handwriting, check seals, compare with known operations. AI flags inconsistencies for review.
Context & publication
We add maps, biographies, equipment cards and plain-language explanations. You get not just a scan, but understanding.
Open access forever
All files free, downloadable, citable. Students, filmmakers and families use WARFILE daily — 1.2M visits a month.
Built for history nerds
No paywalls on memory. Professional tools, human support, academic citations in one click.
Timeline slider maps
Drag 1941 → 1945 and watch fronts move day by day with unit cards.
Face & name search
Upload a photo or surname — find matches across 86k images and rolls.
Side-by-side comparison
T-34 vs Tiger, Spitfire vs Bf-109: armor, speed, production, losses.
1-click citation
Copy GOST, APA, Chicago references for any file. Loved by students.
Colorized memory
Our neural restoration lab brings black-and-white frames back to life. Swipe the filmstrip.
Fresh files & reports
Daily digests: what was declassified, what we decoded, what historians argue about.
Questions from readers
Is WARFILE free to use?
Yes. 95% of files are fully open. High-resolution TIFFs and GIS layers require free registration to protect servers from scraping.
Can I find my grandfather who fought in the war?
Use Vault 06 — Find a Soldier. Enter surname, year of birth or unit. Volunteers answer within 5 days and build a service path with maps and documents.
Where do documents come from?
State archives, regimental museums, private families, flea-market rescues. Each file page lists provenance, fund number and digitization date.
Can I contribute scans or memoirs?
Absolutely. Send photos of documents via the contact form. Our couriers can pick up originals, scan and return them safely.
May I use files in films or books?
For non-commercial education — freely with credit “WARFILE.ru Archive”. For commercial use, request a license; funds go to further digitization.
How do you verify authenticity?
Three checks: paper/ink forensics, handwriting and seal analysis, cross-check with operation dates and neighboring units. Dubious files are marked as such.
Get a weekly declassification digest
One email per week: 10 freshest files, 1 decoded map, 1 veteran story. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
BY SUBSCRIBING YOU AGREE TO ARCHIVE RULES • 12 480 SUBSCRIBERS THIS MONTH