When did World War II officially end? In what year did the Great Patriotic War end? End date of the Great Patriotic War
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the victory for Russian weapons Patriotic War 1812. At first glance, there are no problems regarding its duration in historiography. Nevertheless, I would like to suggest thinking about one fundamental question: when did the famous war in our history end?
The war continued
There is no ambiguity in determining the date of its beginning. As you know, this is June 24, 1812 - the day of transition Great Army Napoleon of the border river Neman. And to the question of when the war ended, I am sure there will be a clear answer: since it was in 1812, then it ended, accordingly, in 1812. But is this generally accepted statement consistent with historical truth? Let's figure it out.
In December 1812, the remnants of the French troops were expelled from Russia. But the war is not over yet! No peace was concluded between Russia and France. Military operations did not stop, and the Russian army, following the retreating enemy, crossed the border of its country and invaded Poland (at that time the Grand Duchy of Warsaw) and East Prussia. Soon Russia was joined first by the Kingdom of Prussia, and then by the Austrian Empire and a number of other small German states.
During 1813, after the bloody battles of Lützen, Bautzen, Dresden and Leipzig, the Allies worked together to oust Napoleon from Germany. Once again, no peace was signed with France. The war still continued.
At the beginning of 1814, the armies of the anti-French coalition entered French territory and occupied Paris. It was only then that the Patriotic War of Russia against Napoleon, which lasted from June 1812, was completed - in April 1814.
Foreign campaign of the Russian army
However, historiography divides this single war, which was actually fought for almost two years, into several years.
Her initial period was isolated during the "Patriotic War of 1812". Subsequent periods of the war do not have a generally accepted name and are called in Russian historical research in different ways: “Foreign campaign of the Russian army of 1813 and 1814”, “Campaign of 1813”, “Campaign of 1814”, etc.
The Russian army actually had foreign campaigns and campaigns in 1813 and 1814, but why are they considered separate wars? They did not have any independent character, but were only a chronological continuation of the Patriotic War, which began on June 24, 1812, during which the time and territory of military operations changed.
Second Patriotic War
Let us turn to the analogy in our military history, where, in addition to the Patriotic War of 1812, there was another national war - the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. But historians did not divide this war into several independent wars.
If we apply to this war the same obscure historical framework that measures the duration and date of completion of the First Patriotic War, then the picture would be simply fantastic!
The Great Patriotic War should have been considered over not on May 9, 1945, but somewhere in the summer of 1944, when almost the entire territory of the USSR, except for a small part of Latvia (Courland), was cleared of Nazi invaders. Subsequent liberation of countries from fascism Eastern Europe and Germany itself, following such a “historical” approach, should not be attributed to the Great Patriotic War, but should be declared as some separate wars - “Foreign campaign of the Red Army of 1944-1945” or “Campaign of 1944”, “Campaign of 1945” . But, fortunately, the historiography of the Great Patriotic War did not reach such an absurdity and preserved its historical integrity.
Taking into account the above analysis of the course and development of Russia’s military actions against France and guided by historical logic, we believe that the Patriotic War with Napoleon is more correct to recognize not as the war of 1812 alone, but as the Patriotic War of 1812-1814.
Sergey Ivanovich GLUSHKO,
Pskov
In 1944 - 1945 The USSR achieved economic and military-strategic superiority over Germany.
On June 6, 1944, Great Britain and the USA landed their troops under the command of General D. Eisenhower in Normandy. A second front was opened in Europe.
The political unity of the German bloc weakened; Japan never spoke out against the USSR. After the overthrow of the fascist dictatorship of B. Mussolini, Italy capitulated and declared war on Germany.
In 1944, the Red Army carried out a number of major operations that completed the liberation of the territory of the USSR.
In January 1944, the blockade of Leningrad was lifted (900 days), the Korsun-Shevchenko operation was carried out, during which Soviet troops liberated Right Bank Ukraine and the southern regions of the USSR (Crimea, Odessa, etc.).
In the summer of 1944, the Red Army carried out one of the largest operations of the Great Patriotic War (Bagration). Belarus was completely liberated.
In 1944, the liberation campaign of the Soviet Armed Forces in Europe began. Soviet troops liberated Romania, Bulgaria, part of Poland, Norway, and Hungary.
In April 1945, Soviet troops began the Berlin operation. Troops of the 1st (commander - Marshal G.K. Zhukov), 2nd (commander - Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky) Belarusian and 1st Ukrainian (commander - Marshal I.S. Konev) fronts destroyed the Berlin enemy group. The fascist leadership was demoralized. A. Hitler committed suicide. On May 1, the capture of Berlin was completed and the Red Banner of Victory was hoisted over the Reichstag (Egorov, Kantaria, A. Berest).
On May 8, 1945, in the Berlin suburb of Kalshorst, the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany was signed. On May 9, the remnants of German troops were defeated in the area of Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia. On June 24, the Victory Parade took place on Red Square in Moscow.
On July 17 - August 2, 1945, the Potsdam (Berlin) Conference took place, which resolved the problems of post-war settlement. Conference results:
an agreement on the demilitarization (liquidation of the war industry) and denazification (ban of the fascist party) of Germany;
creation of the International Tribunal (Nuremberg Trials);
creation of the United Nations;
recognition of the USSR's demand for reparations to be paid by Germany; the USSR's consent to start a war with Japan;
the agreement of the allies to the return of South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands to the USSR, the inclusion of the Baltic republics in the USSR, the transfer of the USSR to East Prussia from the city of Koenigsberg.
On August 8, 1945, the USSR declared war on Japan. Within a month, Soviet troops liberated Manchuria, North Korea, and captured South Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
On September 2, 1945, Japan signed the Act of Unconditional Surrender. This meant the end of the Second World War.
The main result of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War was the victory over fascism, in which the USSR played a decisive role. Throughout the Second World War, the Soviet-German front was the main one: it was here that 507 divisions of the Wehrmacht and 100 divisions of Germany’s allies were defeated, while US and British troops defeated 176 divisions.
One of the main results of the war was a new geopolitical situation, which was characterized by a confrontation between two systems - capitalist and socialist. In 7 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, leftist, democratic forces came to power. From that time on, the USSR was surrounded mainly by friendly states.
The Soviet people paid a huge price for these gains. 27 million Soviet citizens died. 1,710 cities and over 70 thousand villages lay in ruins.
Victory in the war was achieved thanks to the unparalleled courage and patriotism of the Soviet people, which was manifested in the creation of the people's militia and the partisan movement. One of the sources of victory was the friendship of the peoples of the USSR, which went through a harsh school and was tested in war conditions. The selfless labor of millions of home front workers provided the economic basis for military victories.
June 21, 1941, 13:00. German troops receive the code signal "Dortmund", confirming that the invasion will begin the next day.
Commander of the 2nd Tank Group of Army Group Center Heinz Guderian writes in his diary: “Careful observation of the Russians convinced me that they did not suspect anything about our intentions. In the courtyard of the Brest fortress, which was visible from our observation points, to the sounds of the orchestra, they carried out the guard duty. The coastal fortifications along the Western Bug were not occupied by Russian troops."21:00. Soldiers of the 90th border detachment of the Sokal commandant's office detained a German serviceman who crossed the border Bug River by swimming. The defector was sent to the detachment headquarters in the city of Vladimir-Volynsky.
23:00. German minelayers stationed in Finnish ports began to mine the exit from the Gulf of Finland. At the same time, Finnish submarines began laying mines off the coast of Estonia.
June 22, 1941, 0:30. The defector was taken to Vladimir-Volynsky. During interrogation, the soldier identified himself Alfred Liskov, soldiers of the 221st Regiment of the 15th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht. He said that at dawn on June 22, the German army would go on the offensive along the entire length of the Soviet-German border. The information was transferred to higher command.
At the same time, the transmission of Directive No. 1 of the People's Commissariat of Defense for parts of the western military districts began from Moscow. “During June 22 - 23, 1941, a surprise attack by the Germans on the fronts of LVO, PribOVO, ZAPOVO, KOVO, OdVO is possible. An attack may begin with provocative actions,” the directive said. “The task of our troops is not to succumb to any provocative actions that could cause major complications.”
The units were ordered to be brought to combat readiness, secretly occupy firing points of fortified areas on the state border, and disperse aviation to field airfields.
Bring the directive to military units before the start of hostilities fails, as a result of which the measures specified in it are not carried out.
Mobilization. Columns of fighters are moving to the front. Photo: RIA Novosti
“I realized that it was the Germans who opened fire on our territory”
1:00. The commandants of the sections of the 90th border detachment report to the head of the detachment, Major Bychkovsky: “nothing suspicious was noticed on the adjacent side, everything is calm.”
3:05 . A group of 14 German Ju-88 bombers drops 28 magnetic mines near the Kronstadt roadstead.
3:07. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Oktyabrsky, reports to the Chief of the General Staff, General Zhukov: “The fleet’s air surveillance, warning and communications system reports the approach from the sea large quantity unknown aircraft; The fleet is in full combat readiness."
3:10. The NKGB for the Lviv region transmits by telephone message to the NKGB of the Ukrainian SSR the information obtained during the interrogation of the defector Alfred Liskov.
From the memoirs of the chief of the 90th border detachment, Major Bychkovsky: “Without finishing the interrogation of the soldier, I heard strong artillery fire in the direction of Ustilug (the first commandant’s office). I realized that it was the Germans who opened fire on our territory, which was immediately confirmed by the interrogated soldier. I immediately began to call the commandant by phone, but the connection was broken...”3:30. Chief of Staff of the Western District General Klimovsky reports on enemy air raids on the cities of Belarus: Brest, Grodno, Lida, Kobrin, Slonim, Baranovichi and others.
3:33. The chief of staff of the Kyiv district, General Purkaev, reports on an air raid on the cities of Ukraine, including Kyiv.
3:40. Commander of the Baltic Military District General Kuznetsov reports on enemy air raids on Riga, Siauliai, Vilnius, Kaunas and other cities.
“The enemy raid has been repulsed. An attempt to strike our ships was foiled."
3:42. Chief of the General Staff Zhukov is calling Stalin and reports the start of hostilities by Germany. Stalin orders Tymoshenko and Zhukov arrive at the Kremlin, where an emergency meeting of the Politburo is convened.
3:45. The 1st border outpost of the 86th August border detachment was attacked by an enemy reconnaissance and sabotage group. Outpost personnel under command Alexandra Sivacheva, having entered into battle, destroys the attackers.
4:00. The commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Vice Admiral Oktyabrsky, reports to Zhukov: “The enemy raid has been repulsed. An attempt to strike our ships was foiled. But there is destruction in Sevastopol.”4:05. The outposts of the 86th August Border Detachment, including the 1st Border Outpost of Senior Lieutenant Sivachev, come under heavy artillery fire, after which the German offensive begins. Border guards, deprived of communication with the command, engage in battle with superior enemy forces.
4:10. The Western and Baltic special military districts report the beginning of hostilities by German troops on the ground.
4:15. The Nazis open massive artillery fire on the Brest Fortress. As a result, warehouses were destroyed, communications were disrupted, there is large number killed and wounded.
4:25. The 45th Wehrmacht Infantry Division begins an attack on the Brest Fortress.
Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Residents of the capital on June 22, 1941, during the radio announcement of a government message about the treacherous attack of Nazi Germany on the Soviet Union. Photo: RIA Novosti
“Protecting not individual countries, but ensuring the security of Europe”
4:30. A meeting of Politburo members begins in the Kremlin. Stalin expresses doubt that what happened is the beginning of a war and does not exclude the possibility of a German provocation. People's Commissar of Defense Timoshenko and Zhukov insist: this is war.
4:55. In the Brest Fortress, the Nazis manage to capture almost half of the territory. Further progress was stopped by a sudden counterattack by the Red Army.
5:00. German Ambassador to the USSR Count von Schulenburg presented to the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR Molotov“Note from the German Foreign Office to the Soviet Government,” which states: “The German Government cannot remain indifferent to the serious threat on the eastern border, therefore the Fuehrer has ordered the German Armed Forces to ward off this threat by all means.” An hour after the actual start of hostilities, Germany de jure declares war on the Soviet Union.
5:30. On German radio, the Reich Minister of Propaganda Goebbels reads out the appeal Adolf Hitler To to the German people due to the outbreak of war against Soviet Union: “Now the hour has come when it is necessary to speak out against this conspiracy of the Jewish-Anglo-Saxon warmongers and also the Jewish rulers of the Bolshevik center in Moscow... In at the moment the greatest in terms of length and volume of troops that the world has ever seen is taking place... The task of this front is no longer defense individual countries, but ensuring the security of Europe and thereby saving everyone.”7:00. Reich Minister for Foreign Affairs Ribbentrop begins a press conference at which he announces the beginning of hostilities against the USSR: “The German army has invaded the territory of Bolshevik Russia!”
“The city is burning, why aren’t you broadcasting anything on the radio?”
7:15. Stalin approves directive to repel the attack Hitler's Germany: “The troops are to attack enemy forces with all their might and means and destroy them in areas where they have violated the Soviet border.” Transfer of “directive No. 2” due to saboteurs’ disruption of communication lines in western districts. Moscow does not have a clear picture of what is happening in the combat zone.
9:30. It was decided that at noon, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Molotov would address the Soviet people in connection with the outbreak of war.
10:00. From the speaker's memories Yuri Levitan: “They’re calling from Minsk: “Enemy planes are over the city,” they’re calling from Kaunas: “The city is burning, why aren’t you transmitting anything on the radio?” “Enemy planes are over Kiev.” A woman’s crying, excitement: “Is it really war?..” However, no official messages are transmitted until 12:00 Moscow time on June 22.
10:30. From a report from the headquarters of the 45th German division about the battles on the territory of the Brest Fortress: “The Russians are resisting fiercely, especially behind our attacking companies. In the citadel, the enemy organized defense with infantry units supported by 35-40 tanks and armored vehicles. Enemy sniper fire resulted in heavy casualties among officers and non-commissioned officers."11:00. The Baltic, Western and Kiev special military districts were transformed into the North-Western, Western and South-Western fronts.
“The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours"
12:00. People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov reads out an appeal to the citizens of the Soviet Union: “Today at 4 o’clock in the morning, without making any claims against the Soviet Union, without declaring war, German troops attacked our country, attacked our borders in many places and bombed us with their planes attacked our cities - Zhitomir, Kyiv, Sevastopol, Kaunas and some others, and more than two hundred people were killed and wounded. Raids by enemy planes and artillery shelling were also carried out from Romanian and Finnish territory... Now that the attack on the Soviet Union has already taken place, the Soviet government has given an order to our troops to repel the bandit attack and expel German troops from the territory of our homeland... The government calls on you, citizens and citizens of the Soviet Union, to rally our ranks even more closely around our glorious Bolshevik Party, around our Soviet government, around our great leader, Comrade Stalin.
Our cause is just. The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours."
12:30. Advanced German units break into the Belarusian city of Grodno.
13:00.
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issues a decree “On the mobilization of those liable for military service...”
“Based on Article 49, paragraph “o” of the USSR Constitution, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR announces mobilization on the territory of the military districts - Leningrad, Baltic special, Western special, Kyiv special, Odessa, Kharkov, Oryol, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Ural, Siberian, Volga, North -Caucasian and Transcaucasian.
13:30. Chief of the General Staff General Zhukov flies to Kyiv as a representative of the newly created Headquarters of the Main Command on the Southwestern Front.
Photo: RIA Novosti
14:00. The Brest Fortress is completely surrounded by German troops. Soviet units blocked in the citadel continue to offer fierce resistance.
14:05. Head of the Italian Foreign Ministry Galeazzo Ciano states: “In view of the current situation, due to the fact that Germany declared war on the USSR, Italy, as an ally of Germany and as a member of the Tripartite Pact, also declares war on the Soviet Union from the moment German troops entered Soviet territory.”
14:10. The 1st border outpost of Alexander Sivachev has been fighting for more than 10 hours. Those who only had small arms and grenades, the border guards destroyed up to 60 Nazis and burned three tanks. The wounded commander of the outpost continued to command the battle.
15:00. From the notes of the commander of Army Group Center, Field Marshal von Bock: “The question of whether the Russians are carrying out a systematic withdrawal remains open. There is now plenty of evidence both for and against this.
What is surprising is that nowhere is any significant work of their artillery visible. Heavy artillery fire is conducted only in the northwest of Grodno, where the VIII Army Corps is advancing. Apparently, our air force have an overwhelming superiority over Russian aviation."Of the 485 border posts attacked, not a single one withdrew without orders.
16:00. After a 12-hour battle, the Nazis took the positions of the 1st border outpost. This became possible only after all the border guards who defended it died. The head of the outpost, Alexander Sivachev, was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.
The feat of the outpost of Senior Lieutenant Sivachev was one of hundreds committed by border guards in the first hours and days of the war. On June 22, 1941, the state border of the USSR from the Barents to the Black Sea was guarded by 666 border outposts, 485 of which were attacked on the very first day of the war. Not one of the 485 outposts attacked on June 22 withdrew without orders.
Hitler's command allotted 20 minutes to break the resistance of the border guards. 257 Soviet border posts held their defense from several hours to one day. More than one day - 20, more than two days - 16, more than three days - 20, more than four and five days - 43, from seven to nine days - 4, more than eleven days - 51, more than twelve days - 55, more than 15 days - 51 outpost. Forty-five outposts fought for up to two months.
Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The workers of Leningrad listen to a message about the attack of Nazi Germany on the Soviet Union. Photo: RIA Novosti
Of the 19,600 border guards who met the Nazis on June 22 in the direction of the main attack of Army Group Center, more than 16,000 died in the first days of the war.
17:00. Hitler's units manage to occupy the southwestern part of the Brest Fortress, the northeast remained under the control of Soviet troops. Stubborn battles for the fortress will continue for weeks.
“The Church of Christ blesses all Orthodox Christians for the defense of the sacred borders of our Motherland”
18:00. The Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow and Kolomna, addresses the believers with a message: “Fascist robbers attacked our homeland. Trampling all kinds of agreements and promises, they suddenly fell upon us, and now the blood of peaceful citizens is already irrigating our native land... Our Orthodox Church has always shared the fate of the people. She endured trials with him and was consoled by his successes. She will not abandon her people even now... The Church of Christ blesses all Orthodox Christians for their protection sacred boundaries our Motherland."
19:00. From the boss's notes General Staff ground forces Wehrmacht Colonel General Franz Halder: “All armies, except the 11th Army of Army Group South in Romania, went on the offensive according to plan. The offensive of our troops, apparently, came as a complete tactical surprise to the enemy along the entire front. Border bridges across the Bug and other rivers were everywhere captured by our troops without a fight and in complete safety. The complete surprise of our offensive for the enemy is evidenced by the fact that the units were taken by surprise in a barracks arrangement, the planes were stationed at airfields, covered with tarpaulins, and the advanced units, suddenly attacked by our troops, asked the command about what to do... The Air Force command reported, that today 850 enemy aircraft have been destroyed, including entire squadrons of bombers, which, having taken off without fighter cover, were attacked by our fighters and destroyed.”20:00. Directive No. 3 of the People's Commissariat of Defense was approved, prescribing Soviet troops go on a counteroffensive with the task of defeating Nazi troops on the territory of the USSR with further advance into enemy territory. The directive ordered the capture of the Polish city of Lublin by the end of June 24.
Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. June 22, 1941 Nurses provide assistance to the first wounded after a Nazi air raid near Chisinau. Photo: RIA Novosti
“We must provide Russia and the Russian people with all the help we can.”
21:00. Summary of the Red Army High Command for June 22: “At dawn on June 22, 1941, regular troops German army attacked our border units on the front from the Baltic to the Black Sea and were held back by them during the first half of the day. In the afternoon, German troops met with the advanced units of the field troops of the Red Army. After fierce fighting, the enemy was repulsed with heavy losses. Only in the Grodno and Kristinopol directions did the enemy manage to achieve minor tactical successes and occupy the towns of Kalwaria, Stoyanuv and Tsekhanovets (the first two are 15 km and the last 10 km from the border).
Enemy aircraft attacked a number of our airfields and settlements, but everywhere met decisive resistance from our fighters and anti-aircraft artillery, causing big losses to the enemy. We shot down 65 enemy aircraft.”
23:00. Message from the Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill to the British people in connection with the German attack on the USSR: “At 4 o'clock this morning Hitler attacked Russia. All his usual formalities of treachery were observed with scrupulous precision... suddenly, without a declaration of war, even without an ultimatum, German bombs fell from the sky on Russian cities, German troops violated Russian borders, and an hour later the German ambassador, who just the day before had generously lavished his assurances of friendship and almost alliance to the Russians, paid a visit to the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs and declared that Russia and Germany were in a state of war...
No one has been more staunchly opposed to communism over the past 25 years than I have been. I will not take back a single word that was said about him. But all this pales in comparison to the spectacle unfolding now.The past, with its crimes, follies and tragedies, recedes. I see Russian soldiers as they stand on the border of their native land and guard the fields that their fathers have plowed since time immemorial. I see them guarding their homes; their mothers and wives pray—oh, yes, because at such a time everyone prays for the safety of their loved ones, for the return of their breadwinner, patron, their protectors...
We must provide Russia and the Russian people with all the help we can. We must call on all our friends and allies in all parts of the world to pursue a similar course and pursue it as steadfastly and steadily as we will, to the very end.”
June 22 came to an end. There were still 1,417 days ahead of the worst war in human history.
In the post-war years, historians constantly tried to reconstruct the chronology of the beginning of military operations of the Great Patriotic War. It is generally accepted that the war began on June 22 at exactly 4 am. But in fact, Georgy Zhukov, who at that time was the Chief of the General Staff, already at 03:06 received the first signal about military clashes with the Germans. And at 4:00 Soviet ambassador Dekanozov V.G., who was in Berlin, received a package from Ribbentrop, the Minister of Foreign Affairs official documents about the beginning of the war, which included a note and several appendices to it.
Start of hostilities
On June 22, early in the morning, having carefully prepared air and artillery forces, German troops crossed the borders of the Soviet Union. After 2 hours, V.M. Molotov had already hosted the German Ambassador W. Schulenberg. This visit took place exactly at 05:30, as evidenced by the entries in the visitors' book. The German ambassador provided an official statement containing information about the USSR's sabotage actions against Germany. The documents also spoke of the political manipulations of the Soviet Union directed against Germany. The essence of this statement was that Germany was taking military action to counter the threat and protect its territory.
Molotov officially announced the start of the war. And this fact raises many questions. Firstly, the announcement was made much later. The population of the country heard the radio speech only at 12:15. More than 9 hours have passed since the start of hostilities, during which the Germans bombed our territory with might and main. WITH German side the appeal was recorded at 6:30 (Berlin time). It was also a mystery that it was Molotov, not Stalin, who announced the start of hostilities. Modern historians put forward more than one version. Some argue that the head of the USSR was on vacation at that time. According to the version of foreign historians Brackman and Payne, Stalin was vacationing in Sochi during this period. There is also an assumption that he was on the spot and simply refused, shifting all responsibility to Molotov. This statement is based on entries in the journal about visitors - on this day Stalin hosted a reception and even received the British ambassador.
There are also disagreements regarding the authorship of the text, which was compiled for an official speech. According to G.N. Peskova, who worked to restore the chronology of events, the text of the message was handwritten by Molotov. But based on the style of presentation and corrections made later in this text, they came to the conclusion that the content of the text was edited by Stalin. Subsequently, Molotov spoke on the radio mentioning that he was acting on behalf of Joseph Vissarionovich. Later, when comparing the content of the written text and the spoken speech, historians discovered some differences, which mainly concerned the scale of the territories attacked. There were other inconsistencies, but they were not of major strategic importance. In any case, the fact that the war began earlier than indicated in official sources time, documented by researchers.
Igor Tyshkevich, "Khvilya"
Frankly, it has always been strange for me to listen to discussions about terminology. Especially in relation to the memory of the dead and the feat of heroes. The Great Patriotic War or the Second World War. Whatever you call it, the feat of those who defeated fascism should not be forgotten.
And they don’t forget - all over the world, they honor the memory of the departed and are proud of the living. Moreover, the status of veterans is enshrined in law. In many countries. As for what to call that war, even in the post-Soviet space, both terms are used. But not in Russia. Strange, more than strange.
I decided to figure it out. Delving into history books means multiplying discussions. I decided to take a different route - to look at the reasons for the state’s attitude to terminology. And this is best done by studying the laws. Moreover, the Kremlin itself gives reasons. Remember the fuss over the law, which the media dubbed the act of “protection of historical memory”?
If you just read it, everything seems fine. Responsibility is introduced for the propaganda of Nazi symbols as well as “other paraphernalia or symbols, the propaganda or public display of which is prohibited by federal laws” (1) .
A couple of phrases are also added to the law of the Russian Federation “On the perpetuation of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.” In particular, the promotion of attributes and symbols of organizations that collaborated with structures (or persons) recognized as war criminals is prohibited. There is a really interesting addition to the list of prohibitions. War criminals are those recognized as such by, among other things, “judgments of national, military or occupation tribunals based on the verdict of the International Military Tribunal for the trial and punishment of major war criminals.” European countries axes ( Nuremberg Tribunal) or carried out during the Great Patriotic War, World War II." (2) And here again there are two terms - the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War.
However, everything becomes clear if you look at the Russian law “On Veterans”. His first articles define who a veteran of the Great Patriotic War is. Everything seems to be the same neighboring countries. With just one additive. Veterans of the Second World War are recognized as persons who performed combat missions on the territory of the USSR until 1957. Including “those who took part in military operations to eliminate the nationalist underground in the territories of Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the period from January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1951.” It’s already strange - the Patriotic War ended in 1945 - that’s what the textbooks teach. But the anti-Soviet underground was not fascist.
But an even greater surprise awaits those who have the courage to read the law to the end. There are such applications - a list of states, cities, territories and periods of hostilities with the participation of citizens of the Russian Federation (3) .
I will quote section 1 in full:
Civil War: February 23, 1918 to October 1922
Soviet-Polish War: March - October 1920
Fighting in Spain: 1936 - 1939
War with Finland: from November 30, 1939 to March 13, 1940
Great Patriotic War: from June 22, 1941 to May 9 (11), 1945
War with Japan: from August 9, 1945 to September 3, 1945
Combat operations to eliminate the Basmachi: from October 1922 to June 1931
Combat operations in the area of Lake Khasan: from July 29 to August 11, 1938
Fighting on the Khalkhin Gol River: from May 11 to September 16, 1939
Fighting during the reunification of the USSR, Western Ukraine and Western Belarus: from September 17 to 28, 1939
Fighting in China: from August 1924 to July 1927; October - November 1929; from July 1937 to September 1944; July - September 1945; from March 1946 to April 1949; March - May 1950 (for personnel of the air defense force group); from June 1950 to July 1953 (for personnel of military units that took part in hostilities in North Korea from Chinese territory)
Fighting in Hungary: 1956
Fighting in the area of Damansky Island: March 1969
Fighting in the area of Lake Zhalanashkol: August 1969
Why did I do this? The answer is in section 2.
“Persons who took part in wars and hostilities in states (territories) and in the defense of cities specified in sections I and II are subject to Articles 2 and 4 Federal Law"About veterans."
That is, they are all considered veterans of the Great Patriotic War.
Stop, you say. But the Second World War is a war against fascism. Yes. But according to Russian law, those who, for example, together with Nazi Germany stormed the Brest Fortress in 1939 and fought fascism in such a cunning way.
The shooting of residential buildings in Budapest from tanks in 1956 was also a fight against fascism.
Just like the Korean War. By the way, the same one that was fought against the international contingent sent by decision of the UN!
All these people are WWII veterans, fighters against fascism.
Now comes the fun part. The status of a veteran of the Great Patriotic War is recognized to one degree or another by all countries former USSR. And international treaties within the CIS guarantee such veterans social benefits without confirmation of status by national authorities. That is, a “veteran” from the Russian Federation who came to Belarus or Ukraine is considered a WWII veteran on the basis of Russian documents.
But this man may not have fought in 1939-1945. And all his exploits boiled down to the war against the same Belarusians and Ukrainians in the 50s. Or, for example, participation in a war against UN troops. And this person, in accordance with international obligations, should be honored on a par with a real fighter against fascism.
More to come. Interesting substitution of concepts. If an ordinary politician talks about the “Russian world”, that’s one thing. But if a “veteran of the Patriotic War” comes forward with these theses, it is already more difficult to object - simply out of respect for age and status. And the fact that this person did not receive the status and title for the fight against fascism is the tenth thing.
So what, Russia can erect monuments to such people. And any encroachment on them, according to Russian laws, is an encroachment on the memory of the Great Patriotic War.
Here is a quote from the law
“Monuments of the Great Patriotic War include sculptural, architectural and other memorial structures and objects that perpetuate the memory of the events, participants, veterans and victims of the Great Patriotic War.”
And here’s another (excerpts from article 8:
“Based on relevant international treaties Russian Federation ensures the construction, preservation and restoration of monuments... which are located outside the territory of the Russian Federation.”
That is, for example, the Russian Embassy in Belarus will receive a piece of land. Let’s say near Baranovichi or Novogrudok. And he will erect a monument there to the brave soldiers who destroyed local residents in the 50s. Including under the guise of “national partisans.” (confirmation of application of the methodology - manual high school KGB (Boichenko, Eremin) Belarus bourgeois nationalists (4) ).
And that’s it, gentlemen, this is a monument to the Great Patriotic War. And if “grateful” Belarusians try to protest, they are fascists. They are against people's memory. Against the Great Victory.
This is where the problem comes in. And, frankly, I am increasingly inclined to the opinion - stop playing with the Great Patriotic War. Let's leave this term to Moscow. Our ancestors fought against fascism on the fronts of the Second World War. In 1939, defending Grodno, Pinsk, Kobrin, Brest. Then the fronts of the USSR, France, Italy. Yes and partisan movement in the same Belarus it began not in 1941. But in 1939. Then, when the “veterans of the Patriotic War” marched together with Wehrmacht units through the streets of Brest. The “partisanship” did not end in 1944 either. The last detachment left Belarus in the late 50s. This is our memory. These are our grandfathers. If the current citizens of the Russian Federation who fought in WORLD WORLD WAR II stood shoulder to shoulder with them, respect for such veterans.
And we’ll leave it to the Kremlin to honor the punitive corps in Hungary, war criminals in Korea or NKVD workers who shot at Belarusians, Ukrainians, and citizens of the Baltic countries in the late 40s and early 50s. These are their troops, these are their interests, this is their memory. Which has nothing to do with the fight against fascism.
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Sources.