Russians believe that it is essential to study the Great Patriotic War and to reveal the “black spots”. But not all Russians think that the ugly truth should be made public.
MOSCOW, May 8, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning the following questions: what books related to the Great Patriotic War have Russians read over the recent year? what are their attitudes on what we know about the history of this war? should the new facts about this war be declassified and made public?
Most of Russians (81%) have not read any books related to the Great Patriotic War. Those who read such books mention those written by Boris Vasiliev (A zori zdes tikhie, V spiskakh ne znachilsya, Zavtra bila voyna) – 1%, by Yury Bondarev (Batal`ony prosyat ognya, Goryachii sneg) – 1%, by Mikhail Sholokhov (Oni srazhalis za rodinu, Sudba cheloveka) – 1%. One percent has read “Vospominaniya Georgiya Zhukova”. Other 1% of Russians prefer watching movies or TV programs about the war.
Most of Russians (70%) believe that there are “black spots” in the history of this war. This stance is shared by residents of Moscow and St.Petersburg (78%), rather than small cities (68%). A quarter of respondents (24%) believe that today we know pretty much about the WWII.
Two-thirds of Russians say that the little-known facts must be further studied, and files must be declassified (66%). Twenty-nine percent of respondents say that the past belongs to the past. Those who think so are mainly Russians with higher education diplomas (71%), rather than those who have low level of education (49%).
In case if unpleasant facts concerning the Great Patriotic War are revealed, they must be all made public, according to 53% of Russians stating that historical truths should not be beclouded. They are opposed by 39% of persons who say that such facts cannot be made public because it could damage patriotic feelings of Russians; this stance is supported by residents of million cities (61%) and A Just Russia party supporters (66%).
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on April 26-27, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
What books related to the Great Patriotic War have you read over the recent month? (open-ended question, not more tam three answers, shown are answers mentioned by 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
A zori zdes tikhie. V spiskakh ne znachilsya, Zavtra bila voyna, Vasiliev | 1 |
Batal`ony prosyat ognya, Bereg, Goryachii sneg, Poslednie zalpy, Bondarev | 1 |
Oni srazhalis za Rodinu, Sudba cheloveka, Sholokhov | 1 |
Vospominaniya i razmishlenia, Zhukov | 1 |
Books on the history of the war | 1 |
I prefer movies and TV programs | 1 |
Other | 8 |
None | 81 |
Don`t know | 8 |
Which of the following statements do you most agree? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths | 100–500 ths | Less than 100 ths | Rural area |
There always are “black spots” in the Great Patriotic War history | 70 | 78 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 68 | 71 |
There are no “black spots” in the Great Patriotic War history. Everything is quite clear | 24 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 |
Don`t know | 6 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
Which of the following statements do you most agree? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| Total respondents | Elementary (incomplete secondary) education | Secondary education (school, vocational school) | Specialized secondary education (technical school) | Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institute), higher education |
What is little-known about the GPW should be studied; files must be declassified , further research must be done | 66 | 48 | 63 | 67 | 71 |
What is little-known about the GPW should not be studied; the past belongs to the past | 29 | 49 | 31 | 28 | 24 |
Don`t know | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Which of the following statements do you most agree? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
If unpleasant facts are revealed about the GPW, they must be made public and condemned; this is a historical truth that cannot be beclouded | 53 | 57 | 54 | 52 | 54 | 51 |
If unpleasant facts are revealed about the GPW; they should not be made public; that would damage patriotic feelings of Russians | 39 | 34 | 39 | 40 | 39 | 42 |
Don`t know | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!