[Russia] Dubkova Olga Vladimirovna: Young People Must Bear in Mind the Important Role of China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the World Anti-Fascist War
Perhaps no global event has sustained the close attention of scholars, politicians, and ordinary people for 80 years as much as the Second World War. As the British historian Antony Beevor noted: "The Second World War and its global impact constitute the greatest man-made disaster in human history." To this day, the archives concerning World War II have not been fully opened to the public, and the fabrication of "myths" and false interpretations of events that occurred 80 years ago continue. However, through transmission from generation to generation, we remember World War II and eternally commemorate the feats of the people who successfully resisted and halted the black threat that once shrouded the earth.
In modern China, as in Russia, there are many families that suffered severe harm at the hands of militarists. I have had the privilege of hearing my grandparents' generation recount that war from 80 years ago. Although what they recounted were merely facts, actions, strategies, and tactics—without a single word concerning feelings, thoughts, or dreams—decades later, I can say with certainty that it was precisely this communication that ignited within me a love for peace and a pursuit of justice.
The Soviet writer Vasily Grossman wrote over 70 years ago: "Fascism rejected the concept of the individual, rejected the concept of 'Man,' and utilized vast numerical sums." According to statistical data, World War II caused immense direct economic losses; beyond this, we must also remember the demographic losses—remembering those who were never born and will never be born.
In the process of building a "Beautiful China," we must remember those who gave their lives for our freedom and independence. Love for the past should become a fundamental emotion in our hearts; the tens of millions who sacrificed their lives in World War II were specific individuals and cannot be viewed merely as statistical figures.
Perhaps influenced by my family, I speak with my students every year about the great victory of World War II, and each time I discover new sentiments and new worldviews among them. This observation is not without foundation; sentences from students' written assignments serve as excellent proof: "We should not forget the role of the Chinese people in the Second World War, because their contribution to the common victory was inestimable and deserves high respect"; "The Chinese people's contribution to the Anti-Fascist War was immense and should not be forgotten"; "The wartime deeds of our people teach us the self-sacrifice, unity, and perseverance required to fight for justice." These words prove that only honest and sincere language can forge people who love and long for peace.
Nonetheless, after conducting a written questionnaire among junior students at Xi'an International Studies University, I found that students' knowledge of specific information regarding the course and outcomes of World War II still requires improvement. For example, regarding the question "Which countries played the most important roles in the Second World War," the responses and proportions were as follows: the Soviet Union (33.3%), China (31%), the United States (26%), and the United Kingdom (10%). Among these, 65% of respondents ranked China first, 28% ranked the Soviet Union first, and the remaining 7% ranked the United States first. These data provoke some reflection: young people understand that the Chinese people played a massive role in the war against Fascism and Japanese militarism, but at the same time, their understanding of the harm brought to the world by the members of the Nazi bloc is not deep enough.
Regarding the question "What were the major events in the Second World War," the students listed a total of 46 battles and events. Listed here are only the top 10 events ranked by frequency of appearance: the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor (8.4%), the Blitzkrieg on Poland (8.4%), the Battle of Stalingrad (7.9%), the Normandy Landings (7.2%), the Battle of Britain (4.4%), the September 18th Incident [1] (3.7%), the Battle of Moscow (3.7%), the Battle of Midway (3.5%), the Battle of Kursk (3.5%), and the Battle of Berlin (3.5%). It is worth noting that most of the important events listed by the respondents occurred in Europe. This indicates that, on the one hand, young people possess a wealth of general knowledge, but on the other hand, there are too few listed events of World War II that occurred on Chinese territory and a weak presence in the internet space; a "memory lacuna" exists among young people regarding these events.
The third important part of the questionnaire involved the names of heroes of World War II. The students listed a total of 49 names of heroes from 12 countries, including China, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Among them, 18 were from China, 9 from the United States, and 7 from the Soviet Union. This set of data shows that young people generally believe that the Second World War was a global catastrophe and that the people of all nations contributed to the final victory.
In September 2025, China will hold commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The conclusion of the Second World War was a momentous event that demands our efforts to preserve the collective memory of all humanity regarding this man-made tragedy—a tragedy that must never be repeated. Doing so can not only bring a leitmotif of peace and harmony to our future generations but is also conducive to shaping the common values of all humanity, practicing the Socialist Core Values with Chinese characteristics [2], and establishing cross-cultural connections for young people. At the same time, the questionnaire results indicate a lack of specific information regarding the events and heroes of World War II within the internet space, various blogs, platforms, and other resource carriers. Therefore, we must fully utilize all types of resources to take the initiative in telling the heroic stories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
(Author: Dubkova Olga Vladimirovna is an Associate Professor at the School of Russian Studies, Xi'an International Studies University)
Source: Chinese Social Sciences Net - Chinese Social Sciences Today, July 7, 2025
Web Editor: Tongxin