Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,079 posts)
Mon May 12, 2014, 05:51 PM May 2014

"Let's drink for our fatherland, drink for Hitler, drink and pour out some more."

Just imagine if a Ukrainian politician had said that on stage during Maidan. Would we hear about it? Of course we would hear about it.

Of course, no ever one did. However....

#t=188

Go to about the 2:25 mark and watch.
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"Let's drink for our fatherland, drink for Hitler, drink and pour out some more." (Original Post) Tommy_Carcetti May 2014 OP
Idiots. I went to Kiev in 1976 & saw the memorial to the Nazi victims at Baba Yar. catbyte May 2014 #1
Not unusual for a Victory Day celebration. Brickbat May 2014 #2
Praising Stalin isn't unusual? Tommy_Carcetti May 2014 #3
It's not, actually. Brickbat May 2014 #4
It surprised the Russians at novosti.dn.ua. Igel May 2014 #5
One did. I heard about it. Igel May 2014 #6
Interesting. Tommy_Carcetti May 2014 #7
If You Have A Strong Stomach, Sir The Magistrate May 2014 #8

catbyte

(34,165 posts)
1. Idiots. I went to Kiev in 1976 & saw the memorial to the Nazi victims at Baba Yar.
Mon May 12, 2014, 06:01 PM
May 2014

Effing idiots! They would've been massacred by their beloved Hitler. Arrgh!

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,079 posts)
3. Praising Stalin isn't unusual?
Mon May 12, 2014, 06:05 PM
May 2014

Carrying around his picture at rallies isn't unusual?

I understand it was Victory Day, but to equate the situation in Ukraine today with World War II, and then sing the praises of Stalin is incredibly creepy, especially given the fact that this took place in Ukraine and the history as it relates to Stalin and the Ukrainian people.

Brickbat

(19,339 posts)
4. It's not, actually.
Mon May 12, 2014, 06:09 PM
May 2014

It's a shock to see, but there are many who remember him fondly -- or tell themselves they do. It's like when I saw fascists marching during an October Revolution parade. Many in that part of the world are comfortable with wheels within wheels of allegiances, regardless of how creepy it seems to us.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
5. It surprised the Russians at novosti.dn.ua.
Mon May 12, 2014, 07:00 PM
May 2014

They felt it was appropriate to post the video from hromadske.tv and to point out the time mark.

Old-timers wouldn't be surprised. Then again, they have a hard time accepting that Stalin didn't do what was right.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
6. One did. I heard about it.
Mon May 12, 2014, 07:07 PM
May 2014

It made the news in the same kind of low-key way that the "let's drink to Stalin" vid did.

A veteran was up on a dais and was saying how Hitler had liberated them from the USSR.

A woman holding a small child came up from the crowd and was steered away frmo him and turned back down the steps. She continued on her circular course and returned to the guy speaking. Then she grabbed the microphone and flung it down the steps.

The crowd cheered.


Just as old-timers remember Stalin as only good, saving them from the horrible ogre that refused to just partition Poland and then be bestest buddies, so some that didn't much like having the USSR take over and run things remember Hitler in the same way. He kicked out the nasty USSR and never got around to doing really nasty things to Ukrainians. (His attention was elsewhere, but try to tell them that.)

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,079 posts)
7. Interesting.
Tue May 13, 2014, 09:07 AM
May 2014

I don't remember that, but I don't doubt that it happened. What is most interesting is the crowd's response to the guy being kicked off the stage. As opposed to the crowd joining in with the "Drink for Stalin" refrain at the Victory Day event.

Ukraine at the time of World War II was just a horrible place to be. But when you had the two most brutal men of the 20th century fighting over the same piece of land, it was sadly inevitable that unspeakable acts from both sides would take place, and the Ukrainian people would suffer greatly as a result.

The Magistrate

(95,237 posts)
8. If You Have A Strong Stomach, Sir
Tue May 13, 2014, 09:19 AM
May 2014

I would recommend to you a recent book titled 'Bloodlands', by Mr. Timothy Snyder, if you have not already read it.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»"Let's drink for our...