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Today is V-E Day, when we mark the defeat of the Nazis in WWII.
It's also the day that the cost of our pact with Stalin became clear.
We in the West aren't good about talking about Soviet history because it complicates our WWII storytelling.
But this perspective matters /1
It's also the day that the cost of our pact with Stalin became clear.
We in the West aren't good about talking about Soviet history because it complicates our WWII storytelling.
But this perspective matters /1
In America, WWI is really the forgotten war.
It was something we don't really understand well. A prelude to a depression and a terrible period of suffering for Americans. The prelude to a period of turmoil that led to WWII, a pivotal event in our national identity. /2
It was something we don't really understand well. A prelude to a depression and a terrible period of suffering for Americans. The prelude to a period of turmoil that led to WWII, a pivotal event in our national identity. /2
The "inter-war" years were hard ones. Poor ones. Divisive ones.
The end of WWI was the beginning of a time of hardship.
The end of WWII, though, was the beginning of a period of renewed possibility, of transformation.
So we all learn.
/3
The end of WWI was the beginning of a time of hardship.
The end of WWII, though, was the beginning of a period of renewed possibility, of transformation.
So we all learn.
/3
Turn this on its head and you understand what it was like to be Estonian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Polish, Georgian.
The end of WWI was a time of independence & freedom (short-lived in Georgia's case, but the short years of independence are critical in their historical identity) /4
The end of WWI was a time of independence & freedom (short-lived in Georgia's case, but the short years of independence are critical in their historical identity) /4
The end of WWII was the continuation of a time of darkness if you ended up on the wrong side of the line.
They don't remember homecoming parades.
They remember the deportations.
The disappeared grandparents and siblings.
The weaponization of their society against itself. /5
They don't remember homecoming parades.
They remember the deportations.
The disappeared grandparents and siblings.
The weaponization of their society against itself. /5
They fought in WWII, not fully understanding that the fix was in. The deal had already been made with Stalin. He would get to keep these places. The liberation of Europe wasn't going to be for their part of Europe. /6
I've interviewed Estonians who spent years in camps for the displaced in Germany, before finally making their way to the West, many to Canada and the United States.
They all say the same thing.
We had no idea we weren't going back. That it would be almost 50 years. /7
They all say the same thing.
We had no idea we weren't going back. That it would be almost 50 years. /7
We in the West don't talk enough about this moment -- even though it remains critical for many nations who are now essential allies in the West, anchors in our alliances.
We don't confront this lingering history of abandonment. /8
We don't confront this lingering history of abandonment. /8
We’ve never apologized to all the people that we bartered away, while pretending we knew nothing about the bodies in the gulags, or of the famines, or of the deportations.
Because we knew. Despite the Soviet propaganda efforts, we knew. /9
Because we knew. Despite the Soviet propaganda efforts, we knew. /9
We don't really discuss that everything we’ve done since the collapse of the Soviet Union has been done in part as penance for leaving millions of people prisoners to the Soviets for 40+ years.
Yes, WWII needed to end. Yes, everyone was tired.
But so many decades, lost. /10
Yes, WWII needed to end. Yes, everyone was tired.
But so many decades, lost. /10
So many more lives lost.
So much more dark history.
This doesn't lessen the significance of V-E Day. Both of my grandfathers served in WWII. I honor that service, and what they, and so many others, fought for. /11
So much more dark history.
This doesn't lessen the significance of V-E Day. Both of my grandfathers served in WWII. I honor that service, and what they, and so many others, fought for. /11
It doesn't lessen the significance of V-E Day. But it does color it. A reminder of an uncompleted mission. Of a compromise seen as necessary that would cost so much, and so dearly.
So celebrate V-E Day.
But then learn what it was like in Estonia after 1945. /12
So celebrate V-E Day.
But then learn what it was like in Estonia after 1945. /12
Learn what it was like in Lithuania. Latvia. Poland. Georgia. Ukraine.
Learn some new history.
Remember what our grandfathers fought so dearly for was worth it.
And their grandfathers. And fathers. Many themselves. They paid a price, again and again, until it was enough. /13
Learn some new history.
Remember what our grandfathers fought so dearly for was worth it.
And their grandfathers. And fathers. Many themselves. They paid a price, again and again, until it was enough. /13
Remember that 1991 was the continuation of that liberation.
When so many were finally free to go home for a parade, 50 years after they expected to.
Remember our values-based alliances are hard won, and essential, and the most important legacy that we built. /14
When so many were finally free to go home for a parade, 50 years after they expected to.
Remember our values-based alliances are hard won, and essential, and the most important legacy that we built. /14
Remember that there are always more stories to learn, and that they enrich our own.
Remember. /15
Remember. /15
