The victory at Khalkhin Gol as a basic element of Russian-Mongolian relations

Abstract

The joint victory of the Soviet-Mongolian forces in the battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939 laid the historical and moral-ideological foundation that became an important resource of Russian-Mongolian relations in the post-socialist period. The article analyzes the mechanisms of constructing historical memory of the events at Khalkhin Gol and the factors that transformed this victory into a significant symbolic resource in bilateral interaction. The author examines the historical context of the conflict, the debate over its terminological definition, the geopolitical consequences of the victory, and the place of Khalkhin Gol in Mongolian and Russian commemorative narratives. Particular attention is paid to the post-socialist period: anniversary events, high-level visits, restoration and erection of monuments, youth expeditions, exhibitions, academic conferences and publications. The article concludes that the memory of Khalkhin Gol performs a stabilizing function: it maintains the image of “battle brotherhood”, structures the rhythm of interstate contacts and legitimizes strategic partnership by referring to a shared victorious past.

References

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