Comments for THE RUSSIAN FRONT http://russian-front.com Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:29:59 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on The Kirov Murder Solved? by DStone http://russian-front.com/2009/12/03/the-kirov-murder-solved/comment-page-1/#comment-673 DStone Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:29:59 +0000 http://russian-front.com/?p=173#comment-673 Helen and JFM--the problem is that most of the piquant details that suggest Stalin's involvement are very problematic source-wise. They tend to come from defector memoirs, are third- or fourth-hand, and haven't been confirmed by the archival evidence now available. Matt Lenoe outlines some of the evidentiary problems in "Did Stalin Kill Kirov and Does It Matter?" Journal of Modern History 74.2 (2002), pp. 352-380, and will have a table-breaker of a book on the subject coming out later this spring from Yale University Press. Helen and JFM–the problem is that most of the piquant details that suggest Stalin’s involvement are very problematic source-wise. They tend to come from defector memoirs, are third- or fourth-hand, and haven’t been confirmed by the archival evidence now available. Matt Lenoe outlines some of the evidentiary problems in “Did Stalin Kill Kirov and Does It Matter?” Journal of Modern History 74.2 (2002), pp. 352-380, and will have a table-breaker of a book on the subject coming out later this spring from Yale University Press.

]]> Comment on Update: Presidential Commission on Falsification Meets by Asehpe http://russian-front.com/2010/01/20/update-presidential-commission-on-falsification-meets/comment-page-1/#comment-671 Asehpe Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:52:36 +0000 http://russian-front.com/?p=180#comment-671 I am curious -- what is Naryshkin alluding to when he says, "At a strictly scientific level we have managed to sway our opponents or make them think about the futility of attempts to impose on us their view of history through falsification." ? Who exactly have they 'managed to sway'? And who was made to think about 'the futility of attempts to impose on use their view of history'? Does anyone know what exactly he is referring to? I am curious — what is Naryshkin alluding to when he says, “At a strictly scientific level we have managed to sway our opponents or make them think about the futility of attempts to impose on us their view of history through falsification.” ?

Who exactly have they ‘managed to sway’? And who was made to think about ‘the futility of attempts to impose on use their view of history’? Does anyone know what exactly he is referring to?

]]> Comment on The Motherland…Falls? by Chiemeka N. http://russian-front.com/2009/06/09/the-motherlandfalls/comment-page-1/#comment-670 Chiemeka N. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:46:26 +0000 http://russian-front.com/2009/06/09/the-motherlandfalls/#comment-670 "Motherland Calls" may not have "Liberty"'s pretty face, but anyone who denies its impressiveness is, in my opinion, the worst art critic ever and does not deserve to be a critic. Mark S., or whatever your name is, how can you call this statue "hideous"? If it is then so also is your statue of Liberty ('cos I'm sure you're an American). Shame on you! When I first saw a picture of Motherland, I thought it was only about 20 feet high. But then I saw it again from another angle and I was like "Wow! This statue is a colossus! (it is 85 metres high)" I was dismayed to hear on BBC about its present predicament because I hope to come to Volgograd and see it one day. I know what this statue stands for. It's not about beauty! It's about a woman calling on her countrymen to defend Stalingrad. I don't care what people say about it being used for Communist propaganda. The fact remains that it is Russia's (or Volgograd's) version of the statue of Liberty, because it is just as impressive as Liberty. I really hope and pray that the Russian government and people work to save it. It would be both a shame and disheartening if they let it collapse! “Motherland Calls” may not have “Liberty”’s pretty face, but anyone who denies its impressiveness is, in my opinion, the worst art critic ever and does not deserve to be a critic. Mark S., or whatever your name is, how can you call this statue “hideous”? If it is then so also is your statue of Liberty (’cos I’m sure you’re an American). Shame on you!

When I first saw a picture of Motherland, I thought it was only about 20 feet high. But then I saw it again from another angle and I was like “Wow! This statue is a colossus! (it is 85 metres high)” I was dismayed to hear on BBC about its present predicament because I hope to come to Volgograd and see it one day.

I know what this statue stands for. It’s not about beauty! It’s about a woman calling on her countrymen to defend Stalingrad. I don’t care what people say about it being used for Communist propaganda. The fact remains that it is Russia’s (or Volgograd’s) version of the statue of Liberty, because it is just as impressive as Liberty. I really hope and pray that the Russian government and people work to save it. It would be both a shame and disheartening if they let it collapse!

]]> Comment on The Kirov Murder Solved? by JFM http://russian-front.com/2009/12/03/the-kirov-murder-solved/comment-page-1/#comment-669 JFM Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:51:21 +0000 http://russian-front.com/?p=173#comment-669 Alos, according to Wikpedia (caution!!!), Kirov's escort had been withdrawn just days before along with the guards at the entrance of the building. Coincidence? Alos, according to Wikpedia (caution!!!), Kirov’s escort had been withdrawn just days before along with the guards at the entrance of the building. Coincidence?

]]> Comment on The Motherland…Falls? by Pulchre http://russian-front.com/2009/06/09/the-motherlandfalls/comment-page-1/#comment-668 Pulchre Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:31:08 +0000 http://russian-front.com/2009/06/09/the-motherlandfalls/#comment-668 Why ever and for whatever it was built, it is now part of Russia's patrimomy. Eternal shame to those in the State who permit it to collapse when some effort now my save it all. Why ever and for whatever it was built, it is now part of Russia’s patrimomy. Eternal shame to those in the State who permit it to collapse when some effort now my save it all.

]]> Comment on The Motherland…Falls? by Matt http://russian-front.com/2009/06/09/the-motherlandfalls/comment-page-1/#comment-664 Matt Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:53:53 +0000 http://russian-front.com/2009/06/09/the-motherlandfalls/#comment-664 Hideous Stalin-era artifact? This statue is not particularly beautiful, especially the face. But it is mighty impressive, especially in person. While it is easy to just write this structure off as Soviet propaganda it represents a part of the Russian psyche that goes back centuries. Think Alexander Nevsky. When you stand before the Motherland Calls and think of what happened there, the struggle, the incredible hardship endured by the people and soldiers, it is difficult to not be moved. Despite the Stalinists intent as Soviet propaganda, the Motherland Calls represents the strength and toughness of the Russian people. I hope they save it. Incidentally, the not attaching large structures to a base is very common. Many (not all) modern skyscrapers for instance. Yes they have foundations since sure footing on bedrock is needed to prevent sinking. But the foundations provide insignificant lateral support: the weight of the building is what keeps it in place. Hideous Stalin-era artifact? This statue is not particularly beautiful, especially the face. But it is mighty impressive, especially in person. While it is easy to just write this structure off as Soviet propaganda it represents a part of the Russian psyche that goes back centuries. Think Alexander Nevsky. When you stand before the Motherland Calls and think of what happened there, the struggle, the incredible hardship endured by the people and soldiers, it is difficult to not be moved. Despite the Stalinists intent as Soviet propaganda, the Motherland Calls represents the strength and toughness of the Russian people. I hope they save it.

Incidentally, the not attaching large structures to a base is very common. Many (not all) modern skyscrapers for instance. Yes they have foundations since sure footing on bedrock is needed to prevent sinking. But the foundations provide insignificant lateral support: the weight of the building is what keeps it in place.

]]> Comment on Update: Presidential Commission on Falsification Meets by J. Otto Pohl http://russian-front.com/2010/01/20/update-presidential-commission-on-falsification-meets/comment-page-1/#comment-663 J. Otto Pohl Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:46:14 +0000 http://russian-front.com/?p=180#comment-663 Oops the number of children in special settlements in 1953 from the 1941 Baltic deportations should be 7 not 160. I misread the column and entered those deported from Georgia 1951-1952. Also the citations to Zemskov unless otherwise noted are to his 2005 book. It should be obvious from the page numbers, but just to avoid confusion. Oops the number of children in special settlements in 1953 from the 1941 Baltic deportations should be 7 not 160. I misread the column and entered those deported from Georgia 1951-1952. Also the citations to Zemskov unless otherwise noted are to his 2005 book. It should be obvious from the page numbers, but just to avoid confusion.

]]> Comment on Update: Presidential Commission on Falsification Meets by J. Otto Pohl http://russian-front.com/2010/01/20/update-presidential-commission-on-falsification-meets/comment-page-1/#comment-662 J. Otto Pohl Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:30:02 +0000 http://russian-front.com/?p=180#comment-662 The table you are referring to is not the total number of deportees. It is the total number of living special settlers as of 1 January 1953. It does not include those released and those that died before 1953. It also includes those born not deported into the special settlements. You should go look at the 1990 article I am sure it is available on the web. That is where I found it. That article deals specifically with deportations to special settlements. The 1999 article you refer to is on the demography of the Gulag and has little on deportees other than the 1953 table. Also you do not even cite all the relevent information on the table. On page 122 the table continues and gives two more categories of deportees from the Baltic states. Kulaks from Lithuania 1951- men 5,512, women 7,418 and children 516 From the Baltic states 1940-1941- men 3,576, women 8,878, and children 160. If we compare the number of women and especially children deported in 1941 still alive in 1945 to the 1953 figures it is obvious that there is a huge decline. Most of which can be accounted for by excess mortality. The break down for Baltic deportees still alive in 1945 is listed in the last paragraph. In the case of the deportees from Poland most of them were released. In the case of the Baltic deportees large numbers of them perished, particularly those deported in 1941. If you look at V.N. Zemskov, _Spetsposelentsy v SSSR, 1930-1960 (Moscow: Nauk, 2005), pp. 89-90 he notes that 389,041 Polish citizens were released by the Soviets from various forms of captivity in 1941-1942. Hence almost all the Poles deported in 1940-1941 were no longer special settlers by 1943. The figures for Polish deportees in 1953 refer to Soviet Poles deported in 1936 from Soviet Ukraine to Kazakhstan. See Zemskov's article in SI from 1990, p. 17, endnote 23). These deportees were not from Poland, but ethnic Poles from Ukraine with Soviet citizenship. Between 1942 and 1945 the number of "anti-Soviet elements" deported from the Baltic states, Moldova and E. Poland in 1941 in special settlements declined by almost half, 85,700 to around 43,000. (Zemskov, pp. 114-115). Since there are no records of any large scale releases of this contingent I think we can assume the vast majority perished. Also the surviving numbers in October 1945 are overwhelmingly women and children. Only 8,708 men versus 20,714 women and 13,677 children (Zemskov, p. 115). Like the 1948 and 1949 deportations over two thirds are women and children. The table you are referring to is not the total number of deportees. It is the total number of living special settlers as of 1 January 1953. It does not include those released and those that died before 1953. It also includes those born not deported into the special settlements. You should go look at the 1990 article I am sure it is available on the web. That is where I found it. That article deals specifically with deportations to special settlements. The 1999 article you refer to is on the demography of the Gulag and has little on deportees other than the 1953 table.

Also you do not even cite all the relevent information on the table. On page 122 the table continues and gives two more categories of deportees from the Baltic states.

Kulaks from Lithuania 1951- men 5,512, women 7,418 and children 516

From the Baltic states 1940-1941- men 3,576, women 8,878, and children 160.

If we compare the number of women and especially children deported in 1941 still alive in 1945 to the 1953 figures it is obvious that there is a huge decline. Most of which can be accounted for by excess mortality. The break down for Baltic deportees still alive in 1945 is listed in the last paragraph.

In the case of the deportees from Poland most of them were released. In the case of the Baltic deportees large numbers of them perished, particularly those deported in 1941. If you look at V.N. Zemskov, _Spetsposelentsy v SSSR, 1930-1960 (Moscow: Nauk, 2005), pp. 89-90 he notes that 389,041 Polish citizens were released by the Soviets from various forms of captivity in 1941-1942. Hence almost all the Poles deported in 1940-1941 were no longer special settlers by 1943. The figures for Polish deportees in 1953 refer to Soviet Poles deported in 1936 from Soviet Ukraine to Kazakhstan. See Zemskov’s article in SI from 1990, p. 17, endnote 23). These deportees were not from Poland, but ethnic Poles from Ukraine with Soviet citizenship.

Between 1942 and 1945 the number of “anti-Soviet elements” deported from the Baltic states, Moldova and E. Poland in 1941 in special settlements declined by almost half, 85,700 to around 43,000. (Zemskov, pp. 114-115). Since there are no records of any large scale releases of this contingent I think we can assume the vast majority perished. Also the surviving numbers in October 1945 are overwhelmingly women and children. Only 8,708 men versus 20,714 women and 13,677 children (Zemskov, p. 115). Like the 1948 and 1949 deportations over two thirds are women and children.

]]> Comment on World War Zero? by TriciaM http://russian-front.com/2009/08/22/world-war-zero/comment-page-1/#comment-661 TriciaM Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:09:24 +0000 http://russian-front.com/2009/08/22/world-war-zero/#comment-661 I agree with you Gary in that for a war to constitute as a World War, there needs to be many other nations involved. However, when looking at the Russo-Japanese War/WW0, the underlying factors alone in which caused the outbreak were because of many other involved nations. During the war many nations continued to be involved. As a result, the world was not pleased with the so called "winner" due to imperialistic attitudes and dealt with it as if Japan were inferior. This will cause Japan to retalitate through technological growth and developing a stronger attitude when dealing with foreign nations. This attitude and reaction the peace was similar to that of Germany after the Treaty of Versailles. Overall, both wars share many connections. I agree with you Gary in that for a war to constitute as a World War, there needs to be many other nations involved. However, when looking at the Russo-Japanese War/WW0, the underlying factors alone in which caused the outbreak were because of many other involved nations. During the war many nations continued to be involved. As a result, the world was not pleased with the so called “winner” due to imperialistic attitudes and dealt with it as if Japan were inferior. This will cause Japan to retalitate through technological growth and developing a stronger attitude when dealing with foreign nations. This attitude and reaction the peace was similar to that of Germany after the Treaty of Versailles.

Overall, both wars share many connections.

]]> Comment on Update: Presidential Commission on Falsification Meets by Oleg http://russian-front.com/2010/01/20/update-presidential-commission-on-falsification-meets/comment-page-1/#comment-659 Oleg Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:22:53 +0000 http://russian-front.com/?p=180#comment-659 hm.. maybe i am checking a wrong article. Zemskov, "?????????? ???????????, ?????????????? ? ???????? (30-? - 50-? ????) " http://www.ecsocman.edu.ru/images/pubs/2006/11/21/0000295644/1999_n4_p114-124doc.pdf Table 3. "number/demography of special settlers on Jan 1 1953": polish (36045); from baltic countries (sent from 1945-1948) 81158+39279+19520~160000. i am not an expert on gulag, so comments are welcome. hm.. maybe i am checking a wrong article.

Zemskov, “?????????? ???????????, ?????????????? ? ???????? (30-? – 50-? ????) ”

http://www.ecsocman.edu.ru/images/pubs/2006/11/21/0000295644/1999_n4_p114-124doc.pdf

Table 3. “number/demography of special settlers on Jan 1 1953″:

polish (36045);
from baltic countries (sent from 1945-1948) 81158+39279+19520~160000.

i am not an expert on gulag, so comments are welcome.

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