The country needs heroes. “Panfilov’s Men” or How the Victory Is Told

Event Series: "History in Conflict: Soviet Myths"

– Weiße Statue eines Soldaten mit Gewehr, steht auf grüner Wiese. Der Himmel ist wolkig.

Myths need heroes. But heroes, too, need myths to become part of the collective memory. The story of the “28 Panfilovites” illustrates how this interplay works and what political impact it can have: In the winter of 1941, 28 Soviet soldiers are said to have held off 18 German tanks near Moscow, sacrificing their lives in the process. A story that has been debunked as a historical legend for decades and yet continues to be retold to this day. In the Soviet Union, it became the epitome of heroic resistance. Today, it continues to be cherished and propagated in Russia.

The panel discussion examines the Soviet construction of heroes during World War II and its impact right up to the present day. It explores why societies and politics continue to produce heroes even today and what functions these heroes serve.



Featuring:
Dr. Manfred Sapper (German Society for Eastern European Studies, Editor-in-Chief of the journal *Osteuropa*),
Ivan Vasilev, M.A. (University of Bonn) and Dr. Jörg Morré (Museum Berlin-Karlshorst)



Please register at

Admission is free.

On the evenings of the events, the museum will be open until 7:00 p.m.Translated with DeepL

Booking: Please register at:

Next date:

• Date Tuesday, 08/December/2026 19:00 bis 20:30
• Venue Museum Berlin-Karlshorst
• Address Zwieseler Straße 4, 10318 Berlin-Lichtenberg