Bangladesh, May 6 -- History is not a fixed record of events. It is something people interpret, argue about, and use to explain the present. In todays world, especially in Europe and North America, arguments about the past of World War Two often shape how people think about current tensions between Russia and Western countries. Because of this, history is not only about what happened long ago—it also influences how nations see each other right now.

One of the most serious historical topics in this debate is the system of ideas developed in Nazi Germany. The Nazi state created a worldview based on racial ranking and extreme nationalism. Within this system, certain groups of people were treated as superior, while others were labeled ...