Purpose and character of the Great Patriotic War

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the objectives and nature of the World War II and the Great Patriotic war. The author describes what the cost of the Victory won by the Soviet Union was, what the role of the allies in this war was, as well as the significance of the MolotovRibbentrop Pact. Basing on numerous archive documents the author rebuts the theory that has recently emerged in foreign countries claiming that the USSR was preparing to attack Germany in the 1930s. The article becomes topical against the ideological campaign background in Europe and worldwide aiming to redefine the role of the USSR in the defeat of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and make the Soviet Union and Germany equally responsible for the outbreak of war.