Розділ 2. ПОЧАТОК ДРУГОЇ СВІТОВОЇ ВІЙНИ (ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 1939 р.): ОСНОВНІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ ІСТОРІОГРАФІЇ, СУЧАСНОГО СУСПІЛЬНО-ПОЛІТИЧНОГО ДИСКУРСУ

The historiography and contemporary socio-political discourse of events related to the onset of the Second World War are considered, covering two periods: (a) 1945–1989, (b) the late 20th to early 21st century. It is noted that during the first period, under the influence of communist ideology, comprehensive and bibliographic works oriented towards the Soviet scientific concept were prepared. Conversely, the subsequent period was characterized by the emergence of new methodological approaches and a humanistic-anthropological discourse in the study of the Great War.

The significance of individual monographs and comprehensive works by Polish and Ukrainian historians, published during the 1940s to 1980s, highlighting the specifics of the war’s beginning and the military-political processes in Poland before and during Nazi aggression, is outlined. An overview of key thematic directions in the studies of Polish and Ukrainian historians is provided, including military operations, the administrative structure of occupied territories, and crimes of the Nazi regime. Emphasis is placed on the insufficient attention of contemporary scholars to the events of the September Campaign of 1939, especially regarding the Red Army’s entry into eastern Polish voivodeships.

It is mentioned that new methodological approaches and access to sources that emerged after 1989 contributed to expanding knowledge about the events of the Second World War and influenced their interpretation in Polish and Ukrainian historical scholarship. Special attention is given to studies concerning the entry of the Red Army into the territory of the Second Polish Republic, notably the works of V. Tsyhan and Ch. Hzhelak (where scientific and methodological aspects are critically evaluated, highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses). Works by Polish emigrant researchers who created an original narrative about the Second World War are also analyzed.

Contemporary Ukrainian historiography related to the German attack on Poland in 1939 is characterized. It is noted that the vast majority of Ukrainian scholars interpret these events as a military operation by the Armed Forces of Hitler’s Germany, provoked by Hitler's ambitions and his desire to create a strategically important foothold for a future attack on the USSR. Attention is focused on the contemporary socio-political discourse in the interpretation of the events at the beginning of the Second World War, particularly outlining the main messages of Russian propaganda.