Titled “The Real Lessons of the 75th Anniversary of World War II,” Putin’s article addresses the diplomatic missteps that led to war, the actions of different states in the first stage of the war, and the Soviet-Nazi Non-Aggression Treaty, better known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
The text makes several contentious claims. Historian Sergey Radchenko calls it “a piece of crude propaganda” and has identified what he says are several of the most egregious assertions: for example, Putin says the USSR was “practically the last among the European countries” to sign a pact with Hitler, and that Moscow didn’t initially plan to invade Poland, despite its secret pact with German. Putin also implies that the Western Allies reached secret pacts with Hitler that they refuse to declassify to this day.
Some of the Russian president’s most inflammatory comments concern the invasion and absorption of the Baltic states, which he describes as “implemented on a contractual basis, with the consent of the elected authorities” and “in line with international and state law of that time.”
The harsh split caused by the revolution and the Civil War, nihilism, mockery of national history, traditions and faith that the Bolsheviks tried to impose, especially in the first years after coming to power – all of this had its impact. But the general attitude of the absolute majority of Soviet citizens and our compatriots who found themselves abroad was different – to save and protect the Motherland.THE NATIONAL INTEREST
President Putin announced his intention to write an article about World War II last December, during his end-of-the-year press conference with journalists from around the country. On June 14, the Kremlin reported that the article was complete.
Putin’s decision to weigh in on the start of the Second World War follows a resolution adopted by the European Parliament last September that establishes May 25 as “International Day of Heroes of the Fight Against Totalitarianism.” The resolution says the war was “an immediate result of the notorious Nazi-Soviet Treaty on Non-Aggression.” Putin has objected vociferously to this language, dismissing any efforts to equate the USSR and Nazi Germany as “the height of cynicism.”
(C)MEDUZA 2020
Interesting that everyone’s documented history of WWII varies from the regime that allied with Hitler and has a centuries-long history of burning and banning books, brain-washing, propaganda and destroying history.
the lesson of WWII is to not make deals with dictators. West trusted Hitler. stalin trusted Hitler. Stalin planned to attack Germany as soon as his armies were stronger and Germany had been weakened by france and England. Hitler beat him to the punch.
The second lesson is don’t turn friends or at least untrals into dedicated enemies. Finland, Baltics and Romania to be specific. All three fought hard against Russia and the in the case of finland tied up over 22 divisions almost as much as england was tieing up in the west. The Baltics were fertile recruiting grounds for the German army. the Romanians provided the best allied army Germany had. All three still are anti Russia.
The third lesson is never trust your allies good intentions. Stalin promised fair election in the areas he occupied. That obviously didn’t happen.
Bravo Murf!