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Denis Maltsev Correspondent

The end of the Great Patriotic War remains an important day to celebrate for Russians.

In 2020, Russia will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War.

In Russia, the Great Patriotic War is the war between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, which lasted from the invasion of the USSR on June 22, 1941 until the Nazis signed the unconditional surrender on May 9, 1945.

The title “Great Patriotic War” comes from a radio address made by the leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin to the Soviet people on July 3, 1941, when he called on the entire nation to fight the invaders.

Beyond the boundaries of the former Soviet Union, however, the Great Patriotic War is generally known as the Eastern Front of World War II (1939-1945).

The Russians and other former Soviet peoples retain this title — the Great Patriotic War — because for them it was a battle for the freedom and independence of their Motherland, for their very existence.

Under the Nazi plans for the region, more than half of the Russian population was to be annihilated.

But the people of the Soviet Union thwarted those plans.

Nearly the entire Soviet population was involved in the war in one way or another. More than 19 million people volunteered to be sent to the front.

The aim of this national war against the fascist oppressors is not only to eliminate the danger hanging over the USSR, but also to assist all European peoples groaning under the yoke of fascism.

This mission was accomplished.

Although the victory was attained through the efforts of many countries, it was the Soviet Union that eliminated the bulk of the Nazi German army.

More than 74 percent of its total losses (10 million soldiers out of 13,4 million) resulted from battles with the Soviet army.

Analysing the impact of Soviet forces on World War II, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “I find it difficult to get away from the simple fact that the Russian armies are killing more Axis personnel and destroying more Axis materiel than all the other 25 nations put together.”

The Red Army eliminated and captured 607 enemy divisions in 1941-1945, compared with 176 divisions eliminated by British and American troops.

Nazi Germany had six times more personnel killed and wounded on the Eastern front than in the Western Front and in the Mediterranean Theatre combined.

The Russians are naturally proud of their victory and are not ready to regard the Great Patriotic War as just one of many fronts of World War II.

Respect for the veterans reigns in the Russian society. In Moscow alone 125 streets are named after events and heroes of the Great Patriotic War.

The broad support for many events celebrating the war heroes even in the 21st century indicates that the victory remains of everlasting value to the Russian people.

The St. George’s Ribbon campaign when the symbolic ribbons with the orange-and-black pattern of the Order of St George are being distributed in the streets is a perfect example. Held annually since 2005, the campaign celebrates Victory Day.

It was a public initiative that was later embraced by state officials. According to the campaign organisers, their objective is to “prevent new generations from forgetting who won the most terrible war of the 20th century, the price that was paid, and who and what we must be proud of and remember.”

The slogans of the campaign include “My Grandfather’s Victory is My Own!”, “I Remember! I am Proud!”, “We are Descendants of the Great Victory!” and many more.

More than 50 million St George ribbons have been distributed throughout the world during the last six years — all countries with a Russian Diaspora are involved.

Since the Soviet era May 9 has remained a symbol of the unity of the Russian nation.

Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines

Denis Maltsev, senior associate at Russia’s Institute for Strategic Studies