The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 7)

p>Also, although the Russians fought as our allies, it became apparent soon after the war that there was really little community of interest between us and them beyond crushing Hitler. The Russians almost immediately became our enemies, and there was little time to bask in the glow of the common victory. During most of the sixty years since D-Day, the Russians have been held as our enemies, and their willingness to fight and die fanatically has been a source of fear for us in the West, rather than something to be honored. br> -- unsigned /p> p> Russia gets not historical credit because Stalin was an ally of Hitler and without Stalin's help, Germany could not have re-armed. The Soviet Union only became an ally once Hitler turned on them in 1941 before Pearl Harbor. br> -- Marty Millman /p> p> No one should, as Mr. Stein notes, downplay the role Russia played in bringing down Hitler's Germany, nor should we discount the tremendous sacrifice of the Russian people. The Soviet leadership, however, is a different story. We should not forget that Mr. Stalin crawled into bed with Herr Hitler by signing the infamous Non-Aggression pact which established an unholy alliance between two of history's worst monsters. If not for Hitler's backstabbing of his partner in crime, who knows what would have been? Perhaps this explains a reluctance of some to give credit where credit is due. br> -- Jay Shuman br> Elizabeth, New Jersey /p>

I think the world of Mr. Ben Stein but, I have no desire for any Western celebrations and memorials to the Eastern Front, as the Germans called it.

Let's see, in 1933 the Soviets made a secret deal to train (see "Hitler Moves East 1941-1943" by Paul Carrell, 1977) both themselves and Red Army in tank warfare for the years leading up to the Spanish War. Then they picked sides and practiced in an actual Civil War (the German side won). Next, they drew spears of influence and the Germans gave the Russians a free hand with the Baltic States and Finland…topped it off with the division of Poland in 1939.

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