Putin’s Stalingrad analogy is lost in translation

OTTAWA—On Feb. 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a ceremony to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory at the Battle of Stalingrad. While Putin used the occasion to make a convoluted comparison of that epic Second World War battle to Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine, the fact remains that Stalingrad was the bloodiest martial clash in the history of mankind. Lost in Putin’s analogy is the fact that at Stalingrad, it was Soviet forces—which included both Russians and Ukrainians—that defeated Hitler’s Axis coalition. The current conflict pits Russian and pro-Russian Ukrainian militias against the NATO-supported Armed forces of Ukraine. While the destruction and casualty rate in this current war seem unthinkable to Canadians, they are a mere pittance compared to the Soviet sacrifice in the Second World War. In the first 12 months since Putin launched an invasion force of 190,000 Russian troops into Ukraine, western intelligence agencies estimate the Russians have suffered 80,000 fatalities. Although Ukraine’s battlefield losses are not reported, objective analysis would indicate that they have suffered a similar number of soldiers killed. That would amount to 160,000 fatalities in 12 months for an average of 13,330 combat deaths per month. To put that in perspective, the five-month long battle of Stalingrad claimed an estimated two million lives. That averages out to 13,330 deaths every single day—30 times the fatality rate of the current war. The nature of warfare has evolved over the ages, as has modern society’s willingness to accept unquestioningly massive losses of human life. In April 1917, Canadians hailed the capture of Vimy Ridge in France, despite the fact that in the two-day battle, the Canadian Army corps suffered 10,600 casualties of which roughly 3,600 were fatal. It was a steep price to pay for a few hundred yards of ridgeline. In fact, by First World War standards, the capture of Vimy Ridge by Canadians was considered to be a tactical success with comparatively light casualties. The year before, on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, British attackers had suffered 57,000 casualties, of which 19,500 were fatal, and they had not captured any significant ground. During the Second World War, Canadians experienced and accepted a significant loss of soldiers during the Dieppe Raid of Aug. 19, 1942. This amphibious assault landing of more than 6,000 infantry was a predominantly Canadian effort. In theory, the German-occupied port of Dieppe, France, was to be captured and held by the Canadians for a brief period, before the attacking force was to make a calculated withdrawal. However, as the actual raid unfolded, it became evident that the aerial and naval support was insufficient to enable the Canadian assault force to achieve their objectives. The tanks became trapped on the beaches and the Canadian infantry were pinned down by heavy German fire. Within 10 hours, the fiasco had fully unfolded: 3,623 of the 6,086 Allied soldiers who landed on the beach had been killed, wounded, or captured by the Germans. Of course, the heavily censored wartime propaganda machine told Canadians that the Dieppe raid was a “success,” but the casualty list could not hide the scale of the sacrifice suffered. By contrast, during the 10-year combat commitment of Canadian troops to Afghanistan, the Canadian military suffered 158 fatalities and 2,000-plus physically wounded or injured. It was not a war we could ever win, as our soldiers were part of an American-led occupation of a foreign nation with an unceasingly hostile population. As such, the relatively few Canadian soldiers killed and wounded still made Canadians question whether or not the toll was worth it. In the end, the Canadian government cut our losses and withdrew troops from the mission. At Stalingrad, Hitler’s Axis forces posed an existential threat to the people of the Soviet Union. The Soviets had no option but to succeed on the battlefield or submit to Nazi tyranny. That is where Putin’s rationale of comparing the Stalingrad battle to the present invasion of Ukraine falls apart. It is the Ukrainians in this instance that feel they face an existential threat. As such, they are exhibiting a willingness to self-sacrifice on a scale that Canadians simply cannot imagine. Scott Taylor is the editor and publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine. The Hill Times

Putin’s Stalingrad analogy is lost in translation

As much as the Russian president may want to draw parallels, in the current context, it’s the Ukrainians who are facing the existential threat.

Canada’s aging crisis and a call for reform in eldercare

As COP29 wraps up, will Canada finally stop funding fossils this fall?

Addressing the threat of antimicrobial resistance

The wisdom of Homer Simpson and Aaron Sorkin

Climate finance should target resilient food systems

Trump’s ‘America First’ plans may undermine global trade

Inside Russia at war

NATO Summit a cluster of missed chances to prep for the future

Navigating the narratives of the Russian invasion

The tide has changed for the Russian war machine

Will the West’s support for Ukraine stand the test of time?

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Advertise

subscribe

get help

Get free news updates

Submit a guest opinion article

Putin’s Stalingrad analogy is lost in translation

As much as the Russian president may want to draw parallels, in the current context, it’s the Ukrainians who are facing the existential threat.

Get The Foreign Policy Newsletter