The Soviet authorities executed around 13,500 of their own soldiers at Stalingrad – equivalent to more than a whole division of troops. That the Soviet regime was almost as unforgiving towards its own soldiers as towards the enemy is demonstrated by the total figure of 13,500 executions, both summary and judicial, during the battle of [...]
Entries Tagged as 'War'
The Cost of Stalingrad - “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 29th, 2012 · No Comments · Communism, Extremism, War, WW2
Pavlov’s House – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 29th, 2012 · No Comments · Criticism, Humour, War, WW2
During the huge battles for the northern industrial sector of the city, house-fighting, with local attacks and counter-attacks, had continued in the central districts. One of the most famous episodes fo the Stalingrad battle was the defence of ‘Pavlov’s House’, which lasted for fifty-eight days. At the end of September, a platoon from the 42nd [...]
Amazonians of the Volga? – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 28th, 2012 · No Comments · War, WW2
The panzer troops were horrified when they found that they had been firing at women. Few members of the Sixth Army seem to have heard about the Sarmatae of the lower Volga – an interbreed of Scythians and Amazons, according to Herodotus – who allowed their women to take part in war.
Mine Dogs – “Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943” – Antony Beevor
February 28th, 2012 · No Comments · War, WW2
Several German Panzer divisions also encountered a new form of unconventional weapon during this fighting. They found Russian dogs running towards them with a curious-looking saddle holding a load on top with a short upright stick. At first the panzer troops thought they must be first-aid dogs, but then they realised that the animals had [...]
Nationalist, Not Ethnic Conflicts – “The Fall of Yugoslavia”, Misha Glenny
February 16th, 2012 · No Comments · Ethnicity, Genocide, Multi-culturalism, War, WW2
From the beginning of the conflict in Croatia, one question above most others has exercised minds inside and outside the country: what causes this depth of hatred which has provoked atrocities and slaughter on such a wide scale over such a short period of time? In retrospect, it seems clear that the wars of the [...]
Tags:Ethnicity·hatred·multiculturalism·nationalism·war·World War 2·WW2
Mostar – “The Fall of Yugoslavia”, Misha Glenny
February 15th, 2012 · No Comments · Ethnicity, Multi-culturalism, War
Mostar is famous above all for its Ottoman architecture symbolised by the old footbridge which arches high over the Neretva River… Hercegovina is divided by the river Neretva, whose moth is in Croatian territotyr but which soon enters Hercegovina. The Serbs consider the Neretva the dividing line between Serb and Coat territory. The Croats however [...]
Herodotus and History – “The Greek Way” – Edith Hamilton
February 12th, 2012 · No Comments · History, Humanism, Philosophy, Politics, War
Historians often forget that the proper study of history is men. Marshalled facts and reasoned analyses tend to cover up human nature. That was not Herodotus’ way. People are always to the fore in his book. It is fortunate for us that he is the reporter of Marathon, Thermopylæ, Salamis, names which shine like stars [...]
Tags:History·Human Nature·Humanism·war
Pericles Funeral Oration – “The Greek Way” – Edith Hamilton
February 11th, 2012 · No Comments · Civilisation, Political Communication, Quotes, War
The great funeral oration of Pericles, delivered over those fallen in the war, stands out as unlike all other commemoration speeches ever spoken. There is not a trace of exaltation in it, not a word of heroic declamation. It is a piece of clear thinking and straight talking. The orator tells his audience to pray [...]
Lovers of Beauty with Economy – “The Greek Way” – Edith Hamilton
February 9th, 2012 · No Comments · Criticism, Culture, Quotes, War, Writing
We are lovers of beauty with economy, said Pericles. Words were to be used sparingly like everything else. Thucydides gives in a single sentence the fate of those brilliant youths who, pledging the sea in wine from golden goblets, sailed away to conquer Sicily and slowly died in the quarries of Syracuse: “Having done what [...]
Means and Ends – “The Trial of Henry Kissinger” – Christopher Hitchens
January 18th, 2012 · No Comments · History, Human Rights, Means and Ends, Morality, Politics, Power, Security Policy, War
If one can demonstrate that there was such a plan (to remove the President of Cypress), and that Kissinger knew about it in advance, then it follows logically and naturally that he was not ostensibly looking for a crisis – as he self-pityingly asks us to believe – but for a solution. The fact that [...]
Tags:Cause and Effect·Ends and Means·Guilt·Iraq War·Politics·power·responsibility
