In the Soviet times, we all grew up and developed our consciousness on songs, books and movies about the Great Patriotic War. "Cranes are flying", "The dawns here are quiet", "Officers", "Only "old men" are going into battle"… — these and other iconic films, war movie classics for all times, convey the history of war through the fates of ordinary people who, defending the homeland, became heroes, although they did not have such ambitions.

For us, the mass heroism of the Soviet people, the gigantic human efforts, sometimes beyond the possible, and the key role of the Soviet Union in the Victory over Nazism is an axiom. We believe that any sensible person with minimal knowledge of history can not challenge this. As an axiom, it does not require proof.

The march of the "Immortal Regiment" is a unique moment of inter-generational unity, when today’s Russians are closing ranks with their heroic predecessors who defeated German Nazism. When you walk in this endless column, tears roll up over and over again. Because of the awareness of the scale of the feat and the sacrifices — there they are, next to you on the portraits, millions of soldiers and workers on the homefront. Because of the pride that you belong to the great Soviet people. Because of the fact that tens of millions of today’s Russians share that pride.

The Nazi Reich was defeated 75 years ago. But the ideology of fascism as an instrument of the most reactionary, chauvinistic circles of financial capital could not disappear. And, as is well known from theory and history, during economic crises, contradictions escalate and capitalism rushes to the far-right. Therefore, the struggle against this ideology, which takes new forms and shapes, is a constant process, as relevant today as it was in Europe in the 1930s.

"What is the source of the influence of fascism over the masses? Fascism is able to attract the masses because it demagogically appeals to their most urgent needs and demands. Fascism not only inflames prejudices that are deeply ingrained in the masses, but also plays on the better sentiments of the masses, on their sense of justice and sometimes even on their revolutionary traditions."

It continues: "And the mass of the petty bourgeoisie and even a section of the workers, reduced to despair by want, unemployment and the insecurity of their existence, fall victim to the social and chauvinist demagogy of fascism."

It is creepy how relevant Dimitrov’s report sounds today. We have observed these processes in most European countries in recent years, from Sweden in the north with its "Swedish Democrats" to Spain in the south with its "Vox" and openly fascist "Golden Dawn" in Greece. There is no doubt that the economic crisis that will follow the coronavirus pandemic will exacerbate contradictions between and within states.

But the leading radicals today, unlike in the 1930s, are not in Germany, but in the United States, the ultra-conservative circles and Donald Trump as their representative. And the globalism that "conservatives" are so fiercely criticized today has allowed them to build extensive international networks and coordinate their actions themselves. Ask Steve Bannon.

Of course, in the XXI century, fascism has taken on new forms, new concepts and types of action. Only in Ukraine and the Baltics radicals wear the same old Bandera banners, dress up in the uniform of their SS legions and march with swastikas and torches. But the vast majority of the fascists today are no longer skinheads — they grew their hair, dressed in decent suits, set up "patriotic" organizations and go get elected anywhere from municipalities to European parliament.

Contemporary racism speaks of the "survival of Western culture", of the need to "preserve white identity and protect the rights of whites" who are "under threat". Don’t doubt: for their "survival" they are ready to kill, as it regularly happens in the USA — Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, El Paso, and Christchurch in New Zealand. Modern anti-Semites, in their "political correctness" call Jews the "Rothschilds", "globalists", "bank capital" - as opposed to "good" industrial capital. They even fight for "democracy" - for "direct democracy" that is which would allow them to circumvent constitutional obstacles, and for "freedom of speech", because their extremist slogans are forbidden by law.

We in Russia must also be vigilant. Our understanding of Nazism and fascism is historically tied to Hitler’s Third Reich, the Mussolini and Franco regimes. And the updated "look" of postwar European fascism in Russia is little known. And that’s why attempts of modern Western "new fascists" to present themselves as "friends" of Russia is the most hideous and revolting insult, which can be inflicted on history and national consciousness of Russians.

So who are our true friends? In Europe, and all over the world supporters of Russia are the overwhelming majority.

In 1935, Georgy Dimitrov and the Comintern Congress called for the creation of "people's fronts" - coalitions of political forces of the center and left, and all those willing to fight against fascism and war. It was a form of organization of wide popular masses.

Who could make such a coalition today?

Everyone who celebrates the Victory over fascism on May 8 and 9 — they are with us.

All those who are against militarization, who seek understanding and balance to preserve peace in Europe and everywhere in the world — they are with us.

All those who seek systemic fundamental solutions to problems leading to the growth of extreme right-wing — social injustice, impoverishment, the growing gap between rich and poor — they are with us.

Our generations celebrate Victory Day, remembering the fallen and show most profound gratitude to them for the tremendous sacrifice to which we owe our existence. But that is not enough. We have an obligation to protect our peoples and all humankind from the resurgence of an ideology of hatred and violence, whatever form it takes today.