Fact check: How many casualties have the Soviet Union actually received from Germany during WW2?

1. Summary of the results

The total Soviet casualties during World War II are officially recognized by the Russian government at 26.6 million people, based on a 1993 study by the Russian Academy of Sciences ^[1]. This number includes both civilian and military deaths. The Russian Ministry of Defence puts military deaths specifically at 8,668,400 ^{[1] [1]}, though this figure is disputed by some Russian scholars who believe military deaths could range between 10.9-13.7 million ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on casualties "received from Germany," but the full context is more complex:

• Civilian deaths are estimated at around 13.7 million, with some sources suggesting up to 20 million civilians perished ^[1]
• Deaths occurred not just from direct combat, but through multiple causes including:
• Nazi occupation policies
• POW deaths
• Forced labor
• Famine ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains potential bias by:

• Implying that casualties were solely inflicted by German forces, when in reality the deaths occurred through various means beyond direct combat
• Suggesting there might be a discrepancy between "actual" numbers and reported ones, when in fact:
• Numbers have been extensively documented with multiple estimates ^[1]
• The Russian government has officially acknowledged and studied these figures through academic institutions ^[1]
• There is ongoing scholarly debate about the exact military death toll ^[1]

It's worth noting that various institutions might have different reasons for presenting different numbers:

• The Russian government's official figures serve as the basis for historical narrative and national memory
• Academic scholars continue to research and debate these numbers, suggesting higher figures that could affect how we understand the scale of Soviet sacrifice in WWII
• These numbers remain politically sensitive and can influence modern geopolitical discussions and national identity