General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: Credo
Posted by:
Craig McLean
()
Date: April 27, 2001 05:49PM
<HTML>I was stationed in then West Germany 3 times during the Cold War. Once in Berlin. Traveling by car thru the corridor (from West Germany to Berlin) and visiting East Berlin several times, I had an opportunity to meet some Russian soldiers. Most times they were very pleasant and friendly (recall, the USSR was still an Ally of the US regarding Berlin occupation, technically, as per post-WWII agreements). Sometimes we traded military patches and so on for cigarettes. I even smoked a Russian brand on occassion--came in a red box with a German shepherd dog\'s head pictured on it--very strong cigarettes!
Everywhere else in the world the US and USSR were adversaries. But this goes to show common soldiers and peoples can often get along quite well, even when their governments do not.
best,
Craig
PS. Yes, Gorbachev is the one who opened the way for the new Russia. But some will argue the West simply outspent the USSR in Cold War weaponry, which the Soviets in the end just could not keep pace with. Still, the whole Cold War was rather a waste for all. The US was afraid of Soviet expansion, while I think the Soviets were mainly interested in securing their own borders (remember they were invaded in WWI and WWII both, not to mention by Napoleon). True, the USSR fomented local Communist take-overs in Third World nations--but the West did pretty much the same thing to promote Democracies. </HTML>
Everywhere else in the world the US and USSR were adversaries. But this goes to show common soldiers and peoples can often get along quite well, even when their governments do not.
best,
Craig
PS. Yes, Gorbachev is the one who opened the way for the new Russia. But some will argue the West simply outspent the USSR in Cold War weaponry, which the Soviets in the end just could not keep pace with. Still, the whole Cold War was rather a waste for all. The US was afraid of Soviet expansion, while I think the Soviets were mainly interested in securing their own borders (remember they were invaded in WWI and WWII both, not to mention by Napoleon). True, the USSR fomented local Communist take-overs in Third World nations--but the West did pretty much the same thing to promote Democracies. </HTML>
