On July 17, 1944, the captive Germans “parade” was held in Moscow. About 57 thousand captives, including 19 generals (who were allowed to wear their uniforms and medals), passed through the central streets of Moscow. The citizens attending the “parade”, although sometimes were shouting, “Down with fascism” and “Death to Hitler,” but did not offend the human dignity of captives.
The reason why the Soviet leadership initiated this action was very clear. In the summer of 1944, as a result of “Bagration” operation, our troops (I emphasize the word “our”, because thousands of Armenians were courageously fighting in the staff of victorious army), the “Center” called group of Germany defeated in Belarus, and about 400 thousand rival soldiers were taken captives, including 21 Generals of Wehrmacht. After the official release, our Western allies began to publicly expressing doubts about the operation scales and, in particular, the number of captives. And here the event comes to prove that the official data are not exaggerated.
Is the “parade” of 1944 similar to this year’s August 24 campaign in Donetsk, when pro-Russian armed group had taken about 100 Ukrainian military servicemen out to the streets of the town, humiliated them and incited the hatred of those present? It seems to me that it is not similar at all. As I understand, the purpose of the campaign was to oppose to the parade dedicated to the independence of Ukraine in Kiev.
War is going on in the East of Ukraine, the Ukrainian armed forces are releasing missile strikes to Donetsk, Lugansk and other residential areas civic facilities, including schools, kindergartens, and hospitals, resulting in the killing of civilians. Such actions have no excuse. Does such an attitude towards Ukrainian captives of war make these civic facilities of the region more secure? Who are the other side fighters? If it is the Russian army, then one army should have appropriate attitude towards the other army and its captives. If they are just civilians who had obtained weapon from somewhere, then, of course, everything is expected of them.
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A questions to those who are fond of drawing parallels. Can you visualize such a “parade” be held in Yerevan or Stepanakert? It is excluded, is not it? Because no matter who is right and who is wrong, who is a terrorist and who is a fascist, in such situations it is important not to lose the human face. It is necessary not for some abstract “humanity”, it is an important guarantee to ensure your own victory.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
