October 14 p.m. In Prague, at a meeting of the prime ministers of the Visegrad Four countries (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary), the creation of the Platform for European Memory and Conscience was announced. The corresponding document was signed by the heads of 19 organizations from 13 EU countries, including Germany. The platform intends to coordinate the work of governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to “actively study the history of totalitarian regimes.”

Many experts express the opinion that the Platform will prepare an analogue of the Nuremberg trials in relation to the USSR and Russia as its legal successor.

Chief Editor Regnum news agency Modest Kolerov believes that the purpose of the new “condemnation of totalitarianism” will be to present claims to Russia for the payment of reparations for the “crimes of Stalinism” in Eastern European countries. Researcher at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Oleg Nemensky notes that “the West has a huge need to condemn the actions of the USSR in the Second World War. Without condemning Russia, the West cannot be confident in its positive self-esteem.”

Dancing in liberated Vienna.

And the head of the research programs of the Historical Memory Foundation, Vladimir Simindey, believes that “within the framework of this so-called. The “Platform of European Memory and Conscience” is attempting... supposedly to scientifically substantiate why the Nazi regime and Soviet socialism are fully comparable,” and on the basis of this to put pressure on Russia. He calls for “preempting some things at the diplomatic level, as well as engaging in active information support for your position.”

Taking into account recent trends, especially in connection with the decision adopted on August 23 this year. EU Justice Ministers in Warsaw Declaration on the occasion of the European Day of Remembrance of Totalitarian Regimes, which speaks of the responsibility of Soviet communism along with fascism “for the majority of shameful acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes”, the forecasts made by experts look very likely.

In this regard, it is necessary to recall what political changes actually accompanied the end of the Second World War for most countries of Eastern Europe. For example, in all these countries, with the exception of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, the first free multi-party elections since the 20-30s. Fascist dictatorships were established there and ended only after Soviet troops entered their territory. We can rightfully consider the events of 1944-1945. in these countries not by the “establishment of totalitarianism,” but by the liberation of the peoples of these countries from political, social, and in some cases, national oppression.

Let's look at the situation in these states separately.

Baltics

In 1926, the Lithuanian nationalist party, supported by the military, carried out a coup d'etat. Party leader and president Antanas Smetona was proclaimed “leader of the nation” in 1928, and practically unlimited power was concentrated in his hands. In 1936, all parties except the nationalist party were banned in Lithuania. In 1934, Latvian Prime Minister Karlis Ulmanis carried out a coup, dissolved parliament, banned all parties and received the title of “leader of the people” and unlimited power. That same year, a triumvirate of President and Prime Minister Päts, Commander-in-Chief Laidoner and Interior Minister Eerenpalu seized power in Estonia, dissolved parliament and banned all parties except the Fatherland Union. All these coups were marked by repression against the political opposition and the destruction of the rights and freedoms of citizens. Trade unions were banned and strike participants were brutally persecuted. In 1940, after the entry of Soviet troops, elections to the Seimas were held in the Baltic republics, which approved joining the USSR.

In 1926, Józef Pilsudski carried out a coup d'etat, became president for life and proclaimed the establishment of a “rehabilitation regime” (recovery). One of the symbols of the “sanation” was the concentration camp in Bereza-Kartuzskaya (now the Brest region of Belarus) for the political opposition. The concentration camp was built in 1935 with the help of Nazi "experts" as a replica of the Oranienburg concentration camp near Berlin. Under the new constitution of 1935, the president was responsible only “before God and history.” The legal opposition remained, but the results of the elections to the Sejm were shamelessly falsified. Therefore, more than half of voters ignored them. The “Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth” was characterized by the suppression of ethnic and religious minorities (Ukrainians, Belarusians, Lithuanians, Jews), which numbered up to 40% of the country’s population; forced linguistic assimilation. Before World War II, the ruling circles of Poland more than once discussed with the leaders of Nazi Germany, democratic England and France the issue of deporting all Polish Jews to Madagascar. Poland participated in the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement of 1938. From October 1920 to September 1939, it occupied the Vilna region from Lithuania.

Czechoslovakia

Soviet tanks in Prague.

It was one of the few European countries that managed to maintain a competitive multi-party system until 1939. At the same time, the liquidation of Czechoslovakia and its transition into the orbit of influence of Nazi Germany was formalized in a completely legitimate way by the democratic institutions of this state. The agreement on the occupation of the Czech Republic by the Wehrmacht and the transformation of the Czech Republic into a protectorate of the Third Reich, Bohemia and Moravia, was signed by the legitimate president of the Czechoslovak Republic, Emil Haha, who, as a reward for this, was appointed by the Nazis as president of the protectorate. The parliament of autonomous Slovakia proclaimed the country's independence, conditioned by a close alliance with Nazi Germany (in fact, vassal dependence on it). The Slovak Motorized Corps took part in Hitler's aggression against the USSR.

Meeting of liberators.

After the suppression of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919, Miklós Horthy became ruler with the title of regent. Hungary had a limited legal opposition and parliamentary structures, but left-wing parties were driven underground. The regime fought against political opponents by all means, including the death penalty. Before World War II, Hungary became closer to Nazi Germany, thanks to which in 1938-1940. captured Transcarpathian Ukraine and the border regions of Slovakia from Czechoslovakia, and Transylvania and Banat from Romania. However, in the spring of 1944, Horthy's attempt to enter into peace negotiations with the Western powers led to the direct occupation of the country by German troops. Horthy nominally remained in power, the government was headed by Hitler's protege. The Holocaust began in Hungary, killing 600 thousand Jews in less than a year. In October 1944, with the support of the SS, the fascist Arrow Cross organization led by Szalashi carried out a pro-Nazi coup. Hungarian troops in 1941-1945. took an active part in the war against the USSR, and their numbers were steadily increasing: one corps in the summer of 1941, one army in the summer of 1942, three armies in the fall of 1944. Among the troops that occupied the USSR, the Hungarians, according to eyewitnesses, were distinguished by the greatest cruelty, which horrified even the Nazis.

Brutal repressions by the royal government of Romania in the 20-30s. both left and right opposition forces were subjected to. In 1940, all actual power was transferred to General Antonescu. There is only one legal party left in the country; trade unions were banned, and instead “corporations” were created on the model of fascist Italy. Romanian troops were the largest among Germany's allies on the Eastern Front of World War II. In August 1944, when Soviet troops entered Romania, King Mihai organized the overthrow of the dictator (similar to how the king of Italy overthrew Mussolini a year earlier) and declared war on Germany. The Red Army was greeted with jubilation by the Romanian people.

Bulgaria

Sofia - the first day of freedom.

In 1923, a military coup took place, during which the democratic government led by the leader of the People's Agricultural Union, Stamboliysky, was overthrown (he was killed in the process). In 1934, another coup took place, as a result of which all parties were dissolved. In 1935, an absolute monarchy was established in Bulgaria, headed by Tsar Boris. The Tsar became an ally of Germany and in 1941 achieved significant territorial gains at the expense of the victims of Hitler's aggression - Yugoslavia and Greece. Bulgaria did not officially take part in hostilities against the USSR and the occupation of Soviet territory, but the Bulgarian Navy and Air Force repeatedly sank Soviet submarines that found themselves near Bulgarian waters. All these years in Bulgaria the people's struggle against the monarcho-fascist regime did not stop, often taking the form guerrilla warfare. In September 1944, with the entry of Soviet troops into Bulgaria, the regime, hated by the Bulgarian people, collapsed overnight and without resistance.

Yugoslavia

The presence of parliamentary structures did not prevent the executive branch from pursuing policies that were contrary to the interests of the people. When the government entered into a military alliance with Hitler in March 1941, it caused violent indignation, in the wake of which a new government came to power, and the regent was forced to flee the country. The Nazis created a puppet state in Croatia, which was marked by genocide against Serbs, Gypsies, and Jews, the victims of which were hundreds of thousands of people. Croatia was a loyal ally of Nazi Germany throughout the war. She left the war only on the day of the Wehrmacht’s surrender - on May 8, Tito’s anti-fascist troops took Zagreb.

The backward feudal monarchy, a de facto protectorate of Italy, was directly occupied by Italian troops in 1939. The unfolding nationwide resistance movement adopted communist ideology from the very beginning.

The USSR sought to prevent the countries of “people's democracy” from directly copying their model. In Yugoslavia, the one-party model was established without the participation of the USSR, since Tito already in 1945 began a rapprochement with the West, which ended in 1948. In Hungary and Romania, the one-party system was not established immediately, but only after several elections, the last of which was a landslide victory united parties of communists and former left socialists. In Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the GDR, parties other than communist (workers') parties operated throughout the years of the socialist system.

It's impossible to deny that Soviet Union put pressure on the “countries of people's democracy,” helping to establish political forces friendly to the Soviet Union in power there. These were the communists and some parties close to them. But in this case, the policy of the USSR was no different in essence from the policy of the USA and England in the countries of Western and Southern Europe after the war.

So, in 1945-1946. under direct pressure from the Anglo-Saxon powers, the communists were expelled from the governments of France, Italy, and Belgium. In November 1944, British troops landed in Greece, where they began to suppress the democratic wing of the anti-fascist resistance. On December 3, 1944, British interventionists shot an opposition demonstration in Athens. The war with Hitler was still going on... The actions of the British military caused a storm of indignation in Western countries, in particular in American public circles of that time.

England's active military intervention in Greece lasted until 1949 and ended with the establishment of a dictatorial regime in power. Loyalty of most other countries Western Europe alliance with the Anglo-Saxon democracies was ensured by the constant presence of American troops on their territory. An objective view is not able to discern any fundamental difference between the measures by which each of the great powers - winners in World War II tried to ensure their geopolitical interests in European countries.

As rightly noted in the 1970s. English historian Alan Taylor, “the establishment of communist rule in the states bordering Russia was a consequence of the Cold War, not its cause.”

At the same time, we should not forget for a minute the main fact - without the Soviet Union, Nazism would not have been crushed. In the event of such a development of events, Europe (not only its eastern part) would face a very sad fate. However, neither those who are today ready to make claims against Russia as the heir of “Soviet totalitarianism”, nor those who stand behind them, prefer not to remember this.

During 1944–1945 at the final stage of the Great Patriotic War The Red Army liberated the peoples of South-Eastern and Central Europe from the totalitarian regimes of their own rulers and the German occupation forces. The Red Army provided assistance in the liberation of Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria and Norway (Finmark province).

The liberation of Romania occurred mainly as a result of the Iasi-Kishinev strategic offensive operation.

It was held from August 20 to 29, 1944. Moldova was liberated and royal Romania was removed from the Nazi bloc.

The Bulgarian army did not conduct military operations against the Red Army troops. On September 5, 1944, the Soviet Union broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria and declared a state of war between the USSR and Bulgaria. The Red Army entered the territory of Bulgaria. On September 6, Bulgaria turned to the Soviet Union with a request for a truce. On September 7, Bulgaria decided to sever its relations with Germany, and on September 8, 1944, declared war on Germany.

In Yugoslavia, from September 28 to October 20, 1944, the Red Army carried out the Belgrade strategic offensive operation.

As a result of the Belgrade operation, the Red Army, in close cooperation with the partisan army of Marshal Tito, defeated the army group "Serbia".

On October 20, 1944, Belgrade was liberated.

The liberation of Poland occurred as a result of the second stage of the Belarusian operation.

From the second half of 1944 to April 1945.

The territory of Poland was completely cleared of German troops. The Red Army defeated most of the troops of Army Group Center, Army Group Northern Ukraine and Army Group Vistula. Having liberated Poland, the Red Army and the Polish Army reached the Oder and the coast of the Baltic Sea, creating the conditions for a broad offensive on Berlin. The liberation of Czechoslovakia followed as a result of the East Carpathian, West Carpathian and Prague strategic offensive operations. The East Carpathian operation was carried out from September 8 to October 28, 1944.

The liberation of Austria occurred during the Vienna Strategic Offensive Operation, which took place from March 16 to April 15, 1945.

The liberation of the northern regions of Norway was achieved as a result of the Petsamo-Kirkenes strategic offensive operation, which took place from October 7 to October 29, 1944.

The capture of parts of the Red Army and the Northern Fleet by Petsamo and Kirkenes sharply limited the actions of the German fleet on the northern sea lanes and deprived Germany of supplies of strategically important nickel ore.

Liberation of the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe

Perevezentsev S.V., Volkov V.A.

During 1944–1945 At the final stage of the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army liberated the peoples of South-Eastern and Central Europe from the totalitarian regimes of their own rulers and the German occupation forces.The Red Army provided assistance in the liberation of Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria and Norway (Finmark province).

Liberation of Romaniaoccurred mainly as a resultIasi-Kishinev strategic offensive operation. It was carried out from August 20 to 29, 1944 by troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts with the assistance of Black Sea Fleet and the Danube military flotilla.91 divisions totaling 1 million 315 thousand people took part in the operation. As a result of the Iasi-Kishinev operation, the Red Army defeated the main forces of Army Group "Southern Ukraine", destroyed 22 German and almost all Romanian divisions located on the Soviet-German front. Moldova was liberated and royal Romania was removed from the Nazi bloc.

The losses of the Red Army and Navy in the Iasi-Kishinev operation amounted to 13,200 people killed, 54 thousand wounded and sick. The losses of military equipment amounted to: 75 tanks and self-propelled artillery units, 108 guns and mortars, 111 aircraft, 6,200 small arms. In total, during the liberation of Romania, the Red Army lost about 70,000 people killed.

Troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, numbering about 260 thousand people, took part in the liberation of Bulgaria.The Bulgarian army did not conduct military operations against the Red Army troops. On September 5, 1944, the Soviet Union broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria and declared a state of war between the USSR and Bulgaria. The Red Army entered the territory of Bulgaria. On September 6, Bulgaria turned to the Soviet Union with a request for a truce. On September 7, Bulgaria decided to sever its relations with Germany, and on September 8, 1944, declared war on Germany. In Sofia, as a result of the September uprising of the people, the government came to power Fatherland Front. In connection with this, the Red Army stopped military operations in Bulgaria on September 9th.

In Yugoslavia, from September 28 to October 20, 1944, the Red Army carried out the Belgrade strategic offensive operation.It was attended by troops of the 3rd Ukrainian and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts together with units of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia and troops of the Bulgarian Fatherland Front. The Danube military flotilla also took part in the operation. The total number of Red Army troops in the Belgrade operation is 300,000 people. As a result of the Belgrade operation, the Red Army, in close cooperation with the partisan army of Marshal Tito, defeated the army group "Serbia". The Germans lost 19 divisions, more than 100,000 enemy soldiers and officers were destroyed and captured. On October 20, 1944, Belgrade was liberated. The front of German troops on the Balkan Peninsula was pushed back by more than 200 km, the main Thessaloniki-Belgrade communication line was cut, which forced the German command to hastily withdraw troops from the south of the Balkan Peninsula along mountainous and inaccessible roads controlled by Yugoslav partisans.

The liberation of Poland occurred as a result of the second stage of the Belarusian operation, the Lviv-Sandomierz, Vistula-Oder and East Pomeranian strategic offensive operations.From the second half of 1944 to April 1945. The territory of Poland was completely cleared of German troops. The Red Army defeated most of the troops of Army Group Center, Army Group Northern Ukraine and Army Group Vistula.

Over 3.5 million people took part in the operations to liberate Poland. In battles that lasted more than 9 months, about 170 enemy divisions were defeated. During the liberation of Poland, the Red Army and the Polish Army lost 265,000 people killed in offensive combat operations, and 850,000 wounded and sick. The losses of military equipment and weapons amounted to: 5,163 tanks and self-propelled artillery units, 4,711 guns and mortars, 2,116 aircraft, 286 thousand small arms. Having liberated Poland, the Red Army and the Polish Army reached the Oder and the coast of the Baltic Sea, creating the conditions for a broad offensive on Berlin.

The liberation of Czechoslovakia followed as a result of the East Carpathian, West Carpathian and Prague strategic offensive operations.The East Carpathian operation was carried out from September 8 to October 28, 1944. Troops of the 4th and 1st Ukrainian Fronts took part in the operation in the amount of 33 divisions, numbering 363,000 people. The purpose of the operation was to assist the Slovak National Uprising and liberate part of the territory of Czechoslovakia. The 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps, consisting of 15 thousand people, took part in the operation. The Red Army defeated the enemy army group "Heinrici", and, having overcome the Carpathians, entered the territory of Czechoslovakia. Having drawn off a significant part of the enemy troops, the Red Army assisted the Slovak uprising.

The West Carpathian operation was carried out from January 12 to February 18, 1945 by troops of the 4th and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, consisting of 60 divisions, numbering 482,000 people. The 1st and 4th Romanian armies and the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps took part in the operation. As a result of the Western Carpathian operation, most of Slovakia and the southern regions of Poland were liberated.

The final operation of the Red Army in Europe was the Prague strategic offensive operation, which was carried out from May 6 to 11, 1945 by troops of the 1st, 4th and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, numbering 151 divisions in the amount of 1 million 770 thousand people.The 2nd Army of the Polish Army took part in the operation. 1st and 4th Romanian armies, 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps with a total strength of 260,000 people. During the rapid offensive of the 1st, 4th and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts, Czechoslovakia and its capital Prague were liberated, and an 860,000-strong group of enemy troops was eliminated, which continued to resist after the signing of the Act of Surrender of Germany. On May 11, units of the Red Army met with advanced units of the American army.

During the liberation of Czechoslovakia, 122 enemy divisions were defeated and 858,000 people were captured. The Red Army troops and their allies on the Soviet-German front lost about 140,000 people killed.

The liberation of Hungary was achieved mainly during the Budapest and Vienna strategic offensive operations.The Budapest operation was carried out from October 29, 1944 to February 13, 1945 by troops of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts and the Danube Military Flotilla. The 1st and 4th Romanian armies operated as part of the 2nd Ukrainian Front. 52 divisions, numbering 720 thousand people, took part in the Budapest operation from the Red Army. As a result of the Budapest operation, Soviet troops liberated the central regions of Hungary and its capital Budapest. A 190,000-strong enemy force was surrounded and destroyed, and more than 138,000 people were captured.

The losses of the Red Army amounted to 80,000 killed and 240,000 wounded and sick. Losses of military equipment and weapons: 1,766 tanks and self-propelled artillery units, 4,127 guns and mortars, 293 aircraft, 135 thousand small arms,

Hungary was withdrawn from the war on the German side.With the end of the Budapest operation, significant forces were released and favorable conditions were created for the development of the offensive in Czechoslovakia and Austria,

The liberation of Austria occurred during the Vienna strategic offensive operation, which was carried out from March 16 to April 15, 1945 by troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, part of the forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front and the Danube military flotilla. The operation to liberate the eastern regions of Austria involved 61 divisions of the Red Army, numbering 645,000 people, and the 100,000-strong 1st Bulgarian Army.

During the rapid offensive, Soviet troops defeated the main forces of the German Army Group South and completely liberated Hungary, the southern regions of Czechoslovakia and the eastern part of Austria with its capital Vienna from German troops. In Austria, 32 German divisions were defeated and 130,000 people were captured.

The losses of the Red Army and the 1st Bulgarian Army during the liberation of Austria amounted to 41,000 killed, 137,000 wounded and sick. Losses of military equipment and weapons: 603 tanks and self-propelled artillery units, 764 guns and mortars, 614 aircraft, 29,000 small arms.

The successful offensive in the Vienna direction and the entry of troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front into the eastern regions of Austria accelerated the liberation of Yugoslavia.

The liberation of the northern regions of Norway was achieved as a result of the Petsamo-Kirkenes strategic offensive operation, which took place from October 7 to October 29, 1944.The operation was carried out by troops of the Karelian Front and the forces of the Northern Fleet, with a total number of 133,500 people.

As a result of active combat operations, troops of the 14th Army, in cooperation with the 7th Air Army and the Northern Fleet, in the harsh conditions of the Arctic, defeated the enemy and liberated the occupied part of the Murmansk region, the Petsamo (Pechengi) region and the northern regions of Norway, including the city of Kirkenes . In this way, assistance was provided to the Norwegian people and the Norwegian resistance movement in defeating the remnants of the German Wehrmacht troops. As a result of the Petsamo-Kirkenes strategic offensive operation, German troops lost the 19th Mountain Rifle Corps, numbering 23,000 people, in the Petsamo and northern Norway area. The losses of the Red Army and navy troops amounted to 6,084 people killed and 15,149 people wounded.

The capture of Petsamo and Kirkenes by parts of the Red Army and the Northern Fleet sharply limited the actions of the German fleet on the northern sea lanes and deprived Germany of supplies of strategically important nickel ore.

1. The offensive of the Soviet army on Europe in 1944 - 1945. went along three main directions:

— southern (Romania and Bulgaria);

— southwestern (Hungary and Czechoslovakia);

- Western (Poland).

2. The easiest direction for the Soviet army was the southern direction: at the end of August - beginning of September 1944, without offering almost any resistance, two allies of Germany - Romania and Bulgaria - fell. On September 9, 1944, just a few days after the start of the operation, the Soviet army solemnly entered Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, where it was greeted with flowers. The liberation of Bulgaria and Southern Romania occurred almost bloodlessly.

3. On the contrary, Hungary offered fierce resistance to the USSR - both German units located in this country and the national Hungarian army. The peak of the war in Hungary was the bloody assault on Budapest in November 1944. The population of Hungary greeted the USSR army with extreme hostility and wariness.

4. The heaviest battles took place for Poland, which was considered by the Germans as the last bastion before Germany. Fierce fighting in Poland lasted six months - from September 1944 to February 1945. For the liberation of Poland from the Nazi invaders, the Soviet Union paid the most expensive price - 600 thousand dead Soviet soldiers. The casualties during the liberation of Poland could have been smaller if the USSR had joined forces with the Polish national liberation movement. Shortly before Soviet troops entered Poland in 1944, a national uprising against the Germans broke out in Poland. The goal of the uprising was liberation from the Germans and the creation of an independent Polish state before the arrival of Soviet troops. However, the Stalinist leadership did not want Poland to be liberated by the Poles themselves, and were also afraid that as a result of the uprising, a strong bourgeois Polish state would be created, not owing anything to the USSR. Therefore, after the start of the uprising, the Soviet army stopped and gave the Germans the opportunity to brutally suppress the uprising, completely destroying Warsaw and other cities. Only after this did the USSR resume its offensive against the German army.

5. Almost simultaneously with the offensive of the Soviet army on Europe, a second front opened:

- June 6, 1944, Anglo-American troops landed in Northern France (Operation Overlord);

- in June - August 1944, France was liberated from the Germans, the collaborationist pro-German Vichy government was overthrown, and France, led by General Charles de Gaulle, returned to the anti-Hitler coalition;

- the German army was defeated in the Ardennes at the end of 1944, the Anglo-American-French offensive began in West Germany;

— at the same time, Allied aircraft carried out intensive bombing of German cities, during which Germany was turned into ruins (there were cases of more than 1,000 Allied bombers simultaneously attacking one city);

— a year earlier, in 1943, the Allies landed in Italy, during which the regime of B. Mussolini was overthrown and Germany lost its main ally.

The successful offensive of the Soviet army in the east, the opening of a second front in the west, the collapse of the Hitler camp, and the “carpet” bombing of Germany destabilized the situation in Germany itself.

On July 20, 1944, a coup attempt took place in Germany, which was undertaken by progressive-minded generals who wanted to save Germany from complete collapse. During the coup, some Nazi leaders were arrested and an attempt was made to blow up Hitler during the meeting. It was only by chance that A. Hitler was not killed (a few seconds before the explosion he walked away from the briefcase with explosives to the military map). The coup was crushed.

By early 1945, the fighting had moved directly to Germany. Germany found itself surrounded by fronts. The Soviet army entered Prussian territory and already in February 1945 was in close proximity to Berlin. The Western Allies invaded the Ruhr and Bavaria region.

6. In February 1945, a second meeting took place in Yalta “ big three» - Crimean (Yalta) conference. At this meeting.

- the plan of military operations against Germany was finally approved;

- a decision was made to divide Germany into four occupation zones, and the city of Berlin, which was located in the Soviet zone, also into four sectors;

- it was decided 3 months after the end of the war with Germany to start a general war against Japan.

7. Despite the seemingly hopeless situation, the German army, like the entire people, including teenagers, offered fierce resistance to the advancing troops.

This circumstance was explained by the fact that:

- Hitler’s leadership, until the last day, hoped to turn the war in a completely different direction - by renouncing world domination, uniting with Western countries and starting a general war against the USSR,

- a number of Hitler’s leaders (Goering, Himmler, etc.) sought contacts with Anglo-American intelligence services and conducted secret negotiations on Germany’s transition to the side of the United States and Great Britain and the creation of a single Western European anti-communist bloc;

— along with this, a fundamentally new high-tech weapon was created in underground factories in Germany and the Czech Republic - the V-1 (an unmanned radio-controlled bomb aircraft, which was supposed to be directed and “crashed” into the most important targets - ships, factories, exploding them (“kamikaze” without pilot), V-2 (medium-range ballistic missile) and V-3 (large intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching New York);

- this weapon was not only developed, but was already actively used - at the end of the war, Germany began launching flying radio-controlled bombs (V-1) and ballistic missiles (V-2) across Great Britain; London was powerless against this type of weapon;

— in Bavaria, the development of the German atomic bomb was in its final stages.

Considering the danger of a separate unification of Germany with the allies of the USSR, the Soviet leadership decided to urgently and independently storm Berlin, no matter what sacrifices it would cost. The Western allies proposed not to rush into the assault on Berlin and refused to participate in the assault because they believed that Germany would surrender voluntarily, but later. As a result, the Soviet army, which already approached Berlin in February, constantly postponed the assault.

On April 16, 1945, the last major battle of the Great Patriotic War began - the Battle of Berlin (Berlin operation):

— The Soviet army launched two powerful offensives - north and south of Berlin;

- in addition, the army of General Wenck, who was called upon to lead the defense of Berlin, was cut off from Berlin; without Wenck's army, Berlin was left almost defenseless - the city was defended by the remnants of the army, the police, the Hitler Youth and the Volksturm (“armed people”);

- On April 25, south of Berlin, in the city of Torgau on the Elbe, a meeting took place between the advanced units of the Soviet army and the Allied armies’

- according to Marshal Zhukov’s plan, Berlin should not have been spared - the city was supposed to be destroyed to the ground with all types of weapons, regardless of the victims of the civilian population;

- in accordance with this plan, on April 25, 1945, shelling of Berlin began from all sides with more than 40 thousand guns and rocket mortars - there was not a single intact building left in Berlin, the defenders of Berlin were in shock;

— after the shelling, more than 6 thousand people entered the city. Soviet tanks who crushed everything in their path;

- contrary to the hopes of the Nazi leaders, Berlin did not become the German Stalingrad and was taken by the Soviet army in just 5 days;

- On April 30, the Reichstag was taken by storm, and a red banner - the flag of the USSR - was hoisted over the Reichstag by sergeants M. Egorov and M. Kantaria;

- on the same day A. Hitler committed suicide;

- On May 2, 1945, German troops and Berlin residents stopped all resistance and took to the streets - the Hitler regime fell, and the war actually ended.

On May 8, 1945, in Karlhorst, a suburb of Berlin, Germany signed an act of complete and unconditional surrender. May 9, 1945 was declared Victory Day in the USSR and began to be celebrated annually (in most countries, Victory Day is celebrated on May 8).

On June 24, 1945, the Victory Parade took place in Moscow, during which the military banners of defeated Nazi Germany were burned near the Kremlin wall.

Book: Lecture notes World History of the 20th Century

43. Liberation of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (1944-1945)

Prerequisites. After the radical turning point in World War II, the initiative belonged entirely to the Red Army. Fascist troops rolled back to the west. They offered stubborn resistance thanks to additional mobilizations and in the hope of the miracle weapon that Hitler promised. In 1944, the anti-Hitler coalition became significantly stronger. The Red Army had modern, effective weapons and combat experience, and a powerful Resistance movement developed in Europe enslaved by the Nazis. Germany was doomed to defeat and the leaders of the victorious countries focused increasing attention on the conditions for the final defeat of Germany and its allies and the post-war structure. The difference in the social system and economic situation of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition dictated different visions of the final stage of the Second World War. Each side sought to increase its influence in post-war Europe. It should be noted that the Second Front in Europe was opened only in June 1944, that is, when the main forces of the Nazis were exhausted and it was necessary to actively intervene in the distribution of the fruits of victory.

The USSR, with all the desire of its leaders, also could not include into its orbit all the peoples liberated from the fascists. Thus, even before the end of World War II, a split was brewing in Europe. The picture of the struggle for influence in European countries was complicated by the existence in London of the government of Czechoslovakia in exile E. Benes and the Polish government of S. Mikolajczyk, who led the actions of the Home Army in Poland.

Liberation of Poland. The Red Army entered the territory of Poland in July 1944. The Soviet Union agreed that local authorities would be formed only by the newly created Polish Committee of National Liberation (PKNO). On August 1, 1944, the emigration government launched an uprising against the Nazis in Warsaw. The rebels hoped for help from the Red Army. However, Stalin called the leaders of the uprising adventurers and criminals. Soviet troops stopped and the Warsaw uprising fizzled out; the capital suffered monstrous destruction. Only in January 1945 did the Red Army drive the Nazis out of Warsaw.

Liberation of Romania. On the territory of Romania, active hostilities began in August 1944. After the completion of the Iasi-Kishiniv operation, fascist troops were not able to provide serious resistance here. Even before the approach of the Red Army, an uprising took place in the capital of Romania, which ended in victory over the dictatorship of General Antonescu. The country announced its joining the anti-Hitler coalition. Already in August the territory of Romania was liberated.

Liberation of Bulgaria. Bulgaria did not fight against the Soviet Union, although it took the side of Germany, declaring war on the USA and Great Britain. The USSR stated that since Bulgaria was at war with it and its allies, it now considered it its duty to enter into a war with Bulgaria, which contributed to the aggressor. On September 8, 1944, the Red Army crossed the border and did not meet any resistance. The next day, September 9, an anti-fascist uprising took place in Sofia and the Fatherland Front government came to power. During September, Bulgaria was fired.

Liberation of Yugoslavia. In Yugoslavia, since 1942, the People's Liberation Army (NVLA) has been actively fighting. In November 1943, the government of the new Yugoslavia was created - the Anti-Fascist Assembly, headed by acting. Broz Tito. NVAYu had about 400 thousand fighters. On October 20, the capital of Yugoslavia was liberated from the fascist occupiers. Hundreds of Soviet and Yugoslav soldiers are buried nearby in a cemetery in Belgrade. Through the joint efforts of units of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and the NVYU, the country was liberated, having suffered heavy material and human losses.

Liberation of Hungary. Together with Bulgaria and Romania, Hungary was part of the Hitler bloc during World War II. In 1938 and 1940, with German support, it captured Southern Slovakia, Transcarpathian Ukraine and Northern Transylvania. These circumstances forced the Horthy government to stubbornly stick to its ally. However, Hitler ordered the occupation of Hungary and brought his protege Szalasi to power. Resistance to the advancing Red Army on Hungarian territory was fierce. The heaviest fighting took place in the area of ​​Budapest and Lake Balaton. The territory of Hungary was completely liberated only in April 1945.

Liberation of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovak troops under the command of L. Svoboda took part in the hostilities of Czechoslovakia. On the territory of the USSR, he organized a brigade in which many people from Transcarpathian Ukraine fought against the Nazis. The Red Army supported the Slovak National Uprising against the Nazis in 1944. In early May 1945, an anti-fascist uprising began in Prague. He was supported by units of the Russian Liberation Army (ROA) of the former Soviet general Vlasov, who in 1942 went over to the side of the Germans. The Vlasovites hoped that American troops would be the first to arrive in Prague. However, they were mistaken and were forced to leave the city. On May 9, 1945, Soviet troops entered Prague. According to the agreement between Czechoslovakia and the USSR of June 29, 1945, Transcarpathian Ukraine was transferred to the Soviet Union and became part of Ukraine.

Results. The Soviet Union made a decisive contribution to the defeat of the fascist invaders. Democratic regimes were formed in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe after their liberation. However, the Soviet Union “forgot” to withdraw its troops from the liberated territories and imposed the Stalinist model of socialism on a number of European states. Totalitarian regimes modeled on the Soviet Union lasted until the end of the 1980s. After their collapse, the children and grandchildren of the liberators returned home from the territory of Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.