#soviet occupation

[dontforgetukraine]

Kate from Kharkiv: Today marks the 10th anniversary of Kharkiv citizens toppling the enormous Lenin statue, the largest symbol of communism and Soviet occupation in our city, with ropes and disc grinders, because that's how much we hated it.

Kate from Kharkiv: The shoes remained for a while after, but we made them Ukrainian

Anastasiya Paraskevova: Toppling this fuck was probably the best feeling I ever experienced, unironically. It took so many hours but was so very worth it. That was, by the way, the biggest statue to Lenin. And city authorities were saying that dropping it would break the ground and damage the metro beneath. We, of course, didn't buy it. The metro was made to survive bombings we thought (which is now very much a shelter against Russian bombings). But when he finally fell, he was empty inside. As huge and seemingly imposing as it was, collective effort and the stubborness of a bunch of Ukrainians was enough to take it down, despite the high ups telling us it's too massive and toppling it would be dangerous. Unsubstantiated fears, just as the statue itself was a bit of a paper tiger. The only reason it stood there was the lack of will to finally take it down before that moment. Take that as a metaphor for something else, because it is.

[unhonestlymirror]

"Exactly 32 years ago, the world was watching the ‘Moscow coup attempt’ unfold.

It’s a story usually told from the russian perspective: Soviet hardliners wanted to seize power & reverse Gorbachev’s reforms, but were defeated by Yeltsin & his supporters.

But events were also unfolding in the Baltics - usually presented as a minor subplot to that coup attempt.

Well, one positive from these past few year is that more people than ever before around the world are realising they’ve only been taught the russia-centric version of history - and there are so many incredible stories about russia’s neighbours that have been overlooked until now.

In reality, the Moscow coup attempt was the subplot.

Because the key catalyst and key outcome of it was the fact Eastern Europeans were breaking free from Moscow’s occupation. And arguably, the most consequential events of the ‘Moscow coup attempt’ happened here in the Baltics.

To us, it was the culmination of the Singing Revolution that had been underway for several years.

Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians were defying the attempted crackdown on re-independence and instead proceeding with the nullification of the nazi-soviet pact. Lithuania and Latvia had already both formally declared the continuation of their independence - yet faced violent reprisals from Moscow.

As chaos unfolded during the August coup attempt by soviet hardliners, Estonians seized the opportunity - exactly 32 years ago at 23:02 on 20 August - to follow their Baltic neighbours and formally declare the continuation of their independence and order occupying troops out.

Unlike today, there was no time to celebrate. Soviet paratropers were quickly dispatched to seize the airwaves and sever Estonia’s communications with the world.

It was the same playbook already used against Lithuania and Latvia where soviet forces had recently attempted coups by first attacking broadcasters & publishers - while murdering unarmed civilians in the way. That included the murder of 13 civilians during the soviet seizure of the Vilnius TV Tower.

This was ordered by Gorbachev - the guy hailed internationally for supposedly allowed the peaceful breakup of the soviet union. 🤷‍♂️

So the Estonians knew what to expect.

That’s what this picture shows. It’s ordinary Estonians ready for the battle of Tallinn’s TV Tower. They knew what happened in Vilnius. They all knew they could soon be killed.

But the Estonians had some surprises planned.

Firstly, the Estonians had figured out the comms channels that the soviets were using for their attack on the TV Tower. They launched an unprecedented information counterattack, jamming the soviet channels. It caused immense confusion among soviet forces around the TV Tower waiting to hear what they were supposed to do.

Also, Estonian defenders had secured the control room of the TV Tower. They used a box of matches to jam the only lift, ensuring that soviet troops would have to all come up the fire escape. When they reached near the top, Estonian defenders informed them that if they proceeded any steps further, then the tower’s fire suppression system would be activated. That would rapidly de-oxygenate the tower and kill both sides inside.

Both knew the Estonians would die for their freedom but nobody wanted to die for the already dead soviet union.

The soviet troops went back down, and the rest is history. It helped set off a chain of events that caused the collapse of the soviet empire. This is just one of many stories that it’s time for the world to hear about more.

Funnily enough, it’s believed that the fire fighting system didn’t actually work. It was a communist system, after all. ��"

Author

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

Russia uses these fighter jets in the war against Ukraine.

Telegram channel 112 reported that before the fall, the fighter jet begun to descend, but an explosion sounded in the air an the Su-30 pitched and fell(..)

P.S. Good news! Any downed Su-30 in the vicinity of Königsberg, occupied by the Russians, is a very pleasant event for the security of the Baltic region! We are definitely not upset about the poor quality work of the Russian aviation mechanics and engineers...

[ball88n]

[kusurrone]

[captain-price-unofficially]

The Red Army raises the flag over Budapest, Hungary.

[roxyteal]

This started as a funny silly musings shitpost, then stopped. Oops

---

Gonzalo does his best to remember the cultural norms of every country he travels to. But sometimes, he forgets or his instincts kick in.

After a only few weeks of knowing Bob, he accidentally greets him with one of his patented bearhugs, kissing both his cheeks with a laugh like all is well. Bob is frozen in place.

Then Teresa comes barrelling out of the house, and punches Gonzalo so hard he is sent spinning vertically until faceplanting into the pavement.

"Dear, you can't punch someone just because they… Well, did that." Bob manages, once he composes himself.

"They learn faster that way." Is her only response, dark green eyes coldly observing her target.

"But he's my client, he's probably going to cancel on me now-" Bob cuts off when Gonzalo finally reacts. Instead of outrage, as would've been expected, he's. Laughing. Like someone just told the best joke in the world.

"By God! That was amazing! I think she fractured something! How did she do that?!" He's also making a ton of noise.

"Mixed martial arts. Started in first year of secondary school."

Meanwhile, from inside, Billy tearfully dials the Shy household's number, voice and body shaking as he blubbers to John, "Mother attacked the Spanish man!!!" He meant to say "Spaniard", but he can be forgiven.

Luckily, for a while, things settled down.

---

Months into building the submarine, Bob is able to tell Gonzalo about how terrible the occupation of his country is.

He takes the well-made builder gingerly by the hands and says, sounding genuine, "You should run away with me to Spain!"

And gets punched clear out into the tide, Teresa's brunette hair flowing behind her.

"Dear, he wasn't serious!" Bob pauses, unsure. "I don't think… Or perhaps he meant all of us…" Trying to be charitable.

He's laughing again. That amused, almost prideful laugh of his.

"Mother, why do you hate Mr. Gonzalo?!" Billy tries not to cry, while John sits there, jaw slack at what they just witnessed. Moments ago, the two children had been attempting to sculpt something in the sand.

"Little Bilis," She coolly says, "He thinks he can say whatever he pleases. He isn't above consequences."

"At least visit sometime! Like a vacation! ¡Trae a la familia! It'll be fun!" Gonzalo's words are difficult to parse through his mirth, but it clarified enough.

"See? He's only trying to be kind…" Teresa sighs at her husband.

"You won't really move away to Spain, will you?" John is unnerved by the idea.

"And lose you? Never!" Billy immediately says, then looks at his parents again, for assurance. "Right…?"

Bob tries to answer, but Teresa beats him to it. Her voice is much softer now, as she approaches them and pats their heads with tenderness. "It is unthinkable. Do not fret."

---

"So!" Gonzalo brings up suddenly, while he and Bob are having drinks, alone. "Mrs. Lė…"

"Oh, no, not 'Mrs. Lė'. She prefers 'Mrs. Teresa'."

"Why is that? I don't know what else to call her! She never told me her maiden name…"

"We don't speak of them."

"What?!" It sounds incredulous to Gonzalo. "How come?!"

"It's not my story to tell," Bob is muffled by his shot glass, "All I will say on the matter is this: She didn't add mine to hers - as is tradition - because her family would find out. Then, they'd beg for everything I earn. Not quite like leeches, but she opposed regardless." He meets eyes with him, then adds, as if to bury the topic, "Į sveikatą. You're up next."

He downs it. Afterwards, the glass is put down.

Gonzalo is surprisingly quiet, frowning as the gears turn in his mind. However, he does follow Bob's lead, but doesn't return the phrase. "What about your familia?"

Bob had said too much. He wasn't going to be let off the hook that easily. He sighs. "Never would've approved of anything I did - our marriage, our livelihoods, our child. Especially since he has… Special needs." He grimaces, hating the way it sounds.

"Frankly, we do too, but only up here," He continues, pointing to his cranium briefly. "Young Billy's case is more obvious, more physical. They would've hated him. Why, I'm convinced that when I was his age, they despised me too. 'Difficult' was their favorite complaint."

This time, Gonzalo has to process the information for a short while. He cannot fathom coming from a homelife so wretched and unloving. What's even the point of having kids and parenting them if they're going to be so heartless about it? But for once, he doesn't say these things aloud. Despite the alcohol he's consumed in the past two hours, he calculates his next response more sensitively.

"Lo lamento," A pause. "I'm sorry, Robertas. I had no idea."

"Don't pity us."

"No!" A small glare forms on his face at the thought. "It's not pity! It takes great strength to blaze your own path! Much will! Lots of patience! To endure!" He jumps from his seat, grabbing Bob's shoulders. "You were all built from nothing, with no one! And here you stand, resilient and defiant against the hand you were dealt! This is not pity, this is empathy! Do you hear me?"

Bob doesn't know how to reply. Gonzalo's grip hurts, but it doesn't deter him or make him want to flee. Accompanied by his words, the stinging instead makes him feel… Alive.

Still, all he can think to do is nod. Gonzalo notices what he's doing, and releases, sitting back down. "Sorry, again. But my point is: All of you are very courageous. I hope that one day, you won't need to be anymore."

As the moment passes, the remnants of the pain sets in, and Bob is unable to suppress the urge to nurse one of his slightly harmed shoulders. "Then, in that case, thank you."

Meanwhile, he is pouring another round of shots. Mirroring what Bob did earlier, he proclaims, "Don't mention it! Now, as you say… Į sveikatą!" His pronunciation is off, but he's only heard it a few times, so it's a decent try.

But Bob appreciates that earnest attempt. He manages a grin, and follows suit. He's starting to finally understand Gonzalo, he thinks.

[ketrindoll]

The tankie mindset

Documents left by soviets and the KGB in occupied states as well as soviet archives in russia proving their crimes, like genocide, torture, and authoritarianism - lies

Soviet defectors and their accounts - lies

Peoples experience of living in the USSR, especially in occupied states - lies

Things like Katyn that even modern russian government admitted - lies

But

Some propaganda booklet or a Reddit forum they read while chilling in the West, no personal or familial contact with USSR whatsoever - the gospel truth

[airandangels]

re: Bill the malcontent in NASA mission control: nobody's MAKING you work at NASA mission control, Bill. You can always quit your job at NASA mission control, Bill. I'm sure there are at least several people who'd apply to fill that vacancy at NASA mission control, Bill.

[affogato-analysis]

I love botw koroks

I think they’re so cool, unironically. So i wrote about that in some analyzing idea idk y’all i think it’s neat

(spoilers btw for botw and part of totk)

(hence the cut here)

More accurately, I have so much love for the ones in Hyrule Castle, even more so since I made it to the Lost Woods in totk. like wym my little leaf friends were hurt get back here you son of a bitch

I love what they seem to represent, very much in a depoliticized manner (i’ll make it make sense): resistance.

Koroks in Hyrule castle are looking at Calamity Ganon and laughing. They play hide and seek games around its prison, they will be the first on its path to destruction and the corrupted guardians are all over the place.

(Full disclosure, I have no idea if they can die, but they can be scared of monsters and Hestu had his maracas stolen so I guess they can be hurt.)

So it’s reckless of them to be here, you’d think every living being not corrupted and/or engineered by the calamity would run off but not the koroks.

no they’re children playing hide and seek on wasted lands and they don’t care! Maybe they don’t realize but the main point is: the koroks are at Ganon’s doorstep and they laugh and play.

It’s a form of resistance, to laugh despite the threat, to refuse to quiet down and despair. It might not be a conscious choice, maybe they really don’t realize but still, when the Calamity struck, it lost. Despite all the destruction, Hyrule lives.

“In the dark times Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times” (Bertolt Brecht)

In the ruins of Hyrule Castle, at the worst of the Calamity, there are children and innocence. Across a devastated kingdom there are, everywhere you look, small things still laughing and playing and living.

The koroks, to me, symbolize resilience and the victory of life over Evil, literally. A korok hiding above the sanctum is some of the brightest ‘fuck you ehehe’ i’ve ever seen, and even if the train of thought was ‘ooh hiding spot’ and nothing else, the koroks don’t shake before Ganon, even when they sit right next to it.

The koroks are, symbolically, Hyrule’s survival and victory.

[unhonestlymirror]

Especially strange photo.

Occupied by russia Lithuania in 1946. Women cynically dressed in national clothes barely carry the coffin of a brave collaborator, armed thugs nearby.

Who are they?

Stribai, istrebteliai (in russian: istrebitel - destroyer), "people's defenders" - a military formation of the occupiers of Lithuania, which fought against partisans, took part in deportations, looting, i.e. collaborators against the occupiers - stribai are accomplices of genocide, whose crimes have no statute of limitations.

Until 1945, they were officially called exterminators, later - people's defenders. The occupation army of the USSR helped suppress the partisan movement in Lithuania (Lithuanian resistance to the soviet occupation regime) and repress the population supporting the partisans. Compiled based on the resolutions of the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Lithuanian Communist Party on July 24, 1944 and the Council of People's Commissars of the LSSR on July 12, 1944. A. Sniečkus and members of the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Lithuanian Communist Party mainly took care of the maintenance of the straggler squads, the funds were allocated from the budget of the USSR. Only from 1945, the tramps began to receive wages, which were not enough to support their families, as a result of which the tramps were constantly robbing.

Stribai were the worst type of accomplice of the occupiers, often of the lowest social class, prone to recidivism and without any moral scruples. Units convicted after 1991.

After 2022, the scum of panašaus plauko padugnės [I don't understand what it means, but it's highly likely to be a slur] also operate in the occupied territories of Ukraine. UA BK stipulates strict responsibility for collaboration.

Photo: Mažeikių muziejus

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

On May 22-23, 1948, Russian Chekists carried out operation "Spring" (Vesna) in Lithuania, the aim of which was deportation of partisans, their supporters and other "anti-Soviet elements". Soviets arrested and deported 40,000 citizens of Lithuania. In the picture: Deported Lithuanian "anti-Soviet elements"...

P.S. A good explanation why the people of the Baltic countries hate the Kremlin and all its friends who do business with Moscow or push "peace" accordingly to taste of Russian imperialists...

[kornealla]

Does anyone remember *those* Hetalia fans that used to draw personified versions of the post-Soviet countries as a one big happy family with Russia being “the father” (barf)? And the countries that now actively hate Russia as “the rebellious teenagers”? Or worse when they would make cringey comics/fanfics about the fall of the Soviet Union and turn into a fucking pity party for Russia and his “ex-friends” (colonies).

Why the hell did the fandom encourage that shit?

[prussianmemes]

It is with heavy heart that the insanity has finally reached Leonid Brezhnev's hometown, Kamianske, will be dismantling their memorial to him tomorrow morning, 9:00 AM, July 27th 2023.

His entire life before coming to power was spent working in, and in the service of, the Ukrainian SSR. He rebuilt, renovated, and expanded the quality of life in Ukraine throughout most of his life.

It was he who built up the great city of Dnipro, kept Kyiv supplied and fed during the Second World War, who shielded his peers during the Great Purge, the only one who succeeded in relieving suffering during the 1946 famine, who restored Zaprozhie to prewar levels in incredible time and without terror. He never engaged in terror, he was one of the few who wholly and completely was engaged in his work with purpose and a cool head.

Like many others, his true identity was complicated. Sometimes calling himself a Ukrainian, sometimes Russian. Yet, he was a man loyal to his home above all.

Yet the iconoclastic fervor in the last year, this complete and total insanity, this call to completely revise and deny history, has come for Leonid in his home town.

There is no justification for this. No well reasoned, academic argument for this kind of collective denial, for anything other than immediate political gain and vanity.

[captain-price-unofficially]

Red Army soldiers from the 322nd Rifle Division open the gates of Auschwitz I. Poland, 27 Jan 1945

[quibbs126]

You know, I’d love to take more classes that teach me about the historical context of certain books

I was watching some videos about Animal Farm today (mostly about the animated movie), and it reminded me of a book we went over in my World Literature class, Yevgeny Zamyatin’s “We”, since it was another book that criticized communist Russia during the days of Stalin (okay I think they had different points; Animal Farm seems to have been more a warning of what communism will do, while We was meant to actually criticize the Soviet Union, considering Zamyatin lived there). I remember going over the context in class, and it was legitimately so interesting to learn about. Admittedly, I don’t remember much about the actual book, in part because I never really read much of it (though I plan to since I still have it), but the history of the author and book itself was so interesting, and I would have never known about it had I not taken the class and my professor not talk about it, and it along with the other books we learned the context for really just makes me want to learn more historical contexts for books

By the way, if you want the history I’m talking about, I’ll give a summary based on what I was told in class, though I don’t remember all the details (I’ll pull out my notes from it). Basically Zamyatin was an avid supporter of the Bolsheviks and their revolution against the Tsar (Zamyatin was Russian if I didn’t make that clear), and being active in the movement, such as being an editor for a newspaper and writing editorials supporting the revolution. However, once the party started cracking down on human rights and dissenting voices, he became disillusioned with the party, and he starts writing critiques on it, as well as writing We. He finished it in 1920, and ended up sending to Europe to be published, so that the rest of the world could know what was going on in Russia (We doesn’t directly take place in the Soviet Union, it’s a sci fi dystopian novel set in the far future, but the society (the One State) takes obvious inspiration from it). Meanwhile he read manuscripts of his work in St Petersburg, and it became the first manuscript banned in the Soviet Union, with Zamyatin being marginalized for his work and losing his job. Zamyatin eventually becomes so disillusioned with the Soviets that he writes a letter to Stalin requesting he and his family be allowed to leave. The only reason Stalin allows this is because Zamyatin was good friends with another writer named Gorky (unfortunately I don’t remember what the significance of Gorky to Stalin was, I didn’t write that down in my notes). Zamyatin had hoped that the Soviet Union would collapse in a few years so that they could return, but unfortunately he didn’t get to live to see it, dying in 1937

Sorry, I went off on a bit of a history lesson there, but I think this stuff is pretty fascinating, and I would love to hear more of the history behind books (if I haven’t made that clear already)