Present-day politics is about grasping our real interests enough to achieve them rather than wasting energy in futile activities or policies that fail to bring happiness in our everyday lives. But we are puppets in the hands of our strong-willed and selfish politicians. Despite stricken with the losses in the past two great wars, we are still not safe from another big war. But thanks to the existence of the UNO which puts a check on war-like situations in the world.
Just 80 years ago, the joint forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union created havoc on Poland and destroyed a huge population in that country, which now stands as the U.S. ally. Though President Donald Trump was absent on September 1st programme in Warsaw, his deputy Mike Pence left no stone unturned flaying the past days’ war crimes. He said that the Poles fought with righteous fury.
Under a treaty signed by Nazi Germany under Hitler and Soviet Russia under Stalin, the invasion initiated upon Poland took into grip about a fifth of its population. Those who were alive trembled with fear while recollecting the terrible times. Serial bombings destroyed and devastated the Poles, and Poland remained under Soviet domination until the year 1989. At the 80th anniversary of WWII, Germany’s President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier walked barefoot and bowed sorrowfully before the Poles.
He displayed gratitude far different from Adolf Hitler. He even termed the invasion as Germany’s “historical guilt” and asked for forgiveness. Today, Poland stands as a significant trade partner with Germany that claims of settling all financial claims linked to WWII. Although the attack was made by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union for the division of Poland, both the countries faced division and disintegration. Later, Germany dismantled the Wall, while Russia emerged from the Soviet Union. Russia was not invited at the commemorative programme because of its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
It was the deadliest conflict in human history, but who gained from it? When the famous German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact was signed in Kremlin, Hitler was unhappy with the cigarette in Stalin’s hand. He felt it was unsuited and even got it airbrushed from the photo when it was published in Germany. He might have thought of its adverse implications decades later. “Reparations” still run in the minds of Germany’s ruling Law and Justice party politicians.