World War II Database

Dr. Vadim Birstein's book SMERSH: Stalin's Secret Weapon, Soviet Military Counterintelligence in WWII, published in 2012, has since become an authoritative work in the west on the history of the little-known Soviet organization. Further contributing to English readers' understanding of the Soviet Union and modern Russia, he recently unveiled the Russian Retrospective blog. It discusses current climate in Russia regarding the history of the Soviet/Russian secret services with an emphasis on World War II, especially the "rewriting" of history that is presently going on. It also focuses on the implications of state control in Russia over education and information available on Soviet history and Stalin's repressions, as well as on aspects of human rights violations in connection with this state control. Last but not least, there is also a great deal of information about the infamous Raoul Wallenberg case, which has still not been resolved after 70 years. WW2DB visitors with interest in the history of the Soviet Union, especially how it affects modern day Russia, may find Birstein's new blog worth visiting.

Direct Link: http://www.vbirstein.com/