On June 22, every year in all countries of the former Soviet Union, they remember the terrible events of 1941, when the Great Patriotic War (WWII) began with an unexpected attack by the Nazi troops . What is living in conditions of war, felt by millions of residents of the Union.
Estimates of the term "WWII" by historians
As you know, fascist troops in Europe began military operations since 1939. To some extent, the same can be said about the Red Army (although the actions of the USSR army cannot be regarded as predatory. It was a reunion of Eastern and Western Ukraine). Western historiography refers to the Second World War, which lasted from 1939 to 1945. Soviet and then Russian historical science first of all analyzed the events that took place on the territory of our state, therefore the period from 1941 to 1945 is more important for domestic historians.
That is why in the tradition of peoples and the official positions of states that arose in the post-Soviet space, the term "WWII" appears. What is the essence of this concept? “Great” - because, in effect, the whole people rebelled against the aggressor’s troops, with the exception of those who hated the existing regime. "Patriotic" - people defended their land, their homeland. It was a war, the main idea of which was to protect their own land from a fierce enemy.
WWII veterans
A lot of soldiers fought in the ranks of the Red Army . The status of a WWII veteran means the availability of benefits for utilities, travel by transport and others (for example, free health trips, extraordinary telephone installation). In the first post-war years, not all the persons who fought at the front had the veteran status, but only the most affected and most distinguished by their exploits (Heroes of the Soviet Union and invalids of the war) during the Second World War. What is the title of a Hero? During the war years, nearly 12 thousand people received the status of the Hero of the USSR, of which about a quarter were posthumous. By the way, the status of the Hero could not be obtained for any “ordinary” successes. Such a title was given only to people who repeatedly and clearly showed themselves in the battles of the Second World War.
What is a "war veteran" in the understanding of modern law? This is a social category of people with benefits for services to the state and people during the Second World War. Who can be attributed to this category? Firstly, invalids of war and Heroes of the USSR. Then, gradually, such categories — participants in the siege of Leningrad; persons awarded the medal "For Valiant Labor during the Great Patriotic War"; persons whose diseases are associated with being at the front, and many others.
WWII participants
Several million Soviet citizens were called up to the ranks of the Red Army during the war years. Of course, not all of those who fought had military awards, which gave the right to apply for veteran status. Many soldiers died literally in the first days of their stay at the front.
The participants of the Second World War are all those who fought against the fascist troops on the territory of the Soviet Union. Of course, here you can also include the members of the partisan detachments, which operated in almost every forest, causing significant damage to the might of Hitler’s army.