Putin minister blasts anyone who doesn’t believe WWII myth about 28 Russian troops destroying 18 Nazi tanks – despite proof it was false

RUSSIA'S culture minister has branded anyone who does not believe in a debunked Soviet Second World War story as "filthy scum".

Vladimir Medinsky, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, blasted those who questioned the truth of the legend of Panfilov's 28.

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The war story tells of 28 Russian soldiers who managed to destroy 18 Nazi tanks during the Battle of Moscow in 1941 and it has become part of Russian military folklore.

However a memo that came to light as it was being turned into a film revealed that the details of the heroic deed had been somewhat exaggerated.

But that didn't stop Medinsky slamming people who question the supposedly "sacred legend" as "filthy scum".

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Legend has it that the 28 men managed to overcome 18 German tanks armed with just rifles and firebombs after their commanding officer told them: "Russia is vast, but there's nowhere to retreat - behind us Moscow."

All the men perished in the battle but the Red Army soldiers managed to halt the Nazi onslaught.

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Putin has been a vocal supporter of embracing Russia's legacy even creating a commission to prevent the "distortion of Russian history", the reports.

The message of the legend is the Russians saved the world from Hitler, but last year a memo written by Stalin's top prosecutor poured cold water on the claims.

It stated that the story had been made up by Soviet propagandists who were looking to boost morale.

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The revelations showed their had indeed been a battle, but there were more than 28 Russians involved, not all of them died and some Red Army soldiers actually surrendered.

The news has divided opinion in Russia with makers of the film about the supposed event 28 Panfilovstev, arguing that movies like Saving Private Ryan overplay the role America played in beating Hitler.

But commentator Anton Orekh said on Echo Moskvy radio: "They've decided that we don't need the truth - we need a myth.

"We need sacred legends instead of history."

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