Sorry, buddy, your side lost.Did they have the special float to celebrate the Ribbentrop-Molotov Agreement? Did they commemorate the dead Finnish soldiers from the Soviet war of aggression? How about a little plaque for the thousands of Polish POWs murdered in 1940 by the Russian "liberators"? No, eh?
Also, let's not forget what happened to the Russians that were repatriated back to Russia after WW II ended.Did they have the special float to celebrate the Ribbentrop-Molotov Agreement? Did they commemorate the dead Finnish soldiers from the Soviet war of aggression? How about a little plaque for the thousands of Polish POWs murdered in 1940 by the Russian "liberators"? No, eh?
Or what the Red Army did in the Baltic States in 1940-41.Also, let's not forget what happened to the Russians that were repatriated back to Russia after WW II ended.
The Polish resistance had no means to help ZOB during the uprising in the Ghetto. I'm not saying don't "celebrate", I'm saying be honest. The Germans and the Russians committed horrific crimes during the war and- Russians even after the war. The Soviet Union made the war possible in 1939 and until June of 41 it was on Hitler's side. As someone said- the real tragedy of WWII was that both sides could not lose.Oh only the Russians commited war crimes lol. Oh! Stalin was a pig DUH!!. Yes all those things happened. Stalin committed great crimes against the Russian people. As for Poland, historically Russia and Poland have crossed swords for centuaries and great crimes have been committed by both sides. How about when the Polish resistance refused to help the Jews in the Ghetto uprising? They got their karmic reward when the Russian allowed the Germans to slaughter them in the Warsaw uprising. Fact is Victory Day celebrates those millions that fought the Nazis and their immense sacrifice, and becasue of them many Canadian, European and American lives were saved. If they had not fought, do you think the allies could have defeated Germany with all the resources of Russia at their disposal? Maybe, but it would have been 1000x harder. Probably nuclear. And the main point of the post - Its a KICK ASS Military parade.
The Soviet Union had a non-aggression pact with Germany, so did the UK remember? They were never on "Germanys side." The level of assistance from the Polish resistance remains controversial. Many say they could have done more. Yes Germany committed a lot of war crimes, as did Russia, but no one has clean hands in WWII. I don't see how the Soviet Union made the war possible, It was always possible. Tthe war was made likely by the WW1 Amistice agreement, some say a certainty.The Polish resistance had no means to help ZOB during the uprising in the Ghetto. I'm not saying don't "celebrate", I'm saying be honest. The Germans and the Russians committed horrific crimes during the war and- Russians even after the war. The Soviet Union made the war possible in 1939 and until June of 41 it was on Hitler's side. As someone said- the real tragedy of WWII was that both sides could not lose.
Whitewash and revisionism. Not only did the Wermacht and the luftwaffe trained in the Soviet Union to circumvent the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty, both sides engaged in the exchange of the political prisoners- anti fascists and even German communists from Russia to Germany and that was BEFORE the war has even started. You can imagine what the Nazis did to them. Oil, steel, coal went to Germany in massive amounts to help the Nazi war machine win the battles in the West. It's the Rooseveltian propaganda that created "Uncle Joe" and the poor innocent Russians who were "just like us" trying to survive. BS. As for the Polish lack of support for the Ghetto Uprising, name the factory that was producing weapons for the Polish underground.The Soviet Union had a non-aggression pact with Germany, so did the UK remember? They were never on "Germanys side." The level of assistance from the Polish resistance remains controversial. Many say they could have done more. Yes Germany committed a lot of war crimes, as did Russia, but no one has clean hands in WWII. I don't see how the Soviet Union made the war possible, It was always possible. Tthe war was made likely by the WW1 Amistice agreement, some say a certainty.
Sweden was selling iron ore to Germany, Swiss were doing their banking. Fact is, if you didn't sell, you would get attacked. Russia did not want war as far as I can tell, they were ill prepared for it. Germany did not really want to attack the USSR, but they felt sooner or later the communists would attack. Germany played an instrumental role in the Russian Revolution so its not surprising there would be links. Germany and Russia are natural allies. Britain has always worked to keep them apart. As far as weapons I assume they came from prewar Polish stocks, Allied air drops and captured Nazi weapons.Whitewash and revisionism. Not only did the Wermacht and the luftwaffe trained in the Soviet Union to circumvent the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty, both sides engaged in the exchange of the political prisoners- anti fascists and even German communists from Russia to Germany and that was BEFORE the war has even started. You can imagine what the Nazis did to them. Oil, steel, coal went to Germany in massive amounts to help the Nazi war machine win the battles in the West. It's the Rooseveltian propaganda that created "Uncle Joe" and the poor innocent Russians who were "just like us" trying to survive. BS. As for the Polish lack of support for the Ghetto Uprising, name the factory that was producing weapons for the Polish underground.
Look, what's to say? The Soviet Union entered the WWII on September 17, 1939 by attacking Poland and the Baltics in concert with Hitler. Plenty excuses, attempts at white washing and "explanations". In the end, the fact remains. As for Polish weapons, I invite you to look at the pictures from the Warsaw uprising in August of 1944- over a year after the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. See the arms carried by the insurgents. Home made hand grandes, Molotov cocktails, home made machine pistols, old rifles and completely useless handguns. The fact is hardly anyone knew that there was going to be an uprising in the Ghetto and as soon as it started, the Nazis completely cut it off from the rest of the city. And there were hardly any drops from the East in 1942-43 and but a trickle from England due to the extreme distance.Sweden was selling iron ore to Germany, Swiss were doing their banking. Fact is, if you didn't sell, you would get attacked. Russia did not want war as far as I can tell, they were ill prepared for it. Germany did not really want to attack the USSR, but they felt sooner or later the communists would attack. Germany played an instrumental role in the Russian Revolution so its not surprising there would be links. Germany and Russia are natural allies. Britain has always worked to keep them apart. As far as weapons I assume they came from prewar Polish stocks, Allied air drops and captured Nazi weapons.
That is not really the whole truth. Fact is the USSR entered Poland quite a while after germans 16 days almost. If they were really working in cooperation, they would have attacked at the same time and Poland would have 2 fronts to defend. It was only when Polish resistance was collapsing did the USSR swoop in to grab half of Poland. At this point Poland was already a defeated nation and USSR had a choice of Germans on their border or pushing their border to the middle of Poland. What choice would you make?Look, what's to say? The Soviet Union entered the WWII on September 17, 1939 by attacking Poland and the Baltics in concert with Hitler.
False. The Russians entered Poland and the Baltics in fulfilment of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. The division of Poland was pre negotiated. There's a reason why Polish historians (and not only) call the 17th of September, 1939 the Fourth Partition. Inconvenient history, I know- too bad. It is undeniable that the Russians were not any kind of ally to the West. Above all they made the Hitler's assault into France and the Low Countries possible by securing the Germany's Eastern border and preventing Germany's greatest fear- the conflict on two fronts.That is not really the whole truth. Fact is the USSR entered Poland quite a while after germans 16 days almost. If they were really working in cooperation, they would have attacked at the same time and Poland would have 2 fronts to defend. It was only when Polish resistance was collapsing did the USSR swoop in to grab half of Poland. At this point Poland was already a defeated nation and USSR had a choice of Germans on their border or pushing their border to the middle of Poland. What choice would you make?
False. The Russians entered Poland and the Baltics in fulfilment of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. The division of Poland was pre negotiated. There's a reason why Polish historians (and not only) call the 17th of September, 1939 the Fourth Partition. Inconvenient history, I know- too bad. It is undeniable that the Russians were not any kind of ally to the West. Above all they made the Hitler's assault into France and the Low Countries possible by securing the Germany's Eastern border and preventing Germany's greatest fear- the conflict on two fronts.
That's revisionism inconsistent with the actual agreement made between the Germans and the Russians- especially the secret protocol that spelled out the division. Your argument is as valid as the official post war spin, that the Soviets entered the conflict to "protect" the indigenous populations. Actually, even the discussion of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was censored and prohibited from mentioning in the Soviet Block- that's how proud the Communist were of their alliance with the Nazis.It was prenegotiated, but only because Germany did not want Russia to attack them preemptively and Russia also did not want to get into a war with Germany. Germany was gonna attack Poland anyway. Russia stood by and observed what was happening and only entered when Poland was defeated. Poland had a standing army of 1m, this was quite significant, and Russia by no means expected the Germans to steam roll through Poland they way they did, no one expected this. They expected Germany to get into a long bloody battle and that suited them just fine.In fact it was desirable. But when Poland collapsed, they moved fast as they really had a lot to lose and everything to gain. Germany had territorial claims and there was no chance they were not going attack.
As I said the British signed an agreement with Hitler as well, it was to buy time. Chamberlin has been condemed by history for it, but the UK did not relent in massively moving its economy to full war time production even after "peace in our time". When Russia was told of Germanys intentions to attack Poland, what realistic options did they have? Defend Poland? (well we know Russians are not fans on Poland to start) , or make a deal to get what they can in terms of territory, buffer zone and security. What if Russia had said NO DEAL. How would that work out better for them? Or even Poland?That's revisionism inconsistent with the actual agreement made between the Germans and the Russians- especially the secret protocol that spelled out the division. Your argument is as valid as the official post war spin, that the Soviets entered the conflict to "protect" the indigenous populations. Actually, even the discussion of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was censored and prohibited from mentioning in the Soviet Block- that's how proud the Communist were of their alliance with the Nazis.