‘The Road to Victory’: 12-Part Online Course Explores the History and Legacy of World War II

Dragon Media News Desk

A 12-part English-language online course examining the Soviet role in defeating Nazism, wartime diplomacy and the politics of historical memory has been released to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Second World War.

Titled “The Road to Victory,” the educational project was developed by HSE University and the BRICS-Russia Expert Council with support from the BRICS Civil Council.

The opening episodes examine the international situation before the Second World War, Soviet efforts to establish collective security, the rise of Nazism and crimes committed against different peoples and communities.

Other episodes explore the mobilisation of Soviet society against the German invasion, the defence of Leningrad and Moscow, the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, the Soviet home front and the experiences of women and children during the war.

The series also covers guerrilla warfare, Operation Concert, resistance movements in Europe and other regions, and the major fronts of the Second World War.

One episode focuses on the formation and contribution of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, which brought together the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain and other countries against Nazi Germany. It presents the defeat of Nazism as the outcome of a broad international effort while giving particular attention to the scale of the Soviet contribution.

The liberation of Europe and the Far East, the role of Soviet soldiers, the Nuremberg Trials and the post-war international order are among the other major themes addressed by the course.

The final episode examines how the memory of the Second World War is selectively interpreted, politicised or reshaped for contemporary ideological and geopolitical purposes.

According to the organisers, the project aims to preserve the historical memory of the Great Patriotic War, promote academically grounded knowledge of the Second World War and deepen international understanding of the decisive contribution made by the Soviet people to the defeat of Nazism.

All 12 episodes are available in English as an online video series. High-definition video files have also been made available for use by universities, research institutions, history students and viewers interested in the history of the Second World War.

At a time when national memories and interpretations of the war differ considerably across countries, the course presents the Soviet and Russian historical perspective in a structured educational format for an international audience.