Thinking of Jovanka... ¶8. (C) In response to Charges observation that Serbia was in an awkward situation having to welcome Russian President Vladimir Medvedev in commemoration of the Soviet Armys assistance in liberating Belgrade. Jovanka said the Russians were greatly exaggerating their role. The Partizans liberated Belgrade, she said, the Soviet role was back-up (potpomoc). She said the Russians were on their way to Berlin from Bulgaria, via Belgrade BELGRADE 00000839 003 OF 004 and Budapest, but their role in defeating the Germans in the was not decisive. Furthermore, she said, Soviet military behavior following the war was a huge headache for Tito. According to Jovanka, the Soviets acted as an occupying power in Yugoslavia, which was humiliating since we liberated ourselves. She said the Belgrade area was full of marauding Siberians and Central Asians thinking they could have their way with our Partizan women. The situation got so bad that then Yugoslav Ambassador to Russia, Milovan Djilas, had to ask Stalin to ask the troops to stop raping Yugoslav women, to which Stalin famously replied, boys will be boys, theyve been at war and need to unwind.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 19:37:50 +0000
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