Agreed.. I had intially thought of mentioning General Marshal Georgi Zhukov as the primary cause for Hitler's defeat, but that Russian winter is pretty brutal
Rick, I think it is important to acknowledge not only the Soviet contribution, but the contribution of the Tommy as well, along with that of our boys. Military deaths per capita, I think, are telling, if tragic: Britain lost .80% of its population in battle, America .30%, and the USSR, 6.4%. Adding in civilian casualties is even more striking: U.S., .32%, Britain, .94%, and the USSR, a whopping 13.8%. While it is true our entry into the war stymied all hope Hitler had of a one-front war, the Tommy was a fierce soldier, as was the GI; and both were hampered by constraints of civility not set upon the Soviet soldier.
Agreed as well. As much as Hitler loved reading Frederick the Great, apparently he didn't read too much Napoleon. Thank god.
Well, they were more than willing to sacrifice their people...so yes, I do understand they contributed to the end of the nazi german regime. But I've never been a buddy to the idea of giving commie leaders acknowledgement. They were probably worst element in the war and history. I'm somewhat a patton supporter and think it might have been better to take them out right after the war.
Trust me, Rick, I'm not saying anything good about the moral character of the Soviet army in its march through Europe. The record of atrocities committed upon German civilians, for one, is a glaring evil that cannot be forgotten. Further, my wife's family is Estonian; many of them were lost to Stalin's murderous regime and its expatriation policies and I'm not a fan, either. But without the barbarism of the Soviet soldier, or the genius, tenacity, and willingness to blood of its general, the record tells me, we might all be singing the Horst Wessel. History is history and how I feel cannot alter the contribution made.
You're just giving me as close to a fact as you can....I understand. I think everyone had their part in committing atrocities, but I'm sure the Solviet's were especially good at that. Too many people mention Hitler as the worst. I can't stand Stalin, and I really can't stand the fact our president buddied-up with him. I understand the reasoning for that, but it gives me cold chills to think the allies we've made in history. They kind-of didn't have a chose. Well, I'd say if Germany didn't take that front-up ie initiate a war against Russia....they'd have Britain quite quickly. So while my soul says nothing good about the solviet regime, I'll say one demon conquered the next. And while history panned out okay, I think the world might be a bit better off if we had taken Russia out after world war 2. No conceiveable nuclueur proliferation, and not as many cold-war squirmishes (for the most part). The world would be a bit more 'democratic'....a lot quicker than 89. I'd love to see a historical replay of a different chose at that time.