When I heard the initial report that the Auschwitz Museum in Poland banned Russia from participating in the 78th anniversary of the camp’s liberation by Soviet troops, it was presented as a spiteful act on the part of the descendants of the Jews who survived the Holocaust. But then I read the story:
“Given the aggression against a free and independent Ukraine, representatives of the Russian Federation have not been invited to attend this year’s commemoration,” Piotr Sawicki, spokesman for the museum at the site of the former camp, told AFP.
Friday is the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp built by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland — a date that has become Holocaust Memorial Day.
Until now, Russia has always taken part in the commemoration held every year on January 27, with its delegate speaking at the main ceremony.
Museum director Piotr Cywinski said it was obvious that he could “sign no letter to the Russian ambassador having an inviting tone” in the current context.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/auschwitz-museum-russia-not-invited-to-event-marking-camps-liberation-by-red-army/Piotr Sawicki is a Polack. Probably Catholic. And has never been a fan of acknowledging what the Russian troops did in January 1945 because the vast majority of inmates at Birkenau and Auschwitz were Jewish, not Polish. Polish animus towards Russia goes back centuries and the leaders of the Auschwitz Museum used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a timely pretext to exclude Russia from the ceremony tomorrow (January 27).
I saw this first hand when I visited Auschwitz/Birkenau in 2014. It is moving and disturbing. Our guide was a prickly Pole who went out of his way to credit Russia with any positive role in liberating the survivors of this death factory. When I tried to question him about this he became quite defensive and insisted the Polish people had suffered worse, both at the hands of the Nazis and the Soviets. Even after 70 years, history remains a vibrant, poisonous memory for some, and not in a good way.
But there is a sad and sickening footnote regarding Jewish support for Ukraine. I have some friends and acquaintances who are the children of Holocaust survivors and are fervent supporters of Ukraine. When I attempt to explain the strong undercurrent of Nazi ideology that infests the Ukrainian Government and military, I have been verbally attacked. Here is one example:
Larry. I’m shocked that you would make such insulting McCarthy “guilt by association” and come across as a Russian shill. I support the Ukranian people, not some Nazi from past decades. You also show an ignorance of Ukrainian history and Stalin’s mass starvation campaign if you don’t understand why a 1940’s and 40’s person might be regarded as a nationalist. The enemy of my enemy is my friend syndrome.
The Link does not open but I find it incredible that you seem obsessed by a figure from the 1930’s and 40’s but downplay the Russian nazi-like attacks on Ukrainian civilians and their terrorist type tactics and torture in villages and towns they occupies? against . Do you really believe that Russian planes, missiles, drones and artillery have not been the ones attacking Ukrainian cities, even those far away from the front? Egad, what has happened to your sense of perspective…and decency.
Nothing, Nothing justifies Putin’s invasion of Ukraine , the attacks by Russian soldiers on civilians when they occupied parts of Ukraine, and the continued shelling on civilians when they and the continued missile attacks on cities and towns far from the battle field. As for your claims that the Russians are winning, such a win they could do without. Their army was shown to be incompetent and brutal, they lost most of the territory they initially captured, tens of thousands educated Russians fled the country, they had to call on the Wagner forces and convicts to shore up the army. Putin unified NATO, despite his patsy’s Trump’s efforts to undermine the alliance and touched off sanctions that are hurting the Russian economy.
There is no reasoning with these people. The only thing that will convince my former friend that he swallowed some major propaganda is when Ukraine defeated by Russia and the pernicious Nazi supporters removed from the public discourse.
On to another topic — Did you hear what Victoria Nuland said today? Before delving into her remarks, I was shocked by her appearance. Yes, I am fat shaming. Here she is 8 years ago:
Time has not been kind to Ms. Nuland. She is looking more like a particularly corpulent Star Wars character:
The Queen of the neo-cons clearly signaled today that the Biden Administration is not interested in any negotiations unless Russia surrenders:
Victoria Nuland, the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, believes that a possible condition for easing some of the sanctions implemented against Russia is the withdrawal of troops from all of Ukraine and an agreement to negotiate seriously.
“In the context of Russia’s decision to negotiate seriously and withdraw its troops from Ukraine and return territories, I would certainly support that (easing of sanctions). I think the US Secretary of State, Blinken, would do the same,” she said.
https://news.yahoo.com/nuland-sanctions-against-russian-federation-174153580.htmlIsn’t that swell of her. Sure we will ease some sanctions once Russia vacates the formerly Ukrainian territories that have voted to unite with Russia. God almighty. That is a sweet deal that Vladimir Putin will find irresistible. Right? Ridiculous.