Transformation of commemorative practices in celebrating the Great Victory in Kurgan Oblast: From the 20th to the 30th anniversary

About the author:

Aleksey L. Avdeenko, Head of the Regional Center of the Presidential Library Sector, Kurgan Regional Universal Scientific Library named after A. K. Yugov, Kurgan; Assistant, Department of History and Documentation, Kurgan State University, Kurgan; Postgraduate Student, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russia; avdeenkoalexey@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5101-3938

Abstract:

This article examines the transformation of Victory Day celebrations in Kurgan Oblast between 1965 and 1975 — from localized acts of remembrance to a large-scale state ritual permeating all spheres of public life. Drawing on archival materials and regional press sources, the study demonstrates how a unified narrative of the war was constructed through school museums, monuments, rallies, torchlight processions, and media campaigns, aimed at fostering social cohesion and legitimizing political authority. Particular attention is paid to the role of youth, industrial enterprises, and local communities in creating a “living” memory that became integrated into everyday life. The research highlights how regional commemorative practices reflected broader Soviet policy, transforming history into an instrument of education, mobilization, and collective identity formation.

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