“We will firmly defend the truth”: Putin wrote an article about World War II

Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote an article entitled “75 years of the Great Victory: a shared responsibility before history and the future,” dedicated to the Second World War. The head of state announced his desire to do this at the end of 2019 amid accusations from the West that the USSR allegedly bears equal responsibility with fascist Germany for unleashing a world military conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945.

“Forgetting the lessons of history inevitably turns into a heavy retribution. We will firmly defend the truth based on documented historical facts, we will continue to honestly and impartially talk about the events of the Second World War, ”Putin said.

The head of state also called on all states to step up the process of declassifying their own archives and publishing previously unknown documents on the war and the pre-war period, adding that Russia has been doing this over the past years.

“We are ready here for wide cooperation, for joint research projects of historians,” he added.

Reasons for the beginning of World War II

Vladimir Putin pointed out that the main prerequisites for the Second World War were the results of the First World War - its final document (Treaty of Versailles) became a symbol of injustice towards Germany. This was used by the Nazis, who "skillfully played on these feelings, built their propaganda, promising to save Germany from the legacy of Versailles, restore its former power, and, in fact, pushed the German people to a new war."

“It is paradoxical, but this was directly or indirectly promoted by Western states, first of all, Great Britain and the USA. Their financial and industrial circles were very active in investing in German factories and factories producing military products. And among the aristocracy and the political establishment there were many supporters of radical, far-right, nationalist movements, which were gaining strength both in Germany and in Europe, ”the Russian president noted.

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According to him, the League of Nations, created after the First World War, which was dominated by Great Britain and France, could prevent a recurrence of the horrors of the global conflict, but got bogged down in "empty conversations."

The head of state also notes that the outbreak of World War II was not an “unexpected and sudden” event, but was the result of a number of trends and factors that “lined up in one fatal chain”

“The main thing that predetermined the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind is state egoism, cowardice, indulgence of an aggressor that has gained strength, and the unpreparedness of political elites to seek a compromise,” he said.

Putin emphasized that all leading countries to one degree or another bear their share of blame for the beginning of World War II and it is unfair to assert that the visit of Nazi Foreign Minister Ribbentrop to Moscow is the main reason.

“Each (country) made irreparable mistakes, arrogantly believing that it is possible to outwit others, to secure one-sided advantages or to stay away from the impending world disaster. And for such shortsightedness, for refusing to create a collective security system, they had to pay millions of lives, colossal losses, ”the Russian leader stated.

Munich agreement and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

The Russian leader also drew attention to the pre-war years and various interstate agreements that were concluded by European countries with Hitler Germany. Vladimir Putin pointed out that at present, Western politicians, in particular, Polish leaders, “would like to shut up Munich.”

"Why? Not only because their countries then betrayed their obligations, supported the Munich agreement, and some even took part in sharing the booty, but also because it was somehow inconvenient to recall that in those dramatic days of 1938 only the USSR stood up for Czechoslovakia, ” - Putin explained.

According to him, this demonstrated to the Soviet authorities that their opinion on the security of the continent would not be accepted, while the creation of an anti-Soviet front. Meanwhile, the USSR did everything possible to form an anti-Hitler coalition, despite the double-faced position of Western countries.

“In this situation, the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact with Germany, in fact, made it the last of the European countries. Moreover, against the background of real danger, they will face a war on two fronts - with Germany in the west and with Japan in the east, where intense battles were already taking place on the Khalkhin-Gol river, ”the president added.

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Putin noted that Joseph Stalin and his entourage deserve many well-founded charges for crimes committed against their own people, but they were aware of the "nature of external threats."

“They saw that the Soviet Union was trying to leave alone with Germany and its allies, and acted in recognition of this real danger in order to win valuable time to strengthen the country's defense,” he wrote.

At the same time, Putin assured that there are no archival documents confirming the assumption that the Soviet Union intended to start a preventive war against Germany.

Info attacks of the West

The head of state noted that, despite Moscow’s willingness to work with Western countries to establish the truth about World War II, a number of states are increasing the number of information attacks against Russia.

“In pursuit of their goals, they are increasing the number and scale of information attacks against our country, they want to make excuses, feel guilty, accept thoroughly hypocritical politicized declarations,” Putin said.

As an example, he cited the resolution "On the Importance of European Memory for the Future of Europe" adopted by the European Parliament on September 19, 2019. The document says that the "Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact" (the Non-aggression Treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union, signed in 1939) "divided Europe and the territories of independent states between the two totalitarian regimes, which paved the way for the start of World War II."

In addition, the European deputies are concerned about the alleged efforts of Russia to "whitewash the crimes committed by the Soviet totalitarian regime." They demanded that Moscow stop “distorting” historical facts.

According to Putin, such “papers” pose real threats to the destruction of the post-war world order. The authors of the resolution “raised their hand on the findings of the Nuremberg Tribunal,” Putin added.

“I recall in this connection that the process of European integration itself, during which the relevant structures were created, including the European Parliament, was made possible only thanks to lessons learned from the past, its clear legal and political assessments. And those who consciously cast doubt on this consensus are destroying the foundations of post-war Europe, ”the Russian leader said.

USSR and its contribution to the victory over Nazism

The main and decisive contribution to the defeat of the Nazi invaders was made by the USSR and the Red Army, despite all today's attempts to prove the opposite, Putin noted.

“This popular, human truth - harsh, bitter and merciless - was largely conveyed to us by writers and poets who went through the fire and hell of front-line trials. For mine, as for other generations, their honest, deep stories, novels, piercing “lieutenant prose” and poems left their mark on the soul forever, became a testament - to honor the veterans who did everything for the Victory that they could remember about those who remained on the battlefields, ”he remarked.

Putin recalled that the losses of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War amounted to almost 27 million people. He also cited data on the losses of the Red Army during the battles for Rzhev and Rzhevsky ledge - including the wounded and missing: 1 million 342 thousand 888 people.

“It is necessary to continue the painstaking work to restore the names and destinies of all the dead: fighters of the Red Army, partisans, underground workers, prisoners of war and prisoners of concentration camps, civilians destroyed by punishers. This is our duty, ”Putin said.

At the same time, according to the head of state, there can be no question of justifying the crimes committed by Nazi collaborators; there is no statute of limitations for them.

“Therefore, it is puzzling when, in a number of countries, those who have tarnished themselves by collaborating with the Nazis are suddenly equated with veterans of World War II. I consider it inadmissible to equate liberators and occupiers. And the heroization of Nazi accomplices can only be seen as a betrayal of the memory of our fathers and grandfathers. Betrayal of those ideals that united the peoples in the fight against Nazism, ”said the President of Russia.

Revisionism of the Second World War

The President of Russia emphasized that the manifestations of historical revisionism in the West regarding the outcome of the Second World War are dangerous because they grossly and cynically distort the understanding of the principles of peaceful development laid down at conferences in Yalta and in San Francisco.

He emphasized that it was at a series of conferences with the participation of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain that the foundations of a world in which there had been no global war for 75 years, despite sharp conflicts, were laid.

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In addition, based on the experience of the League of Nations, a UN Security Council was formed with permanent members who are eligible to veto. According to Putin, at the moment the UN system is not as effective as it could be, but the Security Council remains a unique mechanism for preventing global conflict.

“Sounding quite often in recent years, calls to revoke the veto, to deny the permanent members of the Security Council special opportunities in fact are irresponsible. After all, if this happens, the United Nations will essentially turn into that League of Nations - a meeting for empty talk, devoid of any levers of influence on world processes; how it ended is well known, ”he said

Five nuclear powers

Vladimir Putin expressed hope that an in-person meeting of the leaders of the five nuclear powers, permanent members of the UN Security Council, will soon be held. The corresponding Russian initiative was supported by the leaders of China, France, the USA and Great Britain.

According to the President of Russia, at this meeting it will be possible to speak frankly about the problems of maintaining peace, strengthening global and regional security, strategic arms control, as well as joint efforts to counter terrorism, extremism and other major challenges and threats. In this case, special attention will be paid to the situation in the world economy against the backdrop of the crisis caused by the pandemic of the coronavirus infection COVID-19. It is unacceptable to turn the economy into an instrument of pressure and confrontation, Putin added.

“The agenda of the upcoming five summit proposed by Russia is extremely important and relevant both for our countries and for the whole world. And on all counts, we have specific ideas and initiatives, ”said the Russian leader.

Vladimir Putin emphasized that the permanent members of the UN Security Council should trust each other, relying on a common historical memory.

“This will serve as a solid basis for successful negotiations and concerted actions for the sake of strengthening stability and security on the planet, for the prosperity and well-being of all states. Without exaggeration, this is our common duty and responsibility to the whole world, to present and future generations, ”the Russian President stated in his article.