You said this:
Quote:
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Without the Soviet Union and its unmatched ability to mobilise men and industry towards one end, as engendered by its authoritarian power structure the war in Europe could not have been won by the allies.
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You have some questionable "facts" here.
The unmatched ability to mobilise men and industry towards one end?
History showed the Nazis as having similar skill.
History also shows the USA as being better at mobilising people and industry towards one end. The end is different that's all. Money.
Secondly did not Stalin embrace a form of capitalism during the war years? A pragmatic approach if so.
Thirdly your assumptions about the end of the war are ones I'd have to disagree with.
Had Stalin not signed his treaty with Hitler dividing Poland, the war wouldn't have developed in the same fashion.
Also, rather than Russias success, it was Hitlers hubris in attacking during the winter, (echoes of Napoleon) and key tactical errors that meant Russia held out.
I would be putting more emphasis on Britains victory in the battle of Britain, which if they had lost, would have meant the bombing raids which so devastated German industry, would not have brought German industry to it's knees.
Basically there are myriad reasons why the war was won, and why the war developed the way it did.
To bend history and make an erronious generalised statement as you have, to raise the banner of communist management (instead of highlighting the mismanagement and corruption that was it's downfall) is bad form Dramnek.
Looking at history and trying to make it justify your current economic worldview is a blinkered way to look at history.
But I hope you're having a good day. I've been agreeing with your sentiments on other topics of late. [img]smile.gif[/img]
[ 06-08-2002, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Yorick ]