Leaders mourn Soviet wartime dead

BBC Information News ^ | BBC Information News

[anonymoussierra]

More than 50 world leaders, including US President George W Bush, have been paying tribute in Moscow to the Soviet people's sacrifice in World War II. A mass parade took place in Red Square - the latest in a series of events in Europe marking 60 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.

The 75-minute commemoration was followed by the laying of wreaths at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

But the event has been overshadowed by disagreements over the war's legacy.

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Soviet sacrifice

Despite the grey skies, Moscow's city centre was transformed into a sea of colour for the celebrations.

They began with four soldiers marching across Red Square with the Soviet victory flag, to the sounds of a military band. Thousands of servicemen bearing Red Army standards followed.

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World leaders saluted as 2,500 frontline veterans were driven past in trucks, carrying red carnations.

Fighter jets flew over the square streaming red, white and blue smoke, the colours of the Russian tricolour flag.

Addressing the crowds, Russia's President Vladimir Putin stressed the extent of the Soviet sacrifice to save the world from the Nazis.

"For us the victory is the victory of all of us," he said, addressing the selected crowd attending the parade.

The world was "also aware that the Soviet Union lost dozens of millions of citizens over those years", he added.

"All the people of the Soviet Union suffered such losses that will never be repaired," he said.

"Thanks to the valiant elements of our army we repulsed the enemy," he said.

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President Bush, the first US president to attend a Russian victory parade, earlier hailed the liberation from the Nazis, but said the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe that followed was "one of the greatest wrongs of history".

After the ceremony, Mr Bush travelled to Georgia - the first US president to visit the former Soviet republic.

The BBC's Natalia Antelava, in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, says Mr Bush's visit is the first clear message to Russia that it is no longer the only player in what has been for years Moscow's geopolitical back yard.

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Objections

More than 40 million people had lost their lives by the time World War II ended in Europe on 8 May 1945, including 27 million from the Soviet Union.

The ceremonies took place amid tight security.

Central Moscow was closed off and people encouraged to watch the commemoration on television, leading to complaints that the event was not for ordinary people.

World leaders attending included French President Jacques Chirac, Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is forming a new cabinet following his election victory, did not attend. Britain was represented by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also came, despite the absence of a treaty ending World War II hostilities between Moscow and Tokyo.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski was at the parade, despite strong objections from many Poles who said he should not attend as the defeat of the Nazis in 1945 did not bring freedom to Poland.

The Soviet occupation of the Baltic states prompted Estonia and Lithuania - but not Latvia - to boycott Moscow's commemorations, which mark the signature of the unconditional surrender in Berlin.

They have demanded a fresh apology from Russia, but President Putin said it was not necessary, as the 1939 pact that effected the handover had already been criticised by Soviet-era authorities.

A Festival of Democracy is also under way in Germany, in a sign of reconciliation with past enemies and relief at the defeat of the Nazi dictatorship.

[anonymoussierra]

"Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski was at the parade, despite strong objections from many Poles who said he should not attend as the defeat of the Nazis in 1945 did not bring freedom to Poland."

"UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is forming a new cabinet following his election victory, did not attend. Britain was represented by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott."

"President Bush, the first US president to attend a Russian victory parade, earlier hailed the liberation from the Nazis, but said the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe that followed was "one of the greatest wrongs of history".

"After the ceremony, Mr Bush travelled to Georgia - the first US president to visit the former Soviet republic."

"My grandpa didn't fight for Stalin or for communism, he fought for his Motherland and Freedom - it's as simple as that

Dmitry, Moscow"

Thank you

[anonymoussierra]

War World Two Information news ping Thank you

[anonymoussierra]

War World Two information ping Thank you

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Just read Stalingrad....the equivalent of 100 Normandys. What those Godless communists were forced to do for the motherland was amazing.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Just read Stalingrad....the equivalent of 100 Normandys. What those Godless communists were forced to do for the motherland was amazing.

[injin]

there should have been one more Soviet casualty after the end of WW2 hostilities : Joseph Stalin

[Destro]

The Russians did it for themselves not for the USSR.

[Chi-townChief]

Considering they helped start the war, they damn well better help finish it.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

The Russians did it for themselves not for the USSR.

How about the millions that were afraid of getting shot if they deserted or the ones that were afraid for their families back home if they were captured. How many were motivated by freedom and how many were motivated by fear?

Stalin was brutal on all.

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you

"I'm pretty sure Stalin and Hitler are burning in deepest part of hell, and I hope Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels with Trocki, Lenin; Kruszczov; Andropov; Czarnienko do as well burn in deepest part of hell. What these two monsters; Stalin and Hitler; put world through is beyond our human comprehension. Lost of so many generations, tears of so many mothers and fathers, while they were spreading their filth of hate forward. At least there is God and this brings consolation to our soul"

Thank you"Archie Bunker on steroids"

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you

"I'm pretty sure Stalin and Hitler are burning in deepest part of hell, and I hope Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels with Trocki, Lenin; Kruszczov; Andropov; Czarnienko do as well burn in deepest part of hell. What these two monsters; Stalin and Hitler; put world through is beyond our human comprehension. Lost of so many generations, tears of so many mothers and fathers, while they were spreading their filth of hate forward. At least there is God and this brings consolation to our soul"

Thank you"Archie Bunker on steroids"

[Argus]

There never were any "Soviet people", BBC. There were Russians, Ukrainians, Jews (a separate "national group" under Stalin), Lithuanians, Georgians, Cossacks, Chechens, Crimean Tatars, etc. etc. They were individuals with names, families, histories, nationalities. They only become "the Soviet people" when neocommunists nostalgic for the glory days of the great experiment want to use them for propaganda.

[struwwelpeter]

The Enemy Burned his Home

Music: M. Blanter Words: M. Isakovskiy

The enemy burned his home.
They killed his entire family.
Where can this soldier go to now?
To whom can he take his grief?
In deep sadness went the soldier.
At a crossing of two roads
In a wide field the soldier found
A mound overgrown with grass.

The soldier stands - and as if a lump
Was stuck in his throat
He says: "Praskov'ya,
Meet your husband, the hero,
Prepare the hut for guests
Set a big table in the cottage
Your day, your homecoming holiday,
Has come for celebration."

No one answered the soldier
No one met him
Only the warm summer wind
Rocked the grave's grass.
The soldier sighed, he fixed his belt
And opened his rucksack
He set a bitter bottle
Down upon the grey gravestone.

"Don't condemn me, Praskov'ya
That I come to you thus
I wanted to drink to your health
But now I should drink for peace
Friends and girlfriends will reunite again
But never with us..."
And the soldier drank from a brass mug
Equal parts, wine and grief.

He drank - the soldier, the servant of the people
And with pain in his heart he said:
"I walked for four years to you
I conquered 3 regimes..."
The soldier grew tipsy, a tear fell,
A tear of unfulfilled hopes
And on his chest shown
A medal for the liberation of Budapest.

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you"Argus"

"Exactly you are on the money. This is what I am trying to express; putting all Russian people as communistic believers is grave mistake and disrespectful. This is like saying all Polish people are communistic. There were people who created this monster with help of others of course, and I hope they burn in deepest part of hell for putting so many people through such a pain and misery"

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you"struwwelpeter"

[Destro]

Most of those taht ran from what I read were non ethnic Russians mostly from the 'Stans, etc.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Those that were captured were killed when returned by the Germans. The families of those who were captured lost all of their possessions too. That was what Stalin used as motivation. I believe plenty from traditional Russia would've given in.

Several anti Soviet stan based people gave in early as you say. They also helped bail Salin out of Stalingrad....Uzbeks for instance.

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you"Archie Bunker on steroids"

"Right on the money. Stalin used Russian people for his selfish purpose, he didn't care about them. He ruined their life and turn Russia into waste land; simple people paid a heavy priced. War is brutal thing, but intentionally created genocide and war is absolutely demonic. He knew in advance what Hitler was doing, he decided to ignore; not only we suffered so did others and millions were wipe out from the face of this earth; because we were Slavs or Jewish and inhuman, and on other side was this blood thirsty man with agenda to exterminate anyone who feel like it. These monster; Stalin and Hitler thought they are masters of people life; they were wrong; God is master of our lives”.

[Little Bill]

I have been gaming the Easter Front for 25 Years, the stupidity on both sides leaves me stunned absolutely stunned.

My Old Man ran Convoys into Murmansk and was absolutely horrified about how the Soviets treated their own people, GULAG rats no doubt. Service men were followed all of the time and were approached after using the local hookers, KGB?

Germany lost its nads and Russia lost its will to live after that war.