Hello everyone,
today and tomorrow, we Czechs and Slovaks remember the 46th anniversary of the invasion of Soviet (and Polish, Hungarian and Bulgarian) forces to Czechoslovakia. This act brought the so-called Prague Spring events to an end and with it the reforms of the communist government, throwing Czechoslovakia back into two decades of “normalization” before the regime finally crumbled.
A lot has been written about what happened in the night from 20.8. to 21.8.1968 and even wikipedia covers the topic relatively well. Czechoslovakia was the victim of (by then already slowly failing) Soviet Union’s lust for power, just like the bloody revolution in Hungary 12 years ago. In the aftermath of the invasion, prominent Czechoslovak members of communist party were kidnapped, brought to Moscow and forced to sign the so-called Moscow Protocol, formally agreeing to the invasion. And they all did – all but one.
His name was František Kriegel.
Just like the entire history of Czechoslovakia, František Kriegel too was a person of contradictions. For one, he was a hardcore communist before the changes in 1968. He was born in Halič in 1908 and studied to become a doctor in Prague. In the 30′s, he decided to join the Spanish International Brigades as a volunteer and fought against Franco’s fascists in Spain. Here, he reached the rank of Major and after the defeat of republican forces in 1939, he joined the ranks of Red Cross and left with other doctors for China (when it was under attack from Japan). He served there as a military doctor until 1945 and was generally praised by the Americans, for whom he worked on a contract. From 1945, he became one of the leading representatives of Prague communist organization and in 1948, he actively participated in the communist coup, that installed the regime as a People’s Militia leader in Prague.
Between 1949 and 1953, he was a deputy minister of health in the communist government. After the antisemitic purge in mid 50′s, he was however removed from any power and ended up as a factory doctor at Tatra Smíchov. In early 60′s, he went to Cuba and helped there to organize the local healthcare. However, in 1964 elections, he was “elected” to the parliament (by that time, elections were of course staged with the communist party winning every time and other parties were there just for the show) – he served as a member until the end of his term in 1968 and later became its chairman as well as the chairman of the foreign affairs committee.
He achieved one of the highest ranks in communist party in 1968, when he was elected as a member of the Central Committee of Czechoslovak Communist Party (the executive ruling body of the state, effectively the organ with all the power) between April and August 1968. This was when the invasion happened. Apart from the abovementioned activities, he also worked as a researcher in the Rheumatoid Diseases Research Institute and as a doctor in Thomayer hospital between 1963 and 1969.
After the invasion, he was, along with other Czechoslovak high-ranking officials, kidnapped and brought by force to Moscow. There, they were interrogated (and in some cases tortured) for days and in the end, they were forced to sign the so-called Moscow Protocol, legitimizing the invasion of Soviet forces. He alone refused to sign it and was to remain incarcerated – only personal intervention of the president, general Ludvík Svoboda (Hero of the USSR and the commander of Czechoslovak armed forces on eastern front in WW2) saved him and allowed him to return home with the rest of the politicians (Svoboda’s reputation was at that point nearly legendary and even the Soviets dared not to discredit someone, awarded with the Hero of the USSR medal).
After these events, his career was effectively over. By the end of August 1968, he was removed from his high Central Committee position and in Fall 1968, he, as one of only 4 members of parliament (the others were Gertruda Sekaninová-Čakrtová, František Vodsloň and Hana Fuková), voted against accepting the “agreement on ‘temporary’ stay of Soviet forces in Czechoslovakia” (as we know, words have a bit different meaning in Russian and in this case, “temporary” turned out to be 20 long years).
In May 1969, when he was to be removed from the Central Committee altogether, he had a speech as a member of the parliament, condemning openly the invasion and “treaties” with Soviet Union as written not by a pen, but by gun barrels and that the Moscow Protocol went against the will of the people. After his speech, it was decided not only to remove him from the Central Committee, but to cancel his Communist Party membership as well (a step that usually equalled to social suicide, as non-communist citizens were ostracized in many ways, including, for example, less or no healthcare, their children were not allowed to study universities etc.). As a result, he lost the Central Committee membership, Communist Party membership and his parliament mandate too.
In 1970, he was forced to retire. He was one of the first people to sign the Charter 77. He died as a result of an infarction on 3rd of December, 1979 in Prague. As a final insult, the communists did not allow him to be buried properly, cremating his body instead without any ceremony.
And meanwhile in Wargaming… “From Russia with love” and “Hammer and Sickle”. I am quite sure František Kriegel knew exactly what Russian love looks like.
Source:
www.valka.cz/clanek_15196.html
So strange to see communists fighting communists.
Anyway, the hammer and sickle is such a lovely symbol to have in WoT. Wish we could apply them as roundels.
It was not. A lot of former communists lost their last illusions in 1968 and became very bitter.
It’s nice that al least some understand what nazi like thinking hides Russian “”communism”.
From last year (a small apology):
This is the “soviet army monument” (don’t know of any other country to build monuments of an invading, occupying army except ours…)
http://thevieweast.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bulgaria-monument-1.jpg
Communism brings only misery to the people.
So yeah….sorry about the invasion guys. :(
Building monuments to the Red Army is sort of like sending flowers to the Russians.
We have THE SAME monument in Poland.
Please paint it red-and-white, or break it down with hammer and sickles
So low for those commies to resort to such methods. ~.~;)
That a one stubborn commie bastard;)
More lucky than stubborn I’d say, they used to murder each other on a whim. Communists – the lowest criminal filth ever to plague the earth, from the very beginning to those wanting to carry their legacy.
I wonder what would have happened if Warsaw Pact entered war against Western Europe…
Poland, Romania and Czechoslovakia would turn around and kill Spetznaz instead XD
Not likely – the military intelligence was bunch of murderous thieves, but they surely held iron grip over Polish Army. And don’t forget that NATO nuclear counterstrike aimed at russian supply lines was supposed to turn large part of Poland into Wastelands. That leaves little to none motivation to help them.
You mean the “Seven Days to the River Rhine” strategy, right?
If I was a Polish officer, the moment I hear a NATO strike – I put a bullet to a Russian’s head.
IDK for Czechoslovakia; but in Poland tension between semitic and antisemitic factions of communist party spiraled a lot of hilarious events; including some shady individuals seeking aid in UK or Sweden as the victims of racial prejudice.
Goes to figure you’d think Communists who murder other communists for power are worse than Nazis that murdered entire ethnicities.
Not that I don’t dislike/hate the guy with a passion, but…
No word about Ceausescu’s intervention?
It was not just him, Yugoslavia actually offered military help against the invasion, which is also something that should not be forgotten. But yes, indeed, he did not participate.
He also publicly condemned the Russian intervention making him one of the enemies of the state that shared a large part of the border with.
Romanian? Salut.
Apparently (this information how ever isn’t from a realible source – a desertor general ) Ceausescu even have the secret approval of USSR for not participate to invasion.
I still don’t get the Russia Stronk attitudes in Wargaming and parts of the WoT scene in general. Even from WG staff. Does this stem from the fact that Russia is their main market and they will do anything to pander to it?
Also , i’ve been wondering, since Belarus is an independent state after all, why WG has been related to “Russia Stronk” thing so firmly? ..I’m not familiar with Belarus’ history but do they not have their own national identity?
But I guess they can’t go “Belarus Stronk” if they want to keep their main market so they have to forgo the whole different country thing and say ‘fuck it, we’re russia’..or in case Putin catches a drift of other former soviets thinking they are not russians.
Belarus is anything but independent. It is just a puppet state of Russia with an eternal leader who is under Putin’s influence.
Not really. On one day Lukashenko is a friend of Putin and on the other he tells Putin to fuck off. Of course there is much influence from Russia on Belarus, but to say it’s a puppet state is a total nonsense.
Actually Putin wants Lukashenko (the Putin of Belarus) to go away that it has no influence in its matter. Wow, SerB really made a living there.
Russians have an arrogant, egocentric, nationalist mentality. Some examples of wide-spread notions in the Russian society (note it’s about the society, not about the regime):
- Instead of the “Second World War” they use the name “Great Patriotic War”, which spans from June 22nd, 1941 (German invasion of USSR) and till May 9th, 1945 (defeat of Germany). From their point of view, the whole war was about Germany invading USSR. Russians don’t care or in many cases know that Europe was at war with Hitler since 1939 or that the war with Japan didn’t end until August.
- “USSR won the WW2/Great Patriotic War”. Russians are convinced that the USSR won against Germany alone, and the West was cowardly hiding behind the backs of Soviet soldiers until the great victory of the USSR became clear, at which point the West hurried to intervene.
- Jews are considered money-hungry creatures who don’t stop at anything to get richer. In particular, Jews disbanded the USSR and then proceeded to rob the population of its money and assets under the disguise of democratic reforms, which is why Russia suffered so greatly till the end of 90′s. An average Russian will tell you that all the oligarchs are Jewish (and secretly Zionist). But if you accuse a Russian of antisemitism, he will be insulted – because he personally knows “this one particular good Jew that is not like the rest of them”. Of course, this kind of antisemitism is not unique to Russia – you will also find it in many other places, but in Russia it is very widespread.
- USA and EU are considered imperialist regimes who maintain their world dominance by brutal intervention into weaker countries (e.g. invasion of Iraq) and abuse of political power (e.g. sanctions on Iran and now on Russia). Russia is pictured as the only hope of the oppressed peoples of the planet to have any opposition to that axis of evil. That is what Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov means when he brags about “unipolar vs multi-polar world”. Average Russians use a special derogatory word to denote an American – “pendos”. The word is as disdainful and hateful as the derogatory terms they use for Jews and Ukrainians.
Now, to asnwer your question. WarGaming is mentally a Russian company, never mind the fact that their headquarters are in Belorussia. The reason for that is that Belorussia is the last untouched piece of USSR – yes, not even Russia has kept the same economic and political system, but Belorussia did. And, just like USSR, Belorussia is centered on the Russian culture and language. It sounds weird, but it’s true. Both Russian and Belorussian are official languages in Belorussia, but Belorussian is suppressed, being viewed as the instrument of nationalistic opposition to the one-party regime.
As any Russian company at heart, WG is deeply nationalistic and holds many of the same prejudices and views as the general Russian public. Of course, they smooth it for the European market, but some leaking of their true mindset is inevitable. This is exactly what you’re witnessing.
It think that it would be better to say that the invasion was carried out by forces of the Warsaw pact, not by Soviet, Polish, Bulgarian and Hungarian ones. Why? It is because Poles, Hungarians etc. were forced to participate and were doing it against their will. Soviets said jump, and so puppets had to ask how high.
Aye
Thank you for posting this.
I’m just old enough to remember ‘The Prague Spring’ but didn’t know very much about it and the people who were involved.
I’m pleased that young people now can read and hopefully learn from people like František Kriegel, someone of high principles who acted to support the vulnerable. Everyday we see religious fanatics kill those, usually the old, women and children, who can’t run away, multinational corporations churn out huge amounts of toxic chemicals for profit while self-serving politicians enrich themselves.
I say this because unless the next generation can bring people together we will kill ourselves either by war or by ecological disaster.
I strongly suggest František Kriegel would agree with me.
Also if I share Kriegel’s belief that young and old, women and men, gay and straight, brown, black and white are all equal, I am proud to be called a hardcore communist.
Now that’s what I call a communist! Sticking by his principles to the very end. Perhaps if Gorbachev was like him and didn’t go all capitalist, maybe the USSR would never have fallen.
!
State Economics 101: overspend on your military, rest of your economy suffers. The years of competing with western militaries forced the USSR to basically strip the rest of its economy to build weapons. By the time Gorbachev came to power, the soviet economy was so poor that the writing was on the wall. Can’t run ICBMs if you can’t feed your people.
And, for the record, Gorbachev did much to put Russia on the right path. If Putin had half of the wisdom and foresight Gorbachev had, Russia could easily be the world’s richest nation… Instead of forever at odds with its neighbours.
And for further record. Gorbachev did approve use of military force (and live ammunition) when Baltic states declared independence. He refused to back off even after civilian casualties started to mount. Only intervention of Boris Eltsin prevented further bloodshed. I happen to remember the winter of “Gorbie’s blockade” with food and fuel supply cut and people bringing iron stoves to condos because there was no heating. I’m sure not many in Western countries have this as childhood memories.
For all this Gorbie received Nobel Peace Price and Eltsin is mostly remembered as whacky drunkard.
Your retarded mind needs a Pershing II to the head.
Can’t remeber him but since my granny was a friend of his family I remember I met his wife several times when I was a kid, an extraordinary cool lady given what she had been through.
Well, what can I say?
Glory to the heroes of the Soviet Union!
Well what can I say? Fuck USSR.
Your thoughts about USSR is different than my thoughts about USSR.
Sure, they built some amazing things. But as a society, and a country, they were fucked up.
I am delighted to see that many USSR history experts over there.
It may be inconceivable to some western people that there could have existed a creative and happy society with absence of economical rights and civil freedoms. But it did.
The greatest perspectives for the Soviet Union were not in the military sphere, but in a peaceful competetion. Especially when socialist state was becoming less of a scarecrow for the rest of the world. It had got numerous flaws: reactionary inertia of bureaucracy, huge and rigid planned economy, hostility to change and new ideas, lack of plurality, and other things that could give a Western observer an impression of a totalitarian hell. At the same time, it managed to achieve a semblance of social justice, that actually worked, and that is revered by a huge number of people on the post-soviet space. From a prosperous european point of view the “mean of well-being” that was enforced by the Soviet government looks pitiful, but for the russian people it was a society of plenty.
Western media often tend to highlight soviet people as generally conditioned, tough and cunning. In fact, this is hardly true, especially for the late period. Soviet people were rather unsurprisingly “soft”, accustomed to social guarantees and economic favours the state provided and living peaceful lives. At the same time, you would laugh, regarding education and creativity, the late Soviet period was a true golden age. It was an ideologial constraint halting intellectual development that is one of the main reasons why people gradually got disillusioned in Soviet ideology and why the Union had ultimately collapsed.
I can say, today most Russian people acknowledge the drawbacks of the Soviet period (there are little of those who still mythologize it), yet they are generally of a distinctively positive opinion of it, especially when comparing to 90-s and 00-s. All that, despite the media tend to favour mild to harsh anti-soviet rhetorics. Yes, Putin’s regime is generally anti-soviet inclined (though he is deliberately vaguely neutral on these topics himself). It is best described as authoritarian neoliberal.
If you actually bother to see an opinion from Russia, that’s it.
If people in Russia feel nostalgic towards the USSR that doesn’t mean that people from other former Soviet republics feel the same. I’m from a former Soviet republic and people here oppose that time. The only ones who feel positive towards that time are Russian-speaking population who came here to work during Soviet times and still (!!!) after all these years haven’t learned our language (majority of them) and they cry everywhere that “Russians are discriminated”.
I mean by no way to think contrary to what you’ve said. Of course, the Baltic states (aren’t you from estonia or latvia?) are feeling animosity towards Soviet reign, that’s understandable. I’m speaking only about Russia.
I’m from a Baltic state, but not from Estonia or Latvia. There’s a 3rd Baltic state which some people consider the most important of these three Baltic sisters (no disrespect to Estonia and Latvia intended). I hope you can already guess from where I am.
Actually, we are here not so desperate to confuse Lithuania with Laivia and vice-versa. It’s just this russian minority seems to me to be more vocal about being “oppressed” in latvia and estonia, so these were my guesses. I thought about Estonia in the first place.
I think they feel “oppressed” in all Baltic states. Of course they might feel that way in Estonia and Latvia more as their population there is bigger.
Though I don’t think these claims are all that entirely unfounded. An introduction of “non-citizenship” in Latvia is quite an unprecedented thing, and while this was appealing for nationalists, who ran the government, and raised their popular support, it wasn’t entirely fair to proclaim a lot of people, without regard to their situation and political views, as “second-class persons”. What’s suprising about these people feeling discriminated?
People just react the way they can, and it’s not always civilized and temperate. Besides, Latvia is their home too. No matter what they think (they are not obliged to denounce Soviet Union and be repentful), they’re still mostly attached to it economically and psychologically. I don’t actually blame anyone, these people, or the national authorities.
I don’t know what are the problems in Latvia or Estonia so I can’t comment on that. But in here they make claims which are out of the question. For example, the language (not all Russians, but most of them). They are stuck in time and think that Soviet Union is still alive and everyone must know Russian language. That’s just nonsense. Of course older people know that language, but younger generations don’t see any point in learning it. And Russian-speaking population becomes very hostile when younger people don’t understand what they are saying. They even sometime start shouting all sorts of “nice stuff” and say that Russian language should be mandatory in schools…
A polite reminder, that Soviet Union used barbed wire, trip mines, machineguns, attack dogs, bureaucracy and hostages to make everyone stay within this country of social justice.
And often failed.
I won’t deny that, Soviet policy was to obscure legal emigration and prevent illegal one (considering the length of the Soviet border it was an impossible task to fulfill) as much and possible, mostly by repressive means. I think it was denied with such impunity (in GDR it was even worse, defectors were to be shot) because it made a “bad example” (it could have become an avalanche, were it not contained like that, there were enough persons discontent with life in USSR) and spoiled the picture the authorities wanted the people to see.
Still, it doesn’t cancel what I said before.
In my honest opinion, if Khrushchev was still seating the “Head of CPSU” position, this kind of thing would never have happened.
Too bad some apparatchik’s put Brezhnev to power instead. And history shows that he’s the most fucked up man in USSR after Stalin, Beria, and Ustinov.
Great article – really interesting.
Being British and in my early teens when this happened, I didn’t really know much about it except seeing Soviet tanks on the street surrounded by civilians.
I hope both the Czechs and Slovaks will always remember as it is an important part of their history.
And I REALLY hope that the current situation in Ukraine does NOT mean the current dictator, sorry, premier, in Moscow, will repeat this action. ( Otherwise they might as well change their white, blue and red flag back to the Hammer&Sickle)
Keep up the good work, SS – read you every day whilst I’m supposed to be working !
Bol’shoye Vam spasibo brat’ya zakhvatchiki . Bol’shoye spasibo , my nikogda ne zabudem . My nikogda ne zabudem .
Karel Kryl
And indeed I wont ever forget . I have several friends among russians, but as a whole, or better to say as a state, I view any of their actions with suspicion. I do not want them any closer than they already are. There used to be a popular joke:
Optimist is learning english.
Pessimist is learning russian.
Realist is learming how to shoot.
My grandparents used to say “Nejlepší z toho co kdy přišlo od rusáků byly vši a špína. Ten zbytek stál už opravdu za hovno…”. In english that means “The best that ever came from russia was dirt and fleas. The rest was really worth shit…”
Meh. Some tiny unimportant countries in Europe, who cares? Sure they love to go Checkoslovakia Stronk, Poland super strong… reality, they are tiny, achieved little and pumping themselves up.
Sure, invasion from USSR to keep communists in power is condemned now by them, but US had Iran Contra, Panana and recently Iraq. England had it share of dirty deeds. Basically, really strong countries (Russia stronk attitude is only funny because it’s true) do what they want. Little worthless ones like Poland and Hungary and yes, Chech Republic (been there) jump up and down for attention but nothing but a blips in history.
Russia took Crimea in an afternoon, and after 2 months of whining West understood that they are powerless and moved on. Not news anymore eh?
What’s with whiny attitude anyway? “We were invaded! oh noes! Would somebody please think of us and feel sorry for us!” Fuck is that shit? You don’t see Indian people going around whining every day about colonization by England, or Grenada or even Vietnam. Shit happens, it’s part of history. Remember it and stop fucking whining.
Don’t see Russians whining about Poland invading them in throughout of history.
TL;DR: USA! USA!
“Meh. Some tiny unimportant countries in Europe, who cares?”
And that basically sums how the WWII started :-). Remember France and “We are big, we are strong!” ?
Usually big things start with tiny things.
PS: Nice to hear you visited our tiny unimportant country. Hope you enjoyed the visit. Just a sidenote – its spelled a little differently. But thats nothing critical/important, at least you know the alphabet basics. Look at russkies, they did not get that right until now :-)
Post edit:
“You don’t see Indian people going around whining every day about colonization by England”
Two months ago I have been on business trip to New Delhi, and visited the museum in Red Fort. Pay a visit, it might help you with that opinion :-)
It’s an attempt at sarcasm with spelling, which as expected, will go unnoticed. As in it’s so unimportant who the fuck cares how it’s spelled? With a pinch of irony, as people use russkies like that’s a word. I don’t know (and don’t really care) what Czech equivalent would be? Checkies? Chucks? Lol, I like that one.
Point is you can’t do against a superpower. That the definition of it. All this SS articles Ukraine is awesome, Russians are terrorists, Czech Republic Stronk. They are all full of shit. It’s his opinion on his blog, but guess what? Here is opposing opinion that is mine and it’s exactly as equal as his. Czech Republic is tiny, likely deserved what it got and should keep quiet or scary Russians will terrorist the shit out of it. I come here for WoT news and find propaganda and political bullshit that is not only blatantly incorrect but also underlined by Silentstalker’s whining about how he wants historical accuracy and truth about history!
His knowledge of current events is so fucking low I couldn’t stick a 20 dollar bill under it. And yet, tons of articles about history (some of which even close to accurate). That kinds of immoral bullshit just riles me up.
TL;DR: Czech republic is worthless, full of whores (legal to have sex for money) and turdorists (I read an article once where Czech person failed to be a terrorist, they all must be).
P.S. Yes I visited it, few times actually. Pretty castles, fancy Bone Catherdral, 50% of population speaks Russian (due to influx of immigrants), otherwise barely a country.
TL;DR: You are full of shit.
Oh, wasted sarcasm attempt. What a shame.
I surely hope more people have not even notice the little unimportant country I live in. Becoming a “sphere of interest” of any superpower can only be destructive for a lesser player.
Luckily we do not have any huge natural resources, no big oil deposits or stuff like that, so it looks like we can remain concentrated on our own little problems without being liberated from above.
I have seen my share of the world, and will happily remain out of scope. At the very least it ensures I do not have to worry about being drafted for Nam, Afghan, Iraq or any future police actions/liberations. I do not even need to take measures against people with burning hatred against my state so far.
As long as the biggest threat I have to deal with is some random dumbass on the web, I can hardly ask for more.
This post is exactly exemplifying how USA is seeing the rest world for most part of its existence.
P.S. I’m not explicitly anti-american, but this is just the way it is.
The problem with the internet, is that it gives politically retarded people a medium to post their inane nonsense.
All I can take from his ranting is that his country is totally MASSIVE and your country is TINY. I’m guessing it’s a Western thing to assume that guys talking how HUGE certain things have tiny willies. I’m guessing all the ladies in his life are holding referenda just so that he can annex their lovely bits quickly and painlessly with his little green man.
Ukraine has the right to stand on her own two feet and choose her own destiny. Unfortunately, Russia doesn’t take too kindly to vassal nations leaving their sphere.
But leaving the sphere for what? I don’t think anyone in Russia would’ve bothered if Ukraine was guaranteed to remain neutral for Russia. It’s obvious that it was no way it could be so. Do you think Putin would put his own geopolitical safety second before some metaphysical concept of “free Ukraine choosing her own destiny”? Is he a good samaritan, an ambassador of liberty? You know, if it’s not Russian influence, there’ll readily be others to take place. Prominently, some nationalist oligarchs (the word “fascist” is too loud’n’proud for them), that will hold their power by instilling nationalism through aggressive propaganda, so that people won’t object to their own corruption and embezzlement of EU funds, only ensuring the population barely won’t starve. I bet, they’d shit on this “western values” and “rights of man” crap they proclaim aloud. As soon as they gain support against Russia and its influence, they are pro-western. The Baltic states are already a perfect example. But even they are at least, more european in their political and social tendencies. Ukrainian establishment and political system is distinctively criminal, be it of pro-russian or of nationalist sort. This people are going to “choose Ukraine’s destiny”. Would you wonder if they’ll choose all for themselves, and nothing (oh, how about constant nationalist brainwashing) for the people?
Putin just failed in his support for Janukovych during 2004 election, who had miraculously spoiled everything. Calling him “dumb” may be an understatement. He had a distinctive lack of political foresight. He used repression when things were better to let be, and let them be, when only immediate action were necessary.
Or, maybe the whole revolution events were Putin’s “just as planned” to seize back Crimea? I won’t theoritize…
Czech Republic is indeed not significant and rather tiny in comparison. You can call it worthless because it really doesnt influence anything these days.
You know what is even less significant and tiny? You.
You know whats even less worth? Your posts =)
Nobody gives a fuck why do you come to this blog. You will read the political stuff because you are too unstable to skip it. You are a joke.
Just the same as i am too unstable to resist replying to your shit. But at least i admit that.
You keep being useless human being sir.
Good day.
Lol you are so fucking pathetic.
All I had to do is put USA! in (I am not a fucking ‘murikan) and USA hate came out. Everyone automatically assumed that assholes can only be from USA. Guess what? Fucking Europeans are pathetic. United in their hate toward others, they completely ignore their own failings. Worthless.
All I had to do is say that Czech republic is worthless and suddenly you shits are all up in arms. But Silentstalker calling Russians terrorists, hey that’s ok, right? Coz it’s his blog and he can write whatever he wants. The duplicity of European commenters on this blog is fucking sickening. Instead of Wot news, THE ONLY thing this blog was good for, we now get heavy-handed, very personal political commentary. And I know why he does it, controversy generates emotion, emotion generate traffic. He doesn’t have to please everyone, just the people who are agreeing with him, and they will be his staunch supporters.
Fucking pathetic.
Couldn’t care if he bans me. I would read his blog for WoT, but I really REALLY want to insult you shits with your politics. If I wanted such quality discussion, I would go find an outhouse somewhere and dive deep.
Good article. It is really important that people never forget just how fucked up things were.
Hi,
as I’m Polish – I would like to say sorry for that “event” although I don’t think it’s enough. There’s no excuse for participating in that invasion and what’s sad: the leaders in Poland who command that didn’t get punishment for this and other crimes – even in -so called after 1989 – “free Poland”.
FYI: there was one man, who couldn’t agree with this and paid highest price. Read the story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryszard_Siwiec and watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syXBAbE_tik
I can’t get what you mean by “paid highest price”, but he had commited suicide. Himself.
If you die in defence of your country – you can say “he paid the highest price” – are you agree? Assume, yes. Now see the man that literally committed suicide in defence of his ideas, that every country should self-determine its present and future. That people of this – not other – country, should decide what they want to do with theirs country and nation. So if he gave life for that, can’t you say “paid highest price”? Price of life – highest price. Hard to understand?
PS you don’t have to underscore “suicide” with “himself”. Suicide is always committed by “self”.
Easiest answer to all historical dilemmas?
I quote:
“The Winners sign the history, the Losers sign the bills.”
It’s actually incriminated to Russians “as whole” (and people are nowhere having the same one opinion, not in Russia, nor anywhere), of thinking and acting like that throughout history and today. At the same time, a lot of “realists” especially from US, say just the same.
I wonder how it would be like to be born in a smaller country, without a history of imperialism, but which had gained its relative sovereignity only just recently. How would you and your country be treated in the world?
SS, what does your post have to do with WOT or even tanks in general? Maybe you want to rename your blog?
Its almost as if people might have some interests besides tanks in history and have some wishes to share their knowledge to other people through an easily accessible public venue.