Putin says moral superiority helped Soviet troops defeat Nazis

Itar-Tass ^ | 07.12.2004

[Tailgunner Joe]

ALABINO, Moscow region, December 7 (Itar-Tass) - Moral superiority enabled Soviet troops win the battle against Nazis near Moscow in December 1941, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday while visiting reenactment of an episode from that battle at a drill range of the Russian Armored Troops at Alabino near Moscow.

He retorted some western theories about the causes of Soviet victory in that crucial battle by saying: "We understand, of course, it is neither so-called General Winter nor rough terrain that helped our troops win".

"We won because our morale was stronger, because our people showed real heroism," Putin said.

"We won thanks to the people whom we're calling veterans today," he said. "We'll remember them, we'll be take pride in them, and their example will inspire our people for good things in the name of our beloved Russia".

Nazi forces rolled into the Soviet territory along a huge front from the Arctic circle to the Black Sea June 22, 1941, and reached the approaches to Moscow in mid-October, with German generals telling Hitler they could see the towers of the Kremlin through their field binoculars.

Soviet troops had an insignificant superiority in the air, but smaller manpower, 50% less artillery, and 30% less tanks.

Following a regrouping and pulling up of reserve forces from the Urals, Siberia and the Far East, they began a counteroffensive December 5.

It ended in January 1942, when Nazi troops had to pull back 100 kilometers to 350 kilometers west, southwest, and northwest off Moscow.

The Nazis suffered their first telling defeat since the beginning of campaigns in Europe in the snowy fields near Moscow. They lost eleven tank divisions, four motorized and twenty-three infantry divisions.

For Soviet troops, it was the first major victory over Hitler, to be followed by other grandiose battles, including the unparalleled defense of Leningrad, the encirclement and irreparable crushing of Nazis near Stalingrad, and the hugest-ever clash of armored divisions on the Salient of Kursk.

[AreaMan]

The fact that the Germans ran outta bullets kinda helped too. Just a little though.

[susiek]

Yes, the system of government that killed tens of millions of people was so morally superior to the one that killed millions of people.

[susiek]

"The fact that the Germans ran outta bullets kinda helped too. Just a little though."

Not that the Russian winter helped at all, either!

[DTogo]

Yeah, Stalin was such a stalwart of ... morality?? HA!

[Mike1973]

That and vodka.

[12 Gauge Mossberg]

Gimme a break, Putin. The Russian winter saved your ancestor's behinds.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Tough choice, actually. Along similar lines: Who would you rather have win a Celebrity Death Match: Hillary or Osama?

[Yaelle]

Didn't disease and frigid weather have a help?

[AreaMan]

Not that the Russian winter helped at all, either!

Yeah....that too. But only a little, tiny bit.

[bahblahbah]

Do they still use the sickle and hammer in Russia as their symbol? And doesn't Putin and the 2 guys behind him seem identical?

[coconutt2000]

Morale? LOL, Putin rewriting history...


When Russian draftees had to be pushed unarmed into the battlefield by armed political soldiers or be shot... When they had to scramble to find weapons on the battlefield to shoot with...

It wasn't morale, it was fear of the guys behind them as well as the guys in front of them.

[EagleUSA]

Moral superiority?? Yes, the example of Russian moral leadership was set by Stalin, the hard Communist moral leader....(sound of barf hitting the bottom of the bucket)...

[xJones]

Is he trying to grab Stalin's 'mantle', or something?

[JustAnotherOkie]

Pure crap. It was their homeland in spite of the evilness of Joe Stalin and his incompetence. Number's rule.-

[ServesURight]

That moral superiority sure didn't help the Russkies in the 1980s.

[oldleft]

Well, their government sucked, that's for sure.

But we should never take away the bravery and sacrifice of the Russian people during WWII. Regardless of what Putin says the Russian people have earned my eternal thanks for their sacrifice, both fighting the Nazis and enduring Communism.

[KidGlock]

Reminds me of what Kissinger said regarding the Iran/ Iraq War.

"Too bad they both can't lose."

[fso301]

Soviet troops had an insignificant superiority in the air, but smaller manpower, 50% less artillery, and 30% less tanks.

Hitler said had he known how many tanks the Russians had before Barbarossa, he never would have attacked.

[AirborneMedic]

Well no bullets did help, but the fact that the Nazi planning had Russia falling way before winter and the troops had no winter clothes or equipment what so ever. He also failed to stat that the US was suppling them huge amount of arms and logistics. Putin also failed to state that moral superiority of the troops was an officer standing behind them ready to kill them even if they took cover from enemy fire.