The story of the large Patriotic War as a justification for the invasion of Ukraine. Part 2 — Memory and Propaganda in the Putin Era

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Vladimir Putin took over in 1999 as the second president of the Russian Federation. Relatively, he rapidly began to recreate the story of the large Patriotic War, attaching expanding importance to it over the years. It has become an highly crucial component of historical policy for the Russian society. For more than 20 years of his regulation Vladimir Putin has increasingly stressed his attachment to the legend of planet War II. It was actively utilized by the president of Russia, as well as the braces of the Kreml propaganda in justifying the imperialist urges of the Kremlin. In this text, we will look at the usage of the large Patriotic War in Kremlin politics until the invasion of Ukraine.

First Years in Power

The 1990s were mass declassification of historical sources, freer exchange of thoughts and openness to criticism of the past. any environments, specified as communists or nationalists, were very dissatisfied with specified a turn of events. This period tied with economical shock therapy as well as destabilization of power and frequently chaos in the state. As examples, a communist test can be given A coup in Moscow Or bloody clashes on the streets of the capital constitutional crisis. Many Russians felt lost and someway betrayed as a consequence of the collapse of the USSR. As a result, sentiment grew until russian times, which associated with stability, a sense of power and prosperity. In specified a political and economical scenery Vladimir Putin came to power.

One of the first decisions of the fresh president in terms of a strong historical policy was Restoration An anthem of the russian Union as an anthem of the Russian Federation. Words were changed, but the first melody was preserved. The russian Union associated the Russians with a powerful power, and the restored anthem was to remind them that the country was inactive strong. This made the change enthusiastic among many citizens.

First years of Vladimir Putin's regulation bond with experiments on historical policy. It was attempted to build legends linking Russians on the basis of the regulation of Tsar Alexander II or Prime Minister Piotr Stolypin. They had virtually no effect, and society felt no greater attachment to these characters. Throughout the years of Putin's rule, many events and historical figures have been utilized temporarily in propaganda. The usage of Alexander Newski or Ivan the Terrible was made of holidays commemorating the ending of large Sadness, defeating Napoleon or commemorating the victims of planet War I. They were frequently given anti-Western character or justified by Russia's imperial aspirations. In the end, however, 1 subject remained universal, as summarized He is simply a Polish historian, Dr hab. Jerome Gral:

"If, therefore, to look in Putin's historical considerations for any permanent component of historical communicative independent of the political requirements of the moment, 1 might point to a single theme: the russian Union's triumph in the large Patriotic War".

The large Country War returns to pedestal

World War II for Russia and Russia has always been important. In the early years of Putin’s rule, however, it was not the central point of all historical politics. This began to change at the turn of the first and second decades of the 21st century, although the first steps had already been taken. In 2006, by decree of Vladimir Putin created Title ‘Cities of Military Glory’. It was equivalent to Stalin's title of City-hero. In this way, the towns were honored, which stood out especially heroic defence during planet War II. presently 47 cities has The title. Melitopol and Mariupol received them after the Russian Federation occupied them in 2022.

In 2008 restored full military component at the parade on triumph Day on May 9. dense equipment or airplanes were involved. Subsequent years brought ever-present parades culminating in the 70th anniversary of the end of planet War II in 2015. Militaryization of triumph Parade bond replacing the trauma of the large Patriotic War with power and strength. The subject of failure of human life and suffering had to recede to the roar of tank engines, the sound of equal march of soldiers and the sound of military aircraft. The full cover served to tame citizens with force in abroad policy. specified a presentation of Russia was not only interior but besides external. Moscow showed the West that confrontation should not be chosen.

Russia a messiah of nations

A peculiarly crucial year for building the story of the large Patriotic War was 2012 in which Putin back To the president's chair after a four-year break. From that point on, the Kremlovian imagination of planet War II became a dominant part of Moscow's historical propaganda message. Related that was with economical problems and political protests. External factors specified as the Ukrainian revolution of dignity or the Western sanctions imposed after Russia's intervention in Ukraine in 2014 besides had a remarkable impact.

The Kremlin decision-makers needed a strong unifying story and legitimacy of their power and actions. The story of the large Patriotic War was an perfect tool for this purpose. triumph in planet War II surrounded An almost spiritual cult. The USSR, and so Russia as a direct successor, is treated as a winner over absolute evil. The narratives at the time stressed that Europe should be grateful for its liberation, and its current prosperity due to the Red Army's defeat of the Wehrmacht.

Russian papers unambiguously They say that the "revision of Russia's function in history" is simply a threat to state existence. A number of papers released by the Kremlin Power Camera after 2009 indicates explicitly for the needs of Russian historical policy. Among another things, it is about building a collective story of the large Patriotic War, which will combine society under a state umbrella. It is to show that Russia is simply a power and that the Russians are a strong nation. At the same time, the function of Russian Federation nations in overcoming Fascism is besides actively stressed. This is crucial due to the fact that power in the Kremlin needs all citizens to be identified with its historical policy. Consequently, the story of the large Patriotic War is to be 1 common and based on dogma, whose effort to overthrow will be treated as an attack on Russia's identity. The manifestation of that thought was Introduction in 2014, a law prohibiting "the purposeful public dissemination of false information about the actions of the USSR during planet War II". There are advanced penalties for this, including prison.

Take over the Immortal Regiment

In 2012, 3 independent journalists from Tomska started "Immortal Regiment" initiative. It was intended to commemorate the victims of planet War II. It was organized in the form of a march, during which participants carried photographs of their loved ones, who in 1 way or another experienced the large Patriotic War. According to the organizers, it was especially about commemorating those people who were not appreciated by the state historical policy, including, among another things, prisoners of war who were treated as traitors in russian times. In 2015, 1,200 cities already organized their own marches.

However, the authority in the Kremlin did not want to leave this bottom-up initiative to itself. She sought all commemoration of planet War II to be sanctioned by the state and service the imperialist interests of Russia. Therefore, in 2015 in Moscow organized The march under the same name and those who were to participate in the first venture were forced to participate in state celebrations. Vladimir Putin himself led the march and dignitaries from friendly countries. As part of the school classes, children were active who carried portraits of random people, thus completely denying the first idea. The power has torn the initiative of the Immortal Regiment from individual experience, turning it into a propaganda tool. This example is shown perfectly by the policies of the Kremlovian decision makers — there is no commemoration of planet War II without power. Everything must take place under the jurisdiction of the state and be in accordance with the established doctrine.

World War II in abroad Policy

The direct usage of the story of the large Patriotic War is to usage it in abroad policy. The sacralization of this story and its messianic implications are a direct tool to justify and legitimize the imperial urges of the Kremlin. For Russians, the tallness of power Common after planet War II. Therefore, the Kremlin decision-makers search to reconstruct in 1 form or another the order that resembles the period at that time. In Moscow's vision, its influence is to extend to post-Soviet states and the erstwhile east bloc.

An excellent tool for this is the usage of the story of planet War II. Russia does not recognise a different communicative than that the Red Army brought liberation to east European countries. force against civilians, the force of communist governance or the brutal fight against independency in another countries are not part of the Kremlin's historical policy. Any criticism of the global policy of the USSR is immediately considered an attack on modern Russia. The legitimacy of the usage of force in abroad policy is peculiarly crucial here.

Anti-Polish rhetoric of the Kremlin

The Kremlin propaganda is conducting a revision of the historical aspects of planet War II. The years 1939-1941, erstwhile Moscow was Berlin's ally, were uncomfortable for Russia. USSR in its historical policy Negative the existence of a secret protocol to the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. Putinian Russia changed this approach, indicating that it was essential for the safety of the russian Union and its signing was full justified. As of 2019 it lasts pushing liable for the outbreak of planet War II to the West.

Accusing Poland of the outbreak of planet War II

One of the elements of casting work is Accusation Poland about close cooperation with the German Reich. Its expected elements were to be the “Monachian Betrayal”, as Russian propaganda calls the 1938 Munich Agreement. Republic of was not the organization to these agreements, although as a result, she took Zaolzie. At the same time, the kremlów pseudohistoric narratives indicate that Poland would actively participate in persecution and execution of Jews.

All of this is part of the already mentioned discharge of work from Russia for the Second planet War, which, as a consequence of the Western "failure" (mainly Poland), was forced to scope an agreement with Germany. In contrast, the Reich, according to Russian propaganda, pushed to war mainly the behaviour of Poland, which did not want to scope an agreement with Hitler. As a result, the russian Union had to “save” Europe. The explanation of historical politics towards planet War II was presented in a text written by Vladimir Putin in 2020 entitled: "A actual Lesson 75th Anniversary of the End of planet War IIIt’s okay. ” He met with a broad criticism from historians.

Anti-Catin

One of the most outrageous aspects of Russian anti-Polish historical rhetoric is justification execution in Katyn. Russia in the early 1990s. She confessed. And she apologized for the Katyn crime. However, the second decade of Putin's regulation changed. In fresh years, the power in the Kremlin has strengthened the communicative that has been circulating for years that the Katyn crime was justified (so-called anti-Catin). This is expected to be the right revenge for the extermination of russian POWs by Poland during the Polish-bolshevik War. In fact, this situation did not occur, and the inflated figures of Russian propaganda should be considered false. Findings The Polish-Russian Commission of 2004 clearly indicates that the Polish authorities were doing everything in their power to treat prisoners with dignity. However, as a consequence of a shortage of resources, many prisoners of war died from illness in the recently born country. Epidemics and wellness problems were besides affected by civilians and Polish soldiers. Therefore, it is not possible to make a request for the deliberate extermination of red-armists.

Against Ukraine

The Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity at the turn of 2013 and 2014 was an highly crucial event defining Russia's abroad policy in the region. fast started usage the story of the large Patriotic War to justify the aggressive actions of the Cremlowian authorities. The usage of the terms "fascism" and "nazism" in relation to Ukraine and its inhabitants became obvious. Like Poles, Ukrainians besides began to be accused of anti-Semitism and cooperation with the 3rd Reich. The full situation was allegedly to announce the revival of flagism and utmost nationalism with inspiration from the US and the European Union. In the imagination of Moscow's power, Ukraine is part of the “Russian world”, any of which bind strong historical ties to the common conflict against Nazism during planet War II. Brotherhood during the large Patriotic War is to be a story connecting post-Soviet countries under Russia's influence.

The Creme Propaganda besides seeks to Creation The impression that conflict in Ukraine is an extension of the war on Nazism. Russia's current mission would never end and now fresh generations must proceed it. utmost emotions supporting this imagination and restoring the trauma of planet War II were attempted, for example, by fabricating the communicative of a crucified child. The 3-year-old was to be nailed to a cross in Lenin Square in Slaviansk as a revenge that he came from a household of Russian separatists. The crimes were to be carried out by “bankers”.

In fact, however, the only witness to the incidental did not live in Slaviansk. Lenin Square is not in this town. In addition to the apparent biblical-messianist connotations, this communicative was besides meant to show that the Russian mission of “fighting Nazism” had not yet ended. This was to prove that the descendants of the Nazis were inactive carrying out criminal acts. On the another hand, it is the work of Russia to defend the civilian population of the East Ukraine like the Red Army protecting the people of east Europe from Nazism. This example is only 1 of many, and the propaganda story of the large Patriotic War was only to be utilized in its full form after 22 February 2024.

The large Patriotic War in the Eyes of Russians

An highly interesting issue is how planet War II, with peculiar emphasis on the war with Germany, is seen by Russian society. The power in Moscow has for years ensured that the discourse on this substance is uniform and consistent. In 2024 independent tv Dozhdż organized probe. She asked the respondents whether it would be a better solution to surrendering Leningrad to the Germans during planet War II and would aid to avoid hundreds of thousands of casualties that were suffered as a consequence of a 2 and a half year siege. The probe provoked outrage in Russia, and tv under force from the authorities lost dozens of contracts with suppliers. March 1, 2022, Russian authorities blocked completely Dozh signal due to the critical attitude towards the invasion of Ukraine.

Another example of limiting freedom of speech was rejection Dr. Cyril Aleksandrov. He described in his investigation Red Army soldiers who went to the Wehrmacht side, including the most celebrated of them — General Andrei Vlasov. Historian concluded that mass desertion was caused by reluctance to Stalinism and the USSR. This was met with the discontent of the technological authorities in Russia. The doctorate was not considered as not built he unity of society and deficiency of patriotic message. Tens of akin situations happen in Russia, depriving society of access to more nonsubjective historical investigation and critical view of the state's history. This is reflected in the Russians' relation to planet War II.

Lefty Center Research

The Lefty Center, an independent survey of public opinion research, has for many years conducted analyses investigating the Russian's attitude towards its history. In 2020 she carried out another surveywhere, among another things, these issues were asked. The question of what first comes to head erstwhile they think of their people was: “Our past, our history.” This option has become increasingly popular in Russian society over fresh years. Invariably in the first place among the events of which the Russians are most arrogant (89%) remains the triumph in the large Patriotic War. On the another hand, the biggest embarrassment is the fall of the USSR. The second place is poorness and chaos in the country, despite strong society and the state.

The results of the survey show perfectly how historical and social policies intertwin. Russian society needs the story of the large Patriotic War due to the fact that it gives a sense of perpetuity and strength. The grief of the fall of the USSR, which after planet War II was at the tallness of its power, causes the search for legends and myths to aid reconstruct the imagination of large Russia. This is crucial in the context of how crucial it is to defeat Nazism for the Russian society, which all the time sees Hitler's slayers. The power and the Cremovian propaganda are building the story of the large Patriotic War — Russia’s historical mission never ended, and the war in Ukraine is its next stage.

Sources

““Russia arises from its knees” — comments on the politics of the historical Kremel elite”, Jerome Grail: https://www.historical overview.pl/sites/ph.ihuw.pl/files/ph/ph_3_grala.pdf

New east Europe: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2021/09/30/covering-up-tragedy-and-the-myth-of-the-great-patriotic-war/

== sync, corrected by elderman == https://jejeje.pl/content/communist-puch-janaya-z-1991-r-seal%C4%99t%C5%82-disruption%C4%85zku-radical

Republic of:

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Center for east Studies: https://www.osw.waw.pl/publications/comments-osw/2019-12-31/power-mit-war-we-modern-foreign policy

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