If you google "Germans from Russia" you can access a number of letters written from these villages to family members in Germany, Argentina, Canada, and the United States. They are extremely disturbing to read, mentioning these friends who died of starvation and that family that was wiped out by disease, but they are a part of history that should be remembered.
Joseph Stalin was a cruel and vindictive man who ruled with an iron fist. But he is dead and gone, and holding others (who weren't even born at the time) responsible for his actions is stupid.
During the War of 1812, the British burned Washington City, yet they are now one of our greatest allies. How would they react if we suddenly demanded that they pay us for the damage they inflicted on Washington almost 200 years ago?
Thanks for the recitation of your family’s history. It reinforces a post that follows yours, in that it makes the point that Russian citizens and those on it’s soil suffered much at the hands of the Russian leadership.
I very much agree that damning nations for things their leaders did upwards of 75 to 100 years ago, is non productive, and is very insulting to current leaders and peoples.
Thanks for the great post.
The truth about the genocide of a million germans in Russia prior to WWII is just coming out now - and payback is going to be a bitch considering this is how another madman came to power.
http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/grhc/order/general/sinner.html
The Russian government refuses to admit the government role in the famine and Putin has recrated the cult of Stalin. This is a big issue.