The Allied supply line to the Soviets (via Murmansk) also played a role.
My own experience with the Russians (from my own family no less): every Russian is part drama queen. If you understand that, a lot of things make sense. On the other hand, they are an extremely tough people when they need to be. Its an interesting combination.
Thanks for the insight. My own feeling is that Russia will re-emerge under Putin while the US continues to evanesce under Obama — largely because Putin has two qualities the US president does not: Putin is a strong leader and he believes in the greatness of his own country.
Really, there’s nothing much wrong with the Russians.
Basically.
The thing that really bothers me is their leaders.
Most Russians are good natured folks who’ve been exploited tricked and led astray throughout most of history.
We Swedes have a special relation to the people living in Russia and the Ukraine.
Swedish Vikings once were welcomed to this part of the World to build functioning societal structures.
A quote from the so called “The Primary Chronicle”:
“Our country is large and has everything in abundance except that we lack order and justice; come take possession and govern us.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_Chronicle
Murmansk was decisive, and for decades since, revisionists of many stripes have tried to keep that fact buried.
The Russians would not have been able to launch the massive counter-offensive against the Axis had it been otherwise.
Thank you, too, for your observation.
Seen that one too!
One minute crying like a baby over a percieved slight, then next working six fourteen hour shifts in a row for weeks on end.
Crazy.