Thursday, August 20, 2009

RE: Russian indifference to 1991 Putsch.

Michael Kuznetsov posted the following comment in regard to http://www.lawrencehelm.com/2009/08/russian-indifference-to-1991-putsch.html, "Russian indifference to 1991 Putsch":

Lawrence:

I suppose you might be rather surprised to learn that I personally was a "fan" of Sen. John McCain, as well as many of those Russians whom I have known, and who paid attention to the last US presidential elections, a great many of them were "fans" of McCain, too.
Intrigued?

As to the events of 19th - 24th August 1991, not only happened I to be in Moscow at the time, but I was right into the thick of things.

I do vividly recall the effervescent events that occured then in the center of Moscow, as well as those thousands of people who participated therein, and I am convinced that to call them "indifferent" would be quite strange at least.

Meanwhile, I have a little question.
I remember reading somewhere that Marshal Stalin seemed to be somewhat concerned with the news of the attempt upon Hitler's life on the 20th of July 1944. And that Stalin became relaxed only after the word had come that the German leader remained alive and active.

What do you think about this story?

Michael

LAWRENCE'S RESPONSE:

Michael,

In regard to our last election, I thought that even though we are a nation devoted to "rock stars," good sense would win out and the voters would choose the older and wiser John McCain. But the voters, more consistently, elected the "Rock Star," Barack Obama – part of the reason I have a low opinion of the intelligence of the "man in the street," whether American or Russian.

As to Shelin's comments, I don't think he was saying that the people involved in the events of 1991 were indifferent but that the Russians today (in the percentages he quotes) are indifferent to the events of 1991.

As to your question about Stalin, I vaguely recall reading of that in the past, but I can't recall where. That Stalin would be alarmed upon hearing of an attempt upon Hitler's life is plausible. Stalin was paranoid about being assassinated. He might very well have thought that if Hitler were successfully assassinated, that might inspire someone in Russia to assassinate him.

But that's all I can say, that it is plausible – not that I know it to be true.

1 comment:

Michael Kuznetsov said...

Lawrence:

Thank you very much for your prompt response. You offer an interesting explanation, and I must admit that I did not expect a version like yours.

It shows how differently we (the Russians and the Westerners) would frequently regard one and the same fact.

I have long noticed that the words "paranoia" and "paranoid" are two favorable labels used by the Western mass media.
We Russians don't use these terms even toward our mortal enemies.

Of course, neither Stalin nor Hitler were paranoids. The both leaders possessed personal courage of the highest degree. Neither one was a miserable coward or a poltroon.
Not in the least.

Suffice it to say that in the louring morning of 7th November 1941, with the mortal enemy having already approached Moscow at a distance of only 15 miles, nevertheless, Stalin did intrepidly take a military parade in the Red Square to celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Great Revolution as usual.
It was a feat of personal fortitude and most encouraging example for the troops.
Stalin had never left Moscow despite a real threat that the city might be captured by the Germans.

In reality, his concern about Hitler's life (after mid-1943) was that with the Fuhrer killed the German military circles might have concluded a separate peace with the United States and Great Britain.

As we can see, Marshal Stalin was a wise statesman.