Russian History Policy in Germany 2020: Memory of World War II as an Argument

Abstract

In this scientific thesis, the author examines the topic of Russification of Soviet military history as a trend in the context of the deployment of modern Russian propaganda. After all, it was historical memory that also became a constitutive element of special German-Russian relations in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, in recent years, Russian history policy can no longer be reconciled with the German understanding of historical truth and academic freedom. The article analyzes some aspects of V. Putin’s 2020 narrative, which was dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. It paints a harmonious picture of the alliance between the three allies – the USA, Great Britain and the USSR – during the war and in the post-war period. The political intention of this text becomes clear: the 5 states with veto power in the UN Security Council should work together to shape the world order of the 21st century. However, the author draws a disappointing conclusion regarding Putin’s politics of memory – Russia’s current brutal aggressive war in Ukraine, as well as other long-term challenges such as climate change, migration, flight and pandemics that have arisen as a result, can hardly be controlled by two or three major powers. This requires the interaction of the entire world community, in which Europe and, of course, Ukraine must play an important role.