Russia Reorients Focus on WWII Victims as Officials Miss Auschwitz Ceremony

The article delves into Russia's evolving discourse surrounding World War II, highlighting a significant memorial dedicated to Soviet civilians.

On the outskirts of St Petersburg, a towering memorial dedicated to "Soviet civilians who fell victim to the Nazi genocide" stands as a poignant reminder of the human suffering endured during World War II. At a height exceeding 40 meters, the monument features a mother and her children, while at its base, bronze depictions of real-life narratives tell tales of loss. An eternal flame, encircled by the names of Nazi concentration camps such as Auschwitz, Sobibor, and Treblinka, burns continuously below.

Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurated this striking monument on January 27, a date that holds dual significance for Russia: it marks the day in 1944 when Soviet forces broke the lengthy siege of Leningrad and, a year later, the liberation of Auschwitz. This year, however, he was not invited to the ceremony commemorating Auschwitz's liberation, reflecting a noticeable shift in focus away from the Holocaust and its specific victims.

While acknowledging the horrors of the Holocaust in prior statements, such as recognizing the "extermination of millions of Jews, Russians, and Roma," Putin chose to highlight the "genocide of the Soviet people" during the memorial's opening. This rhetorical pivot exemplifies a broader trend within Russian discourse which now emphasizes the collective suffering of Soviet citizens during what is dubbed the Great Patriotic War, resulting in the loss of over 27 million lives.

Notably, this change in narrative comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Russia and the West, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Critics argue that this emphasis on victimhood serves a strategic purpose in portraying Russia as a target of Western aggression, thereby deflecting responsibility.

As Russia's Holocaust remembrance continues to evolve, the historical context remains complex. The Holocaust, characterized by an industrial-scale plan aimed primarily at the Jewish people, contrasts with the Soviet narrative that seeks to represent all Soviet citizens as victims of the Nazis' broader campaign. This narrative shift has not escaped international scrutiny, as many assert that it oversimplifies the singular tragedy of the Jewish suffering during the Holocaust.

Israel's Ambassador to Moscow, Simone Halperin, reaffirmed the importance of recognizing the Holocaust as a specific genocide against the Jewish people rather than just one aspect of the broader Soviet narrative.

As tensions continue, the absence of Russian officials from the Auschwitz commemorative events has triggered responses from various quarters. Rabbi Alexander Boroda, a leading voice in Russia's Jewish community, criticized the exclusion, framing it as a dishonor to the legacy of liberators from various nations who united to defeat fascism.

Initiatives by Jewish organizations in Russia seek to combat rising Holocaust denial and promote awareness of the historical atrocities. Anna Bokshitskaya, Executive Director of the Russian Jewish Congress, underscores the imperative of remembering history to safeguard against future occurrences of similar hatred.