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How Russian Kids Are Taught World War II
Moscow Times ^ | 2017 | Ola Cichowlas

Posted on 04/29/2025 1:45:37 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

From Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, Russian schoolchildren are preparing for the most important holiday of the year: Victory Day. Commemorated with a grand military parade on Moscow’s Red Square every May 9, the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany has long been used by authorities to rally support for the state. And it starts in school.

In September 2016, three history textbooks were sanctioned by the Ministry of Education, all of which gloss over Stalin’s crimes and his initial alliance with Nazi Germany. “My main issue with the textbooks is that they do not reveal the whole truth,” says historian and teacher Leonid Katsva.

What is still unclear is who decides which book should be used in the classroom. “Is it the teacher, the school director or the city? I asked this question to the Moscow city government many times and received no answer,” says Abalov.

Most schools across the country have sided with one of them, published by Prosveshenie, whose retelling of the war focuses almost exclusively on the heroic aspects of the Soviet war effort.

The pact was defensive!

For Russians, World War II began—not in 1939 as it did for the rest of the world—but in 1941. What happened before, and the Soviet Union’s role in it, has stirred emotions and denial in Russia. The most controversial moment, which the Kremlin traditionally does not emphasize, is the Molotov–Ribbentrop “non-aggression” pact between the USSR and Nazi Germany.

Putin has made contradictory statements about the pact. He struck a conciliatory tone in 2009 when he spoke in Gdansk in Poland, saying the Russian parliament had condemned the pact. Six years later, in a meeting with Germany’s Angela Merkel, Putin said the pact “made sense for ensuring the security of the Soviet Union.”

(Excerpt) Read more at themoscowtimes.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: education; hitler; russia; stalin; ussr; wii; worldwar2; ww2; wwii
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Japan had influence in Korea in the late 1800’s, with them making Korea part of the Empire of Japan in 1910.


61 posted on 04/29/2025 3:40:49 PM PDT by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: Vermont Lt

“You havent said anything good about the US in years.”

Since you don’t seem to have a problem with the fact that half of this country, literally HATES this country, then YOU ARE THE PROBLEM. YOU are why the Left keeps running circles around us conservatives, because you simply CANNOT ACCEPT what they are and what they are doing, and will do, to us conservatives if they ever get the power.

You seem to be tucked away, well protected, in lilly-white Vermont and everything is JUST FINE in the country.

Try visiting Texas and you may get a taste of the REALITY of America, in 2025, rather than being stuck in 1965.


62 posted on 04/29/2025 3:43:35 PM PDT by BobL
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To: Yo-Yo

Sure, Poland had a pact either, and attacked Czechoslovakia with Germans while at it.
Before signing the pact, USSR fought against Hitler in Spain and tried to weld anti-Hitler alliance. Which was sabotaged by the US and Poland.


63 posted on 04/29/2025 4:00:53 PM PDT by NorseViking
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

‘Putin has made contradictory statements about the pact. He struck a conciliatory tone in 2009 when he spoke in Gdansk in Poland, saying the Russian parliament had condemned the pact. Six years later, in a meeting with Germany’s Angela Merkel, Putin said the pact “made sense for ensuring the security of the Soviet Union.”’

I don’t really see the contradiction in that. Something could make sense at the time, get superceded by events, then draw a condemnation. So, the Russians teach WWII from the Russian/Soviet perspective. That is not exactly shocking.


64 posted on 04/29/2025 4:05:54 PM PDT by cdcdawg (The Left should cry harder.)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Everyone sanitizes history

*see WT Sherman lol


65 posted on 04/29/2025 4:07:56 PM PDT by wardaddy (The Blob must be bled dry)
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To: dfwgator; anyone

I was surprised to learn…during COVID when I had lots of time to read…that the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact went deeper than most people realize.

in fact Stalin saw Hitler as a Potential ally (we are speaking 1939–remember) due to their shared Socialism beliefs. The idea of the USSR JOINING the AXIS was actually floated. Amazingly it was Hitler that threw cold water on the movement as he didn’t wish to give the USSR what they wanted (if I recall it was to move south towards Turkey/Persia/India and let them control Finland and Bulgaria. They eventually wanted to get their warm water port they have wanted forever).

I’m not a fan of Hitker. Ohh I don’t mean the way most people hate him..strictly the Holocaust, of course there is that but I mean as a commander. He was awful.
He would have had victory..TOTAL. No questions asked if the USSR would have joined him. The Reich would have swept Western Europe and forced GB into surrender. After the war we would have had 4 powers worth speaking of (in order of strength):
1. Germany/Axis (minus’s Bulgaria and Finland but likely including Spain)
2. USA/Common Wealth Alliance (Can-Aus-India(?) etc)
3. USSR
4. Japan? Hard to say. A quick defeat of GB might have spurred Japan to attack and we might have put all our might against Japan destroying it. Or a quick German victory might have allowed Japan to gain territories of former British/French colonies without fighting the USA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German%E2%80%93Soviet_Axis_talks


66 posted on 04/29/2025 4:12:13 PM PDT by Phoenix8
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To: Phoenix8

One thing Stalin feared was Germany actually going Communist, and taking away the leadership of the International Communist movement from the Soviet Union. That’s why he gladly turned over to Hitler lists of German Communists.


67 posted on 04/29/2025 4:17:21 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: BobL
Perhaps if the United States required that the horrors of Communism be taught in our schools to the level Putin requires it in Russian schools, we would not have HALF OF THE COUNTRY wanting to turn the US into a Soviet-style Hell Hole.

Great point!

68 posted on 04/29/2025 4:19:01 PM PDT by Kazan
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To: Kazan

There are more than 150 monuments and/or streets named after Bandera in Ukraine. Children sing songs about him.


Why do you consider this a bad thing?

Do you consider Stalin to have been better than Hitler?


69 posted on 04/29/2025 4:31:43 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: dfwgator

The Marshall Plan was the monetary lifeline that was supposed to keep the Communist (Soviets) out of what was left of Germany andt prevent expansion to the remaining surrounding countries (Marshall was at Yalta- guess he couldn’t prevent FDR getting along with “old Joe”. Can’t speak to this as being a requirement-but would assume De-Nazification was contingent on the US Fund getting there for rebuilding. So what is the Marshall Plan doing still in Europe and Germany?

Interesting thread here, forgotten and now un-taught history.

FReepers who might be
interested need to check out two creations of Lenin and Stalin post Bolshevik revolution (which was supported we must never forget by the Kaiser Wilhelm) which inculcated in the UK and US: ARCOS in the UK and AMTORG (created by merger of Armand Hammer- yes Lenin’s pal in arms, commodities and a lot else)in the US.

The UK did little to nothing to prevent the Bolshies from taking down the last Tsar, and the US banking people helped them, early proof of the bankers love of socialism. Woodrow Wilson raised token opposition at Archangel, barely aiding White Russians. The UK’s City of London were interested in the Romanov gold/specie held in.. the Bank of England, owned by, since Waterloo, the Amschel branch of the Rothschilds. ARCOS as a business was eventually raided and shut down as front for Soviet espionage, and did £100 million at least buying UK goods with... gold, and then with grain (Holodomor etc). Happy days in the 1920s.

The wikipedia (yeah i know) links are here;

ACROS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Russian_Co-operative_Society

AMTORG https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtorg_Trading_Corporation

The interconnections of RCA and NBC in all this in the US is worth the read. Can’t stand NBC’s long history for the Bolshies.


70 posted on 04/29/2025 5:13:56 PM PDT by John S Mosby ( Sic Semper Tyrannis )
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To: Tell It Right

Americans teach nothing.


71 posted on 04/29/2025 5:23:35 PM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: If You Want It Fixed - Fix It

Colleges likely favor Howard Zin.


72 posted on 04/29/2025 6:54:42 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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To: marktwain
Who but a neo-Nazi wouldn't consider the honoring of Nazi collaborator to be anything but repugnant?

Israel certainly does:

December 14, 2018

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The Israeli ambassador to Ukraine has sharply criticized local legislators’ move to honor a Ukrainian nationalist leader.

Ambassador Joel Lion said on Facebook that he was “shocked’ to see the regional legislature in Lviv in western Ukraine declare 2019 “the year of Stepan Bandera” to mark the 110th anniversary of his birth.

Bandera was a leader of Ukraine’s nationalist movement, which included an insurgent army that for one period sided with the Nazis during World War II. Jewish groups have linked Bandera’s followers to the mass murders of Jews.

73 posted on 04/29/2025 7:50:56 PM PDT by Kazan
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To: Kazan

It is S.O.P. for Zeepers.


74 posted on 04/29/2025 7:54:10 PM PDT by sport
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To: marktwain
I left out the comment by the Israel ambassador from 2018 in regard to the worship of Bandera in Ukraine:

Lion said “I can’t understand how the glorification of those directly involved in horrible anti-Semitic crimes helps fight anti-Semitism and xenophobia.” The ambassador that “Ukraine shouldn’t forget those crimes committed against Ukrainian Jews and in no way celebrate them through honoring their perpetrators.”

75 posted on 04/29/2025 7:55:29 PM PDT by Kazan
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Hitler and Stalin went straight to Hell after their death.

There, they meet God. God asks Hitler, “How many women did you have relations with?”

Hitler replies,”One only, mein Eva.” God gives him the keys to a brand new Mercedes for his loyalty.

God asks the same question to Stalin and is met with the answer of 7-8 women. God is not happy with this answer and gives Stalin an old, rusty Ford model T.

After some time, Stalin is taking a ride in his car. He hears Hitler laughing at him.
Frustrated with Hitler’s laughter, he pulls up next to him and says,
“Stop laughing at me.”
Hitler replies,” I wasn’t laughing at you. I just saw the pope go by on roller skates.”


76 posted on 04/29/2025 8:16:49 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives)
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To: Yo-Yo

“Don’t forget that Germany also signed a non-aggression pact with Great Britain.”

It was no such thing. It wasn’t a treaty. there were no terms or a duration. It was just a vaguely worded memorandum.


77 posted on 04/29/2025 10:47:56 PM PDT by rxh4n1
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To: Dr. Franklin

What a mendacious pantload. Poland was too small? They stole land from almost all of their neighbors. Lands that they had no valid claim to except a few Poles lived there.


78 posted on 04/29/2025 10:52:35 PM PDT by rxh4n1
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To: dfwgator

“something Hitler might like to have known, when he declared war on the US.”

Hitler knew. Japan was already in the Axis when they signed with the Soviet Union. Hitler blindsided Japan again with Barbarossa. He made no arrangements with Japan to attack the SU, and the terms of the Axis pact didn’t require Japan to join in, so they didn’t.


79 posted on 04/29/2025 10:59:17 PM PDT by rxh4n1
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To: BobL

“As were the WESTERN Industrialists who propped up Hitler to fight the Communist Soviets, “

This makes a lot of sense as Ford sold a huge auto plant to the Soviet Union and helped them get it started. Vickers too. Man, we got some bad history from posters here.


80 posted on 04/29/2025 11:05:00 PM PDT by rxh4n1
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