Posted on 08/20/2009 12:10:34 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Sunday, August 23, marks the 70th anniversary of the so-called Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - the non-aggression treaty signed in 1939 by Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. The pact included a secret protocol dividing Eastern and Central Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres of influence. Days after it was signed, first German and then Soviet forces invaded Poland.
The anniversary's approach has sparked a debate in Europe. Western governments condemn Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin as two equally murderous variants of totalitarianism. The Russian government calls that comparison a "distortion" of history.
On August 17, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service issued a statement saying it had declassified documents showing that the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was the Soviet Union's "only available means of self-defense."
The spy agency's demarche was just the latest in a series of Russian government statements that critics say appear to defend Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and justify actions he took shortly before and during World War II.
In early May, Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu introduced legislation in parliament that would make it a crime to deny the Soviet victory in World War II.
Later in May, President Dmitri Medvedev issued a decree setting up a presidential commission to counter what he called attempts to "falsify history."
At a meeting in early July, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe passed a resolution designating August 23 - the anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - as a day of remembrance for the victims of both Stalinism and Nazism.
Russian delegates to the European security body walked out of the meeting, in protest. Russia's Foreign Ministry denounced the OSCE resolution as "an attempt to distort history with political goals," while Russia's parliament called it a "direct insult to the memory of millions" of Soviet soldiers who, in the words of the parliament, "gave their lives for the freedom of Europe from the fascist yoke."
Former independent Russian parliament Deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov says what he calls the "official" Russian position on the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is "extremely strange."
Ryzhkov asks why today's Russia, which has a democratic constitution and new democratic legitimacy, should justify the division of Europe between Hitler and Stalin.
He says that this view is now included in Russian history text books and has caused "enormous moral damage" to Russia's reputation, particularly in the countries of Eastern Europe that were the main victims of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Ryzhkov says the only explanation for the Russian leadership's position on the issue is what he calls "sympathy for Stalin."
Public opinion surveys suggest many ordinary Russians share at least some of their government's views.
A poll conducted by the state-run VTsIOM agency, following the OSCE resolution condemning Stalinism and Nazism, found that 53 percent of the respondents across Russia viewed it negatively, while 11 percent viewed it positively and 21 percent viewed it neutrally. In addition, 59 percent of those polled said the resolution was aimed at undermining Russia's authority in the world and diminishing its contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Dmitry Furman of the Russian Academy of Science's Institute of Europe calls the presidential commission to counter what it deems historical falsification an "idiotic undertaking" and a "very bad idea." He also says Stalin's government killed as many, or even more people than Hitler's.
But, given the suffering Russians endured after Hitler turned on Stalin and invaded the Soviet Union, Furman says it is natural that many resist equating Stalinism and Nazism.
Furman says it is "very difficult psychologically" for Russians to put what they see as their "victors" in the Great Patriotic War, as they call World War II, on the same level with the vanquished Nazis.
Rewriting history is SOP in Russia (and with the left in this country).
The suffering Soviets (not just Russians.)
Hitler’s Nazis killed almost as many citizens of the USSR as Stalin’s Reds. Had Hitler waited a year, other documents have shown that Stalin was preparing an offensive of his own.
Make the lies big enough, like this one, and the moon-bat liberals just might believe it.
the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was the Soviet Union’s “only available means of self-defense.”
Right, gobble up Poland and kill thousands of Polish
intellectuals in “self-defense”, Riiiight.
Or as my father points out.
Russia and Germany decided to split Poland 50/50; and the entire world went to war to ensure that Russia got all of Poland.
This is what you get when your enemy (the Soviet/Russians) don't believe that they were beaten (in the Cold War). It echoes the attitudes of Germany & the average German after WW1.
Sure, the Russians suffered a lot. So in the end did the Germans. And so did the Poles and Czechs and Serbs and everyone caught in the middle.
Stalin and Hitler were equally vile. Hitler caused the Holocaust, but Stalin murdered far more people than Hitler.
The whole 20th century was one disaster after another, fueled by totalitarian ideologies.
Yup, and the result — another World War — just might follow. Except this time, America is too weak to help. Europe will have to go it on its own.
Western Europe will probably sit on the sidelines while Russia gobbles up Eastern Europe on some false pretense. Then they’ll be shocked, just SHOCKED, when Russia doesn’t stop there.
This won’t happen soon, but in another couple decades it is almost inevitable. Of course, by then, Europe might be Eurabia, and we might be in the odd position of cheering the Russians on...
One thing Hitler and Stalin had in common was Socialism of one variety or another.
Without this pact, WWII might not have happened. What the pact did was allow the Germans to concentrate their forces on Germany’s western borders in preparation for the conquest of Western Europe.
“Coctails, anyone?”
I'm looking at the slow dismemberment of Georgia as an example as to how Russia will do it. In fact, I'm a bit surprised that Russia's summer maneuvers in the North Caucuses Region didn't result in another move into Georgia on some pre-cooked context. It's the way that the Russians did it last year.
The problem with this approach is that eventually you reach a point of diminishing marginal returns. As in poker, the guy who continually bluffs his way to a winning hand eventually gets called with rags.
And modern war is highly destructive. If Russia were to attempt to take on Poland, the Poles would cripple them this time around. Modern societies (anything above 3rd World level) are just too soft to take the beating. Modern War is so expensive only the really poor can afford it.
“Modern War is so expensive only the really poor can afford it.”
Wow, great saying! That an original? Can I “borrow” it? Seriously, it captures a LOT in a short space!
What the pact did was neuter opposition in the German Army to Hitler by removing the fear of two front war [short term].
It's not original, but I'm sorry to say that I'm not sure who said it. I'm thinking that it might have been the Israeli military strategist & author, Martin Van Creveld.
What are new deals
Since the Hitler-Stalin deal included the joint occupation and dismemberment of Poland and the beginning of a world war in the West, is it any wonder that Poland and the West remain armed and watchful as to Russia?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.