World War II Lies of the West Part 1
Directed by Tatiana Borsh
Film Review
https://en.rtdoc.tv/films/2001-world-war-ii-lies-of-the-west-part-1
This is Part 1 of a two part series documenting efforts by the West to erase the crucial role of the Soviet Union in defeating Hitler’s Third Reich during World War II.
- Lie #1 – The Soviet refused to come to the aid of Czechoslovakia when Hitler was threatening to invade.
In reality, the Soviets were the only Allied country to oppose Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia. Not only did France and England fail to come to Czechoslovakia’s defense, but they gave her an ultimatum not to resist the Nazi invasion.* With far more tanks than Hitler and the best weapons in Europe, the Czechs could easily have defeated the Germans. It was largely the acquisition of Czech tanks that allowed Hitler to roll over Europe in a matter of months.
The USSR (which had to traverse Poland to reach Czechoslovakia) sent troops to the Polish border but Poland refused to grant them safe passage. In fact Poland sought to dissolve Czechoslovakia and split the country between Germany, Poland and Hungary. Following Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, Poland invaded Silesia in northeastern Czechoslovakia, while Hungary invaded eastern Czechoslovakia.
- Lie #2 The USSR defeated Nazi Germany by sacrificing massive numbers of Soviet conscripts as canon fodder.
The West typical credits the Soviets with 27 million dead during World War II. However this number includes nearly 19 million civilian killed by Nazi atrocities. Only 44% of Soviet POWs returned from captivity (the majority were killed while interned).** This contrasts with 865 German, Hungarian and Croatian Nazis repatriated by the Soviets.
According to Russian figures, 7.8 million Nazi troops were killed from war wounds, disease and accidents, compared to 8.7 million Soviet troops.
- Lie #3 The Soviets played a secondary role to the other Allied powers in defeating Germany.
The Soviets fought Hitler and his European allies virtually by themselves from the Nazi invasion in ntil the US-UK landing in Normandy in June 1944. Meanwhile many major US companies continued to provide money and oil to the Nazi regime, as both the US and Britain refused to bomb their German subsidiaries. Every third soldier in the assault on the Soviet Union was non-German. Officially Italy, Slovakia, Hungary and Finland declared war on the USSR at the same time as Germany. Unofficially Norway, Denmark and Switzerland also participated in the attack on the USSR, while the Netherlands and Denmark participated in SS missions and Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia, Czechoslovakia Vichy France (320,000 French joined the Nazi armed forces) and Poland supplied troops.
Despite an agreement the US and UK made to open a second front against the Germans in 1942, they waited until it became clear that the Soviets were 180 miles from Berlin (and about to defeat the Germans by themselves), eleven months before the official German defeat in May 1945.
- Lie #4 The Soviets killed and raped civilians
This was propaganda disseminated by Hitler’s minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels and mindlessly taken up by Western propagandists. On January 19, 1945, Stalin issued a special order that all Russians guilty of civilian violence or rape. According to Russian veterans interviewed in the film, this was rigorously enforced.
*In March 1939, the Bank of England transferred the Czech government’s gold to the Nazi Reichsbank. See The Bank of England Hands Over Czech Gold to the Nazis. Both the governor and the chairman of the BOE were part of a powerful coalition of British fascists (which included the future king Edward VII, Neville Chamberlain, Lloyd George and Churchill’s brother-in-law Oswald Moseley) who envisioned Britain and Germany as co-leaders of a fascist world government.
** Nazi authorities treated American, British and French POWs far better than Soviet POWs.
The Most Revolutionary Act 
#4. I have deceased relatives in Finland, that was able to testify about what the Red Army did to civilians. Rape, assaults and pillage. They were lucky to only experience pillage themselves, but they knew a lot of people who got the other “treatments” … Chosing between two bad things, they prefered the German occupation.
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That was most unfortunate for them, Sasjal. I wonder if Stalin’s edict was partly based on that event. Any Russian troops who raped and pillaged during the German invasion were shot via firing squad. And as mohandeer points out below, Finland was never really occupied by the Germans. The Finnish government welcomed Hitler’s troops and joined with them in their attack on the Soviet Union. And as her comment points out, they were never held accountable for the atrocities they committed against Slav inmates at the concentration camps the Finns established in Karelia.
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Well, the Finns were divided regaring the views of Germany and Soviet. About 50/50 what I heard. The national hero Mannerheim (Swedish ancestors) supported Germany.
It seems to be difficult to find information about concentration camps in general. Which countries did have and still have. So far, I found Germany, Soviet, Japan, Sweden, Chile and USA. (Those in the last country are still in operation.) I know there were some in the Balkan and South East Asia regions, but have not found any details. Finland was news to me.
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Finland’s minority populations included ethnic Swedes, Jews, Romani people, and the indigenous Sámi. The war years brought varying experiences for these groups:
– **Ethnic Swedes:** The Swedish-speaking population in Finland, comprising about 10% of the population, generally maintained their rights and cultural autonomy during the war. The Swedish People’s Party played an active role in Finnish politics, advocating for the interests of the Swedish-speaking minority. However, the war created pressures for greater national unity, sometimes leading to tensions.
– **Jewish Community:** Finland’s Jewish community, numbering around 2,000 people, faced a unique situation during the war. Despite Finland’s alliance with Nazi Germany, Finnish Jews were largely protected from the Holocaust. Jewish soldiers served in the Finnish army, and there were no systemic persecutions or deportations of Jews. This was in stark contrast to the treatment of Jews in other Nazi-occupied countries.
– **Romani People:** The Romani population in Finland faced discrimination and marginalization, exacerbated by wartime conditions. They were often subjected to forced labor and poor living conditions. The Finnish government did not implement systematic genocide against the Romani, but their treatment reflected broader societal prejudices.
– **Sámi People:** The indigenous Sámi people in northern Finland experienced the war primarily through the impacts of the Lapland War. The scorched earth tactics employed by retreating German forces led to the destruction of Sámi lands and reindeer herding areas, causing significant disruption to their traditional way of life.
### War Crimes and Controversial Actions
Finland’s involvement in the Continuation War alongside Nazi Germany led to several controversial actions and allegations of war crimes:
– **Occupation of Eastern Karelia:** During the Continuation War, Finnish forces occupied parts of Eastern Karelia, which had a significant Russian population. The occupation involved the internment of Russian civilians in camps, where conditions were harsh, leading to high mortality rates. These actions have been criticized as violations of human rights and have sparked ongoing debates about Finland’s conduct during the war.
– **Prisoner of War (POW) Treatment:** Finnish treatment of Soviet POWs varied. While many were treated according to international conventions, there were instances of harsh treatment and high mortality rates, particularly during the harsh winter conditions. The exact extent and nature of these abuses remain subjects of historical investigation and debate.
– **Collaboration with Nazi Germany:** Finland’s alliance with Nazi Germany, while pragmatic and driven by the need to resist Soviet aggression, also involved moral and ethical dilemmas. Finnish authorities cooperated with German forces, including in the deportation of a small number of Jewish refugees to Nazi-occupied territories, where they faced persecution. This collaboration has been a contentious issue in Finland’s historical memory.
### Post-War Accountability and Reflection
After the war, Finland faced the challenge of addressing these issues within the context of post-war accountability and national reflection:
– **War Crime Trials:** Unlike many other countries, Finland did not conduct extensive war crime trials. A few Finnish officers were tried and convicted for their actions during the war, but these trials were limited in scope. The focus was primarily on rebuilding the nation and addressing the demands of the Soviet Union.
– **Historical Reconciliation:** In the decades following the war, Finland has engaged in historical reflection and reconciliation efforts. The treatment of minority groups and wartime actions have been subjects of academic research, public debate, and government apologies. These efforts aim to acknowledge past injustices and foster a more inclusive national narrative.
In conclusion, the treatment of minority groups and the issue of war crimes during the Second World War in Finland present a nuanced picture. While Finland managed to protect some minority populations, such as Jews, from the worst atrocities of the war, other groups
faced significant hardships and discrimination. The occupation of Eastern Karelia and collaboration with Nazi Germany remain controversial aspects of Finland’s wartime history, highlighting the moral complexities and challenges faced by the nation during this tumultuous period.
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Thanks for your lovely long comment. It’s most informative.
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