Ce months of May mark 80e Anniversary of one of the most striking moments in our common history. During the Second World War, nations around the world united against Nazi Germany and its allies, creating between the United States and Europe an unwavering link, forged in the test and the sacrifice.
Today, the principles that have gathered us, in the fight against tyranny – for freedom, democracy and truth – are again threatened. Russia by Vladimir Putin seeks daily to weaken our freedoms, our unity and our friendships with bellicose actions and disinformation campaigns. In a particularly cynical way, it invokes the memory of the Second World War to justify its most abominable acts.
As historians, conservatives and memory professionals in Europe, we are deeply concerned about the growing dissemination of Russian disinformation in the American debate, whether on social networks, in traditional media or even in certain official speeches. This disinformation aims precisely what we have most precious – our common values - seeking to dig a gap between Europe and America.
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Faced with massive historical falsifications coming from Moscow, it seems essential to us to recall certain indisputable facts. In 1939, it was the Nazi Germany of Hitler who sparked the war by attacking Poland. At that time, the Soviet Union was allied with Hitler and also invaded Poland. The official Russian version that the war was caused by Poland is completely false.
An insult to history
Shortly after the start of the war, the Soviets also attacked Finland. In 1940, they invaded and annexed Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. These assaults were completely unjustified, without any consensual or legal nature, unlike the repeated affirmations of Vladimir Putin.
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