Today is September 1st. As a community playing a game heavily rooted in the Second World War, we should take a moment to reflect on what this date actually means. This is the true beginning of the conflict that shapes the very game we play.
The Tragic Reality of 1939
While the media and games often focus heavily on later battles, the war started with the unprovoked aggression against Poland. On September 1st, Nazi Germany attacked from the west. Just over two weeks later, on September 17th, the USSR invaded from the east, fulfilling the secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Poland was crushed between two totalitarian regimes.
Beyond the “Great Patriotic War” Propaganda
The developers of Enlisted often seem to present the Soviet Union in a purely heroic light—portraying them strictly as the “good guys” fighting fascism. However, history tells a much darker story. In reality, the Soviet regime was just as ruthless and bloodthirsty as the Nazi regime, especially toward the Polish people and other nations they occupied during the early years of the war.
Adding internal security forces like the NKVD as a playable, somewhat “normal” squad feels deeply inappropriate and ignores their actual, grim historical role. If we are normalizing the NKVD, what is stopping the inclusion of equivalent, equally abhorrent paramilitary factions on the German side? Both are highly controversial and inherently tied to war crimes.
If Enlisted wants to be respected as a historical game, it needs to remember that World War II is much more than just D-Day or the heavily propagandized Soviet myth of the “Great Patriotic War.”
We must also remember:
- The Dual Invasion: Poland was torn apart by both Germany and the USSR in 1939.
- The Winter War: Finland’s desperate defense against unprovoked Soviet aggression.
- The Fate of Central Europe: The complex and tragic situations in Czechoslovakia and Slovakia.
- The True Timeline: The USSR was an active aggressor long before they were attacked by their former Nazi allies in 1941.
A Plea for Historical Balance
As a game that prides itself on authentic weapons, vehicles, and uniforms, it shouldn’t shy away from the uncomfortable historical truths of the era. The narrative matters just as much as the caliber of a rifle. Including units like the NKVD without context is glorifying a brutal organization and applying history very selectively. If the goal was to add unique Soviet flavor without the heavy controversy, a squad representing the defenders of Odessa (for example) would have been a much better and more honorable choice.
I understand that introducing new full factions with complex mechanics—like Poland, Finland, or Romania—is nearly impossible in the current matchmaking/BR system. However, events are the perfect place to nurture real history and tell the stories of those who fought on all fronts.
