Russia’s brand of exceptionalism is not messianic. It is rooted in the isolation of an Orthodox country and its belief that it possesses the gift of a true religious faith. It has been strengthened by Russia’s successful—if costly—defense of its ...
Be that as it may, the personage of an aged relative
seems to grow in our memory
as we are told of a past time and society.
Maurice Halbwachs
“Historical Memory and Collective Memory”
1950
On May 9, 2015, Russia will hold celebrations in memory of the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Second World War (in Europe). Even the youngest veterans are approximately ninety years old now. It seemed reasonable to expect, optimistically, that the change of generations ...
... people freedom and independence and opened the door to a brighter future. We will never forget the fraternal aid” said Kim Il-Sung in December 1945
[2]
.
1
. History of Korea (from ancient times to the present day). Volume 2, Moscow, 1974, p. 162. [in Russian] Secrecy lifted. The losses of the Armed Forces of the USSR in wars, combat operations and military conflicts. Statistical research. Moscow, 1993, p. 325. [in Russian]
2
. Kim Il-Sung. Selected Works. Volume I. Pyongyang, 1970, p. 11.
If more far-reaching and serious political events did not occur in the world, considerably more attention would be devoted in Russian scientific circles and media to the attitude of Central-Eastern European countries to the Red Army’s victory in the Second World War. After all, in all the countries liberated by the Red Army in 1944–1945 a particular microcosm of ...
In the light of the geopolitical situation that has developed in relation to Russia’s foreign partners’ attitude to the country, the celebration of the 70th anniversary of victory in the Second World War will be a kind of litmus test both for Russia’s political elite and for the majority of the country’s ...
... of President Jacques Chirac’s participation in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Victory Day in Moscow on May 9, 1995. Invited by Boris Yeltsin, Jacques Chirac arrived in Moscow with some delay in order to avoid the military parade, as Russian troops involved in the conflict in Chechnya would take part in it.
The memorable and glorious dates of the Second World War provide President Francois Hollande an opportunity to demonstrate the willingness of France to mediate in overcoming the ...
... China have been conducted only on the anniversaries of the People's Republic of China.
Awards to Chinese veterans
. On April 15, Russia's Embassy to China decorated Chinese veterans with the anniversary medal of 70 Years to Victory in the Great Patriotic ... ... trenches and provided assistance to the wounded in hospitals.
REUTERS/Toru Hanai/Pixstream
The Repentance Dilemma: Modern Japan and
WWII.
Сomments by Alexander Panov, and
Dmitry Streltsov.
Recipients include the daughters of Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Qu Qiubai ...
... legitimacy of incorporating the Baltic States into the Soviet Union formed the basis of the post-Soviet statehood of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. This “occupation doctrine” of the Baltic States (in an apt remark by Renald Kh. Simonyan, a Russian sociologist and researcher of the Baltic region) has led to a revision of these republics’ participation in the Great Patriotic War. This perception of the war as a fight against two occupying forces – Nazi and Soviet – laid ...
... Head of Oriental Studies Chair at MGIMO-University.
Alexander Panov
: There is a lot of ambiguity in Japanese assessments of WWII, with their distinct division into two categories. One is related to Japan's campaign of aggression against China, Southeast ... ... 60,000 of them died in the harsh environment.
Alexander Panov
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially refused to participate in Russia’s May 9 events in Moscow. However, the reason is hardly due to the war itself, and is more an expression of solidarity ...
... the participation of EU countries. Since the German navy attack on the Polish garrison is considered as the starting point for WWII, Mr. Komorowski suggested holding the pan-European end-of-war event there as well.
Mr. Schetyna considered
this proposal ... ... when asked about the Moscow celebrations, confessed that he did not understand "why everybody has so easily become used to Russia's capital being the venue to commemorate the end of the conflict, while London or Berlin seem to be more natural places ...