Why do Russians not know they with Germany caused WW2?

This gap in Russian public understanding comes down to how WWII is taught and remembered inside Russia versus how it’s framed in most of the rest of the world.

1. The Historical Fact

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact (August 23, 1939) was a non-aggression treaty between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, with a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

One week later, Germany invaded Poland from the west (Sept 1, 1939), and the USSR invaded Poland from the east (Sept 17, 1939).

This joint dismantling of Poland is considered by most Western historians to be the immediate trigger of WWII in Europe.

2. The Soviet/Russian Narrative

Soviet version: The pact was a defensive necessity, buying time to prepare for an inevitable German attack.

The invasion of eastern Poland is framed as the “liberation” of Western Ukraine and Western Belarus — supposedly to protect ethnic Ukrainians and Belarusians from the Nazis.

Textbooks long avoided using the word “alliance” or “joint action” with Germany, instead presenting events as separate and unrelated.

The war, in Russian memory, doesn’t start in 1939 — it starts in 1941, when Germany invades the USSR (Operation Barbarossa).

3. Why Many Russians Don’t See the USSR as a Co-Causer

Education gaps – School history largely skips over or sanitizes the pact’s secret protocol and downplays Soviet coordination with Germany in 1939–40.

Victory-centric memory – The “Great Patriotic War” narrative is built around being the victim of aggression and the savior of Europe, not as an early aggressor.

Postwar propaganda – During the Cold War, admitting cooperation with the Nazis would have undermined the USSR’s moral authority and leadership of the “anti-fascist” cause.

Modern political laws – Since 2014, Russian laws restrict “rehabilitation of Nazism” and “false information” about the USSR’s role in WWII — these laws have been used to prosecute historians for publicizing the pact as enabling Hitler.

4. International vs. Russian Framing

Western historical consensus Official Russian narrative

USSR and Germany jointly started WWII by invading Poland in 1939. USSR entered Poland to protect minorities and secure borders.

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was a cynical alliance between two aggressors. Pact was a pragmatic defensive move to buy time against Nazi attack.

The Soviet invasion was coordinated with German military action. No formal military coordination, just coincidental timing.

WWII starts September 1, 1939. The Great Patriotic War starts June 22, 1941.

5. Why the Belief Persists

National identity – Admitting the USSR helped start WWII would tarnish the central myth of being history’s great anti-fascist liberator.

State control of history – The Russian government treats the WWII narrative as a political tool, reinforcing unity and patriotism.

Generational reinforcement – For 80+ years, every school textbook, war memorial, and Victory Day parade has reinforced the 1941–45 “liberator” story.

Legal suppression – Modern Russian historians who present the Western view risk fines, job loss, or prosecution.

Bottom line:

Many Russians don’t think of the USSR as sharing responsibility for starting WWII because the official narrative never frames 1939 that way — and in fact, actively suppresses that framing. The war “begins” in 1941 in public memory, so the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and the joint invasion of Poland are treated as marginal or justified, rather than as co-aggression.

Key Points of Divergence

1. When WWII starts

Western view: September 1939 (Germany + USSR attack Poland).

Russian view: June 1941 (Germany attacks USSR).

2. Role of Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

Western view: Enabled Hitler’s aggression and partition of Poland.

Russian view: Defensive necessity to buy time.

3. Soviet invasions (Poland, Baltics, Finland, Romania)

Western view: Acts of aggression, co-responsibility for starting the war.

Russian view: Liberation, reunification, or defense.

4. Balance of credit for victory

Western view: Multi-front Allied victory with Soviet Eastern Front being decisive but dependent on Western aid and pressure from other fronts.

Russian view: USSR bore the decisive burden; Western front opened late and played a supporting role.

Why This Matters

By starting the “real” war in 1941, the Russian narrative removes the USSR’s role as an early co-aggressor, frames it solely as a victim and liberator, and preserves the moral purity of the victory story. This isn’t just academic — it’s a foundational piece of modern Russian national identity.

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