Posted on 04/14/2005 12:40:28 PM PDT by Borges
MOSCOW - Lawmakers in a western Russian city have called for authorities to rename streets after Josef Stalin and restore memorials to the Soviet dictator to honor his wartime leadership, officials said Thursday.
The move in the city of Oryol, timed to coincide with next month's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II, reflects a growing trend glorifying Stalin's leadership during the war despite his role in the deaths of millions of people during his rule.
Olga Patenkova, a city hall spokeswoman in Oryol, about 220 miles southwest of Moscow, told The Associated Press by telephone that local lawmakers approved a motion March 31 urging Stalin's image be rehabilitated.
"The 60th anniversary of victory ... obliges us to support widespread calls ... to restore historical justice with respect to the historical role played by the commander-in-chief Josef Stalin," the resolution said, according to excerpts published Thursday in the daily Izvestia.
The municipal assembly called for restoring "the name of Stalin to the streets and squares of our cities and re-erect monuments to the supreme commander."
More than a decade after the fall of Soviet Union, Stalin is revered by much of the Russian population as a strong leader who drove the country through rapid industrialization that turned it into a superpower, and as a wartime commander who ensured victory against Nazi Germany.
Stalin came to power after the death of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin in 1924 and began a reign of terror that lasted nearly three decades, ending only with his death in 1953. An estimated 20 million people were executed, imprisoned or deported to other parts of the former Soviet Union. Altogether, 10 million are believed to have died.
Even a regional official in Oryol in charge of protecting the rights of victims of political repression, Nina Nesterina, was equivocal in her attitude to Stalin.
"It is not a simple issue. Stalin was not really responsible for the repressions. In all official documents the orders are from the NKVD (the forerunner of the KGB), military tribunals. A system of repression existed and functioned by itself," she told Izvestia.
Last month, the Russian city formerly known as Stalingrad decided to erect a monument to Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill to honor the historic Yalta conference held by the three leaders in 1945. Volgograd Mayor Yevgeny Ishchenko said his city is also considering changing some street names in honor of the Battle of Stalingrad, a turning point in World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.
ping
It's really disgusting and depressing, but it happens because there was never really an honest comprehensive official evaluation of the Stalin Crimes in Russia apart from intellectual debates and press publications.
I.e. had it not been for Stalin purges of the Soviet Military in 1937-1938 in which a number of brilliand officers and generals were shot (Tukhachevski, Yakir, Blukher, etc.) or sent to GULAG (Rokossovski), there would not be a catastrophy of 1941 and such horrific losses of the 1941-1945 war with Hitler.
While they're at it, they might name a street after New York Times Pulitzer prize winner/world-class liar and Stalin apologist (drumroll please)
Walter Duranty.
Precisely what many of these Russians seem to be forgetting. Sure, Stalin led them to victory over Germany, but Stalin also made it possible for Germany to come within miles of Moscow.
Good thoughts StoneColdGOP, but one correction.
Stalin did not lead anyone to victory--the generals like Zhukov, Rokossovski (who was freed from GULAG in 1941), etc lead it. Stalin had no military experience whatsoever--he could gave himself titles of Generallissimus, but that's was simply out of vanity. It was top Soviet Army Generals that won this war. Stalin could not plan any military victory. All he did during the war was giving an approval to this or that military operation, like Zhukov winter 1942-1943 Stalingrad counteroffensive that encircled hundreds of thousands German troops and turned the tide on the Eastern Front (and to large extent of WWII) on the Allied Side.
to defend Duranty (just barely)..he won the prize in 1932...before the purges and only a year or two after Stalin had really consolidated power. though I'm sure that was enouh time for Uncle Joe to do something or other that caused innocent Russian deaths. But the purges everyone talks about were in 36 or so.
Purges were going on throughout Stalin (and Lenin) years in power 1917-1953. 1934-1938 was a peak of political arrests and executions after Kirov Assassination, but the purges and arbitrary arrests never really stopped for all the years of Lenin and Stalin reign.
I am sure the ghost of 30 million other Russians he slaughtered would appreciate his being honored.
The proper honor for Josef is a steaming pile of human feces, sculpted into his image and festooned with oozing scabs, IMHO.
If an artist plays their cards right they could get NEA funding for such a venture.
I wouldn't mind paying for it, either. $3.28 for latex gloves and a dust mask ought to cover it.
Good point.
If anyone is to be honored, it is the men like Zhukov and the soliders who fought under them.
Definitely there are ways to honor WWII Soviet contribution and Soviet sacrifices properly without honoring Stalin and his murderous regime in any shape or form.
It's a worrying trend, but in a year or so after the big 60, with a dwindling pool of those who fought, there will be equal calls to get rid of the names. I'm sure there is media in the works to show what Stalin was.
No. It was the USA who lead the victory over Germany.
Not only did we give them everything from airplanes to A-bombs. But also gave them all the German battle plans. gotten from our breaking the Japanese purple code. ( yes the
Japanese ) ( a good read on this is the book:
Marching Orders
Bruce Lee 1995 )
And
Hitler And the SS
One of the reasons The German Army advanced so fast. Is at first the people looked at Hitler as there savior & liberator from Stalin. So did not fight and “ stuck there bayonets in the snow” .
The dumb SS after there capture started shooting them and sent the off to the camps.
So they had a choice die under Hitler or live under Stalin. And started to fight back.
If the Germans had treated these people as liberated people. They would have picked up there arms and lead the way to Moscow.
And the people killed under Stalin is more like 80 mil.
You are aware that 80% of German Casualties occured on the Eastern Front? Yes we helped the Soviets, and our help may have been crucial to their survival in late 41 and early 42. But after that point, and from Stalingrad on they would have beaten the Germans whether we fought or not. It just would have taken a lot more Soviet lives and time, but the outcome was inevitable.
I hope you are right. t won't be good for any of us, Russians , Americans, other East Europeans if this nostalgia for a monster becomes a trend.
Thanks for the clarification.
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