The article will focus on two wars, the main events of which occurred on the territory of Russia. Why do both of them have the word "domestic" in their names? What is the meaning of this concept? Let's try to answer these questions.
Patriotic War of 1812
This is the struggle of the Russian troops with the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte in Russia from June 24 to December 26, 1812. Prior to this, the Russian army already had experience in battles with Napoleon, for example, Austerlitz. After 1812, the battles also did not end, but they were fought outside the Russian territories - the “Foreign Campaign”.
We are interested in 1812, when the inhabitants of Russia fought for the fatherland - the land where their "fathers", their ancestors lived. Partisan movements were also often formed from noblemen and Cossacks. The most famous detachment is Denis Davydov. They talk a lot about the exploits of Vasilisa Kozhina, Gerasim Kurin - the organizers of peasant partisan groups.
World War II 1941-1945
It began on June 22, 1941, with the invasion of Nazi troops on the territory of the USSR. Ended May 9, 1945 with the surrender of Germany. Why is this war called the Great Patriotic War? The entire population of the Soviet Union was somehow affected by the war. Now partisan units included representatives from different layers. Not only the fate of the fatherland, but also those people who inhabited it depended on the outcome of the war. There was also a huge amount of feats.
For example, the heroic deed of Alexander Matrosov, who himself overshadowed the embrasure of the machine gun pillbox and saved his comrades. Recall the defense of Stalingrad, because everyone knows Pavlov’s House. Because this war on the territory, population coverage and the number of indisputable feats, has every reason to be called "Great." Moreover, it is also “Patriotic”, since the goal was to protect its homeland, its future and future descendants. Everyone understood that the fate of his house depended on the fate of the entire USSR.
Thus, the war of 1812 is domestic, since in it the inhabitants of Russia defended the land on which they lived. The events of 1941-1945 affected every resident of the USSR. Everyone fought for the land of their fathers, fought for the fate of their loved ones. Mass heroism was shown, and the war was of a national character. Therefore, it is called the Great Patriotic War.
