Right then, can I get you opinion on something. Abuse in of women in post war Berlin

[girlylala0807]

Good evening,

Im studying history at university. We have recently been discussing the rape of German women by the Red Army. As im sure you understand, it is a very sensitive topic. However, ive beena bit shocked by the attitudes of fellow students. I dont know if its because im older, well im 30 most of them are 21.

So the stance most of them had was that rape in this case was acceptable and that Berlin women could not be considered to be victims.

They said it was acceptable when you viewed it in the context of the Holocaust. They also said that basically all Germans were guilty of some kind of Nazi crime so they deserved what they got.

This does not sit well with me. Can you share your thoughts with me on this one ladies.

Frankly though Blackwell, if I was a German during WWII and I knew about it, although I would have been sickened to the stomach I am not convinced I would have said or done anything at all - as my first concern would have been the safety of my children.

I would like to think that had I been a childless German however, I would have been more cavalier about my personal safety

Yes, I thought that was the case. It wasn't a deliberate widespread policy in occupied territories.

I teach anti racism studies and this entire element of the end of the second ww is totally dismaying
the rape to death of women by the russians at the end of the war

Disagree Stewie - it really wasn't as simple as that, from History Today Sept 2010:

"When ...Jan Karski travelled to Washington DC in the summer of 1943 to present his evidence of the Holocaust to a group of American Jewish leaders...After he had finished his testimony which included his own eyewitness account of life in the Warsaw Ghetto and the murders taking place at the Izbica transit camp, Karski was addressed by Justice Felix Frankfurter of the US Supreme Court: 'Mr Karski,' he said, 'I am unable to believe you'"

Rumours of the Holocaust abounded in Germany but people either did not believe them or chose not to believe them (it was too dangerous to do otherwise)

Yes that is in concentration camps. I was wondering about civilians in occupied territories. I haven't seen any links to that. I was wondering if it was the norm or not when the Nazis occupied a country?

found a link Claig not sure how robust it is

hmc, are you a historian?

In training Claig - the worst sort!

It's fascinating. I'm not one, but I do like the subject.

I don't understand that. Why would rapes give the DRC a bargaining chair?

Thousands of women were involved in deportations etc. But did they know that the people were being sent to their death?

Wow, I've never heard of that. So the UN are effectively complicit? Is this kept quiet?because I don't remember hearing this on Channel 4 news, unless I didn't pay enough attention at the time