The article considers two approaches to the formation and interpretation of the historical memory of the Second World War, which were formed in Russian and German society. An analysis of the historical memory of the war seems important, since it has had and continues to have a significant impact on the situation in international relations. The author comes to the conclusion that in Germany, which carried out a long and hard work to comprehend its past, laid the memory of the war at the heart of its European policy. In the memory of Russian citizens, the memory of the Great Patriotic War still remains the main event that rallies society.