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Let's not forget that before the war, Germany and Russia signed agreements to divide Europe. For her help and cooperation with Hitler's plans, Russia was to be able to claim the Baltic States and parts of Poland. Until the moment when Hitler invaded Russia, the two states were, for all intents and purposes, allies! In exchange for Russia's non-intervention, Germany was going to cede these territories to Stalin. This hardly places blame upon the Baltic States or, for that matter, Poland. Furthermore, after the war and while the ink was barely dry on all the treaties, Russia was actively occupying the Baltic States, looting them of their natural resources and moving populations to gulags in Siberia. Furthermore, keep in mind that the Baltic States had been subjugated for years by Russia. Russia was the historical enemy of the Baltic States whereas, historically, Germany had aided Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia long before Hitler and National Socialism had ever existed. It was only natural to side, to some degree, with Germany against their espoused enemy -- Russia.
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
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The idea that the baltic states (like the states of Eastern Europe generally) sit like wronged innocents re Russia is a travesty of the history of what happened in WW2.
They sided with Hitler in his most murderous and cruel 'war of extermination' (in many cases with the utmost enthuisiasm) and lost; totally.
Originally posted by benevolent tyrant
It was only natural to side, to some degree, with Germany against their espoused enemy -- Russia.
Originally posted by yanchek
That would be like USA, France, UK or former USSR apologizing to Germany.
Originally posted by benevolent tyrant
Originally posted by yanchek
That would be like USA, France, UK or former USSR apologizing to Germany.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you entirely. The analogy you draw here is wrong...
... Under the Soviets, Lithuania and the Baltic peoples suffered tremendously. The Soviets deported millions of Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians to Gulags and work camps in Siberia.
Originally posted by benevolent tyrant
Originally posted by yanchek
That would be like USA, France, UK or former USSR apologizing to Germany.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you entirely. The analogy you draw here is wrong.
USA, France and the UK apologizing to Germany would not be the same as Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) apologizing to Lithuanians and the other Baltic countries.
In the first case, Germany was the offending party. Germany attacked and waged war against the UK, France and, in the case of the U.S., her allies.
I notably excluded the former U.S.S.R. from the list as, in my opinion, the Soviets were complicit in helping Germany become the military power that they were after WWI. Additionally, Hitler and Stalin had signed treaties which, for all intents and purposes, made them allies until Hitler double-crossed Stalin by attacking the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the treaties that Stalin signed with Hitler basically presented the Baltic States to the Soviet Union. Under the Soviets, Lithuania and the Baltic peoples suffered tremendously. The Soviets deported millions of Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians to Gulags and work camps in Siberia.
So, this is NOT like the Allied forces apologizing to Germany. Instead, it is the opposite.