85 years ago, the largest armed conflict in the history of mankind began, in which 61 countries of the world (80% of humanity) took part and approximately 110 million people took part directly in military operations. The confrontation was between two war camps: the Axis bloc (Germany, Italy, Japan, together with their satellites) and the anti-Hitler coalition (Great Britain, the USSR – from July 12, 1941, the USA, China, etc.). Combat operations were conducted in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, China, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic, and the Pacific Ocean. The main countries participating in the conflict have attracted all their economic, industrial and scientific potential. Nuclear weapons were used for the first time.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the countries, the anti-Hitler coalition, Nazi Germany and its accomplices, were defeated and defeated. The signing of the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945, sealed the victory over Nazism in Europe. On September 2, 1945, the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Japan was signed. This marked the end of World War II.

According to various sources, the total losses of the military and civilian population for almost six years of war are from 50 to 75 million people, in particular, because of the Holocaust, death from starvation, disease and mass murder. About 8 to 10 million of them are Ukrainians. This is almost a quarter of the entire population of Ukraine at that time. The reason for the huge losses and numerous mutilations of the military was the high intensity of hostilities and the so-called Stalinist tactics. “Meat assaults”. In general, in 1939–1945, considering those who died because of the actions of the Nazi and Soviet regimes, were taken to forced labor, repressed or deported, the population of Ukraine decreased from almost 41 to 27 million. In addition to human losses, Ukraine because of World War II. During the war, it suffered material losses in the amount of more than 45% of the losses of the entire USSR. More than 700 Ukrainian cities and 28,000 villages were destroyed, 18,000 medical and 33,000 educational institutions were destroyed or damaged, more than 16,000 and 550 industrial enterprises were destroyed, and countless historical values ​​were taken away. 10 million Ukrainians were left homeless or lived in damaged premises [1].

“Damn Hitler! How many people will be perplexed and lost, how many tears, how many executions there will be and what terrible trump cards are once again given to scoundrels... trash, garbage of humanity for many years ahead, how much food for revenge and destruction of the people. On the Ukrainian lands and villages, the fate of humanity is being decided in fire and flames, the huge problem of world hegemony is being resolved, the fate of humanity is being decided in our misfortune,” Oleksandr Dovzhenko wrote in “Schodennik” in April 1942. 80 years later, his words became relevant again, and the new dictator carefully copies the misanthropic policy of his predecessor. Against the background of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, the realization and reinterpretation of the lessons of World War II has acquired existential meaning for Ukraine. The Russian invasion threatened the very existence of Ukrainian statehood, and, along with it, the post-war established order in the world. Our soldiers are now fighting not only for the right of Ukraine to be a free democratic country, but also for the victory of the civilized world over totalitarianism. So, we study history, help the Armed Forces and believe in Victory.

 
Dilfuza Hlushchenko

[1] Україна в роки Другої світової війни: спроба нового концептуального погляду / І. К. Патриляк, М. А. Боровик. – Київ; Ніжин: Вид. ПП Лисенко М. М., 2010