Soviet Union was our ally in World War II, Dick, and our side would not have won without it. The land and air battles of the Western Front were miniscule in size and ferocity compared to the Eastern Front. The Red Army liberated my father and thousands of other American, British, Commonwealth, Czech, Polish air crews from a POW camp 20 miles from Berlin.
You are correct and I have no problem with Stalin shedding the blood of Millions of soldiers and civilians so that Americans could live. Stalin killed more people than Hitler ever dreamed of killing.
After WW2, we had a different war that cost the Soviet Union and its people much 'blood and treasure' while it only cost us for the most part 'treasure' unless you include the Vietnam War.
One of my Minors is in Soviet History and Foreign Policy and I know intimately what the Soviet Union was about. During WW2, the Soviet Union was our ally in name only.
I am happy that your father was liberated. Liberated/captured German troops were starved and/or sent to the Gulags by the Soviets, most never to return.-Dick
