Thread by @MKitchellAR

SOVIET VICTORY MONUMENT IN LATVIA FALLS! My first thread, so be patient if I mess it up.
#Ukraine #Russia #WarinUkraine #WWII #RedArmy #Tankie
Take the Soviet monuments to tyranny, oppression and colonialism
/1

If you know me, you know I am super interested in WWII history: my father and uncles served (artillery, infantry, and B-17 gunner respectively). I feel it is our duty to respect veterans, that includes Soviet ones.
#2

But it is time to dispense with the politicized Russian myth that the Red Army liberated Europe. The Red Army took the majority of casualties fighting Nazi Germany, but let's keep things in perspective: #3

1. USSR was ally of Germany until it was not, and took parts of Poland and all Baltic states prior to German invasion of Russian in 1940. #4

2. There are many reasons USSR lost horrific amounts of men, but you can see it in their war today in Ukraine. Poorly trained soldiers, many fighting under threat of death, used in frontal assaults, often politically run... #5

Red Army in 1936-40 was decimated by Stalin's purges, which robbed them of experienced officers and non-commissioned officers.
3. Despite constant whining by Stalin, USSR would have lost vs Germany without massive aid from USA, sent by US and UK ships. #6

Stalin said this, but of course this was soon erased from USSR history.
4. Despite constant whining by Stalin, western allies opened front in Western Europe when they were ready. #7

Massive bombing, Italy invasion, N Africa, took German forces away from Russia. D-Day took time to execute, an invasion in 1943 would have been a disaster.#8

5. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, the Red Army did not LIBERATE Baltic, Poland and Eastern Europe. They removed awful, terrible, Nazi forces. But, contrary to promises, they did not allow those people the freedom for self-determination.. #9

rather they brutally occupied those nations. This why Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, ++++ ran to join NATO. And why Ukraine wants to be in NATO. And why Ukraine is fighting a tyranny not seen since WWII.#10

I respect and honor (have many times at their cemeteries) the Red Army soldier. He and she were brave, patriotic and sacrificed so much. They did the lion's share of the ground war, and sadly, due to their terrible leaders, paid a horrible price in blood. #11

But they were SOVIET, not Russian. They were Ukrainian, Russian, Uzbek, Kazak, etc. This 'Russification' of the Red Army is another Russian propaganda tactic. #12

So yes, #Latvia, #Poland, #Lithuania, #Estonia etc are getting rid of imperialistic monuments to Soviet occupation, placed under the guise of respect to the Soviet soldier. No Russian government cares one bit about their soldiers
TAKE THEM DOWN /end

#NAFO #NAFOFellas #NAFOhelp while I am not a member, I love you all and would appreciate a retweet!
(From #1 in thread, not this one)

https://twitter.com/MKitchellAR/status/1563136517203144709