Having fun Quote by Andrew Roberts
““The documentary and anecdotal evidence is overwhelming and indisputable; the Red Army, which had behaved so heroically on the battlefield, raped the women of Germany as part of their reward, with the active collusion of their officers up to and including Stalin. Indeed he explicitly excused their behaviour on more than one occasion, seeing it as part of the rights of the conqueror. ‘What is so awful in his having fun with a woman, after such horrors?’ Stalin asked Marshal Tito about the ordinary Russian soldier in April 1945. ‘You have imagined the Red Army to be ideal. And it is not ideal, nor can it be…””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Storm of War by Andrew Roberts, 2010
The quote highlights the brutal reality that the Red Army committed widespread sexual violence in Germany, with tacit approval from leadership, contradicting heroic myths.
In simple terms: Red Army soldiers raped German women, and leaders tolerated it.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that war crimes can be committed by any side.
Themes
war
human rights
historical truth
Mood
somber
critical
reflective
Type
historical
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- history textbooks
- military ethics training
- public policy debates
- memorials
- media reporting
Key Concepts
militarism
power dynamics
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance acknowledging atrocities with avoiding blanket condemnation?
- What responsibilities do societies have to remember such crimes?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize individual behavior to an entire army, ignoring variations and context.
