We remember. History matters.
The Soviet Union allied with Nazi Germany in August 1939 signing a so-called "non-aggression pact" that had secret protocols that divided Central Europe, and partitioned Poland between the two totalitarian powers. Day later, beginning with Nazi, Germany and followed a few days later by the Soviet Union they invaded Poland and met in the middle to celebrate their victory together.
Eighty years ago on March 5, 1940, Josef Stalin and other high ranking Soviet Communists signed the orders to murder thousands of Polish officers and intellectuals that had resisted the Nazi invasion of Poland and between April and May of 1940 had them executed and buried in mass graves in the forest of Katyn.
The Nazis and the Soviets remained allied until Sunday, June 22, 1941 when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa and invaded the Soviet Union. Prior to that they were sharing intelligence, logistics, and the Soviets were turning over Jewish refugees to be sent to the death camps.
The end of World War Two was a historic victory ending suffering for victims of the Nazi regime. But we must remember that for victims of the Soviet regime in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania the suffering continued for another 46 years under one of the aggressors that started this terrible war.
History matters and we must remember both how the war started and how it ended. We must also remember that although some Nazi war criminals were brought to justice at Nuremberg none of the Soviet war criminals ever were.
The Soviet Union should not be given a pass for their role in this terrible chapter in history.
The Soviet Union allied with Nazi Germany in August 1939 signing a so-called "non-aggression pact" that had secret protocols that divided Central Europe, and partitioned Poland between the two totalitarian powers. Day later, beginning with Nazi, Germany and followed a few days later by the Soviet Union they invaded Poland and met in the middle to celebrate their victory together.
Eighty years ago on March 5, 1940, Josef Stalin and other high ranking Soviet Communists signed the orders to murder thousands of Polish officers and intellectuals that had resisted the Nazi invasion of Poland and between April and May of 1940 had them executed and buried in mass graves in the forest of Katyn.
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| Soviet and Nazi soldiers fraternize after conquering Poland in 1939 |
The end of World War Two was a historic victory ending suffering for victims of the Nazi regime. But we must remember that for victims of the Soviet regime in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania the suffering continued for another 46 years under one of the aggressors that started this terrible war.
History matters and we must remember both how the war started and how it ended. We must also remember that although some Nazi war criminals were brought to justice at Nuremberg none of the Soviet war criminals ever were.
The Soviet Union should not be given a pass for their role in this terrible chapter in history.
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