WHY IS THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR SUCH A BIG DEAL TO THE RUSSIANS?

Over 26 million people of the Soviet Union, 18 million of whom were civilians, - the ultimate sacrifice and the “toll” of Victory. It’s no exaggeration - every family in the post-Soviet countries has relatives or loved ones who served, died, worked on the home front, or was affected by the scariest of wars. Thus, whenever their sacred memory is desecrated and the Nazis glorified - it’s personal. Some countries may have a short historical memory. In Russia, we sure don’t.