YUSIF HABIBULLA SAFAROV (1921-2002) Historian

Yusif Safarov was born in the city of Shaki in 1921. He entered Azerbaijan State University, Faculty of History, in 1939. In 1941, he joined the army to fight against Fascist Germany, leaving his study unfinished. His military service began in the Caucasus, ending with the Battle of Berlin in 1945. In 1947, he was demobilized as a war veteran, and resumed his study at Azerbaijan State University. He graduated in 1951, and was dispatched to Moscow to do his postgraduate studies at Lomonosov Moscow State University. He completed postgraduate studies in 1954, and returned to Baku as a PhD in history. The same year he was made an associate professor at the Faculty of History. He then served as head of the Department of History of USSR and professor at the Department of Source Criticism, Historiography and Methods of History Teaching. Yusif Safarov was the first to introduce and study source criticism and historiography as independent subjects. He authored the first textbook on historiography in Azerbaijan. He published more than 100 monographs, papers, methodological works, handbooks and study programs. He received “Taraqqi” Medal for his accomplishments in science and teaching. Yusif Safarov also was the recipient of the orders and medals of the “Defence of the Caucasus”, “Red Star”, “Liberation of Warsaw”, “Red Flag” and “Great Patriotic War” (1st and 2nd degree), and a certificate of recognition of the USSR High Command.