The painful topic of the second world wars history: the memory about a sexual violence on either side of front
An analysis of the past through the prism of sexual experience produces emotionally charged memories, which only foster passionate responses but hinder a scholarly approach. The danger of such a onesided position is obvious for the international scholarly community, and historians are aware that in studying this topic they must overcome not only social opposition but also their own preconceptions. This article analyzes German and Russian traditions of memory (and amnesia) in relation to rape, and proposes ways in which this painful question can be addressed at present.