mar 18, 2009 - "The Nazi-Soviet War as a System of Violence, 1939-1945" -- Mark Edele and Michael Geyer

Description:

Looks at Operation Barbarossa and the brutality of the Eastern front of WWII as a departure from the "standard" of warfare. Argues the brutality was part of the deeply rooted inimical ideology of the two states, with both responding to the totalizing need of both ideologies: Nazism required extermination and Stalinism was a totalizing project that responded in turn. "Unrestraint" and eventually "barbarism" was learned by both sides over the course of the war and elimination of the other became the goal. Both the Nazis and the Soviets were engaging in a "two-front war", against each other and a civil war against elements that would undermine them. Set the stage for Stalin's personality cult as survival in WWII was due to Stalin.