In a scenic town eighty miles from Moscow, the air reverberates with the sounds of war—explosions and gunfire punctuate a historical reenactment of one of Berlin's final 1945 battles, with a large audience witnessing the spectacle from a distance. As Soviet soldiers triumphantly replace a swastika with the hammer and sickle on a small island, the event symbolizes Russia's long-held narrative of The Great Victory over Nazi Germany. It’s an event marking the 80th anniversary of this historic moment, a cornerstone of national identity where Russia views itself as both a victor and a victim.
Katya, an attendee, shares her family's history, expressing the weight of generational conflict. Her grandfather fought during World War II and was declared missing near Berlin, only to be later identified as killed in action. The echoes of the past reach into the present as her son finds himself embroiled in the modern conflict in Ukraine. "He volunteered. I tried to talk him out of it," she confides, revealing the conflicts that persist through generations, even as the contexts change.
The Great Patriotic War, as it is known in Russia, claimed over 27 million Soviet lives. In stark contrast, Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine is framed by officials as a "special military operation," aimed at reclaiming influence over its neighbor. This clash of narratives presents a peculiar situation where the Kremlin casts Russia as a defender against alleged Nazism in modern Ukraine, despite being the aggressor.
Columinst Andrei Kolesnikov highlights the rigid ideological ties, explaining that for many, the victory in WWII remains the only unifying element in Russian identity. He notes a troubling evolution in this thinking, where the Great Patriotic War is now seen as the initial step in an ongoing struggle against Western "Eurofascism."
The portrayal of these events is amplified through Russian media, heavily laden with historical propaganda. Recent documentaries liken contemporary dissent in Europe to Nazi collaboration without acknowledging the Soviet Union's own dark past, including its non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany in 1939.
As preparations ramp up for the May 9th Victory Day parade—an event intended to display Russia's military prowess—public sentiment remains divided. Many believe in a shared history of resilience and betrayal by Western powers. Lidiya, a local, iterates the belief that "both Britain and America... threaten us," requiring Russia to display strength.
In the backdrop of military displays, poignant recollections of the human cost of war come to the fore. Fyodor Melnikov, a 98-year-old veteran, reflects on the personal toll of conflict, evoking memories of his brother lost in the Great Patriotic War. With a heartfelt poem he recites, Melnikov emphasizes the desire for peace amidst the narratives of glory and tragedy associated with war.
On this momentous anniversary, as Russia remembers its past, it grapples with the heavy consequences of its current actions in Ukraine, left to ponder if victory can ever truly be claimed amidst ongoing suffering.
Katya, an attendee, shares her family's history, expressing the weight of generational conflict. Her grandfather fought during World War II and was declared missing near Berlin, only to be later identified as killed in action. The echoes of the past reach into the present as her son finds himself embroiled in the modern conflict in Ukraine. "He volunteered. I tried to talk him out of it," she confides, revealing the conflicts that persist through generations, even as the contexts change.
The Great Patriotic War, as it is known in Russia, claimed over 27 million Soviet lives. In stark contrast, Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine is framed by officials as a "special military operation," aimed at reclaiming influence over its neighbor. This clash of narratives presents a peculiar situation where the Kremlin casts Russia as a defender against alleged Nazism in modern Ukraine, despite being the aggressor.
Columinst Andrei Kolesnikov highlights the rigid ideological ties, explaining that for many, the victory in WWII remains the only unifying element in Russian identity. He notes a troubling evolution in this thinking, where the Great Patriotic War is now seen as the initial step in an ongoing struggle against Western "Eurofascism."
The portrayal of these events is amplified through Russian media, heavily laden with historical propaganda. Recent documentaries liken contemporary dissent in Europe to Nazi collaboration without acknowledging the Soviet Union's own dark past, including its non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany in 1939.
As preparations ramp up for the May 9th Victory Day parade—an event intended to display Russia's military prowess—public sentiment remains divided. Many believe in a shared history of resilience and betrayal by Western powers. Lidiya, a local, iterates the belief that "both Britain and America... threaten us," requiring Russia to display strength.
In the backdrop of military displays, poignant recollections of the human cost of war come to the fore. Fyodor Melnikov, a 98-year-old veteran, reflects on the personal toll of conflict, evoking memories of his brother lost in the Great Patriotic War. With a heartfelt poem he recites, Melnikov emphasizes the desire for peace amidst the narratives of glory and tragedy associated with war.
On this momentous anniversary, as Russia remembers its past, it grapples with the heavy consequences of its current actions in Ukraine, left to ponder if victory can ever truly be claimed amidst ongoing suffering.
