[brnt]

Well, there is a reason hiring mercenaries is usually regarded as a shady proposition. But you're right, Russia and America made a good match in WW2. It's just an angle that's not often illuminated (thanks for your far better post btw) and as always in this story, it's so sad that ordinary Russians ultimately paid the price. I wish that part also was shown differently (in Russia). Russia was not a casualty, Russians were. And Russians certainly did not win this war.

[gdy]

"And Russians certainly did not win this war."

We most certainly did, we still exist as a nation.

[brnt]

If there ever was a people divorced from its nationstate, its Russia. I know the propaganda department does not allow for critical thinking on this matter, but Russians did not win, and have never really won.

That I hope will change someday.

[gdy]

You remind me of people in the Soviet Union brainwashed by the propaganda and confident that it is all true.

We have shook off that and got quite a cynical attitude.

I see you haven't done the same.

I don't have a hope that it will change someday.

[brnt]

Not sure what you mean. What I hope is a human Russian history, not dictated by what passes for government there. An honest confrontation with the past, and not a Hollywood interpretation meant to match the US and to cover up the horrors that have occurred.

[gdy]

What you offer ("It would be more precise to say the Russians were an American mercenary army.") by far beats the craziest Hollywood interpretations.

[sergeykish]

You ignore USSR and Bolsheviks crimes, you know better than USSR marshal about "combined efforts", you look quite brainwashed.

[gdy]

No, I don't.

[jaakl]

Well, define winning. Here the looser side(s) still exists not only as a nation, but also as flourishing economy, human rights, democracy, welfare etc. Russia has only the yearly parades.

[gdy]

The USSR lost the Cold War.

[sergeykish]

I believe he is about wining like German population did. There was no Nuremberg trials on Soviet leaders. Millions killed but nothing.