World war two in modern historiography and public consciousness

Abstract

Ever since the end of WWII and the Great Patriotic War 70 years ago, debates on this epoch-making event in world history have never ceased. They became particularly acute after the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Last year, a new burst of discussions was caused by the 70th anniversary of the Victory. The author of this scientific paper, which was heard at a meeting of the RAS Presidium, highlights important points of the discussions and the shift of the focus of historical studies from military actions toward a wide panorama of life activities of society and individuals in the conditions of the war and its reflection in mass consciousness.