The Second World War started with the occupation of Poland by aggressive powers in 1939 following the events similar to hexogenation of the appartment buildings in Moscow in 1999.
Naturally, that war ended when the state of occupation of Poland ended, too.
In 1990, one still might see the graffiti on the walls of Warsaw: "Russki czolgi do Wolgi" (Russky tanks -- back to Volga!).
This term does include Germany (in its entirety now).
Unfortunately, this term does not include Russia.
Actually, in perception of the Russians, their country did not participate in the Second World War. Russia waged her own, domestic war known locally as The Great Patriotic War. It was simply a coincidence that this war coincided with the Second World War.
Having overcome the Nazi adversary in this local war, Russia attacked neutral Japan when faced with Japan's imminent defeat after the American atomic bombardment, and then continued her war with the Democracies as the Cold War.
The man who returned the victory in WWII to a large part of Germany 10 years ago has been recently awarded the Grand Iron Cross by the Federal Republic of Germany. For facilitating the fall of totalitarianism and return of the victory to Czechoslovakia, that same man has been awarded the Order of White Lion by the Czech Republic. The name of this man is Mikhail Gorbachev. Next year he shall get the same recognition from Poland.
Return to Non Canonical Phystech, The Real Story
11-17-99; 05-02-00