Disinfo: European countries try to rewrite history of the WWII - Russia preserves the truth

Summary

European countries try to rewrite the history of WWII – Russia preserves the truth.

The Russian government had stressed several times that some European countries were trying to rewrite the history (of WWII). Russia’s president declared in mid-December that they, especially Poland, had conspired with fascist Germany and that Russia had documents showing how they had conducted these talks. According to Russian politicians, Europe is not prepared to admit this part of its history.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia has nothing to prove to anyone, the important thing is to preserve the history of the Great Patriotic War.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about WWII that is part of the Kremlin’s policy of historical revisionism.

It accuses European countries of "rewriting the history of the Second World War". According to this policy, the official Russian historiography is the only “true” way of interpreting the historical events about WWII. The European Parliament called the war the bloodiest tragedy of the century, which resulted in millions of victims of authoritarian regimes both of fascist Germany and the USSR. The European Parliament adopted a resolution, describing the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact of 23 August 1939 as a key element causing World War II. The European Parliament also paid tribute to the victims of Stalinism, Nazism and other totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.

This article also contains an attempt to erode the historical role of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact by stating that European countries, especially Poland, "had conspired with fascist Germany", so they should blame themselves for the German-Soviet attack in September 1939. The claim that Poland had conspired with fascist Germany goes against available historical documents. Before WWII, Poland had tense political relations with Nazi Germany, which expressed open territorial claims over Poland (revision of the status of the Free City of Danzig and control over the “Polish Corridor”). Despite intense political pressure from Hitler, Poland consistently refused to become part of the Nazi block.

See similar disinformation cases alleging that Poland and Baltic states distort the truth about WWII and that in 1938, Poland was a Nazi ally.

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Sputnik Germany (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 182
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19/01/2020
  • Outlet language(s) German
  • Keywords: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, West, Historical revisionism, WWII, Europe, Vladimir Putin, Nazi/Fascist
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Disinfo: Poland was an ally of Nazi Germany and had a role in the outbreak of WWII

The fact that they, in the European Parliament, are condemning the Russian view of Poland’s role at the beginning of World War II is logical. On September 19, 2019, the European Parliament passed a resolution on “the importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe ”, which blamed Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union for the outbreak of World War II.

This is the position of Poland, Romania, the Baltic states and many others. They want historical justice for themselves, as they see it because for 45 years they have been under the control of the Soviet Union and are now trying to punish Russia for the twentieth century.

This debate was motivated by the Russian President’s statements about World War II and Poland’s role in it. Putin mentioned that, shortly before the war broke out, Poland was with Nazi Germany. In 1938, Poland participated in the division of Czechoslovakia.

Jan 18, 2020
Disproof

This message is part of the Kremlin’s policy of historical revisionism and an attempt to erode the disastrous historical role of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by stating that Poland was a Nazi ally, so it should blame itself.

Claims are not confirmed by any available historical documents. Before WWII, Poland had tense political relations with Nazi Germany, which expressed open territorial claims to Poland (revision of the status of the Free City of Danzig and control over the “Polish Corridor”). Despite intense political pressure from Hitler, Poland consistently refused to become a part of the Nazi block.

Disinfo: Claims about Russia’s interference into US elections are unfounded

US accusations of Moscow’s alleged interference in the internal affairs of other states is an illusion, as well as a “desire to wishful thinking” in order to get some kind of external adversary whose presence helps to solve domestic political issues.

Jan 18, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation denying Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Available evidence suggests that Russian meddling the 2016 US presidential poll - which was specifically aimed to damage Clinton's campaign and aid her opponent - did affect the outcome of the vote, particularly in three critical swing states where Trump's victory margins were the thinnest.

Disinfo: Euromaidan was a coup led by fascists

In 2014 (…) a coup happened in Ukraine with the participation of the Nazis, who were used to taking power into their own hands, and blaming Russia for all of Ukraine’s problems of Ukraine.

Jan 18, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives painting the 2013-14 Ukrainian revolution as a coup d'etat, and Ukrainian politics as dominated by fascist/Nazi groups and ideology.

The Euromaidan was not a coup but a nationwide popular protest against the government's sudden announcement that it would not sign the EU Association Agreement. See the full debunk here.