Les as du Junkers Ju 87 Stuka 1936-1945 Jean-Louis Roba

[Orwell1984]

A historical note on the quote "No man, no problem" attributed to Stalin. The actual source for the quote is the 1987 novel Children of the Arbat by Anatoly Rybakov. In part 3, chapter 9 of the book a character named Berezin remembers Stalin's words to him in 1918 about former Tsarist army officers who have been sentenced to death: "Death solves all problems: no man, no problem".
In his memoir , The Novel of Memories , Rybakov admitted that he had no sources for such a quote so while frequently credited to Stalin it is actually a fictional quote.

[Jukka Juutinen]

Most interesting!

[FalkeEins]

Originally Posted by Dénes Bernád

Personally I have no problems with the above quotes. And the Versailles 'Diktat' ending WW 1, was, in fact, a diktat, without the apostrophes.

.. but surely wasn't directly responsible for Hitler's invasion of Poland ostensibly to settle territorial arguments. See also the foot note page 51 ( "casualty figures for bombing raids were largely inflated post-war to suit "the cause", from Guernica to Coventry through to Dresden ..")

Philippe Bellarini's (French language) review of Roba's Stuka tome is here and has more on Roba's use of language (.." Munich ...(was) a clash of two propaganda systems.." ) . A similar critical look at Roba's use of language also appears in Chris Ehrengardt's latest Aerojournal..

[Jukka Juutinen]

Well, obviously Roba is just telling the truth about casualty figures. Especially in regards of Guernica and the Communist propaganda figures still widely quoted.

[ChrisS]

Whether Stalin said "Death solves all problems: no man, no problem" is almost immaterial as it very accurately mirrors the policies he put in place to maintain himself in power.

Versailles was a disaster to a greater or lesser degree, that is universally acknowledged fact, however just as Hitler used the Polish Corridor/Gleiwitz as an casus belli to annex Poland he also used Versailles to ensnare the German nation into his evil grasp.

Difficult to know which was worst Hitler or Stalin.

Thanks for the book reviews everybody!

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Jukka Juutinen

Not even close. Simply look at a map.

The historian Norman Davies has, I believe, argued that Britain lost a greater percentage of its pre-war territory than any other combatant, following the formation of the irish Free State. And Hungary's losses under the Trianon Treaty were drastic, and then there was Turkey's loss of its entire empire ... Italy gained territory but became the first fascist state. Complicated picture, isn't it?

[ChrisS]

Since Great Britain gobbled up most of Germany's former colonies Davies' assertion seems odd. The 'loss' of Ireland cannot be seen as a direct consequence of the Great War, rather part of a process that began before the war. Hungary however was the greatest loser in both wars, the sad destiny of a country located in the centre of Europe bounded by competeing powers and their meglomanical leaders.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Since Great Britain gobbled up most of Germany's former colonies Davies' assertion seems odd. The 'loss' of Ireland cannot be seen as a direct consequence of the Great War, rather part of a process that began before the war.

(a) I think he was referring to national territory rather than colonial possessions, or - as you say - it doesn't work.

(b) One might reasonably contend that the Irish situation was sharpened by the Great War, along with a great many other national and ethnic tensions in Europe and the Middle East.

(c) This thread's going way off topic and I'm not helping.

[John Beaman]

Guys, in spite of my great affection for my fellow super moderator, he is right. This thread is going way off topic.

I suggest you start a new thread under "WWII in General" and have at it.