By Christine Lynn
It is time the dark illusions many have about the Soviet Union and its leader during WWII be dispelled with the light of truth.
You’ve heard one narrative all your life…now consider another.
My essay about Joseph Stalin, perhaps the most maligned individual in history, will inform you of the true Stalin.
The Russian Federation of today, ( its predecessor, the Soviet Union, and the Russian Empire prior) has had a turbulent past. But before accepting anything you’ve heard – a good attempt at obtaining the full context thereof and seeking information that those with an agenda will not volunteer to you is required. One may remain unknowing, or skeptical, or inclined to a particular view, but to simply unilaterally blindly accept a narrative you’ve heard your entire life does not make for critical thinking.
It is on this basis that I share my concluding opinions: 1. It is a slanderous myth that Joseph Stalin was an evil murderous tyrant responsible for the murder of tens of millions of people…. and 2. It is a slanderous myth that the Soviet troops committed rampant atrocities toward prisoners of war and women while US and UK forces were the good guys treating the vanquished humanely. Indeed, many Germans after the war’s end suffered and died as a result of their mistreatment. (more on that, perhaps, in another essay). Today, in this essay, I will address the first myth.
It would require much more than a few essays to share and delineate each and every fact or recorded account I’ve found over the years, and for that I do not have the time. However, the personal conclusions/opinions I have reached on these matters I will share with a general overview of what I’ve learned. I believe it is important to share the serious questions and opinions I’ve come to on these matters, so others may also, as I did, begin to question what they’ve always assumed to be true – but may not be.
In the last several years, it is disgusting to see individuals from the US government, European governments, and others complicit in the disregard and disrespect shown toward honor and acknowledgment that it was the Soviet Union, beyond all other nations, who is responsible for the defeat of German fascism in WWII.
Sadly and pathetically, various polls (especially of younger adults) show many now do not even know the Soviet Union was part of the Allied Forces – much less that it is they who sacrificed the most. The Soviet Union, which lost some 27 million people in their fight defending the Soviet Union (and thereby all of Europe) from Hitlerite Germany, was the reason Hitler was defeated. (For comparison, the US suffered about 400,000 deaths – not even half a million.) Yet, the US and EU narrative now often diminishes or doesn’t even mention the Soviet people as being the decisive victors responsible for the victory in WWII. All who fought should be honored – but the common Anglo-Saxon narrative now is to omit recognition to those who sacrificed the most.
All who value freedom owe the Soviets/Russians respect, honor, and enduring gratitude. It was they who suffered and lost the most, along with China, in the fight to stop the fascist expansionism. When I read the brief biographies of the heroes, I am touched by the fierce devotion evinced by those of all ages and backgrounds in defense of the Motherland. Everyone in society did what they could toward the defense of their country. Fighters, male and female, from all walks of life, civilian and military, gave their all in defending their country. The Germans’ awful and evil decision to invade the Soviet Union was tragic for all. My respect lies with each, from all countries, who righteously fought or otherwise joined in the fight against the German fascists.
Those who are grateful to the Soviets for their victory in WWII and seek to remember their tremendous sacrifice are continuously persecuted worldwide and monuments to their sacrifice desecrated and destroyed. The Red Army, the people of the Soviet Union, fought for defense of their land, their lives, their well-being. In doing so, they fought for all who recognize and reject the wicked attempt by the Germans to conquer the land of the Slavic people (as well as other evil they committed). Hitler’s view of the Slavs as sub-humans, as people to be enslaved, led him to make the grievous mistake of invading the Soviet Union in order to acquire more land and resources via expansionism – Lebensraum. (In this aggressive action against the Soviet Union, he had no justification such as can be argued he had with parts of European countries which he claimed, and there is data to support, were persecuting Germans who found themselves separated from their homeland due to the Versailles Treaty.) The attack against the Soviets, however, was a maneuver of pure imperialism toward a nation in which he had no legitimate claim whatsoever…the result tens of millions of deaths.
But now we live in a spiritually insane world where those who were liberated, those who fought together with the Soviets against the invaders, those who owe their very existence to the Soviets, renounce the fallen, and those who lovingly remember them. From European countries petty, hurtful banning of wearing a St. George’s ribbon (extensively worn in honor/remembrance of those who fought on the Eastern Front) to now threatening those leaders who would attend the beautiful Victory Day Parade in Moscow commemorating the 80th anniversary of the defeat of German fascism as well as restricting their own citizens from memorial activities – hateful revisionism is rampant. Some countries are banning any symbols whatsoever honoring the Soviet sacrifice and even ban the presence of Russians and Belorussians from attendance at memorial events – all manner of hateful anti-Russian rhetoric and behavior is now widespread.
The Great Patriotic War (as it is referred to in Russia due to their enormous loss of 27 million citizens in the then defeat of European fascism in defense of their Motherland) was the worst war in history. A tragic loss of life for all…and surrounding it enormous falsehoods spread unknowingly by those who’ve been indoctrinated for decades by malevolent individuals and governments.
The most important priority in my life is truth. It, though obscured sometimes for decades, is important to be searched for. That which a people believe about the past affects their attitudes in the present. If those beliefs are false, all subsequent perceptions and conclusions will be severely tainted, and such people easily manipulated.
Most have heard numerous accusations against Soviets, few have heard about such proven accusations regarding the atrocities committed by the Allied forces of the US, British and French. Likewise, most have heard numerous accusations against Stalin, few have heard the facts, not only about his accomplishments, but those facts that exonerate him of the evil he is accused of.
All data and evidence that we now have should be considered – not merely that which censures Stalin’s reputation. I will address some of this here with facts, anecdotes and personal glimpses I recall from my extensive research into him over the years… all of which have resulted in my personal opinion that, on balance, Stalin was both a great leader and a good man.
After reading much of Stalin’s writings, I believe he was a man of deep reflection, contemplative, and astute discernment. He was inspired ideologically, a true believer in Leninism (unlike some of his contemporaries), a theorist himself inspired to create the best society for the people of the Soviet Union to thrive, not merely survive. For those who reject his political views, one need not be a socialist or communist to appreciate that the man was motivated to effect change for what he believed versus for personal gain. Of this, I am certain.
He was ruthless in pursuit of this goal, and he had to be. Those who exact a revolution always have serious foes intent on reversing a newly established government through coups, sabotage, and other skulduggery. Remember, the civil war was not between two factions – but several. Interestingly, the dangerous opposition was not merely vocal but terroristic – not only against Party members, but against innocent civilians, such as, for one example, the poisoning of grain intended for children/families – anything to cause unrest and chaos.
My sharing here is certainly not exhaustive… but perhaps it will motivate you to begin your own exploration of the areas that intrigue you, or at least, to not accept without question what you’ve always heard and likely will always hear from Western propagandists.
The True Stalin
Joseph Stalin (born Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili) – the man who led the Red Army and the Soviet people to victory over the German fascists. A statesman who is revered by millions and simultaneously despised by millions. How can this be?
The true Stalin not only led the Soviet people through the most horrific war in human history, he also restored and significantly enhanced the quality of life in the Soviet Union following the Great Patriotic War (WWII). Amazing advances due to his plans not only saw technology/science/industrialization/art/employment soar in the country, but health and medical matters improved dramatically (lifespan increasing significantly and infant mortality decreasing). He dramatically increased energy development and rocket (space/aeronautic) development – all of which led to unique Soviet achievements then and in the immediate years thereafter.
The country, under Stalin, went from an illiterate one to a highly literate. He made education and the elimination of illiteracy of all people one of the highest priorities of his rule, bringing in tutors even to rural areas and establishing libraries. (The CIA considered the excellent education of the Soviet people to be a great threat to Western hegemony.) He also emphasized the study of chess for the populous (he played and also enjoyed watching tournaments) for the people – believing it to be an excellent tool for the mind. Both intellectual and athletic pursuits he supported for the people, as well as supporting a change to working hours so that all would have the time to develop these pursuits. (He was gradually adjusting working hours to approach a 25-hour work week which he believed would provide ample time for personal development in addition to one’s work.) The arts were encouraged from music to painting and more. (Stalin deeply appreciated classical music, and was an avid theater attendee – with some conjecturing it may have been his multiple viewing of the play “The Day of the Turbines” by Mikhail Bulgakov with its scene featuring a beautifully decorated Christmas tree which was part of what influenced Stalin to revive the New Year tree, as well as other traditional elements of the season, to Soviet society as it had been banned by the Bolsheviks in 1918. We do not know what the decisive factor was, nevertheless, such festivities returned in 1937.)
He was a prolific writer and reader – studying thousands of works, an enormous library, books often with profuse notations of his thoughts in the margins of the books. I have read some of these notes, including on the margins of Dostoevsky’s masterpieces, each an insight into Stalin’s beliefs, values and contemplations. He was a most reflective individual. Stalin’s poetry (many of which was published) is beautiful – again, an aspect of the individual, of which few are aware.
Stalin transformed the Soviet Union, despite all its suffering during the war years, into a powerhouse of innovation, creativity, and well-being. These areas of achievement, and then some, are facts readily available. Few men in the 20th century even approach the achievements he brought to his people.
Yet, mention his name, and most people immediately associate him with the alleged murder of tens of millions of people – which is, I believe, an entirely false narrative resulting from extreme ignorance combined with decades of disinformation and lying propaganda. There are also many fake “quotes” circulating attributed to Stalin – apparently fabricated or taken out of context – in an attempts to disparage him.
Where do the allegations emanate? The origins are revealing. I’ve found most persons, including self-proclaimed “experts,” or academics, often merely nesciently repeat the same accusations they’ve heard others say. You can notice they usually do not back up such condemnatory statements of Stalin with independent research or explanation – they only rehash what they’ve heard others say or base it upon now debunked data. An examination of many such lectures/literary works/blanket statements reveals not only a lack of factual documentation or direct primary-source evidence (as often the “facts” cited are only references to someone else who cited said data – their “sources” are often just identifying where they read someone else making the same statement). It is this people have always heard… and thus what they, without critical thought, accept, believe and then repeat.
Importantly, ultimately one can usually trace such illusions to anti-Soviet Western propaganda (some such prevarications actually reliant on or derived from WWII German fascist’ anti-Soviet propaganda as well as from Leon Trotsky (birth name Laibe Bronstein) – a man with vitriolic hatred of Stalin known for dedicating his life to spreading lies about Stalin (thus anything coming from him I distrust) or Nikita Khrushchev – again a Soviet leader apparently motivated by extreme jealousy who after Stalin’s death sought to eradicate the people’s high regard for Stalin and replace it with himself. To buttress his rise to power, and with an eye toward pleasing the West – his unproven accusations and cultural revisionism, which I, after study of his claims, regard as lies from Khrushchev, became the dominant academic narrative). It is because of British and American propagandists (including Western-backed anti-Stalinist anti-socialists/communists and CIA operations/front organizations), whether knowingly or unknowingly, using such invalid derogatory suppositions to discredit the Soviet leader and the Soviet Union that millions have been duped.
In my research, I have found no credible substantiation for any of the accusations responsible for most people’s beliefs about Stalin. I have found much credible data/evidence to the contrary, far more convincing, resulting in my conclusion that these erroneous opinions are the result of an effective slanderous campaign by Western governments who both manufactured such narratives as well as appropriated them from German WWII anti-Soviet propaganda and from known Soviet enemies of Stalin (this I learned from reading CIA declassified documents stating how they would make such anti-Stalin propaganda).
Remember, during WWII, the United States went to great lengths in its propaganda to mesmerize Americans into full support of its entry into WWII (despite Americans overwhelmingly being opposed to its troops being engaged in such a foreign war) – this included all manner of media/film and posters intended to increase support for the war and boost recruitment. Part of this involved posters (the primary type of pro-War medium used) and prominent individuals exalting the Soviet troops and Stalin himself . He was referred to with slogans calling him a protector of democracy and other favorable comments. How then, or perhaps more aptly, why then the change? It’s not because anything more became known – it was because the US/UK no longer needed to influence national support for the Allied war effort, and instead quickly reverted to their original propaganda goal – to weaken the Soviet/Russian reputation among the general public by instilling fear and loathing.
Indeed, from the very end of WWII, the disinformation propaganda of the United States’ Cold War against the Soviets began. This included the beginning of the now prevalent Western false placement of the Soviet Union into a category, despite being their ally, equated to the level of moral depravity and evil of the German fascists, and too, false placement of the Soviet Leader Stalin into a category as being no different than Adolf Hitler if not worse. Thus began the decades of US falsehoods/lies/deception in its quest to successfully indoctrinate its people to distrust/fear/hate the Russians.
The evil repositioning of the Soviets/Russians from allies to foes continues to this day. This is because the goal of the United States, which no US President has ever renounced, remains the strategic defeat of Russia. Propaganda in today’s media which causes its citizens to distrust, fear, and hate the Russian people serves its purpose – as does the equating of the devised false narratives about the Soviet leader Stalin (and the Red Army) with the Russia of today. In addition, I’ve now been seeing some Westerners stating the repugnant lie of blaming the Soviets for WWII. The spiritual insanity of the West has never been more obvious or diabolical.
All of the common denunciations of Stalin, the supposed crimes of Stalin, be it the alleged murder of tens of millions (the numbers frequently stated are many times – often many thousands of times – greater than the amount of actual executions/death sentences during his reign, executions were only a small fraction of those who faced adjudication), the “Holodomor” (actually a fabrication later developed in the Ukraine distorting a tragic famine suffered by the all of the Soviet Union with other regions suffering even more than that region- there was never any deliberate starvation of the people of the Ukraine – there is no evidence to suggest it was deliberate or man-made, with photographs used in propaganda even shown to be from other unrelated famines in the world to buttress the story, however it makes good fodder for another Ukrainian nationalist’ propaganda myth to foster sympathy), his population fearing placement into gulags (the overwhelming number sent there were common criminals such as thieves, rapists, murderers – few were political prisoners – the percentage incarcerated per capita was much lower than those imprisoned in the US at the time – and the conditions, including food, far better than US prisoners received at the time – facts acknowledged in CIA documents), also, political prisoners received considerably less severe sentences unless involved in serious counterrevolutionary activities such as assassination plots, “show” trials, and deliberate persecution by Stalin of the Russian Orthodox Church (which did, however, suffer tremendously under the Bolsheviks as they and a considerable number in society were militant atheists) – I now believe believe to all be falsehoods. There is both ample data and evidence to the contrary for each – enough that I now have come to the conclusion they constitute a well-crafted story intended to deceive. I can refute each of them when asked, but again, to do so here would require hours of writing…it is something I do address in interviews (perhaps the sharing of my conclusions here will lead a few thoughtful readers to begin their own research into such areas rather than mindlessly accepting the common narrative as fact. I believe more independent and objective research is needed to address. re-examine, and publicly question the ubiquitous statements found in Western media for which evidence is lacking.) Though repressions and atrocities were committed during the establishment of the Bolshevik regime (the Revolution consisted of a motley of groups – not harmonious values), the myriad of demonizing accusations against and attributing all of these to Stalin during the years of his leadership are false.
Were mistakes made by Stalin, of course… but none approaching the accusations made by the enemies of the Russian people.
On an anecdotal note, tens of thousands of mourners came to honor Stalin at his death – watching those films of the faces of the men, women and youth, obviously overcome with grief standing in hours of procession for viewing, is antithetical to the idea that the general population feared him… on the contrary, most loved him.
Stalin operated within a soviet (council) democratic system which included a diversity of people, many with opposing ideas and values, and was only able to exact his personal character and intentions more greatly as time elapsed and the circle around him was purged (by exile, deportation, incarceration, or execution) of those convicted of subversive plots (including assassination), the “Old” Bolsheviks intent on their own power as well as international Communism. (note: Much internal opposition to Stalin was a result of his focus upon Communism in one country. His writings explain this well – the Soviet Union’s priority should be on its own progress, achievements, and provision for the people – serving as an example other nations can choose to follow. This is in contrast to arch enemy Trotsky who I’ll summarize as a madman believing in permanent revolution internationally. This is a point often overlooked by many Westerners. There was a serious conflict between the Bolsheviks in what priorities the newly founded government should have. Grouping all Socialists/Communists together is a major mistake leading to lack of understanding of such diverse political groups and geopolitics worldwide then and now.
(On a side note, I will digress: In the US, such diametrically opposed views was evidenced by some in the Frankfurt School. Some Americans, aware of their ideology and who rightly oppose it should not group it together with Stalin’s Soviet Union, for in some ways it was quite in line with and even supported by the US national security state. This Western Marxism was, in general, the antithesis of say, Stalin’ beliefs. This group includes theorists/professional intellectuals in the US and Europe, calling themselves Marxists who came from Europe, with some who criticized the Soviets and equated them with fascists — making no distinction between the Soviet Union and Hitler’s Germany. Having infiltrated media and academia…those who oppose its “progressive” values should be aware some of its thinkers equated socialism with fascism — an absurd notion. Knowing this far left/liberal group was simultaneously surveilled as well as encouraged/financed by, for example, US government/intelligence entities/US grants/capitalist private donors comes as no surprise. Some of its theorists I would describe as ideologically the complete opposite to the socialism as practiced in the Soviet Union. American support for them took several forms enabling them to spread their values (which have degraded American society) which also encompassed anti-Stalinist views. To me, this explains how this devastating leftists/radical liberal/“tolerance” became so pervasive in American society. I share this for those Westerners who mistakenly group all socialists/communists together — there are enormous differences and thus there were such internecine conflicts within the Soviet Union as well as outside of it. But again this does not define them, it just shows how the US government used all in its anti-Stalinist work. My point being — do not equate the liberal nonsense you see in the US with Stalin’s ideology and realize the same division happened in the Soviet Union at the time.)
Eventually the NKVD (secret police) was not exempt from repercussions, sometimes due to those within it having committed atrocities in violation of their procedural rules. Stalin did have people convicted of committing atrocities or terrorism against the people executed. Again, it took some ten years plus before the apparatus around him was more stable and relatively clear of rogue actions especially by anti-Stalin members of the Bolsheviks.
The numbers of deaths attributed to Stalin are proven to be outrageously exaggerated… some entirely false, others adding up numbers due to illnesses (such as typhus), famine which historically had repeatedly gripped Europe and other parts of the world due to crop failure, and even military deaths. However, though a small fraction when compared with the nonsensical claims, there apparently were executions which were done in violation of the Constitution during his rule. Disturbingly, these were a result of sentences passed down by the troikas (not Stalin) established across the vast country. Thought of as “emergency” courts, the rule of law was not respected, defendants had no representation, and it would appear there were miscarriages of justice. It is here martyrs of the Church were killed (although some were indeed involved with counterrevolutionary groups, the sentencing to death did not always fit the crimes usual punishment had they been tried in the usual courts at the time.) Some blame Stalin for these, however, after reading of these unjustified repressions and testimonials of those close to Stalin at the time (generals, etc.), it appears to me that this was more likely yet another area he may not have been able to address at the time without risk of being voted out of the governing body or even killed.
Westerners have a false misconception that through all the years (1922-1953) that Stalin could do anything he wanted, as if he was a supreme ruler, when in reality, that is not how soviet councils functioned…far from it. Not everything which occurred during those years can be rightfully attributed to Stalin. We must proceed with what we do have – much correspondence to and from him on these matters, along with other data, which provides ample reason to question his complicity. Of course, it is an unknown for certainty. Again by the late 30’s, the NKVD had been cleared of those forces by Stalin.
It is, too, interesting to note that some of the other internecine disagreements between Stalin and others in the government included such issues as abortion (they had made it legal, when Stalin came to power he made it illegal/severely restricted and regulated making it not acceptable unless due to risk to the mother’s life or serious disability to the child…I remember reading, and I paraphrase from my memory, his writing that abortion was one of, if not the, most evil act one could do.) His rule focused much more on what we consider traditional family values (and incentivized childbirth, as it still done in the Russian Federation today, to encourage population growth by taking away some of the financial difficulties which arise).
I also recall a number of conversations soldiers/officers recounted in which Stalin encouraged them to embrace their family members even if religious (a taboo among many of the Bolsheviks who were atheists)…his children have also mentioned their father’s comments to them about Jesus. These anecdotes from those closest to him are consistent with what we know about his background and his reading habits. For several years, as a young adult, Stalin studied to become an Orthodox Christian priest, attending seminary. His years of consecutive study were halted when his poor mother could not afford to pay for another year when his scholarship time ended, approximately 5 years already). Despite asking for consideration of his excellent performance, he was unable to continue. Nevertheless, simultaneously, he had been reading revolutionary material and meeting with the same… reading Marx resonated with him as he saw the suffering of the peasants and the luxurious life of the rulers in the empire at the time… his reading in his young adult years while at seminary foreshadowing his path soon to take. During his years at seminary, he excelled also in Church Slavonic singing (something he maintained throughout his entire life including while he was leader, sometimes inviting a few friends over to his dacha, to sing hymns together.) In his speeches and columns, one can see numerous Biblical references and influences. Nuns at monasteries in Georgia (his home country) would receive gifts of money periodically from Stalin, and we know he also had a chapel in the Kremlin which he would stay within for long periods of time (one of his bodyguards testifying of times of long prayer) as well to the summoning of priests there for confession and prayer.
Georgian (born in Gori), his love of Russia became deep. He spoke Russian, appreciated Russian composers and literature, and as I read his writings – that love and soul understanding of the Russian spirit is quite apparent.
This brings me to The Great Patriotic War, for which I (and millions of others) credit his leadership of the people of the Soviet Union with the defeat of German fascism which threatened to murder and enslave millions of Slavs. Military analysis is complex, and not what I am about to attempt. Suffice to say, Stalin’s country was under the greatest threat to its existence and he shouldered the burden of the most horrible war in history well. He knew that if the Germans took any of the key cities all of the country would likely be lost. The absolute responsibility to ensure victory was paramount. To this, he rose admirably and effectively – the Soviet Union more than any other nation is responsible for the defeat of Hitler’s imperialistic war. No other nation, besides China who also sacrificed immensely, even comes close by any measure.
Here, too, falsehoods and lies (by omission and commission) attempt to slander Stalin’s reputation as a military leader and defame the Soviet’s courageous victory. There are so many I have not the time to address or expound upon in this essay. These two, for example, include false claims that he was warned of the exact day of the German invasion by other country’s intelligence services and ignored it… the truth is no, there was no exact day stated in such intelligence, but repeated dates (including, but not limited to, June 22). That date was just one of many given because the Germans had effectively planted disinformation/false “intelligence” and rumors as a ruse so that the Soviets would have no idea as to when it would occur. Another despicable falsehood widely propagated is that Soviets are to blame for WWII or that they are equally responsible with Hitler’s Germany as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact – a clear distortion of the truth. On the contrary, this pact was made to give the Soviets more time to build up defensive mechanisms and equipment for the imminent threat, and most importantly, must be kept in this perspective: Stalin had tried numerous times to form an anti-fascist European defensive bloc of nations in alliance with Britain, the United States and France to deter Hitler’s continued aggression – every attempt rejected. This included proposals for meeting together to form a defensive plan. However, the imperialist nations had other plans: Use Germany against the Soviet Union. Simultaneously, and rarely mentioned, is the fact that Britain, France and Italy signed the Munich agreement with Hitler which allowed the Germans to then annex Czechoslovakia resulting in intensified militarization and threat of more expansionism (with Italy soon capturing Albania). Britain and France signed an agreement with Poland for mutual aid, but when Poland was invaded by Germany, neither country did anything… yes, they declared war but without any action at the time, with the US remaining “neutral.” This rejection of forming collective resistance to Germany’s aggressive behavior, along with other similar actions during the war, leads me to believe that the UK and US wanted Germany to invade the Soviet Union to weaken it – as they never viewed the Soviet Union as an ally but as a successful country whose progress made it an enemy to their hegemony. Realizing his country was being forced to essentially fight Germany one-on-one led Stalin to form the pact in order to prepare for what was likely coming.
Following the war, Stalin was deeply concerned about the future of the Soviet Union and Russian people if captured Banderite Ukrainians (he called them traitors to the Ukrainian people – which, of course, they were and still are) who had fought against the Soviet forces were allowed to go free after the war. Though he was inclined to execute them, in negotiations with the West, he instead sentenced some to life and others to 25 years. He reasoned that such a time of incarceration would prevent their passing of fascist hatred of Russians to their descendants, which would result in future armed conflict between Ukrainians and Russians. He was correct. Sadly, after Stalin’s death, Khrushchev freed those prisoners (even those guilty of atrocities)… and we now have the tragic loss of life in another conflict due to Ukrainian nationalists and their vitriolic hatred of Russians.
In conclusion, Stalin’s wise leadership resulted in numerous accomplishments: rapid industrialization, an agriculture boom, equal employment opportunities for women, healthcare and education for all thrived, the arts were supported and encouraged as was physical fitness, and science/technology made great advances. I truly believe that the beautiful and wonderful Russian Federation we have today, would not be, if not for the leadership of Stalin and, of course, the valiant, courageous and resilient people of the Soviet Union.
