Episode 64: Fact vs. Fiction: WWII Mythologizing and Its Legacy in Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine has shone a light on how global leaders leverage historical narratives to suit the political moment. For leaders like Vladimir Putin, the popular memory of World War II is a useful propaganda tool to legitimize its invasion. In this episode, Dr. Aviel Roshwald discusses the legacies of WWII historical myth-making and separates the truth of Ukrainian experiences during WWII occupation from Kremlin fiction.

About the Guest

Aviel Roshwald is a Professor of History at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, where he has taught since 1991. He obtained his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1987. He is the author of numerous books, including Occupied: European and Asian Responses to Axis Conquest, 1937-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2023), and a co-editor of the two-volume Cambridge History of Nationhood and Nationalism.

Views expressed are personal and do not represent the views of GSSR or any other entity.