Posted on 10/09/2009 9:49:10 AM PDT by kronos77
Albert Axell, the American military writer, historian and author of Marshall Zhukov: The Man Who Beat Hitler, explains just how much the West has undervalued the Soviet Union’s contribution to victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
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Do you believe people are still interested in WWII, which was over a fairly long time ago?
My friend, a British professor, told me about a survey that revealed striking ignorance: 95pc of young people in the UK believe Germany was an ally of their country in that war, whereas the Soviet Union was the enemy.
Today most Americans know nothing about Marshal Zhukov. And neither do the British. Yet I would like the contemporary generation in the West to fully realise to whom we owe our existence. That is why I wrote my books.
By writing your books you tipped the balance so heavily towards recognition of the role of the Soviet Union in winning WWII that a number of generally loyal observers were rattled. I heard British historians and journalists say that, although until recently the role of the USSR in WWII had been understated, you promoted it to the point of exaggeration.
I can responsibly say that most Western historians who are not politically engaged do share my point of view. No other nation in the world was prepared for such a heroic effort and sacrifice as the people of Russia. In Great Britain, WWII claimed about 300,000 soldiers and civilians, whereas the Soviet Union lost about 27m. Is it possible to “exaggerate” the price the Russians paid for the victory?
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
As much as I respect Patton- no he could not.
You see, Ardennes, that so much celebrated counetr offensive of Wermacht, was no more than regular weekley clash on Eastern front.
Zhukov and the Russians — as opposed to Stalin, the communist party, and the USSR — merit appreciation for their extraordinary effort toward defeating Nazi Germany. Nevertheless, even a generous view of the Russian Army in WW II should not ignore its trail of brutality, rapine, and pillage across Eastern Europe. No mere incidents of war, they were matters of policy that helped to render illegitimate the regimes set up by the USSR.
And attacked Poland in 1939
And again, Stalin was a bastard,
But WWII would started just because hitler wanted to rule the world.
Hitler started his war machinery in 1936 with idea to conquer the Europe.
Germans were surrendering in droves in the West, because they knew the Western allies would treat them decently. Only the most hardcore SS units were putting up any kind of resistance in the West after the Battle of the Bulge.
With the Russians, they heard the stories about the Red Army raping women, and they genuinely feared being occupied by the Russians, they had nothing to lose by fighting them.
Russian war agains Japan in Manjuria is one of the most perfect examples of blitzkrieg.
Also dont forget that Russians defeated Japan in 1937/38 BEFORE Pearl Harbour, Singapoore, Bataan...
The real shame was the treatment of ex-Soviet POWs upon their return to the Soviet Union after the war, most were sent directly to Siberia, if not killed on the spot.
Yes!
They were treated like a garbage! Iw said that Stalin was bastard.
But that only tels about bravoury of Soviet POWs in german captivity
man that organised escape from Sobibor con. camp was Soviet officer of Jewish origin. - Imprisoned after the war!
Sorry, but the Soviet enabled the Germans in the development of new weapons, and in training. The war probably would not even have happened if the Soviets hadn’t signed a the Non-Aggression Pact and divvied up Poland with the Nazis.
As for Spain, the Soviets saw it as an opportunity to test their aircraft against the aircraft other potential adversaries. Besides, I’d take the Nationalists over the “Republicans” any day.
Germans did most horrific crimes on the East, and they did them to Poles, Russians and Serbs.
Did you knew that 12 days after may 9th 1945, germans were still atempting to escape from Balkans? Two weeks after the end of the war.
they were horrified of prospect being captured by the Slavs
Not realy true since UK and USA gave tons of money to Hitler.
Did you knew that grandpa of GW Bush was involved with Hitlers economy?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/sep/25/usa.secondworldwar
A country who’s leaders used their own and captured people as cannon fodder in a war of attrition should not be celebrated.
Even Obama would be a brilliant general if he ordered his armies of millions to slaughter until the other guy ran out of ammo. If they didn’t get shot and killed by German guns, there was a Mosin Nagant aimed at the back of their heads.. the generals too.
Hooray!!!
There was inevitably going to be war in Europe, the only question was would Germany or the Soviet Union start it.
Stalin’s plan was to be ready to launch an offensive war in 1943. Part of his motivation for signing the Non-Aggression Pact was to get Germany to fight their war in the West, which would grind the armies of Germany, Britain and France, with the Soviet Union sweeping in from the East to clean up.
What Stalin didn’t plan on was for France to fall so quickly.
So true.
French blew it up...
Nothing new...
Stalin distrusted returning POWs because it was common Soviet practice to recruit agents among returnees. And he wanted the POWs back to prevent them from becoming recruits for the West in spy operations or military units.
That is just not true.
Zhukov, was one of the best generals of the war.
Bare in mind that HE did defeated Manstein, Guderian and all others.
The war was won by sole strenght of soldier. By the heart of the soldier.
If US lost 50,000 men in Vietnam and still suffering from that loss- just imagine battle with 2,000,000 men involved.
That kind of battle was newer seen on the West.
Zhukov didn't have to worry about KIA counts.
No. Stalin sent men, arms and aid to bring another country into the Comintern. Stalin's forces spent almost as much effort undermining, betraying and even fighting other non-Soviet-aligned factions on the Repulican side as they did fighting the Nationalists, Italians and Germans. For Stalin, the fascists were nothing more than a convenient excuse.
No. Stalin sent men, arms and aid to bring another country into the Comintern. Stalin's forces spent almost as much effort undermining, betraying and even fighting other non-Soviet-aligned factions on the Repulican side as they did fighting the Nationalists, Italians and Germans. For Stalin, the fascists were nothing more than a convenient excuse.
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