Soviet-German & Russian-Ukrainian War: 1418 Days of Conflict & Reflections
- in addition, the sacred status of the number 1418 in Russia is maintained thanks to one of the sites of the cult of Victory Madness.Its creation began in...
- The khaki shrine has become the "spiritual" center, so to speak, of this pathos-filled place.
- But the immersive museum complex "Path of Remembrance" was built around the perimeter of the military church with the slogan "1418 steps along the Path of Remembrance" and...
Sunday, January 11, was the 1418th day of full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. This is an vital figure for history – that’s how long, in Soviet terms, the “Great Patriotic War” lasted. In Ukraine, it is now called the “soviet-German war”. And this symbolic number is a reason to think about a lot.
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“Notable date”, “soviet speaking”, “it is indeed called” – are there not too many assumptions to seriously discuss this topic? No! As that war, the “Great Fatherland”, and the mythology created by it is the basis of the propagandistic provision of the current war – the largest in Europe as the 40s of the last century.And the current war, unluckily, may be a harbinger of future wars, even bigger ones.
The memory of the old war as a means of fueling the new war
Table of Contents
In Russia - after the collapse of the USSR – this very concept ”The Great Patriotic War” remained essential in the politics of ancient memory. The cry “But we conquered them all!” helped the government to consolidate the population. The great democrat Yeltsin also used it. But already after Putin came to power, purposeful creation of a neo-pagan cult of victory, victory madness began.it’s peak has become the day of victory in the “Great Patriotic War” – May 9,especially in jubilee years,every five years – in 2005,2010,2015,etc. This victory frenzy has developed its own concept, its own set of symbols, ritual places.
The main symbol is the orange-black Georga ribbon.In 2014,it became the distinguishing mark of the participants of Russia’s hybrid aggression against Ukraine.
But the emotionally charged words “fascist”,”struggle with fascism” became a propagandistic whip,which was used to drive up the rating of the Russian population’s support for the war against Ukraine.
By 2022, Russian propaganda words about “Ukrainian fascists” had become banal, worn out.Under the conditions of a full-scale invasion, the actions of the occupying power in the temporarily occupied territories showed that these were no longer just mobilizing words, but also a cruel policy with signs of genocide.(in May 2022 it
in addition, the sacred status of the number 1418 in Russia is maintained thanks to one of the sites of the cult of Victory Madness.Its creation began in the first year of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine – 2014 – thinking about future wars. Construction of a huge “military-patriotic cultural and recreational park of the Russian Armed Forces “Patriots”” began in the town of Piamaskava in Kubinka. (In the past, only a military airbase, a tank range, and an armory museum were located in the area.) The khaki shrine has become the “spiritual” center, so to speak, of this pathos-filled place. If officially, then “Patriarch’s Cathedral in the Name of the Resurrection of christ” or “Main Church of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”. it was put into operation (the tongue does not rise to say “dedicated”) in June 2020, that is, in honor of another important anniversary of victory in madness.
Photo: Screenshot of the Russian propaganda press in 2020. But the immersive museum complex “Path of Remembrance” was built around the perimeter of the military church with the slogan “1418 steps along the Path of Remembrance” and the cult number 1418 on the museum’s Internet address.It is the numerological center for the worship of this number – it was from this that the Russian and Belarusian actions “1418 steps to Victory” began. But the 1,418 feet of this infamous number is also in the “holy house” of the Russian Armed Forces. In general, this building is a crazy example of introducing numerological mysticism into Orthodoxy. Many parameters of the building are explained by numbers that are somehow related to the “Great patriotic war” (usually these numbers are “pulled behind the ears”). At first, the sanctity of the number was explained as follows: “1418 square meters is the area of stained glass windows in the upper parts of the church in the vaults”. Later, apparently, it was decided that the clarification was strange, and now “the church” on the website the explanation is different (but not much smarter): “14.18 meters is the height of the small dome.” In general, there was a lot of militaristic “Orthodox church” numerological symbolism during the construction. Here are the best examples: “431 precious and semi-precious stones in the iconostasis – 431 rifle divisions Ukraine officially transitioned its commemoration of the end of World War II from May 9 to May 8, aligning with the Western European tradition and emphasizing remembrance of all victims of the conflict, including those who suffered under both Nazi and Stalinist regimes. This shift reflects a broader re-evaluation of historical narratives and a distancing from Soviet-era interpretations. For decades, Ukraine, as part of the Soviet Union, observed Victory Day on May 9, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. However, the signing of the German Instrument of surrender actually took place on May 8, 1945, at 11:01 PM Central European Time, which is May 9 in Moscow time due to the time difference. Following the 2014 Revolution of Dignity and the subsequent conflict with Russia, Ukraine began to reassess its relationship with its Soviet past.The move to May 8 symbolizes a break from that past and a closer alignment with European values. While temporary setbacks occurred, such as during the presidency of viktor Yanukovych, a consensus emerged in the 2020s that May 8 represents the end of the war and a day to remember its victims, rather than a celebration of victory. This outlook acknowledges the immense suffering endured by Ukrainians during the war,both at the hands of Nazi Germany and within the Soviet system. The shift in commemoration also highlights the complex experience of Ukrainians during World War II. Ukrainians fought on both sides of the conflict, and the country was a major battleground between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The commemoration now emphasizes that Ukrainians faced oppression from both regimes. For example,the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) fought against both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union,seeking an independent Ukrainian state. Acknowledging this multifaceted history is central to the new approach to remembrance. The Institute of National Remembrance (https://memory.gov.ua/en) actively researches and promotes understanding of this complex period. In 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially established May 8 as the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation in Ukraine, replacing the previous May 9 celebration. Presidential Decree 97/2023 formalized this change. This decree emphasizes the importance of honoring the memory of all victims of World War II and promoting reconciliation. The Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine (https://mva.gov.ua/en/) is responsible for organizing commemorative events and promoting historical awareness.They have stated that the shift to May 8 is a crucial step in building a national identity based on truth and reconciliation.
Ukraine Shifts Commemoration of World War II Victory to May 8
historical Context and the Move from May 9
Ukrainian Experience of World War II and Nazism
legal Framework and Official Statements