Some studies suggest that major trauma (wars, famines, Great Depressions, etc) are passed on through DNA to later generations. With it, the ability to adapt, persevere and survive hardships.
The grandfather in question may have had his personal reasons, but the inability to talk about the war, comes from an emotional aversion to reliving the experience.
The price of a major world conflict is a high one, and if anyone knows it – it’s Russia. As a reminder, over 27 million Soviet citizens gave their lives for that Victory. “Not one step back” refers to Stalin’s order of 1942.
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/10/not-one-step-back-stalin-1942-video.html
Sometimes I wonder if stuff like this in Russia is as staged as it is in the US. It probably is. After all, it is a Communist country.
Don’t let this fool you, Putin is just as evil and phony as Barry. He’s just a better actor.