Russians often debate the topic of ideology, but for all those who possess a sense of national identity, May 9th is a sacred date, even among furious anti-communists. Politically and historically informed individuals know that there were indeed fascists among the Russians. The most notable representatives of the Third Position ideology are the “Russian Fascist Union” led by Konstantin Rodzaevsky and Anastasiy Vonsyatsky. The organization’s symbolism is quite striking: a white-yellow-black flag featuring a two-headed eagle and a swastika. Such extravagant vibes attract the attention of radicals from both sides.
Pro-Ukrainians and crypto-russophobic communists present this fact to portray Russians as primitive xenophobes, depriving them of the right to celebrate victory over the Nazis (“Russians have no right to Victory because of the equivalence of any manifestation of Russian identity outside of Soviet loyalty!”) and justifying the open whitewashing of their own Nazi criminals. Nazis often use the existence of the “Russian Fascist Union” as a “plus” and urge Russians to abandon the memory of Victory, claiming it is “Judeo-Bolshevik” and “anti-Russian,” while “national Russia” amounts to licking the boots of enemies in defiance of communists.
Russia is renowned for its dualism, an ideal balance between communism and its imperial past. Even amidst militant anti-communism, people, in one way or another, feel a connection to the Soviet Union, as in the minds of Russians, it represents almost the same entity, just with a hammer and sickle instead of a two-headed eagle, but still Russia. The fact is that even the Russian White émigrés from Harbin, known for their fervent anti-communism, gradually changed their opinions about the Soviet Union.
According to Japanese sources, in 1943-1944, due to the victories of the Red Army and Stalin’s nationally oriented changes in domestic policy, 90% of the Russian emigration in East Asia, who were previously the most anti-communist individuals, became supporters of the USSR. Stalin’s tolerance towards the Orthodox Church during the war resonated with the faithful people. The restoration of insignia in the Red Army was appreciated by former tsarist officers. The establishment of people’s commissariats for foreign affairs and defense in each of the Soviet republics created an illusion of decentralization and democratization. The dissolution of the Comintern in May 1943 signaled a rejection of the ideas of world revolution and proletarian internationalism.
The Russian émigrés in Harbin greeted the Red Army with enthusiastic cheers, applause, and flowers, seeing them as their own Russian people. Half of the members of the “Russian Fascist Union” joined the Soviet administration, while some had long and firmly collaborated with Soviet intelligence services, conducting subversive activities against Japan.
Glory to the Red Army, which defeated two hotbeds of world fascism and world aggression – Germany in the West and Japan in the East.
“He [Rodzaevsky] was stunned by the stories of the jubilation with which the Red Army was greeted in Manchuria. The Cossacks, until recently the most reliable anti-Communists, welcomed it with open arms. On August 19, the square near the cathedral in the New Town was filled with thousands of Russian émigrés, shouting “Hurray!” to the Soviet soldiers and waving red flags. Asano’s brigade fled without firing a shot. Its commander, Colonel Gurgen Nagolyan, turned out to be a Soviet agent. Even former “comrades” unashamedly succumbed to the herd instinct. The head of the Tianjin branch of the Russian Fascist Union (RFU), Ushakov, proudly walked around with a Soviet passport in his pocket, as did his Shanghai colleague Gennady Taradanov, who ten years earlier had denigrated Stalin in the “ABCs of Fascism.” One of the founders of the RFU, Boris Rumyantsev, became vice-chairman of the Association of Soviet Citizens. But the biggest shock was the betrayal of Mikhail Matkovsky. Rodzaevsky could not believe his ears when he heard that this polite RFU figure was now working for the Soviet administration.”
Pro-Soviet sentiments were so strong that even such staunch enemies of the USSR, like Ataman Semyonov and Konstantin Rodzaevsky, not only “acknowledged defeat” but also rethought the very essence of the Soviet Union. Now, the Soviet Union had become the ideal of their state.
“Semenov introduced himself, said that his documents were completely safe, and invited his guests to breakfast. After a thorough search, the colonel commanding the detachment accepted the invitation and ordered his subordinates to sit down at the table, which was groaning with vodka and snacks. Semenov raised a toast to the victory of Russian arms over Germany and declared that he was submitting himself to Stalin for trial, but did not consider himself guilty, since he had always been driven by love for his homeland. After breakfast, the colonel stood up, announced that his host had been arrested, and drove him to the airfield to be sent to Moscow.”
“Stalinism is precisely what we mistakenly called Russian fascism: it is our “Russian fascism”, cleansed of extremes, illusions and delusions.””
Undoubtedly, neither Semyonov nor Rodzaevsky’s “repentance” saved them from further execution. However, even fervent communists were not spared from repression and purges due to their commitment to socialist ideas. The important fact is that genuine fascists turned out to be pro-Soviet, and the overwhelming majority, distanced from the “bloody NKVD agents,” welcomed the Soviet army. The White emigration is not a monolithic block; it is a society of people with diverse political views. If even fascists (!) changed their opinions about the USSR for the better, it is not worth discussing the sentiments of former Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries, Cadets, and monarchists.
So, comrades crypto-rusophobic communists, stop glorifying the Soviet army, because you know who else did that? Correct, Hitler (crossed out) Russian fascists. To the homegrown Nazis, I would say to follow your idols and bring flowers to the grave of the Unknown Soldier in their hometown with a St. George ribbon on your chest.
Source: Стефан Дж. Русские фашисты. Трагедия и фарс в эмиграции. 1925-1945. М., 1992. С. 370, 396, 397, 402.
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