Soon we’ll celebrate the 100th anniversary from the end of the First World War. To a large extent this war is still considered as a political, not a historical event, but it is already far enough in the past and can become the subject of an impartial research. In the present situation, of particular interest are the details of unleashing the war and specifics of its institutionalization, that is, its turning into a bloody conflict for years, the cost of which — in human lives, in money terms, and in social deformations — has repeatedly exceeded the value of disputed territories and assets. The authors are interested in a slightly different problem, though closely related to the above-mentioned: mechanisms of changing military and political leaders who demonstrated their inadequacy in wartime conditions.

In the interview with “ES” the RAS academician, scientific director of the Nuclear Safety Institute (IBRAE) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vice-Admiral A. A. Sarkisov told about the event, its historical interpretation. During the interview considerable attention was paid to a unique edition of “Europe and Russia in the fire of the First World War. On the 100th anniversary of the War”, published by the Orthodox Entrepreneurs Club, by the Institute for Economic Strategies and the Russian Biographical Institute with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. This is not just a book for studying that war operations, it recreates the full picture of those times events: from the origin of the war idea in politicians’ minds up to its implementation and public reaction to the military conflict.

The 100th anniversary of defense of the Osovets fortresses is approaching. This defense is one of the most glorious pages in the history of the Russian army. Representatives of all the peoples of the country – Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles and many others – took part in it. All of them showed an example of military valour and heroism. Their unprecedented heroic deed is worth perpetuation.

Relationship of times is an objective category. Do we like it or not, we all come from the past, though often we are not on good terms with the experience, the son of difficult errors.