"According to the Russian historian Boris Vadimovich Sokolov, Lend-Lease had a crucial role in winning the war:
On the whole the following conclusion can be drawn: that without these Western shipments under Lend-Lease the Soviet Union not only would not have been able to win the Great Patriotic War, it would not have been able even to oppose the German invaders, since it could not itself produce sufficient quantities of arms and military equipment or adequate supplies of fuel and ammunition. The Soviet authorities were well aware of this dependency on Lend-Lease. Thus, Stalin told Harry Hopkins [FDR's emissary to Moscow in July 1941] that the U.S.S.R. could not match Germany's might as an occupier of Europe and its resources."
So I assume I am getting downvoted because I said the Russian were brave in WWII? That is hard to deny, isn't it? Lots of German accounts praise the near suicidal bravery of Russian soldiers in WWII[1]. But I get that isn't a very popular thing to say given the monstrous war crimes that the Russian state is currently committing.
[1]Admitedly some of this bravery may have been due to NKVD stationed behind them with orders to shoot retreaters.
It’s not commonly remembered that the Soviets, with Allied assistance, are who really won WW2- the Germans had something like 90% of their forces in the East.
Given the current war I’m unsurprised you’re getting downvotes for anything that may be understood as pro-Russian.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am 100% rooting for Ukraine. But I don't think we should write out of history the sacrifice Russian solders made in beating Nazi Germany, just because Stalin was a monster and the current criminal regime.
I upvoted. Their bravery in WW II is a fact. Yes, they were forced into it, but "battling for Mother Russia" was a powerful motivator, too. Also, the fact that the Nazis literally wanted them all dead or slaves.
"According to the Russian historian Boris Vadimovich Sokolov, Lend-Lease had a crucial role in winning the war:
So I assume I am getting downvoted because I said the Russian were brave in WWII? That is hard to deny, isn't it? Lots of German accounts praise the near suicidal bravery of Russian soldiers in WWII[1]. But I get that isn't a very popular thing to say given the monstrous war crimes that the Russian state is currently committing.[1]Admitedly some of this bravery may have been due to NKVD stationed behind them with orders to shoot retreaters.