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Some Nations Misuse Memories of WWII for Political Gains - Cultural Center

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The head of the Russian Cultural Center (RCC) Oleg Zhiganov said that memories of World War II were used for political gains.

Red Army soldiers repulsing a tank assault near Stalingrad - Sputnik International
People Cannot Change WWII History – Activist
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Certain countries are guilty of reassessing events in World War II for their current political benefit, the head of the Russian Cultural Center (RCC) in Washington, DC told Sputnik.

"In some European countries it is considered politically incorrect to admit that Russians did anything good," Oleg Zhiganov said. "Memories of the war have been used for political gains."

A survey conducted by ICM for Sputnik news agency in April showed that only 13 percent of Europeans polled think the Soviet Army played a key role in liberating Europe from fascism during World War II.

Almost a quarter of EU citizens could not say what countries played major roles in changing the course of the war.

Zhiganov said the fact that the Soviet Union sustained the biggest blow in World War II is undeniable.

The RCC head said World War II is fading into history and becomes something people only know about through movies, history books, or the Internet.

"When you watch a Western movie you can't even say what side Russians fought on," he added.

Zhiganov argued that it is important to make the memories of the past current for living generations to learn lessons from the war to prevent another one.

"The stories of what actually occurred, narrated by the veterans, should be preserved for the future," he added.

The Soviet casualties during World War II exceeded 27 million, taking both civilian and military casualties together, according to historical estimates. The number of the Soviet Red Army deaths is estimated to be over 8.7 million, amounting to more than a half the 14 million casualties estimated among allied forces.

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