Almost 80 years ago Europe saw the beginning of the war which would be named as World War II. It would become the bloodiest war in humankind’s history. Historians list numerous causes for this slaughter. However, we are convinced that the main one is the attempts of some countries to ensure their own security at the others’ expense and primarily at the expense of the Soviet Union. Indeed, no real steps to combat Hitler were made while he was advancing eastwards, annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia and occupying Poland. Counteractions were effectively limited to empty rhetoric. The calculation was to satisfy Hiller’s growing appetite at the expense of Eastern European countries. The catastrophic results of such a policy for those who pursued it are well-known nowadays. Finally, they alienated potential allies and had to meet a well-armed enemy on a battlefield alone.

Despite of this bitter experience we witness unceasing attempts to draw division lines in Europe, to use the alienation of our country as a cornerstone of a new security system and to implement own geopolitical interests at our expense.

At the same time, we see a persistent desire to rewrite history and to blame the Soviet Union in provoking the World War II. Such attempts are especially dangerous because they substitute a real historical experience with historical fantasies. The tragic history of 1930s is well-known.