MODERN PROSPECTIVE IN HISTORIOGRAPHY CONCERNING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOVIET ARMY AND EUROPEAN COUNTRIES CIVILIANS AT THE END OF SECOND WORLD WAR

Abstract

Introduction.ThequestionofentranceandpresenceoftheRedArmy, inforeign, sovietandpost-sovietpublicationsofthesecondpartofХХcenturyareinterpretedas«liberationmovement». In the frame of those political actions, taking part in Ukraine during past three years, there is an urgent need to reconceive the historical past times, without soviet ideology. The statement of relationship between Soviet military personnel with local population of the country they stated at during 2 WW is very vital. Proper understanding of that issue will give the possibility to realize the current status of political processes between Ukraine and European countries that possess their historical roots and influence relationship nowadays. Publications of foreign historians, representative of each country where soviet troops had been, are supposed to be the core source of alternative information.

Purpose. ThereisagoaltoanalysehistoriographicalworksofmodernresearchersdedicatedtotheissueofliberalmovementofsovietarmyintheterritoriesofEuropeanddeterminemaintendenciesandpeculiaritiesofcreatingtheoretical-methodologicalbackgroundfortheirresearches. Itwillprovideanopportunitytospreadthehistoriographicalsituation, typicaltothedesignatedperiodofresearch.

Methods. Utilizingafteractionreview, declaredbyresearchersofdifferentcountries, appears ageneralvisionofmodernresearchesinEasternEuropeconcerningconsequencesofRedArmypresencetherein 1944–1945.

Results. NegativepublicationswereindicatedtoappearintheWestattheendofХХcentury, probablycausedby unwillingness of western countries, mainly those which politics resemble the soviet one, to spoil the relations with it. Questions of occupational policy were sharply stated in Germany, Austria, Romania, Hungary and Poland. Researchers from Bulgaria, former Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia nominated ideas concerning negative consequences of USSR presence in the territories of their countries. The explanation is that in some countries existed the feeling of brotherhood and gratitude for liberation from Nazism. Some researchers were afraid of being punished for putting aside the ideological stereotypes imposed by communist party. At the same time, the main topics of works are Red Army crimes, salvage, neglect of people`s rights, natural resources damage, the strive for «Sovietization» of a country.

Originality. Noveltyoftheresearchbasedonanapproachtoanalysethepublications, issuedbeyondUkraine, withtheaimofrealizingthecommonviewsinforeignhistoriography concerning the Red Army presence in Europe at the end of last WW.

Conclusion.AnalysedpublicationsprovethatthequestionofperceptiontheRedArmypresenceinEuropean countries by their local population is still controversial. The existed «halftones» in interpretation of same facts need further analysis by western historians and representatives of post-soviet countries as well. These researches should be pointed not at accusation or justification but at achievement of true conclusions.