Editing Great Patriotic War (term)

{{Short description|Term used in some post-Soviet states for the Eastern front in World War II}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
[[File:2016 Immortal Regiment in Saint Petersburg (096).jpg|thumb|People in Saint Petersburg at the [[Immortal Regiment]], carrying portraits of their ancestors who fought in the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Great Patriotic War]].]]
[[File:Generál s vlajkou v pozadí - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|Veteran of the [[Soviet Army]] pays tribute on Victory Day in 2014 in Minsk under the cloak of the [[Flag of the Soviet Union|Soviet flag]].]]
[[File:Moscow Victory Day Parade (2019) 70.jpg|thumb|The [[Victory Banner|victory banner]] shown during the [[2019 Moscow Victory Day Parade]].]]
'''''The Great Patriotic War''''' ({{langx|ru|Великая Отечественная война|translit=Velikaya Otechestvennaya voyna}}){{efn|'''Additional translations in languages of the former Soviet Union:''' {{bulleted list|{{langx|az|Böyük Vətən müharibəsi}}|{{langx|be|Вялікая Айчынная вайна|Välikaja Ajčynnaja vajna}}|{{langx|et|Suur Isamaasõda}}|{{langx|hy|Հայրենական Մեծ պատերազմ|translit=Hayrenakan Mec paterazm}}|{{lang-ka|დიდი სამამულო ომი/Didi samamulo omi}}|{{langx|kk|Ulı Otan soğısı}}|{{langx|ky|Улуу Ата Мекендик согуш|translit=Uluu Ata Mekendik soğuş}}|{{langx|lt|Didysis Tėvynės karas}}|{{langx|lv|Lielais Tēvijas karš}}|{{langx|ro|Marele Război pentru apărarea Patriei}} ({{Moldovan Cyrillic|Мареле Рэзбой пентру апэраря Патрией}})|{{langx|tg|Ҷанги Бузурги Ватанӣ|translit=Jangi Buzurgi Vataní}}|{{langx|tk|Beýik Watançylyk urşy/Beyik Watançılıq urşı}}|{{langx|tt-Cyrl|Бөек Ватан сугышы|translit=Böyek Watan suğışı}}|{{langx|uk|Велика Вітчизняна війна|translit=Velyka Vitchyznyana viyna}}|{{langx|uz|Улуғ Ватан уруши|translit=Uluğ Vatan uruşi}}}}}} is a [[terminology|term]] used in [[Russia]] and some other [[post-Soviet states|former republics of the Soviet Union]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chervonenko |first=Vitalii |date=9 April 2015 |title= |script-title=uk:Рада ухвалила "декомунізаційний пакет" |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/politics/2015/04/150409_communizm_upa_vc |access-date=2019-01-13 |website=BBC News Україна |language=uk}}</ref> to describe the conflict fought during the period from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945 along the many fronts of the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] of [[World War II]], primarily between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Nazi Germany]]. For some legal purposes, this period may be extended to 11 May 1945 to include the end of the [[Prague offensive]].<ref name="veterans-law">Федеральный закон № 5-ФЗ от 12 января 1995, "О ветеранах" {{in lang|ru}}</ref>

== History ==
The term ''Patriotic War'' refers to the Russian resistance to the [[French invasion of Russia]] under [[Napoleon I]], which became known as the ''[[Patriotic War of 1812]]''. In [[Russian language|Russian]], the term {{lang|ru|отечественная война}} originally referred to a war on one's own territory ({{transliteration|ru|otechestvo}} means "the fatherland"), as opposed to a campaign abroad ({{lang|ru|заграничная война}}),<ref>For example, one of the books published shortly after the war was titled {{lang|ru|Письма русского офицера о Польше, Австрийских владениях, Пруссии и Франции, с подробным описанием похода Россиян противу Французов в 1805 и 1806 году, также <u>отечественной и заграничной войны</u>}} с 1812 по 1815 год..." ([[Fyodor Glinka]], Moscow, 1815–1816; the title was translated as "Letters of a Russian Officer on Poland, the Austrian Domains, Prussia and France; with a detailed description of the Russian campaign against the French in 1805 and 1806, and also <u>the Fatherland and foreign war</u> from 1812 to 1815..." in: A. Herzen, ''Letters from France and Italy, 1847–1851'', [[University of Pittsburgh Press]], 1995, p. 272).</ref> and later was reinterpreted as a war {{em|for}} the fatherland, i.e. a defensive war for one's homeland. Sometimes the Patriotic War of 1812 was also referred to as the ''Great Patriotic War'' ({{lang|ru|Великая отечественная война}}); the phrase first appeared in 1844<ref>It can be found in [[Vissarion Belinsky]]'s essay "Russian literature in 1843" first printed in magazine [[Otechestvennye Zapiski]], vol. 32 (1844), see page 34 of section 5 "Critics" (each section has its own pagination).</ref> and became popular on the eve of the centenary of the Patriotic War of 1812.<ref>For example, several books had the phrase in their titles, as: {{lang|ru|П. Ниве, Великая Отечественная война. 1812 годъ, М., 1912; И. Савостинъ, Великая Отечественная война. Къ 100-лѣтнему юбилею. 1812–1912 г., М., 1911; П. М. Андріановъ, Великая Отечественная война. (1812) По поводу 100-лѣтняго юбилея, Спб., 1912.}}</ref>

After 1914, the phrase was applied to [[World War I]].<ref name=dict/> It was the name of a special war-time appendix to the magazine ''Theater and Life'' ({{lang|ru|Театр и жизнь}}) in [[Saint Petersburg]], and referred to the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]] of World War I, where Russia fought against the [[German Empire]] and the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]].<ref name="dict" /> The phrases ''Second Patriotic War'' ({{lang|ru|Вторая отечественная война}}) and ''Great World Patriotic War'' ({{lang|ru|Великая всемирная отечественная война}}) were also used during World War I in Russia.<ref name=dict/>

The term ''Great Patriotic War'' re-appeared in the official newspaper of the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union|CPSU]], ''[[Pravda]]'', on 23 June 1941, just a day after [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] [[Operation Barbarossa|invaded the Soviet Union]]. It was found in the title of "The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet People" ({{transliteration|ru|Vělikaja Otěčestvěnnaja Vojna Sovětskogo Naroda}}), a long article by [[Yemelyan Yaroslavsky]], a member of Pravda editors' collegium. The phrase was intended to motivate the population to defend the Soviet fatherland and to expel the invader, and a reference to the Patriotic War of 1812 was seen as a great morale booster.<ref name=dict>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJtKKdpKCjsC&dq=%22%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F+%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F+%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B0+%D1%81&pg=PA555 The dictionary of modern citations and catch phrases], by [[Konstantin Dushenko]], 2006. {{in lang|ru}}</ref> During the Soviet period, historians engaged in huge distortions to make history fit with Communist ideology, with Marshal [[Mikhail Kutuzov]] and Prince [[Pyotr Bagration]] transformed into peasant generals, [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] alternatively ignored or vilified, and the war becoming a massive "People's War" fought by the ordinary people of [[Russian Empire|Russia]] with almost no involvement on the part of the government.{{sfn|Lieven|2010|pp=9–10}} The invasion by Germany was called the ''Great Patriotic War'' by the Soviet government to evoke comparisons with the victory by Tsar Alexander I over Napoleon's invading army.{{sfn|Stahel|2010|p=337}}

The term {{lang|ru|Отечественная война}} (Patriotic War or Fatherland War) was officially recognized by establishment of the [[Order of the Patriotic War]] on 20 May 1942, awarded for heroic deeds.

== Usage ==
[[File:2021_Moscow_Victory_Day_Parade_013.jpg|thumb|right|300px|2021 [[Moscow Victory Day Parade]]. [[Military parade]]s and Soviet military symbolism play an important role in the 9 May celebrations across Russia.]]
The term is not generally used outside the former Soviet Union, and the closest term is the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front of World War II]] (1941–1945). Neither term covers the initial phase of World War II in Eastern Europe, during which the USSR, then still in a [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact|non-aggression pact]] with Germany, invaded [[Soviet invasion of Poland|eastern Poland]] (1939), [[Occupation of the Baltic states|the Baltic states]] (1940), [[Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina|Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina]] (1940) and [[Winter War|Finland]] (1939–1940).<ref name="veterans-law" /><ref>{{cite book |first=Norman |last=Davies |author-link= Norman Davies |title= [[Europe at War 1939–1945: No Simple Victory]] |year= 2006 |location= London |publisher= [[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] |isbn= 9780333692851 |oclc= 70401618 |pages=153–155|chapter= Phase 1, 1939–1941: the era of the Nazi-Soviet pact}}</ref> The term also does not cover the [[Soviet–Japanese War]] (1945).<ref name="veterans-law" />

In Russia and some other post-Soviet countries, the term is given great significance; it is accepted as a representation of the most important part of [[World War II]]. Until 2014, [[Uzbekistan]] was the only nation in the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] that had not recognized the term, referring to it as World War II on the state holiday – the [[Day of Remembrance and Honour]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1058790.html|title=World War II – 60 Years After: For Some Central Asians, 'Great Patriotic War' is More Controversial Than Ever|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=8 April 2008 |last1=Saidazimova |first1=Gulnoza }}</ref> Since the 2000s, the [[Government of Russia|Russian government]] under [[Vladimir Putin]] has increasingly used the memory of the Great Patriotic War to foster national unity and justify contemporary political actions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Shaun |date=2025-05-07 |title=How VE Day and Putin’s war are forcing Ukrainians to relive their painful past |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/07/putin-russia-ukraine-second-world-war#:~:text=In%20Vladimir%20Putin's%20Russia,%20the,imagery%20of%20a%20new%20one. |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On 9 April 2015, the [[Verkhovna Rada|Ukrainian parliament]] replaced the term ''Great Patriotic War (1941–1945)'' (''Velyka vitchyzniana viina'') in the country's law with the "[[World War II|Second World War (1939–1945)]]" (''Druha svitova viina''),<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-purges-symbols-its-communist-past-321663 Ukraine Purges Symbols of Its Communist Past], [[Newsweek]], (10 April 2015)</ref> as part of a set of [[Decommunization in Ukraine|decommunization laws]]. Also in 2015, Ukraine's "[[Victory Day over Nazism in World War II]]" was established as a national holiday in accordance with the law of "On Perpetuation of Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939–1945". The new holiday was celebrated on May 9 and replaced the Soviet-Russian [[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]], which is also celebrated on May 9. These laws were adopted by the Ukrainian parliament within the package of laws on decommunization.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Про увічнення Перемоги у Великій Вітчизняній війні 1941–1945 років|url=https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1684-14|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-01|website=zakon.rada.gov.ua}}</ref> In 2023 Ukraine abolished the 2015 9 May "Victory Day over Nazism" holiday and replaced it with the new [[Public holidays in Ukraine|public holiday]] "[[Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945]]" which is celebrated on 8 May annually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zelenskyy signs law recognising 8 May as Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/06/12/7406493/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=en}}<br>{{cite news |title=Victory Day Celebration On May 9 Canceled In Ukraine|url=https://ukranews.com/en/news/935628-victory-day-celebration-on-may-9-canceled-in-ukraine|work=[[Ukrainian News Agency]]|date=30 May 2023|access-date=30 May 2023|language=English}}<br>{{cite news |title=Rada sets Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism on May 8|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3715687-rada-sets-day-of-remembrance-and-victory-over-nazism-on-may-8.html|work=[[Ukrinform]]|date=30 May 2023|access-date=30 May 2023|language=English}}</ref>

== Gallery of stamps ==
<gallery>
File:Post USSR 1963 Satlingrad battle.jpg|1963 Soviet stamp commemorating the 20th anniversary of the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], with caption reading {{lang|ru|Великая Отечественная война 1941-1945гг (The Great Patriotic War 1941-1945)}}.
File:Stamp of Ukraine s656.jpg|Ukrainian stamp commemorating the "60th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War", 1945–2005 ({{Langx|uk|60-річчя Перемоги у Великій Вітчизняній війні|lit=60-richchia Peremohy u Velykii Vitchyznianii Viini}})
File:07-z.png|Belarusian stamps for "70 years of victory in the Great Patriotic War 1945–2015" ({{Langx|be|70 hadow Peramohi w Vyalikay Aychynnay vayne 1945–2015}}).
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Soviet Union|Russia}}
* [[Operation Barbarossa]]
* ''[[Pobediteli]]''
* ''[[Pobedobesie]]''
* [[The Sacred War]]
* [[Strategic operations of the Red Army in World War II]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book | last=Lieven | first= D. C. B | date=2010 | title=Russia against Napoleon | url=https://archive.org/details/russiaagainstnap00liev_0 | access-date=15 April 2021 | publisher=Viking| isbn= 9780670021574 }}
* {{cite book | last=Stahel | first=David | date=2010 | title=Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Defeat in the East | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=978-0-521-76847-4 | edition=Third Printing}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Great Patriotic War}}
* ''[https://archive.org/details/greatpatrioticwarsovietunion Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union 1941–1945. A General Outline]'', English-language book published in the Soviet Union in 1974.
* [http://www.net-film.ru/en/topic-world-war-ii-page-1/ Documentary films and newsreels about the Great Patriotic War] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218033423/http://net-film.ru/en/topic-world-war-ii-page-1/ |date=18 December 2010 }}
* [https://pi.library.yorku.ca/ojs/index.php/cws/article/viewFile/11126/10215 Poems about the Great Patriotic War]
* [http://militera.lib.ru/h/fugate/index.html Bryan Fugate, Operation Barbarossa: Strategy And Tactics On The Eastern Front, 1941]

{{Clear}}
{{Moscow Victory Parade|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Eastern Front (World War II)|*]]
[[Category:Soviet Union in World War II| ]]
[[Category:Russian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Propaganda in the Soviet Union]]