Churchill’s a sharp cookie, a damn Demon and rabid imperialist that’s completely concious of who he is and what he’s for. He’s called Bolshevism a great evil on the capitalist world that must be strangled in the cradle, wept and profusely thanked the Soviets under Stalin for their greatest sacrifice in defeating fascism, then heel-turned back around back to plotting the death of the Revolution the moment peace was on the menu.
He was a crafty old drunken boar who’s observations, when taken with a grain of salt, offers a different perspective on the issues of the time and allows the reader to grasp a greater understanding of a subject - Trotsky being a little shit, in this example - which in turn further rounds out the readers understanding of the world at that particular historical period.
And as an example of this in regards to how you also mentioned Churchill and Poland, let me also share the following quote from the period:
[In a November 7, 1944 letter Churchill stated:]
…
…
Moreover, without the Russian army, Poland would have been destroyed or brought into slavery and the Polish nation itself would have been wiped off the face of the earth. Without the valiant Red Army, no other power on earth would have been able to accomplish this. Poland now will be an independent, free country in the heart of Europe with wonderful and better territories than the one she had before. And if she will not accept this, Britain removes from itself all obligations and lets the Poles themselves work out their own agreement with the Soviets.
I don’t think that we can be asked to give any further assurances and promises to Poland regarding their borders or their attitude regarding the USSR. Poland fell in days to German Nazis, while the Polish government at that time refused to receive help from the Soviet Union.
Those Poles that are now vying for leadership in Poland must think that we, the British, are stupid that we would start a war against our USSR ally on behalf of the demands to restore the Polish eastern borders which had the majority of non-Poles living in those territories. A nation that proved to the world that it could not defend itself, must accept the guidance of those who saved them and who represent for them a perspective of genuine freedom and independence.
Lucas and Ukas. Trans. and Ed. Secret Documents. Toronto, Canada: Northstar Compass, 1996, p. 224
Which is amusing to read as during the time period around the yalta conference, Churchill said he was willing to go to war with the Soviets over Poland, according to the book Changing Direction: British Military Planning for Post-war Strategic Defence, 1942-47 by Julian Lewis, as Churchill’s private secretary John Colville wrote
“sinister telegrams from Roumania showing that the Russians are intimidating the King and Government […] with all the techniques familiar to students of the Comintern. […] When the PM came back [from dining at Buckingham Palace] […] he said he feared he could do nothing. Russia had let us go our way in Greece; she would insist on imposing her will in Roumania and Bulgaria. But as regards Poland we would have our say. As we went to bed, after 2.00 a.m. the PM said to me, ‘I have not the slightest intention of being cheated over Poland, not even if we go to the verge of war with Russia.”
Yeah i did read that, some heartbreaking meme moments there. This is also why Sikorski was probably murdered by the Brits, as it was after his government opened dialogue and even signed a military pact with USSR and did not refuse further talks. Brits, with plans as above would do everything to not be “cheated over Poland”. After Sikorski died the only people remaining in the London polish govt were mediocre bureocrats and rabid anticommunists.
Churchill’s a sharp cookie, a damn Demon and rabid imperialist that’s completely concious of who he is and what he’s for. He’s called Bolshevism a great evil on the capitalist world that must be strangled in the cradle, wept and profusely thanked the Soviets under Stalin for their greatest sacrifice in defeating fascism, then heel-turned back around back to plotting the death of the Revolution the moment peace was on the menu.
He was a crafty old drunken boar who’s observations, when taken with a grain of salt, offers a different perspective on the issues of the time and allows the reader to grasp a greater understanding of a subject - Trotsky being a little shit, in this example - which in turn further rounds out the readers understanding of the world at that particular historical period.
And as an example of this in regards to how you also mentioned Churchill and Poland, let me also share the following quote from the period:
Lucas and Ukas. Trans. and Ed. Secret Documents. Toronto, Canada: Northstar Compass, 1996, p. 224
Which is amusing to read as during the time period around the yalta conference, Churchill said he was willing to go to war with the Soviets over Poland, according to the book Changing Direction: British Military Planning for Post-war Strategic Defence, 1942-47 by Julian Lewis, as Churchill’s private secretary John Colville wrote
Yeah i did read that, some heartbreaking meme moments there. This is also why Sikorski was probably murdered by the Brits, as it was after his government opened dialogue and even signed a military pact with USSR and did not refuse further talks. Brits, with plans as above would do everything to not be “cheated over Poland”. After Sikorski died the only people remaining in the London polish govt were mediocre bureocrats and rabid anticommunists.