Valdai Club

World Majority

Immortal Letters of Victory. An Expert Discussion

Valdai Discussion Club Conference Hall, Tsvetnoy Boulevard 16/1, Moscow, Russia

© Valdai Discussion Club

List of speakers

On May 6, the Valdai Club hosted a presentation of its new Valdai Paper, titled “Immortal Letters of Victory,” timed to the 80^th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. The paper features previously unpublished soldiers’ letters, front-line correspondence marked with field postmarks, and wartime diaries. These original documents come from a private memorial collection of handwritten materials from the Great Patriotic War, gathered in Russia and abroad by Tamara Shashikhina, Director of the Foreign Ministry MGIMO University’s Eurasian Studies Institute.

How is historical memory evolving amid today’s global tensions? Can a shared understanding of World War II’s legacy still be achieved? How can we safeguard the USSR’s pivotal role in defeating fascism in today’s media landscape? What tools and platforms can effectively preserve this legacy?

Materials

Political Significance of Moscow Victory Day Parade

Cooperation with China is of key importance in Russia’s policy of international solidarity. Within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership of our countries, mutually respectful attitude to the historical memory of World War II and recognition of the merits and military feats of soldiers of Russia and China acquires special significance.

Eighty Years On: Remembering the Defeat of Fascism—or Witnessing Its Return?

As we approach a major anniversary, 80 years since the defeat of fascism, a strange silence hangs over my country, Macedonia, and the broader region we now call the “territory of former Yugoslavia.” National authorities have been under sustained external (Western) pressure for years: May 9 must no longer be associated with the victory over fascism. Year after year, in both public memory and the education system, May 9 has been rebranded as Europe Day.

Biljana Vankovska

We Are Still Here: Remembering World War II from the Margins and Brazil’s Quest for International Recognition

Against the historical backdrop of systematic, politically motivated erasure of Soviet contributions to Allied victory President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to Russia for Victory Day commemorations acquires particular symbolic and political significance, Boris Perius Zabolotsky writes.

Boris Perius Zabolotsky

The End of World War II: Indonesia Role in Creating World Peace and Stability

The end of World War II in 1945 marked one of the most significant moments in world history, not only changing the global political map but also having a major impact on the countries involved, including Indonesia. The war, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, involved two major alliances: the Axis (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (England, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union).

Hendra Manurung, Yudi Subiantoro, Yermia Hendarwoto

Remembering the Lessons of History

On May 6, 2025, the Valdai Club presented a Valdai Paper titled “Immortal Letters of Victory” on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet people’s victory in the Second World War. It included previously unpublished handwritten materials from the war – fragments of the front-line diary of Guard Sergeant Petr Nosov, letters from partisan Tamara Avalyan, orphanage worker Nina Mayer, and senior lieutenant Vasily Lazarevsky. Oleg Barabanov, the moderator of the event and co-author of the paper, noted that the publication of such documents helps counteract the trend towards the falsification of history that has gained momentum in modern geopolitical conditions.

Immortal Letters of Victory

Turned yellow over time, soldier’s letters – pieces of paper folded into triangular shapes sent from the frontlines with field post office postmarks – and diaries are unique witnesses of the unparalleled feat. They still hold the warmth of our compatriots’ hands, their faith in and hopes for peaceful life, and the truth of 1,418 sleepless nights.

Tamara Shashikhina, Oleg Barabanov

War of Memory: From the 70th to the 80th Anniversary of the Great Victory

When it comes to official narratives, the choice is between memory and politics, and it reflects upon the country’s ruling elites. At the same time, a choice made once can change, taking into account various factors, primarily geopolitical ones, but sometimes memory is stronger than even politics, Milana Živanović writes.

Milana Živanović

Valdai Club to Discuss the Immortal Letters of Victory

On May 6 at 12:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host a presentation of its new Valdai Paper, titled “Immortal Letters of Victory,” timed to the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Photo

Photo Gallery: Immortal Letters of Victory. An Expert Discussion

Video

Valdai Club to Discuss the Immortal Letters of Victory

06.05.2025