The Great Victory in historic and contemporary perspective

UWI author, historian and political scientist Associate Professor Mehmet Perinçek shared his evaluation on the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

Perinçek emphasized that “Victory Day” changed the course of history for the entire world. “Had the USSR not won, the entire world would have been Nazified” he said and added, “In such a case, you would have either had to surrender and raise the swastika or go to war against Germany.”

Mehmet Perinçek also described Zelenskyy’s statement that Ukraine “cannot be held responsible” for whatever happens during the military spectacle on the Victory Day, as a “sign of desperation”.

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A victory at a great cost

This victory was won at a great cost. One of the main reasons it is so widely commemorated in Russia is that during World War II, there was hardly no one who didn’t lose a member of her/his family. Everyone either lost her/his life, became a veteran, or was directly affected by the war.

You see that the most prominent, most educated segments of society were also fighting on the front lines. Leaders of the Communist Party, their children. For instance, Stalin’s son was captured by the Germans. The germans offered to exchange him for a German general, but Stalin refused, saying, “I don’t exchange a general for a corporal”. His son was later executed in a prison camp. Stalin’s other son was a combat pilot fighting on the front lines and received medals for his service. Not just Stalin’s, but nearly all the children of the Politburo and the military command fought on the front lines, and many of them were lost their lives.

Artists and writers formed special volunteer units. There were child partisans, heroic elderly people. Take Tanya, the young girl Nazım Hikmet refers to in Human Landscapes from My Country. Tanya was actually a code name; her real name was Zoya. As the Nazis approached Moscow, she took part in sabotage operations, setting fire to German houses and units. She was captured and executed. Her body was left on display for nearly 20 days. She was just 17 and showed tremendous bravery.

“The entire world would have been Nazified”

As for the consequences of the victory; if the Soviet Union had lost, the entire world would have been Nazified. You would have either had to surrender and raise the swastika or go to war against Germany. The entire world was aware of this, and no one denied it. But during the Cold War, they tried “change” this fact. They began to claim that it was the US that saved the world from the Nazism. But when you look at that time, it’s clear that the decisive force in the victory over Germany was the Soviet Union.

You can also see this from an example of that time: The Germans came as close as 30 to 40 kilometers from Moscow. But by late 1941 and early 1942, they were pushed back. A documentary about the counteroffensive of the Soviet Union won an Oscar in Hollywood. The documentary was shown all over the world, because it was the first time the Nazi forces had been repelled.

Also, the victory in Stalingrad, the turning point where Germany was stopped and pushed back, was celebrated worldwide. The clearest sign of that stands still in Paris as “Square Stalingrad” and in Brussels as “Stalingrad Street”. Many cities across Europe have streets or squares named after Stalingrad. That shows the West, at that time, also attributed the victory to the Soviets.

In fact, after the German army was first pushed back near Moscow, Native American tribes in the US declared Stalin an “honorary Native American chief” of the Confederation of Tribes. But with the onset of the Cold War, a deliberate effort was made to erase little by little the Soviet Union’s share in that victory.

Sign of desperation

This statement of Zelenskyy reveals only his desperation. A year or two ago, he would not have said such things. But now, he is in such a deadlock that Trump will withdraw the US’s support, the situation at the front is quite bad for Ukraine, even Europe’s hawks say that Ukraine has no chance of reclaiming its lost territories.

Moreover, Zelenskyy’s hold on power is weakening. He hasn’t just led the country into ruin, there is also widespread corruption. Even Trump’s advisor openly called Ukraine “the most corrupt country in the world”. The US now openly says that the aid it sent is being pocketed by those in power in Kyiv. This is why, if Zelenskyy loses his position, he will face serious consequences, possibly something similar to what Mussolini experienced. He is afraid. The fear of a complete defeat in the war, the fear of a US-Russia agreement in certain issues.

He’s now trying anything to reverse the situation. When you are in an ongoing war, that kind of stance is irrational, as it just alienates and threatens many countries. Also add that Xi Jinping was present on the Victory Day. If a pebble were to fall on Xi’s head, this could trigger Ukraine’s diplomatic isolation even further.

Attempt to prevent US-Russia agreement

Zelenskyy’s goal is to escalate tensions, to prevent any chance of a US-Russia agreement, and by provoking Russia into taking harsher measures, he hopes to gain the US to his side in the ensuing chaos. That is also Europe’s wish.