Thread by @redstreamnet

May 8 is the day several European countries celebrate the defeat of fascism. Even though most of Eastern and Central Europe was liberated by Soviet troops, lies, myths, and misconceptions about the Red Army remain prevalent. Here are some of the most common myths debunked.

🟡“Human Wave” Tactics

The “human wave” belief is part of a wider idea that Soviet tactics were unsophisticated, with commanders senselessly throwing their troops at the enemy. The truth, however, is that the Red Army employed sophisticated operational art such as deep battle tactics, emphasizing coordination of strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

🟡Desertion and Reluctance

While there were instances of desertion and reluctance (common in any large army), the Red Army generally demonstrated high levels of determination and resilience. Many Soviet soldiers were highly motivated by a sense of patriotic duty and the defense of their homeland.

🟡Incompetence Through Political Interference

Although military operations were initially hindered, the Soviet high command adapted swiftly. Political officers were often subordinated to military leaders, and competent generals like Georgy Zhukov emerged to lead the war effort effectively.

🟡The Red Army Wouldn’t Have Won Without Allied Aid

While Lend-Lease aid, especially trucks, food, and certain raw materials, was crucial, the Soviet industrial base produced the vast majority of weapons and equipment used. Soviet resilience and resourcefulness played a primary role in victory.

🟡Women Didn’t Play a Significant Role

Soviet women played crucial roles in the Red Army as snipers, pilots (notably the “Night Witches”), medics, and partisans. Their contribution was significant with around 800,000 women having served in the armed forces.

🟡Rapists and Looters

While there were cases of rape and looting by some Soviet soldiers, there were never orders or any form of a given incentive for such acts. The vast majority of soldiers didn’t commit such atrocities, and Soviet authorities severely punished those involved in such acts.

🟡Soviet Concentration Camps

After the liberation of East Germany, the Soviets established a series of “Special Camps” in former Nazi facilities to detain Nazis and their collaborators in East Germany. However, unlike Nazi extermination camps designed explicitly for mass murder, Soviet special camps were never intended for systematic extermination and eventually closed by 1950.