Nadia Popova, night bomber Pilot, died aged 91
 

The Economist carried an obituary commemoratiing her exploits.
http://www.economist.com/news/obitua...1-nadia-popova
A hearty thank you to Ms. Popova for helping to beat the Nazis.
Richard

Re: Nadia Popova, night bomber Pilot, died aged 91
 

I cannot help not to comment this sentence, hoping that my message will not be misunderstood or misinterpreted.

I don't know what exactly Ms. Popova did during the war, how she helped "to beat the Nazis". What I know, however, is what cost this victory over Hitler's Germany by the Soviet Army meant for people who were "liberated" (outside Russia and most of the Soviet Union).

For many (most?) living in countries in Central and Eastern Europe, it was merely an occupation that replaced another occupation. An occupation that lasted about 45 years, which changed drastically the fabric of the society, imposed a one-party rule and a killer doctrine, Communism. The Communist regimes that followed "liberation" by the Red Army caused many tens of thousands of deaths and way more ruined lives.

Small wonder in some of these "liberated" countries, Hungary included, Nazism and Communism are officially considered the same category - totalitarian regimes -, their praise equally punished by law, the display of the Red Star and the Swastika in public is also equally prohibited.

Definitely thank you, Mr. Popova, for helping beating the Nazis, but not really thanks for helping spreading Communism over Central Europe.