The disciplining of the Russian army in Germany was pretty medieval too. Basically the generals let them run amok until they felt like it was enough, then they would shoot as many of their own troops as it took to restore order. Since the generals were intent on revenge, they let them go pretty far in many instances.
The Germans didn’t hold a candle to the Russians. Sure, there was an element of revenge but lots of the Russian troops were from non-European areas and were almost from a different time. Their standards of behavior were more like that of a medieval army. In addition to the atrocities they did things like rip plumbing and light fixtures out to take home and put them in their huts. They had no conception of modern things.
Oh yes! There are now coming stories to my mind.
Washing their feet in the flush toilet. And when trying to ride a bike and it didn't work and they saw a German riding his bike they thought that their bike didn't work at all, forced the German to give them his bike but it didn't work either. My mother, then 6 years old, had a small bag with buttons but not for long. One of the Russian soldiers snapped it and took a blanket she was carrying. She tried to retain it and was shoved by the Russian to the ground. Her knee was bleeding and some dirt from her homeland entered the wound. You can still see the spot.
Total war is very bad, true. But look at the 'wars' we've been fighting since Korea. We send our kids to some far away cesspool and let politicians run the war, sending them to their deaths. 10 or 20 years later, we still haven't won and our kids are still dead. If we have a reason to go to war, get in and get it done. The constitution says that only congress can declare war and they haven't done that since Pearl Harbor. 100's of 1000's of our kids have died in these illegal non-wars. Before our troops are sent anywhere, make congress do it's job then get out of the way to let the military do it's job.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
WW2 will be the last time a war will be fought like that. Can you imagine an invading army bearing down on Moscow these days? The nukes will fly long before that ever happens.
Total war is very bad, true. But look at the 'wars' we've been fighting since Korea. We send our kids to some far away cesspool and let politicians run the war, sending them to their deaths. 10 or 20 years later, we still haven't won and our kids are still dead. If we have a reason to go to war, get in and get it done. The constitution says that only congress can declare war and they haven't done that since Pearl Harbor. 100's of 1000's of our kids have died in these illegal non-wars. Before our troops are sent anywhere, make congress do it's job then get out of the way to let the military do it's job.
Back in the '60's I told my dad that I thought the Viet Nam war would be over really fast -- if they had the politicians fighting it.
Total war is very bad, true. But look at the 'wars' we've been fighting since Korea. We send our kids to some far away cesspool and let politicians run the war, sending them to their deaths. 10 or 20 years later, we still haven't won and our kids are still dead. If we have a reason to go to war, get in and get it done. The constitution says that only congress can declare war and they haven't done that since Pearl Harbor. 100's of 1000's of our kids have died in these illegal non-wars. Before our troops are sent anywhere, make congress do it's job then get out of the way to let the military do it's job.