The concept of totalitarianism is a West's propaganda invention

My translation of another, this time very brief interview, by IA REGNUM with a different historian, this time with Igor Pychalov (Pykhalov in americanized transliteration, ch in ISO and here as Russian letter x would be pronounced not dissimilarly to ch in loch ness ).


The historian: 
Western "democracies" cynically betrayed  democracy

Here in the photograph Polish marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły enthusiastically shakes hands with the Nazi German war attaché  Major General Bogislav von Studnitz at the Independence Parade in Warsaw on November 11, 1938. The photograph is remarkable because the Polish parade was celebratory as it marked the invasion and occupation of Těšínsko or Czech Silesia just one month before this picture was taken. A special column formation of Těšín Poles marched in the parade celebrating destruction of Czechoslovakia while just before, in the nights of November 9 and 10, 1938 the Crystal Night (Kristallnacht), the first large scale act of organized physical violence visited upon Jews in the lands of the Third Reich. Illustration and commentary: War Album



For the first time ever on August 23 of this year the European Union will commemorate the Day of the Memory of Totalitarianism Victims. According to the decision by the European Parliament, only two ideologies - Nazism and Communism are regarded are totalitarian. In a an interview with IA REGNUM Russian historian Igor Pychalov (Pyhalov, Pykhalov) is explaining why talks about the origins of the victims of totalitarianism commemoration.

IA REGNUM. Why does the European Union only commemorate the victims of totalitarianism, but does not memory good enough to remember all those victims of democracy and authoritarianism, of fascism and militarism?


This is perfectly natural. The concept of totalitarianism is a West's propaganda invention in its war against the Soviet Union. Although the socialist system might have fallen, the struggle against our country did not.


IA REGNUM. How would you describe the nature of political regimes in Central and Eastern Europe in the 1930s-(early) 1940s period with which the USSR had to deal with on its western borders.

Majority of those states were indeed very far from the democratic ideal. Military-led coups d'état , concentration camps - this sort of thing:, authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes. Perhaps the only more or less democratic state in this part of Europe was Czechoslovakia, although, what irony of fate, it was Czechoslovakia that "democracies" represented by England and France sacrificed and betrayed.

IA REGNUM. What goals did these (Central and Eastern) Europe regimes pursue vis-à-vis the USSR?

To say that the way those regimes related to our country was not particularly friendly would be a gross understatement. Perhaps it would sufficient to recall that memorable statement by Poland's strongman Józef Piłsudski - The foundation of Polish state interests in the East are based on eventual dismemberment of Russia. Or words of Finland's Prime Minister (later President) - Per Evind Svinhufund - "Any enemy of Russia  must always be a friend of Finland"

IA REGNUM. Who began partition of Europe with Hitler before the Second World War - the USSR or the Western "democracies"?

Obviously Western "democracies" in Munich. It was the height of cynicism when they sold Czechoslovakia to Hitler while that nation was on friendly terms with them, it was a democratic state which in case of France also happened to be a formal ally.

IA REGNUM. Why wouldn't the European Union condemn Munich Agreements of 1938.

They won't because that would mean placing a part of responsibility of starting the Second World War on themselves.