The Role of Russia as the Leading Country of the USSR Du-ring World War II in the Light of Soviet Textbooks. Part II

Abstract

The analysis of Soviet history textbooks from the post-war period to the times of Gorbachev’s perestroika constitutes a key research area concerning the impact of educational content on shaping historical consciousness. In these textbooks, the Great Patriotic War is presented as a monumental event in human history, highlighting its nature as a just and liberating struggle. Emphasis is placed on the superiority and advantages of the socialist system, as well as the rise in the international standing of the Soviet Union. However, despite the patriotic spirit fostered among students, the analysis reveals that the „school” history of the war was filled with omissions, euphemisms, and restrictions. These elements were intentionally introduced to promote the superiority of the Soviet system. Such a selective presentation could shape one-sided beliefs and distort the image of history, impacting the historical consciousness of Soviet society.