Memory of the War: How the victory over Nazism defines modern Russia

Eight decades after the defeat of Nazism, the legacy of the Great Patriotic War remains at the heart of Russia’s national identity, historical consciousness, and worldview. For millions across the former Soviet Union, the war was a fight for the country’s survival that claimed more than 27 million Soviet lives and reshaped the course of the twentieth century. RT brings together historical investigations, eyewitness testimonies, archival materials, analysis, and opinion pieces examining the Soviet Union’s role in the defeat of Nazi Germany and the enduring significance of that victory in modern Russia. From the battles that turned the tide of World War II to the crimes of the Nazi regime and its collaborators, these stories explore the human cost of war, the politics of historical memory, and the continuing debates surrounding one of history’s defining conflicts.