The Soviet Union had little public discussion of the Holocaust and what was the systematic murder of European Jews Hitler.
At the places of mass shooting, the Nazis, in the Soviet territory, there were few monuments and boards referring to Jewish victims.
This began to change after the fall of communism. Russian officials have proudly talking about the historical role of their country in Hitler’s victory and the rescue of the Jewish people from extermination.
Twenty years ago, Putin’s President was invited to Poland to take part in the events that celebrate the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz.
Speaking in Krakow on January 27, 2005, he noted:
“The Nazis chose Poland as a place of the planned mass extermination of people, first of all, Jews … We see the Holocaust not only as a national tragedy for the Jewish people, but as a catastrophe for all humanity.”
“It is our duty to remember the Holocaust,” he added.
Since then, Russia’s relations with Poland, Europe and the West have become more intense, especially after Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russian officials were not invited back to Poland for the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz camp.
“This is the anniversary of the liberation. We remember the victims, but we also celebrate freedom,” wrote the director of the Auschwitz Museum Peter Kiwinski last September. “It is difficult to imagine the presence of Russia, which clearly does not understand the value of freedom.”
The decision not to distribute the invitation to Moscow was condemned by one of the most influential leaders of the Jewish leaders of Russia.
“Without inviting Russia, he is offensive to the memory of the liberators and their contribution to the victory over fascism,” said Robin Alexander Barod, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia recently at a press conference in Moscow.
“This is a very bad sign, because memory is important, and there are common values that helped to defeat fascism. Despite their differences, the countries of the anti-guitar coalition, various political systems and ideology managed to unite … for the common victory” .
Meanwhile, Jewish groups are doing their best to remind the Russians about the past so that it never repeated.
“The right wing is increasing everywhere. The number of Holocaust denials is increasing,” says Anna Bokitskaya, executive director of the Russian Jewish Congress.
“That is why it is very important to tell people about the events that took place more than 80 years ago.”
