Taking History as a Mirror and Upholding a Correct View of World War II History

From May 7 to 10, 2025, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the Russian Federation at

2025年5月7—10日，习近平主席应邀对俄罗斯联邦进行国事访问，并出席纪念苏联伟大卫国战争胜利80周年庆典。习近平主席在抵达莫斯科伏努科沃专机机场时发表重要讲话，明确提出中俄两国“将携手捍卫二战胜利成果”，“深切缅怀为世界反法西斯战争胜利英勇献身的先烈，共同弘扬正确二战史观，共同发出维护国际公平正义的时代强音”。第二次世界大战历史，是世界反法西斯国家历史中不可磨灭、不可淡忘的战争记忆。新时代新征程，坚持正确二战史观，抵制错误二战史观，有助于批判历史虚无主义，以史为鉴，汲取历史智慧。

Upholding a Grand View of History to Draw Historical Wisdom

坚持大历史观 汲取历史智慧

The so-called grand view of history is a historical perspective that understands and grasps the laws of human social development through a historical, international, and intellectual lens, and points out their inevitable developmental trends. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “We must firmly establish a grand view of history, grasping the developmental threads and correct direction of world history with a broader vision and a longer-term perspective.” To promote a correct view of World War II history, we must uphold the grand view of history, reflecting from the dimension of human civilizational history on the destruction that World War II wrought upon human civilization and the unprecedented catastrophe it brought to humanity, taking history as a mirror to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

所谓大历史观，是以历史视野、国际视野、知识视野来认识把握人类社会发展规律并指出其发展必然趋势的历史观。习近平总书记指出：“要牢固树立大历史观，以更宽广的视野、更长远的眼光把握世界历史的发展脉络和正确走向。”弘扬正确二战史观，必须坚持大历史观，从人类文明史的维度反思二战对于人类文明的破坏，以及给人类带来的空前灾难，以史鉴今，避免重蹈覆辙。

World War II was the most brutal war in human history. To realize their ambitions of vying for world hegemony and engaging in external aggression and expansion, the fascist Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan, along with their satellites, launched a savage war that engulfed the entire world and threatened global justice and peace, bringing unprecedented disaster to humanity and human civilization. According to incomplete statistics, total casualties worldwide in World War II exceeded 100 million, economic losses reached over $4 trillion, and military expenditures surpassed $1.3 trillion. The Soviet Union paid the enormous price of 27 million dead and 1,710 cities destroyed in the Great Patriotic War.

第二次世界大战是人类历史上最为惨烈的战争。为了实现争夺世界霸权、对外侵略扩张的野心，德、意、日法西斯轴心国及其附庸发动了一场波及全世界、威胁世界正义与和平的野蛮战争，给人类与人类文明带来空前的灾难。据不完全统计，全世界在二战中总伤亡超过1亿人，经济损失达4万多亿美元，军费开支逾1.3万亿美元。苏联在卫国战争中付出2700万人死亡、1710座城市被毁的巨大代价。

As the main Eastern battlefield of World War II, during the 14 years of arduous and extraordinary nationwide war of resistance, “the Chinese people paid the heavy price of 35 million casualties,” and “at 1937 prices, this caused China direct economic losses of $100 billion and indirect economic losses of $500 billion.” The Nanjing Massacre atrocity resulted in “300,000 of our compatriots being brutally slaughtered, countless women subjected to rape and mutilation, countless children killed, one-third of the buildings destroyed, and a vast amount of property looted.” The Japanese aggressors also launched heinous biological and chemical warfare against the Chinese people, conducted inhumane live human experiments, and plundered China’s materials, resources, and wealth on a large scale, inflicting immense disaster on the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.

作为二战的东方主战场，在14年艰苦卓绝的全民族抗战中，“中国人民付出了伤亡3500万人的沉重代价”，“按照1937年的比价，造成中国直接经济损失1000亿美元，间接经济损失5000亿美元”。南京大屠杀惨案，使中国“30万同胞惨遭杀戮，无数妇女遭到蹂躏残害，无数儿童死于非命，三分之一建筑遭到毁坏，大量财物遭到掠夺”。日本侵略者还对中国人民发动了令人发指的细菌战、化学战，进行了惨无人道的人体活体试验，大肆掠夺中国的物资、资源、财富，给中国人民和中华民族造成了巨大灾难。

Chinese civilization possesses a prominent commitment to peace. Standing in the New Era, reflecting on the World Anti-Fascist War from the grand view of history and taking history as a mirror, we should cherish even more the hard-won peace and justice. The Chinese people love peace and cherish peace. China does not follow the old path of some countries that achieved modernization through war, colonization, plunder, and the like. It is a resolute advocate and powerful defender of world peace, unswervingly following the path of peaceful development, regarding the maintenance of world peace and opposition to hegemonism and power politics as its sacred duty. Upholding the concept of “all under heaven as one family,” promoting a correct view of World War II history, resisting erroneous views of World War II history, and working hand in hand with the peoples of all countries on the basis of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, we jointly raise the voice of the times in safeguarding international fairness and justice, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

中华文明具有突出的和平性。立足新时代，从大历史观反思世界反法西斯战争，以史为鉴，我们应更加珍视来之不易的和平与正义。中国人民热爱和平、珍惜和平。中国不走一些国家通过战争、殖民、掠夺等方式实现现代化的老路，是维护世界和平的坚决倡导者和有力捍卫者，坚定不移地走和平发展的道路，把维护世界和平、反对霸权主义和强权政治作为自己的神圣职责，秉持“天下一家”理念，弘扬正确二战史观，抵制错误二战史观，与各国人民在相互尊重、求同存异、互利双赢的基础上，携手合作，共同发出维护国际公平正义的时代强音，积极推动人类命运共同体的构建。

Upholding Historical Materialism

坚持唯物史观

Grasping the Principal Position of the People

把握人民的主体地位

Historical materialism emphasizes that the masses of the people are the creators of history and the principal agents of historical activity. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that “the people are the creators of history,” that they were the principal force in the World Anti-Fascist War and the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and that they are “the deepest source of strength for victory in war.” The complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War was inseparable from the unity and support of the peace-loving peoples of the world.

唯物史观强调，人民群众是历史的创造者，是历史活动的主体。习近平总书记指出，“人民是历史的创造者”，是世界反法西斯战争以及中国人民抗日战争的主体力量，“是战争胜利最深厚的伟力”。世界反法西斯战争的彻底胜利，离不开世界爱好和平的人民的团结与支持。

To promote a correct view of World War II history, we must uphold historical materialism, scientifically understand and firmly grasp the principal position of the world’s people in the history of World War II. In World War II, approximately 2 billion people from over 80 countries and regions were drawn into the conflict. To save human civilization, the people of the world, undaunted by sacrifice, rose up in resistance, formed the World Anti-Fascist Alliance, and waged an unyielding struggle against fascist states such as Germany, Italy, and Japan, ultimately achieving the complete victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

弘扬正确二战史观，必须坚持唯物史观，科学认识、牢牢把握世界人民在二战历史中的主体地位。在第二次世界大战中，全世界有80多个国家和地区共约20亿人口卷入其中。为了拯救人类文明，全世界人民不惧牺牲，奋起反抗，组建世界反法西斯同盟，与德、意、日等法西斯国家进行不屈不挠的斗争，最终取得世界反法西斯战争的彻底胜利。

On the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, China, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, with tenacious fighting will and firm conviction in victory, united as one, worked with concerted effort, and unhesitatingly threw themselves into the torrent of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, waging a tenacious struggle against the Japanese aggressors with unyielding backbone. The Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army waged an unyielding struggle against Japanese imperialism amidst the snowy forests and frozen rivers of the northeast, fighting tens of thousands of battles, overcoming immense hardships and dangers, and successfully pinning down and eliminating large numbers of Japanese and puppet troops. Yang Jingyu, alone in the ice and snow, maneuvered and fought against the Japanese army for several days and nights, ultimately dying a heroic death after running out of ammunition and food. In 1941, five soldiers of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region — Ma Baoyu, Ge Zhenlin, Song Xueyi, Hu Delin, and Hu Fucai — faced with a fierce attack by Japanese and puppet troops, showed no fear. After running out of bullets, they faced death as if returning home and resolutely jumped off a cliff, hailed as the “Five Heroes of Langya Mountain.” Guided by the great spirit of resistance, the Chinese people produced countless heroes and outstanding representatives who defied brute force and sacrificed their lives for the country.

在中国这一世界反法西斯战争的东方主战场，中国人民在中国共产党的坚强领导下，以顽强的战斗意志与坚定的必胜信念，团结一致、勠力同心，义无反顾地投身抗日战争的洪流之中，以铮铮铁骨与日本侵略者展开顽强斗争。东北抗日联军在白山黑水间与日本帝国主义进行了不屈不挠的抗争，战斗达数万次，历尽艰难险阻，成功牵制、消灭大量日伪军。杨靖宇在冰天雪地之中，孤身与日军周旋、战斗几个昼夜，在弹尽粮绝的情况下最终壮烈牺牲。1941年，晋察冀军区马宝玉、葛振林、宋学义、胡德林、胡福才五位战士，面对日伪军的猛烈进攻，临危不惧，在子弹用光之后，视死如归，毅然跳下悬崖，被誉为“狼牙山五壮士”。在伟大抗战精神指引下，中国人民涌现出千千万万不畏强暴、以身殉国的英雄与杰出代表。

The victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was inseparable from the strong support and assistance of the world’s people in China’s resistance. To jointly fight against Japanese fascism and ensure the smooth transport of strategic materials to China, China and the United States opened the “Hump Route” in southwest China. American pilots, undaunted by difficulties and dangers, flew over the treacherous Hump, breaking Japan’s economic blockade of China and powerfully supporting the Chinese people’s War of Resistance. In 1938, the internationalist fighter Norman Bethune led a Canadian-American medical team to China from thousands of miles away, treating the wounded and saving lives at the front lines of the anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines, and ultimately sacrificed his life on Chinese soil.

中国人民抗日战争的胜利，离不开世界人民对中国抗战的鼎力支持和帮助。为了共同抗击日本法西斯，保障中国战略物资运输顺畅，中美两国在中国西南开辟“驼峰航线”。美国飞行员不惧艰难险阻，飞越驼峰天险，打破日军对中国的经济围困，有力地支援了中国人民抗日战争。1938年，国际主义战士白求恩率加拿大、美国援华医疗队不远万里赶赴中国，在抗日最前线敌后抗日根据地救死扶伤，牺牲在中国的大地上。

Criticizing Historical Nihilism

批判历史虚无主义

Defending the Fruits of China’s Victory in the War of Resistance

捍卫中国抗战胜利成果

In recent years, historical nihilism has gained currency by riding on the coattails of international right-wing forces and trends of thought. Rooted in the values of “Western-centrism,” it uses diverse media means to widely disseminate erroneous views of World War II history, vigorously distorting the historical facts of the World Anti-Fascist War. In particular, it denies the positive contributions of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War to the World Anti-Fascist War, and denies the major sacrifices made by anti-fascist countries such as China and the Soviet Union in World War II.

近年来，历史虚无主义借国际右翼势力与思潮大行其道。他们立足“西方中心论”价值理念，借助多样化媒介手段，广泛散播错误二战史观，极力歪曲世界反法西斯战争的历史史实，尤其是否认中国人民抗日战争与苏联卫国战争在世界反法西斯战争中所作的积极贡献，否认中国、苏联等反法西斯国家在二战中付出的重大牺牲。

In dealing with the issue of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, historical nihilism spreads erroneous views of World War II history such as the “theory of Japan as a victim,” wantonly tampering with the historical truth of Japan’s invasion of China, covering up historical crimes, evading historical responsibility, disregarding the just nature of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance, and vehemently denying the leadership and pivotal role of the Communist Party of China in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance, in order to achieve its ulterior motive of whitewashing Japan’s bloody history of invading China and denying Japan’s heinous crimes in invading China. In response to this erroneous phenomenon, General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Any remarks that deny the history of aggression or even whitewash aggressive wars and colonial rule cannot but arouse great indignation, severe condemnation, and high vigilance among the Chinese people and the peoples of Asian countries,” and “any person or any force that attempts to distort the history of the Communist Party of China or to vilify the nature and purpose of the Communist Party of China will never be accepted by the Chinese people!”

在对待中国人民抗日战争问题上，历史虚无主义散布“日本受害论”等错误二战史观，肆意篡改日本侵华历史真相，掩盖历史罪行，逃避历史罪责，罔顾中国人民抗日战争的正义性质，极力否认中国共产党在中国人民抗日战争中的领导地位和中流砥柱作用，以达到其美化日本侵华血腥历史、否认日本侵华滔天罪行的不可告人的目的。针对这种错误现象，习近平总书记指出：“任何否认侵略历史甚至美化侵略战争和殖民统治的言论，都不能不引起中国人民和亚洲国家人民的极大愤慨、严厉谴责、高度警惕”，而“任何人任何势力企图歪曲中国共产党的历史、丑化中国共产党的性质和宗旨，中国人民都绝不答应！”

To uphold a correct view of World War II history, it is necessary to criticize historical nihilism, to clearly and unequivocally eliminate the negative effects of historical nihilism in confusing the public and dissolving historical understanding, and it is necessary to resolutely resist and break through erroneous viewpoints and tendencies concerning the history of World War II, and resolutely defend the fruits of China’s victory in the War of Resistance. Regarding the Chinese Communist Party’s role as the mainstay in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, as well as its important role in the Eastern Main Battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, General Secretary Xi Jinping has given high affirmation, emphasizing that the Chinese Communist Party was “the national vanguard that won the war” and “the key to the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.” [1]1 The term “民族先锋” (national vanguard) is a classical allusion to the CPC’s self-characterization during the War of Resistance, emphasizing its leading role in mobilizing the nation against Japanese aggression. In the course of the Chinese people’s 14-year War of Resistance, at the critical moment of life and death for the Chinese nation, the Chinese Communist Party held high the banner of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, unswervingly promoted the all-nation war of resistance, led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to unite as one, share a common hatred against the enemy, face death unflinchingly, and advance wave upon wave, shouldering the role of the mainstay of the all-nation war of resistance, supporting the hope of the Chinese nation’s salvation from extinction, guiding the direction of China’s War of Resistance, and ultimately achieving the complete victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

坚持正确二战史观，必须批判历史虚无主义，旗帜鲜明地消除历史虚无主义混淆视听、消解历史认知的负面影响，必须坚决抵制和破除关于二战历史的错误观点与倾向，坚决捍卫中国抗战胜利成果。对于中国共产党在中国人民抗日战争中的中流砥柱作用，以及在世界反法西斯战争东方主战场的重要作用，习近平总书记给予高度肯定，他强调中国共产党是“夺取战争胜利的民族先锋”，是“中国人民抗日战争胜利的关键”。在中国人民长达14年的抗日战争进程中，面对中华民族生死存亡的关键时刻，中国共产党高举抗日民族统一战线旗帜，坚定不移地推动全民族抗战，领导全国各族人民团结一致、同仇敌忾、视死如归、前仆后继，担负起全民族抗战中流砥柱的作用，支撑起中华民族救亡图存的希望，指引了中国抗战的前进方向，最终取得了中国人民抗日战争的彻底胜利。

(The author is a professor at the School of Marxism, Hebei Normal University)

（作者系河北师范大学马克思主义学院教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心