Jugashvili - why did he not trust the West? I believe his views on western pre-WW2 nazi cooperatos was negative because they tried to destroy the USSR, then when Germany was weakened by war, invade. They calculated how much they would gain from 2 draining themselves. Their "budget" was however unreal, because Hitler´s uber feelings about German Empire. Although I believe Stalin knew Hitler was his enemy I really dont know what was over his mind, when he didnt believe he was being attacked by nazi Germany. Remember westerners "trying to solve" Czechoslovakia... its no small thing. Poland was "solved" later, without west, because he knew he couldnt trust them. Now they blame Stalin for "cooperating" with Hitler. But why they never express anger over their own stupidity and selfishness? They always "happen" to be caught in something they are "powerless" to do something good about. Stalin was a great murderer, so was Hitler and others who helped him become what he became, who propped their industry if not Yanks? Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau, who game them patents for free? Nazis paid Opel - General Motors money for Opel Blitz that so many were made- to yanks- why didnt they bomb their own factories in Germany, knowing, they build to kill in one way or another? Also, why was Japan at odds with the US? Nobody seem to be interested in that anymore. When I was younger, I quite laughed at the USSR´s anthem, with its lyrics saying something about freedom. Perhaps most people thought like me, that personal "freedom" was that they were speaking of. No state truly gives its people total freedom, but being sovereign is something people dont value these days, because they dont see how they were enslaved by bankers who financed Hitler, Lenin and others (perhaps even Stalin at some point) Those bankers- wall St. Private bank which should be controlled by Congress.... I wonder myself, why there was so little information/no information about the biggest protest against the Fed...

@ SM Ahmed http://rt.c om/Top_News/2010-05- 07/russian-president -view-wwii.html T here are other recent examples of Medvedev speaking against Stalin. Search the site. It's not so tight-lipped, but don't forget that many of those who did the heroic defending were led to believe that Stalin was a hero. In turn, many of those who remain still treasure this ideal. You won't hear a more direct condemnation until these people have passed on. Now all we have to do is wait for Marzipan6 (who, btw, I agree with on several points re occupation) to come along and rain on the veterans' parade.

Sir, Heroism, unmatched sacrifices and absolutly resolute determination of the Russian people defeated the Nazi invaders. However, there are many un-answered questions about the role of Joseph Stalin in that he put in his trust in Hitler rather than the British & the French. He declined to side with the British and the French and joined Hitler for gains in Poland. Even after the Nazi invasion across the Soviet border, Stalin refused to believe his own High Command that the Germans have invaded Russia. By the time - 3 days later - he issued orders for resistance it was already too late. The price the Russian people paid for the whim & fancy of an absolute dictator was untold misery, devastation and annihilation of over 22 Million Russians. My question is " Why the contemporary Russian leadership is so tight-lipped in denouncing Stalin" ?