Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: A Generational Perspective on the Great Patriotic War
Countries that were once allies with Russia, as well as new partners, commemorate the anniversary of the Victory.
Sergei Mikhalkov's words echo through the decades: "Forty-first - forty-fifth!" - The Great Patriotic War is etched in the memory of Soviet generations. For a soldier turned civilian, it feels as if it was only yesterday. Even in the Khrushchev era, the importance of preserving the war's memory was evident. Memorials, museums, and patriotic education in schools were key components of this policy, creating a personal connection between the people and the war.
Fast forward to the present, and the spirit of pride in the victory remains, despite changing interpretations. The 21st century has brought new perspectives, but the justice of the war and the greatness of the victory continue to be widely accepted. Yet, post-Soviet generations view the past war differently, with some subtle shifts in perception.
According to a 2021 survey by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VCIOM), the overall attitude towards the Great Patriotic War has not significantly changed. However, the personal factor is objectively decreasing. Among the older generations, over half are well-informed about their close relatives who participated in the war (56%), while among the younger Zoomers, born after 2001, this number is nearly half (27%). Many of them have not had the opportunity to know their war veteran grandparents, let alone great-grandparents.
As we delve into the global arena, the West's view of World War II diverges from that of the former Soviet Union. For the West, World War II is more of a distant history, on par with World War I, yet with the recognition of democracy's victory over dictatorship as the war's outcome. However, this thesis presents a conundrum when considering that the anti-fascist coalition included countries with different political systems, and the Cold War began almost immediately after World War II.
The mainstream Western view tends to portray Stalin as a co-conspirator with Hitler, starting the war through the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939. This perspective is reflected in political documents such as the 2019 European Parliament resolution "On the importance of preserving historical memory for the future of Europe." Russian authorities find this view unacceptable, leading to the 2021 law prohibiting the public equating of Soviet and Nazi goals and actions during World War II, or denying the decisive role of the Soviet people in defeating fascism.
Meanwhile, in the Global South, the themes are more complex, rooted in anti-colonialism and national histories. These countries engage less with Russia in historical debates as they prioritize their local histories. In the past, leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose, Aung San, and Sukarno collaborated with Japan during the war, yet they are still revered as heroes in their respective countries.
The Great Patriotic War remains a defining moment in history, shaping national identities, political narratives, and cultural memories. While perspectives may vary, the significance of the war, the sacrifice, and the victory continue to resonate across generations and borders.
- In contrast to the past, many current Zoomers, born after 2001, have limited personal knowledge about their war veteran grandparents, let alone great-grandparents, as shown in a 2021 survey by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VCIOM).
- The European Parliament's 2019 resolution "On the importance of preserving historical memory for the future of Europe" portrays Stalin as a co-conspirator with Hitler, beginning the war through the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939, a perspective that Russian authorities find unacceptable.
- The West views World War II as a distant history, similar to World War I, with democracy's victory over dictatorship as the war's outcome, but this narrative becomes complicated when considering the Cold War began almost immediately after World War II and the anti-fascist coalition consisted of countries with varying political systems.
- As the global landscape shifts, views on the Great Patriotic War and World War II differ significantly between the West and the former Soviet Union, however, the impact of the war, the sacrifice, and the victory continue to resonate across generations and borders, in places such as the Global South where historical narratives are more deeply rooted in anti-colonialism and national histories.
