[vasco]

How many military bases does Russia have in Germany and the rest of europe? How much control does Russia have on europe in terms of enforcing laws, extraditing citizens vs the US?

Do you really not see the difference? I don't like the fact that the US has this presence or influence in europe, but it is factual. Why you think stating a fact is braging, I'm not sure.

[bombolo]

Russia had the same until the collapse of USSR. Which has nothing to do with who had a bigger role in fighting the nazis.

[vasco]

Did I make any argument about who had a bigger role? I just made an argument that because of the US's role, and the fact that right now they have the biggest army, that's what allows them to have this influence in laws in europe. Other people started making comparisons with USSR.

[542354234235]

>also the only reason most of europe has freedom today and not a german dictatorship is the US in WW2

German soldiers killed on the Eastern Front before the final battles of 1945: 2,742,909.

On the Western Front, the Balkans, Africa, Italy, and Northern Europe: 640,541.

I'm no mathematician, but but it seems like it wouldn't have been possible without Russians killing over 75% of the German soldiers and then marching on Berlin. Could Europe have have handled the other 25% without the US? Maybe. Could the US have handled the other 75% without Russia? I am very skeptical.

[vasco]

Lets say I rephrase to:

>also one of the reasons most of europe has freedom today and not a german dictatorship is the US in WW2

How does that invalidate my argument? What is your alternative explanation for why the US has outsized impact on laws in europe today?

[542354234235]

First, you directly stated that the US involvement in WWII was the only reason Europe has freedom and that "is something europeans forget", which is wrong and invalid.

Second, while it is true that US power projection through the military is one of the ways it influences other countries, including in Europe, it isn’t the only way. The US dollar is the most held reserve currency in the world and is the standard for exchange in almost every country, outside of Russia, China, etc., means that most international economic activity passes through US financial institutions. That gives the US a lot of influence, as it means you cannot stray too far afield of US legal norms without risking those trading abilities. When the US pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions, it was the only country doing it, but European trade with Iran also went to almost zero because it was impossible to do business without touching a US bank at some point.

Third, the US bases and military presence in Europe was because of the cold war, not because of anything the US did in WWII. Since WWII wasn’t fought in America, its logistics, manufacturing, etc. were intact, compared to the rubble that was Europe. NATO, basing agreements, the US outsized military spending, etc. were to counter the only other super power, the USSR, and prevent Europe from falling under the iron dome. It was also to prevent the intra-European military competitions and arms races that fueled interstate wars for the previous 1,000 years.

[bombolo]

The dollar being used for exchanges is because the USA is imposing it with their army. The countries that think to do otherwise get bombed, or at the very least their terrorists become suddenly very well armed.

Nowadays europeean countries interventions in Africa are still very similar to proxy wars, despite the EU and all.

[Jwarder]

> How many military bases does Russia have in Germany

Not the direction you are aiming, but I find Kaliningrad/Königsberg a fascinating example of soviet imperialism.

[undefinedland]

You seem to forget that there were quite a few bases in Europe under the Soviet flag, which ended with the dissolution of the USSR.

Only you can decide whether you think this was the Russian flag or not but I suspect you will not be able to simultaneously argue that it was the Soviet flag during WW2 and the Russian flag during communism. If you believe Russia occupied countries such as Ukraine and Belarus and controlled/occupied Poland, Romania etc, then you will have to accept that the Russians did in fact do the most to defeat the Germans.

If you don't believe it was Russia, and rather the USSR, then you will have to accept it was the collective efforts of countries of the USSR (and the occupation by Russia falls into doubt).

You can't have it both ways.

In either case, the Americans played a lesser role in the defeat of the Germans in WW2 and more properly could be credited with defeating the Japanese. This would make sense as the US is more a naval power than a land power.