Monday, July 1, 2019

Mortality of Soviet Prisoners of War in German Captivity during World War II

Via Reborn

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Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941 is widely interpreted by historians as an unprovoked act of aggression by Germany. Adolf Hitler is typically described as an untrustworthy liar who broke the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact he had signed with the Soviet Union. Historians usually depict Josef Stalin as an unprepared victim of Hitler’s aggression who was foolish to have trusted Hitler.[1] Many historians think the Soviet Union was lucky to have survived Germany’s attack.

This standard version of history does not incorporate information from the Soviet archives, which shows that the Soviet Union had amassed the largest and best equipped army in history. The Soviet Union was on the verge of launching a massive military offensive against all of Europe. Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union was a desperate preemptive attack that prevented the Soviet Union from conquering all of Europe. Germany was totally unprepared for a prolonged war against an opponent as powerful as the Soviet Union.          

4 comments:

  1. Then, Russian winter in the Father land.

    Rick

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  2. Stalin decreed that The Soviet Union would not honor the terms of the Geneva Convention and captured German soldiers would be shot. Hilter answered in kind saying Russian soldiers would be treated likewise. The Germans did hold more in captivity in the early stages of the war using most as slave labor (farm workers, logging, sawmilling, road gangs, etc.). Early on the Russians killed most Germans below the rank of non-coms after brief interrogations. It was only later and afterwards that German soldiers were kept alive in significant numbers. Most of these were used as slave labor. Very few ever saw Germany again. I read a biography once of a young German soldier who stated that surrender to the Russians usually meant a small brown hole in the back of the head. As and example, between 120,000-200,000 German soldier surrendered at Stalingrad. After the war fewer than 5,000 were ever returned to the Fatherland.

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    1. Early on the Russians killed most Germans below the rank of non-coms after brief interrogations.

      Didn't know that. Thanks

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