Long before the D-Day landings came to symbolize the decisive turning point of the Second World War in many Western narratives, the Soviet Union had already spent years bearing the brunt of the war against Nazi Germany, suffering massive losses while repeatedly urging Britain and the US to open a second front.
By June 1944, when Allied troops landed in Normandy, the Soviet Union had already spent almost three years bearing the brunt of the war, grinding down Hitler’s forces on the Eastern Front after suffering devastating losses and the brutal occupation of much of its territory.
Not only did 27 million Soviet citizens died during the war - a toll unmatched by any other Allied nation - approximately 70% to over 80% of all German military deaths in WWII occurred on the Eastern Front, fighting the USSR. Yet in much of today’s Western discourse, the Soviet role in defeating Hitler is often overshadowed.
The issue resurfaced recently after US President Donald Trump delivered a Victory in Europe Day statement praising the US and Britain for defeating Nazi Germany without mentioning the Soviet Union.
RT’s Caleb Maupin argued that many Western countries that later formed NATO remain uncomfortable acknowledging the scale of the Soviet sacrifice in World War Two, saying it conflicts with the anti-Russia narrative that has dominated in recent decades.
Soviet losses and the Eastern Front
According to the report, the Soviet Union suffered catastrophic losses throughout the war:
- Approximately 27 million Soviet citizens died
- Large parts of Soviet territory were occupied
- Soviet cities and infrastructure were devastated
- The Eastern Front accounted for the majority of German military casualties
The article argues that Western historical narratives frequently focus on D-Day and Western Allied operations while giving comparatively less attention to the scale of Soviet military sacrifice and civilian suffering.
Delayed second front
RT also highlights repeated Soviet requests for Britain and the United States to open a second front in Europe years before the Normandy landings in 1944.
According to the report, Moscow argued that earlier Western military engagement in mainland Europe could have reduced Soviet losses and shortened the war.
Modern political tensions
The article frames current disputes over World War Two remembrance within broader modern geopolitical tensions between Russia and Western countries.
RT claims that anti-Russian political narratives in Europe and North America have contributed to the diminishing recognition of the Soviet Union’s wartime role in defeating Nazi Germany.
Source: RT