Thread by @mariamposts

How did May 9th, the day commemorating the victory over fascism, ironically transform into a neo-fascist cult in contemporary Russia?👇

The cult of tradition is the first of 14 features Umberto Eco lists characteristic of fascist regimes in his work "Il fascismo eterno". The "cult of victory" became the central tradition of modern Russian propaganda.

The tradition is cultivated in Russians from childhood. Starting from kindergarten, children are dressed in Soviet army costumes.

May 9th in modern Russia has lost its historical context and transformed into a cult-like celebration supporting the neo-fascist regime by promoting the Russian state myth.

The celebration is not aimed at honoring veterans but is instead a carnival-like spectacle that reinforces the idea of the Soviet (and hence, Russian) people's uniqueness, their sacrifices, and their sacred mission – saving the world from their understanding of "fascism".

Russian propaganda claims the sole credit for the victory in WWII by downplaying the contribution of other allies and emphasizing the predominant role played by the USSR, specifically, the Russian army.

The contribution of other European countries, the USA or Great Britain, has a secondary role or is not mentioned.

Any attempt to analyze the role of other countries or even re-assess the initial position of the USSR as an aggressor in 1939 is perceived as "rewriting history".

Over the last 8 years, Russian state propaganda has been manipulating the word "fascist" and redefining it to mean anti-Russian, particularly Ukrainian.
time.com/3545855/russia…

Every celebration of May 9 asserts the continuity of the Russian struggle all the way to the current war in Ukraine, framing Ukrainians as the "fascists" reincarnate and legitimizing the ongoing genocide.

In many countries, May 8 is the day of honoring the memory of those who died in WWII and reflecting on the tragedy. In Russia, May 9th reminds the world of its military power and the ever-present threat of "We can do it again."

In 1945, Soviet soldiers wrote the slogan "We can do it again" on the walls of the Reichstag in Berlin. It was not used as much in state propaganda until around 2014.

While back in 1945, the phrase was used by soldiers as a warning and a willingness to sacrifice their lives again, in 2014, it has become a clear slogan that reinforces the myth of Russia's great power. E.g., "We can do it again" is featured prominently on this beautiful sticker.

The propaganda machinery is employed to reassure the Russian population to garner their support for military interventions. The population believes they are not at risk and that Russia is invincible.

Another sign of the appropriation of victory is the annual Victory Day parade. In Soviet times, the parade was held only four times since 1945.

The annual parade, which has been held since 1995, has become increasingly grandiose over the years, losing its connection to actual historical events. I made this infographic in 2022 to visualize this:

In summary, May 9 in Russia is now a holiday that the state exploits to legitimize its imperialist and neo-fascist wars.