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Russia-Poland row over start of WW2 escalates Russia-Poland row over start of WW2 escalates
(32 minutes later)
A row between Russia and EU countries over the causes of World War Two has escalated, with a top Russian official condemning the US ambassador to Poland.A row between Russia and EU countries over the causes of World War Two has escalated, with a top Russian official condemning the US ambassador to Poland.
Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said a tweet by Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher was "insulting" to Russians and Americans.Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said a tweet by Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher was "insulting" to Russians and Americans.
On Monday she tweeted: "Dear President Putin, Hitler and Stalin colluded to start WWII."On Monday she tweeted: "Dear President Putin, Hitler and Stalin colluded to start WWII."
President Vladimir Putin says Poland and its allies are distorting history.President Vladimir Putin says Poland and its allies are distorting history.
During a marathon news conference on 19 December, the Russian president said it was "totally unacceptable and inaccurate" to cast equal blame on Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin for the war's outbreak.During a marathon news conference on 19 December, the Russian president said it was "totally unacceptable and inaccurate" to cast equal blame on Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin for the war's outbreak.
Mr Putin said he had requested Soviet archive documents in order to write an article on the subject - the Nazi invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 - and, in his view, to set the record straight. Mr Putin said he had requested Soviet archive documents in order to write an article on the subject - Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 - and, in his view, to set the record straight.
He argued that the Western powers and Poland had appeased Hitler's aggression by letting him grab Czechoslovakia in 1938.He argued that the Western powers and Poland had appeased Hitler's aggression by letting him grab Czechoslovakia in 1938.
The Nazi invasion of Poland came just a week after Hitler's Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov had signed a non-aggression pact on 23 August 1939, which stunned the world.The Nazi invasion of Poland came just a week after Hitler's Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov had signed a non-aggression pact on 23 August 1939, which stunned the world.
A secret clause in the pact carved up Eastern Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres of influence, allowing the two dictators - one fascist, the other communist - to occupy and dismantle Poland.A secret clause in the pact carved up Eastern Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres of influence, allowing the two dictators - one fascist, the other communist - to occupy and dismantle Poland.
Ms Mosbacher's tweet recalled that Poland was a victim of the two dictators.Ms Mosbacher's tweet recalled that Poland was a victim of the two dictators.
But Mr Volodin, who is close to Mr Putin, said the US state department ought to make sure that an ambassador such as Ms Mosbacher had sufficient knowledge of a country's history before sending her to work there.But Mr Volodin, who is close to Mr Putin, said the US state department ought to make sure that an ambassador such as Ms Mosbacher had sufficient knowledge of a country's history before sending her to work there.
Mr Putin has revived wartime Soviet symbols, and portraits of Stalin are commonly displayed in Russia now. In 2020 the 75th anniversary of the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany will be marked.Mr Putin has revived wartime Soviet symbols, and portraits of Stalin are commonly displayed in Russia now. In 2020 the 75th anniversary of the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany will be marked.
More than 20 million Soviet citizens died in what Russians call the "Great Patriotic War" after the Nazis invaded the USSR in 1941. Mr Putin's father served in Stalin's NKVD secret police and was severely wounded in the war in 1942.More than 20 million Soviet citizens died in what Russians call the "Great Patriotic War" after the Nazis invaded the USSR in 1941. Mr Putin's father served in Stalin's NKVD secret police and was severely wounded in the war in 1942.
How has this row escalated?How has this row escalated?
Monday, 30 December: Besides the tweet by the US ambassador, Germany's ambassador to Poland - Rolf Nikel - also wades into the row, tweeting: "The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact served to prepare the criminal invasion of Nazi Germany against Poland. The USSR together with Germany participated in this brutal division of Poland."Monday, 30 December: Besides the tweet by the US ambassador, Germany's ambassador to Poland - Rolf Nikel - also wades into the row, tweeting: "The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact served to prepare the criminal invasion of Nazi Germany against Poland. The USSR together with Germany participated in this brutal division of Poland."
29 December: Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki issues a statement accusing Mr Putin of using the World War Two issue as a means to cover up recent international setbacks for Russia, such as the sports sanctions imposed over Russian doping. Mr Morawiecki says "President Putin has lied about Poland on numerous occasions".29 December: Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki issues a statement accusing Mr Putin of using the World War Two issue as a means to cover up recent international setbacks for Russia, such as the sports sanctions imposed over Russian doping. Mr Morawiecki says "President Putin has lied about Poland on numerous occasions".
27 December: Poland's foreign ministry summons the Russian ambassador to protest, recalling that the war began with the Nazi-Soviet pact, and that Poland lost about six million citizens in the war.27 December: Poland's foreign ministry summons the Russian ambassador to protest, recalling that the war began with the Nazi-Soviet pact, and that Poland lost about six million citizens in the war.
19 September: A European Parliament resolution - politically significant, but not a law - urges EU states to "make a clear and principled assessment of the crimes and acts of aggression perpetrated by the totalitarian communist regimes and the Nazi regime". It describes the war as "an immediate result" of the infamous Nazi-Soviet deal in 1939.19 September: A European Parliament resolution - politically significant, but not a law - urges EU states to "make a clear and principled assessment of the crimes and acts of aggression perpetrated by the totalitarian communist regimes and the Nazi regime". It describes the war as "an immediate result" of the infamous Nazi-Soviet deal in 1939.