Written by Frank Li
On May 9, 2015, Russia celebrated the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany with an impressive military parade (Russia stages WW2 victory parade). Chinese President Xi Jinping, together with about 30 foreign leaders, attended the parade.
Unfortunately, many Western leaders, including President Obama, chose not to attend, in stark contrast to the 60th anniversary, “when leaders of the United States, France and Germany attended the victory parade in Red Square” (U.S., other Western leaders snub Russia’s Victory Day parade), as illustrated below:
Moreover, because President Putin attended the last D-Day celebration (see image below), it seems appropriate that the Western leaders return the “favor” this time, right?
Wrong – Politics trumps everything!
The politics about the Western no-show in Red Square this time has been widely discussed, so I need not add to it. Instead, I will take this opportunity to answer a specific, and more profound, question: who actually decisively defeated Nazi Germany?
1. The East vs. the West
Growing up in China, I was left with the impression, if not brainwashed to believe, that the USSR decisively defeated Nazi Germany. I was especially fascinated by two famous Russian movies: The Battle of Stalingrad and The Fall of Berlin, both were very well translated from Russian to Chinese.
After departing China in 1982, I have since immersed myself into the Western cultures. For example, in America, I have encountered much about D-Day (Normandy landings), George S. Patton, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, but very little about the USSR, to the point that I think today most Americans are under the impression, if not brainwashed to believe, that America decisively defeated Nazi Germany.
Who actually decisively defeated Nazi Germany, the U.S. or the USSR?
2. What is the truth?
After combining the “facts” from both the East and the West, I have concluded that it was the USSR that decisively defeated Nazi Germany with the U.S. fulfilling an indispensable role, from its critical leadership in the second front (or the Western Front – WWII) to the massive aid provided to the USSR throughout the war.
As a matter of fact, Wikipedia provides a fairly good description of WWII (World War II – Wikipedia). Here are three excerpts:
In June 1941, the European Axis powers launched an invasion of the Soviet Union, opening the largest land theatre of war in history, which trapped the major part of the Axis’ military forces into a war of attrition.
The Axis advance halted in 1942 when … Germany was defeated in North Africa and then, decisively, at Stalingrad in the Soviet Union.
The war in Europe ended with an invasion of Germany by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union, culminating in the capture of Berlin by Soviet and Polish troops and the subsequent German unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945.
Bottom line: Nazi Germany would most likely have eventually lost to the USSR alone, just like Napoleon did early in the 19th century! After all, the USSR took on some 200 German divisions, while the West led by the U.S. and the U.K. took on only about 10 in total (Untold History USA). Of course, the help from the West was significant and undoubtedly expedited the demise of the Third Reich. But it was the USSR that decisively defeated Nazi Germany, by attrition, with massive casualties, both civilian and military (World War II casualties), and an unmatched amount of natural resources!
3. Discussion
History is written by, and about, the victor(s). The West had indeed won the Cold War against the East. But that does not mean the USSR’s role in decisively defeating Nazi Germany should be marginalized in the West, as it appears in America’s version of WWII history.
Now, why is America’s version of WWII history so self-inflated and biased against the USSR? If most Americans can’t get WWII history right, what else can be wrong? For more, read: Brainwashing in Communism and in Democracy.
Why is WWII history so important?
We live not only for ourselves, but also to create a better future for our children, for which we must study and understand the past. So far, WWII remains the greatest self-inflicted disaster to mankind, but WWIII will top it for sure. So everything must be done to prevent WWIII, for which we all must understand WWII history, correctly.
Having done my part of carefully studying and correctly understanding WWII history, I am sharing my findings with you. What about you?
Here are two important notes about Nazi Germany’s defeat:
- It was against all conventional wisdom for Hitler to invade the USSR before taking down the U.K.! Joseph Stalin could not believe it when it really happened, thanks to Hitler’s arrogance and invincibility!
- Why didn’t Hitler take down the U.K. first? He tried but failed! For more, read: Battle of Britain!
Here are my top three reasons (in that order) for Nazi Germany’s defeat:
- It was “decisively†defeated at Stalingrad.
- It failed to take down the U.K. first before invading the USSR, leaving its back door wide open for the next reason.
- Normandy landings.
Finally, for those Americans who are religiously obsessed with democracy, here are two bottom-line messages:
- It was democracy that produced Adolf Hitler!
- It was communist USSR that decisively defeated Nazi Germany!
Case in point: think, America, if you still can! For more, read: For America, AIIB and Ukraine Are Related!
4. Closing
For more on the WWII victory over Imperial Japan, wait until this September, when China will celebrate the victory with an even more impressive military parade. President Putin will attend it for sure (Putin to Attend WWII Victory Celebrations in China). Will President Obama also attend? Let’s wait and see …
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