A very important and informative presentation on an incredibly difficult subject. Dr. Majstorovic has done a treatment amount of indepth research on the subject.
Excellent presentation on a very difficult subject. Vojin did a great job of handling an ugly part of WW2. I hope you are able to bring him back on in the future. Great job again Paul--thx!!!!
I was particularly moved by the testimony of Palotaine Kali Gobi as she stated that she, her mother and grandmother never spoke about their experience. This is classic behavior by victims of sexual assault, and why many victims never report the assaults. Shame, guilt, and a feeling that they will not be believed, or somehow be made to feel that they did something to encourage their assailants. In their case who could they even report too? The war had pretty much destroyed all civil protection and all notions of civility for their country. The sheer scale of the war in the east, and the unleashing of so much violence is almost beyond our comprehension. Tackling such a subject is daunting. I am grateful for Dr. Majstorovic for his work, and for WW2TV in helping us better understand all of the facets of this conflict.
Excellent presentation by Dr. Majstorovic on a very sensitive subject. Thank you. Great research based evidence. Look forward to seeing more from Dr. Majstorovic.
Grew up in Denton, my father was a professor at UNT for over thirty years. He has a little memorial outside the Auditorium building. So sorry I missed this excellent presentation live.
Did he happen to be Mike Campbell? As a UNT alum, I was glad to know him when I was a student there. He was a good person, and an accomplished scholar and mentor.
this guest should return to the channel several times, this topic is very interesting and very little covered. Many programs can be made like this. Thank you very much Mr Vojin Majstorovic
Belatedly, thank you to yourself and the speaker for such a fascinating and well-researched presentation. For me personally, any insight into the 'human' experience of WW2 will always trump presentations about equipment or strategy. Understanding the mindset of soldiers and officers in the Red Army goes a long way to explaining their actions without ever trying or intending to vindicate them.
The absolute antithesis of glorifying war, and one of the things that make this channel so unique being prepared to highlight this kind of content. Thank you both.
Woody, in the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation publishes a document called the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) annually in which they compile statistics on crime. For most of the last 40 years the FBI has stated in the UCR that their best guess is that only 25% of all rapes are reported to law enforcement; and that is in a country that is not fighting a war within its own territory. I can imagine the numbers in Yugoslavia and Romania were probably much, much higher than the numbers Vojin Majstorovic is quoting as they were in a far different situation and in some cultures, there is far more stigma connected with being raped than in the USA.
In all European countries back then sexual assault and rape were rarely reported as the shame associated with being attacked could mean being excluded from family, friends and the village. As men were investigating any allegations women were often not believed or were blamed for ‘encouraging’ the attacker(s) 😡. Also Soviet troops knew they would not be prosecuted for crimes. Even against supposed allied nations and Soviet women. There are reports from Soviet women of rape and sexual assault by Red Army men, including from women freed from German forced Labour camps. The Soviets denied these crimes and where they tried to justify the crimes it was put down to Soviet men taking revenge for German atrocities in the USSR.
I had a professor in college who was one of the first US soldiers to stay in Berlin. He was staff to a headquarters outfit. He said that every night, for weeks, he was horrified by the screams of the women. He got the whole 'eye for an eye' dynamic, but he forever held barbarian all Russian troops.
Enjoyed Vojin excellent presentation. Really thought provoking and challenged some preconceptions I had of the Red Army entering Eastern Europe in late 44. I was surprised at the different attitudes of the Commisarriat towards different countries they perceived to be ally or enemy. The tap of violence towards civilians isn't so easily turned off once opened and in the case of Yugoslavia, even draconian measures by the NKVD couldn't stop sexual violence towards women. Regardless, Vojin made a point that tallied with Phil Bloods lecture on the SS, in that sustained organised violence towards the civilian populace (perceived as partisans or collaborators) makes the unit unsuitable towards conducting future military action, which here was contrary to the Soviet goals of a quick war end and successful cultivation of a satellite state.
Well I'm one of those 100s watching this episode. With what we're seeing in recent news it couldn't be more timely. I think my eyes were opened when already familiar with the actions of Japanese in China and Russians in the east to read in Atkinson's trilogy the actions of Americans in North Africa and Moroccans in Italy.
A great book about female Soviet soldiers is 'The unwomanly face of war' by Svetlana Alexievich. I bought it online from Barnes and Nobles. A great book about the life of the ordinary Red Army rifle man during the Great Patriotic War, is 'Ivan's War' by the English historian Catherine Merridale. One last recommendation, Vasily Grossman - A writer at war. Grossman followed the Red Army wherever they went from the beginning of the war until the German capitulation in Berlin. Grossman worked with Ilya Erhenburg, the most outstanding propagandist in the Red Army. Once you have read these books, you will view this WW2TV presentation in a different context.
Excellent presentation that further shapes the how and why of the immense brutality of the war on the Ost Front. Together with Dr Bloods research on the SS and other research on Nazi doctrine, the propaganda and the education system of these countries played a massive role in how these soldiers were brainwashed into what they all became. The senseless killing of civilians has always been an issue as what happened in Vietnam and even today in Ukraine. I guess in the end what makes this so difficult is that with all this knowledge we still haven't learned anything while Russia brainwashes its troops and they commit atrocities. Thank you Dr Vojin Majstorovic for your research and stoicism looking at this side of humanity and thank you Paul for these great presentations
A very important and informative presentation on an incredibly difficult subject. Dr. Majstorovic has done a treatment amount of indepth research on the subject.
Excellent presentation on a very difficult subject. Vojin did a great job of handling an ugly part of WW2. I hope you are able to bring him back on in the future. Great job again Paul--thx!!!!
I'd just like to say that I feel the same way. Very impressed by Mr. Majstorovic and Woodadge. Well done on a very difficult topic.
I was particularly moved by the testimony of Palotaine Kali Gobi as she stated that she, her mother and grandmother never spoke about their experience. This is classic behavior by victims of sexual assault, and why many victims never report the assaults. Shame, guilt, and a feeling that they will not be believed, or somehow be made to feel that they did something to encourage their assailants. In their case who could they even report too? The war had pretty much destroyed all civil protection and all notions of civility for their country. The sheer scale of the war in the east, and the unleashing of so much violence is almost beyond our comprehension. Tackling such a subject is daunting. I am grateful for Dr. Majstorovic for his work, and for WW2TV in helping us better understand all of the facets of this conflict.
Here here well said 👍
Excellent presentation by Dr. Majstorovic on a very sensitive subject. Thank you. Great research based evidence. Look forward to seeing more from Dr. Majstorovic.
Grew up in Denton, my father was a professor at UNT for over thirty years. He has a little memorial outside the Auditorium building. So sorry I missed this excellent presentation live.
Did he happen to be Mike Campbell? As a UNT alum, I was glad to know him when I was a student there. He was a good person, and an accomplished scholar and mentor.
this guest should return to the channel several times, this topic is very interesting and very little covered. Many programs can be made like this. Thank you very much Mr Vojin Majstorovic
Belatedly, thank you to yourself and the speaker for such a fascinating and well-researched presentation. For me personally, any insight into the 'human' experience of WW2 will always trump presentations about equipment or strategy. Understanding the mindset of soldiers and officers in the Red Army goes a long way to explaining their actions without ever trying or intending to vindicate them.
Thanks for the nice comment
The absolute antithesis of glorifying war, and one of the things that make this channel so unique being prepared to highlight this kind of content. Thank you both.
Great presentation on a difficult topic! Well researched and presented. Loving this 'Eastern Front week'.
Much appreciated!
Very good. It is excellent that this channel looks at these difficult subjects.
Woody, in the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation publishes a document called the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) annually in which they compile statistics on crime. For most of the last 40 years the FBI has stated in the UCR that their best guess is that only 25% of all rapes are reported to law enforcement; and that is in a country that is not fighting a war within its own territory. I can imagine the numbers in Yugoslavia and Romania were probably much, much higher than the numbers Vojin Majstorovic is quoting as they were in a far different situation and in some cultures, there is far more stigma connected with being raped than in the USA.
In all European countries back then sexual assault and rape were rarely reported as the shame associated with being attacked could mean being excluded from family, friends and the village. As men were investigating any allegations women were often not believed or were blamed for ‘encouraging’ the attacker(s) 😡.
Also Soviet troops knew they would not be prosecuted for crimes. Even against supposed allied nations and Soviet women. There are reports from Soviet women of rape and sexual assault by Red Army men, including from women freed from German forced Labour camps.
The Soviets denied these crimes and where they tried to justify the crimes it was put down to Soviet men taking revenge for German atrocities in the USSR.
I had a professor in college who was one of the first US soldiers to stay in Berlin. He was staff to a headquarters outfit. He said that every night, for weeks, he was horrified by the screams of the women. He got the whole 'eye for an eye' dynamic, but he forever held barbarian all Russian troops.
Enjoyed Vojin excellent presentation. Really thought provoking and challenged some preconceptions I had of the Red Army entering Eastern Europe in late 44.
I was surprised at the different attitudes of the Commisarriat towards different countries they perceived to be ally or enemy. The tap of violence towards civilians isn't so easily turned off once opened and in the case of Yugoslavia, even draconian measures by the NKVD couldn't stop sexual violence towards women. Regardless, Vojin made a point that tallied with Phil Bloods lecture on the SS, in that sustained organised violence towards the civilian populace (perceived as partisans or collaborators) makes the unit unsuitable towards conducting future military action, which here was contrary to the Soviet goals of a quick war end and successful cultivation of a satellite state.
Thanks paul
5 stars. Excellent presentation
Well I'm one of those 100s watching this episode. With what we're seeing in recent news it couldn't be more timely. I think my eyes were opened when already familiar with the actions of Japanese in China and Russians in the east to read in Atkinson's trilogy the actions of Americans in North Africa and Moroccans in Italy.
A great book about female Soviet soldiers is 'The unwomanly face of war' by Svetlana Alexievich. I bought it online from Barnes and Nobles.
A great book about the life of the ordinary Red Army rifle man during the Great Patriotic War, is 'Ivan's War' by the English historian Catherine Merridale.
One last recommendation, Vasily Grossman - A writer at war. Grossman followed the Red Army wherever they went from the beginning of the war until the German capitulation in Berlin. Grossman worked with Ilya Erhenburg, the most outstanding propagandist in the Red Army. Once you have read these books, you will view this WW2TV presentation in a different context.
Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this
Excellent presentation that further shapes the how and why of the immense brutality of the war on the Ost Front. Together with Dr Bloods research on the SS and other research on Nazi doctrine, the propaganda and the education system of these countries played a massive role in how these soldiers were brainwashed into what they all became. The senseless killing of civilians has always been an issue as what happened in Vietnam and even today in Ukraine. I guess in the end what makes this so difficult is that with all this knowledge we still haven't learned anything while Russia brainwashes its troops and they commit atrocities. Thank you Dr Vojin Majstorovic for your research and stoicism looking at this side of humanity and thank you Paul for these great presentations
Thankn you for this program and this work. I have to wonder if the mil his fans just don't care about civilians, esp women
Compelling.