This chapter examines how the meaning and interpretation of the Second World War remain a source of deep and persistent contention across societies. It explores how competing narratives of the war—its origins, its heroes, its victims, and its legacy—have become instruments of identity-building, diplomacy, and domestic politics. By analyzing cases ranging from disputes over memorials to legislative attempts to codify “historical truth,” the chapter shows how World War II serves simultaneously as a unifying myth and a fault line of division. At the same time, it considers moments when contested memories have opened paths toward dialogue and symbolic reconciliation, demonstrating that historical memory, even when fraught, can become a resource for negotiation rather than conflict. Through these examples, the chapter highlights the complex role of the war in shaping collective memory, showing how societies continually reinterpret the past in response to shifting political, cultural, and moral frameworks.