1. Why is this relevant to today's war? Other than to paint all Russians as monsters, it doesn't really have any bearing.
2. I never denied the asterisk of Berlin. As an avid war history buff, I presume you know about the German scorched earth policy, the 27 to 30 million dead Russians and the fact that those Russian soldiers had seen sufficent horrors perpetrated on their civilian population as they advanced through German occupied Russia, Ukraine etc. . While not condoning asterisk, it didn't happen in a vacuum. Interestingly, quite a number of the nazi perpetrators of horrific crimes were shipped off to Alied nations (operation paperclip, I believe), so the Alied side didn't seem to have too much of a problem with people of dubious morality. Canada was particularly enthusiastic to take Ukrainian SS members, it would seem. Quite a big expat community in Canada, and parliamentary standing ovations for ex SS soldiers.
3.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_during_the_liberation_of_France just to balance the argument.
4. Modern Russia is not the USSR. Vladimir Putin is not Joseph Stalin. Two points that seem to be problematic for some.
Well excuse me but when someone refers to something as alleged in that context it tends to indicate that they don't believe it. Glad to hear that's not the case.
And Stalin and the development of the post revolution USSR very much has a bearing on what is going on now.
We are looking at essentially the legacy of the cold war, which has shaped Soviet, and I would argue Russian, thinking ever since.
Stalin was the architect of this.
Putin has made no secret that he thinks the demise of the old order was a disaster, so extremely relevant.
And yes the allies were quite happy to ignore the often very unsavoury past of scientists and others, who's skills they wanted post war.
Disgusting I agree.
You do know that the Soviets did exactly the same, under Osoaviakhim, or are you conveniently ignoring that?
Not sure it really works as a piece of whataboutery.
And yes the Germans behaved in an utterly barbaric way.
And the commissars urged red army troops to take their revenge on the German people in kind, which they did with enthusiasm. All very civilised.
Again not really a great argument is it?
Getting back to the point, which you have completely avoided answering.
Why, if the Russians have so comprehensively thrashed the Ukrainian army, is Putin not parading through the streets of Kiev?
And why is the notorious fascist Zelensky still apparently in power?
Seems rather strange, don't you think?
Perhaps you would be kind enough to explain these apparent contradictions for us thickies.
