The purpose of this textbook is to present for Russian students in a concise and accessible form the history of the Great Patriotic War, simultaneously instilling in them a sense of patriotism so that our country can effectively confront the global challenges of our time. In preparing this textbook, a wide range of sources was used - original works of the authors, regulations, translated and domestic publications in the field of domestic and foreign history of the Second World War. In each chapter, along with the theoretical part, questions for discussion are highlighted. The author sets himself the task of assisting students of technical and humanitarian fields in mastering a short course in the history of the Great Patriotic War and organizing independent work.