A Different World

June 14, 2021
By Alex Ness

REVIEW

ICEBREAKER: Who Started the Second World War
By Viktor Suvorov

The Chief Culprit: Stalin's Grand Design to Start World War II
By Viktor Suvorov

Both books bought by Alex Ness, not provided by the publisher, author or amazon.

The author of both books was a defector from the Soviet Union, and had a role in the Soviet military intelligence, (the GRU) and wrote books that explored the Soviet Military and KGB, and more.

The theory behind both books is similar. Historians have long argued that Adolf Hitler and the Nazi aggression, invasions, and demands over territory, led to a greater war. By his racist and nationalist demands Hitler was the cause of every area of the conflict. Suvorov argues a new and previously unconsidered theory about the cause and reasons that the Second World war in Europe started. He argues that Stalin used Nazi Germany to fight the Western powers, to ravage the countries in between the two, and to use this war as a prime reason to liberate those same conquered nations, and thereafter remain there as a buffer zone. If the Soviet Union's Joseph Stalin was in fact trying to sucker Hitler into action, it negates the concepts that historians have long held, that there was a clear and direct reasons for war, and that it was all Hitler and Germany's fault. To enter the war and be seen as a liberator Stalin required/desired a just cause to enter the war. And, more important than for being appreciated for saving Europe, this liberation would automatically expand the reach of the Soviet Union, as well a create a zone where Soviets could in effect colonize them, and make them subservient to Soviet leadership.

Among the reasons offered is how the Soviets built primarily offensive, rather purely defensive weapons, various purges were meant to create an offensive and highly aggressive young officer corps, and the resistance to suggestions that the border ought to be built up for defense. Many have written that the Soviets adopted a tactic used in the past. Using offensive tactics wasn't how the Russian's defeated Napoleon's march to Moscow, by scorched earth and constant retreat before the superior forces of France.  Stalin wanted a reason to go to war, wanted the territory it later occupied, and to create an armed forces that obeyed him, not the long standing careerist chief officers, and was prepared to invade neighboring states with impunity. Exposing the flaws in the Soviet military by the Winter War with Finland, Stalin realized his need to move very quickly and reorganize his forces.

The arguments presented by Suvorov have been called Anti-Soviet, that his works are nonsensical, a-historical, or works created by fringe theorist, by those historians who've addressed it. I think there is reason to debate the arguments presented, as in, delve deeply and find the truth. I'm not arguing that everything in the two books is perfectly accurate, but I'd argue, it is mostly so, and the real question being asked, is which competing theory makes more sense. History is something woven, perceived and analyzed. Humans are flawed, so, among our problems is a focus upon subjects that becomes narrower and narrower, as others add to it. When someone writes about a subject that differs, the orthodoxy of historians seems to rarely consider the information, and more often, try to destroy the new messenger. Part of this, in the subject of World War Two is that Hitler is a good person to hang the cause of war upon. Part of this, is that it fulfills the role of innocent nations being invaded then have a righteous cause to go to war.  I don't perceive this argument as being anti-Soviet. I see it as being a decidedly focused look at the actions of a dictator that didn't make sense. If you apply the outlook of Suvorov, I think it does make sense. Beyond that, it is important to know that the Soviets did in fact kill more Nazis than all the other Allied forces combined. It presents evidence for a reason behind the creation of a super war machine that was effective, and powerful.

(Thanks to Karl Wyant for helpful discussions to focus on the subject here).

PRIDE MONTH

 

Art by Jeffrey Catherine Jones©

Jeffrey Catherine Jones was a painter of great talent and her work appeared on book covers and prints throughout her lifetime. But she began her career and appearance in popular culture as a male. Over her lifetime she had realized her mind saw her form as being wrongly gendered. She acknowledged fighting mental illness but much of that changed when she eventually had gender reassignment surgery, and expressed regrets that she hadn't made her change earlier in life. I called her a friend, and I still think of her as such, I also interviewed her and over a two year period exchanged hundreds of emails with her. While she may have begun our acquaintance humoring me, and I do think she was a deeply kind person, we became friends for seeing the world similarly in a number of areas. When she suggested that she might like to paint an interpretation one of my poems I was in ecstasy.

Sadly, in 2011 it was reported that she had died "Jeffrey suffered from severe emphysema and bronchitis as well as hardening of the arteries around the heart".  I cared greatly for her and think the world lost a great talent when she passed.  Sadly I had to deal with hatemail about gender issues when I announced it on my blogs.  People weren't ready to accept other people for who they are, more for what the package they arrived in.  But love is love, and I cared for her a great deal.

 

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"Comrades, Red Army and Red Navy men, commanders and political instructors, men and women guerrillas! The whole world is looking to you as a force capable of destroying the brigand hordes of German invaders. The enslaved peoples of Europe under the yoke of the German invaders are looking to you as their liberators. A great mission of liberation has fallen to your lot. Be worthy of this mission! The war you are waging is a war of liberation, a just war." Joseph Stalin