Stephen Lendman

May 9 marks the 71st anniversary of what Russians call the Great Patriotic War - representing victory over Nazi Germany.

Commemorations honor millions of Russians killed defending the Motherland. Throughout the war, Soviet Russia, not America, was the indispensable nation.

Without its enormous contribution and sacrifices, Hitler might have won WW II. Reinvented Western history can’t change cold, hard, facts.

Victory Day is sacred in Russia, symbolizing heroism and unity against the scourge of fascism - defeated in WW II, resurgent today, headquartered in Washington with worldwide branch offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Riyadh, Ankara, Tel Aviv and elsewhere.

On Monday, thousands from all branches of Russia’s military marched through Red Square in downtown Moscow. State-of-the-art military hardware was displayed, including aircraft involved in Russia’s war on terrorism in Syria.

Russian media provided extensive coverage, including its award-winning English language RT International, reaching 700 million viewers worldwide. US media gave the day’s events short shrift.

Americans are largely ignorant of Soviet Russia’s vital role in defeating Nazism. The myth of America turning the tide of battle persists.

Russia Insider deputy editor Marko Marjanovic called “WW II’s Eastern Front…by far the bloodiest theater of war the world has ever seen.”

An astonishing 12 million combatants died. Total US WW II deaths numbered 405,000 - compared to millions of Russian soldiers and civilians, estimates ranging from 26 - 40 million.

Marjanovic cited German historian Rudiger Overmans’ “extensive research,” putting German military war deaths at 5,318,000, excluding “Soviet citizens in German service.”

Hundreds of thousands died in captivity, the precise number unknown, possibly as many as a million. According to Marjanovic, “Russian historian Krivosheev…estimates…450,000 German POW deaths in Russian hands” - more than all US combatants perishing throughout the war in all theaters.

Soviet Russia was responsible for 75% of Germans killed in action - plus hundreds of thousands of Axis allies. America played a supporting, not leading, role in defeating the scourge of Nazism.

This year’s Victory Day parade included female soldiers for the first time - cadets from the Ministry of Defense’s Military University and Wolsky Military Institute.

Immortal Regiment commemorations took place in dozens of countries, including family members displaying photos of fallen loved ones, moving tributes to unsung WW II heroes.

Lessons weren’t learned from two genocidal global wars. America’s rage for hegemony risks another - with super-weapons able to end life on earth. Humanity’s fate is up for grabs. Never again lost meaning.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programsussia Commemorates Victory Day

Stephen Lendman

May 9 marks the 71st anniversary of what Russians call the Great Patriotic War - representing victory over Nazi Germany.

Commemorations honor millions of Russians killed defending the Motherland. Throughout the war, Soviet Russia, not America, was the indispensable nation.

Without its enormous contribution and sacrifices, Hitler might have won WW II. Reinvented Western history can’t change cold, hard, facts.

Victory Day is sacred in Russia, symbolizing heroism and unity against the scourge of fascism - defeated in WW II, resurgent today, headquartered in Washington with worldwide branch offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Riyadh, Ankara, Tel Aviv and elsewhere.

On Monday, thousands from all branches of Russia’s military marched through Red Square in downtown Moscow. State-of-the-art military hardware was displayed, including aircraft involved in Russia’s war on terrorism in Syria.

Russian media provided extensive coverage, including its award-winning English language RT International, reaching 700 million viewers worldwide. US media gave the day’s events short shrift.

Americans are largely ignorant of Soviet Russia’s vital role in defeating Nazism. The myth of America turning the tide of battle persists.

Russia Insider deputy editor Marko Marjanovic called “WW II’s Eastern Front…by far the bloodiest theater of war the world has ever seen.”

An astonishing 12 million combatants died. Total US WW II deaths numbered 405,000 - compared to millions of Russian soldiers and civilians, estimates ranging from 26 - 40 million.

Marjanovic cited German historian Rudiger Overmans’ “extensive research,” putting German military war deaths at 5,318,000, excluding “Soviet citizens in German service.”

Hundreds of thousands died in captivity, the precise number unknown, possibly as many as a million. According to Marjanovic, “Russian historian Krivosheev…estimates…450,000 German POW deaths in Russian hands” - more than all US combatants perishing throughout the war in all theaters.

Soviet Russia was responsible for 75% of Germans killed in action - plus hundreds of thousands of Axis allies. America played a supporting, not leading, role in defeating the scourge of Nazism.

This year’s Victory Day parade included female soldiers for the first time - cadets from the Ministry of Defense’s Military University and Wolsky Military Institute.

Immortal Regiment commemorations took place in dozens of countries, including family members displaying photos of fallen loved ones, moving tributes to unsung WW II heroes.

Lessons weren’t learned from two genocidal global wars. America’s rage for hegemony risks another - with super-weapons able to end life on earth. Humanity’s fate is up for grabs. Never again lost meaning.

-###-

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs