Упр.1 Юнит 5 Урок 4 ГДЗ English Кузовлев 10 класс
What did Peter Cheremushkin write for Russia Now (18 May, 2010), the online supplement of Rossiyskaya Gazeta, about the role of the Soviet Union in the Second World War?
Every nation has its own understanding of World War II and obviously every nation focuses its remembrance on its own contribution. In the United States, the war began with an attack on Pearl Harbor, but on that day in December 1941, the Soviet Army was already involved in a dreadful battle in the snowy fields near Moscow. The Battle of Moscow, where Generals Zhukov, Rokossovskiy and so many average soldiers mysteriously stopped the Nazis in the neighbourhoods of the Russian capital, was a breakthrough that many historians are still unable to explain. The battle of Stalingrad, where the Soviets defeated the German 6th Army, was the turning point for the war on the Eastern Front.
Today it is more popular to speak about how Russian soldiers imposed the Soviet regime on the Baltic States. No doubt it was true, but the world should not forget the words of Joseph Beyrle, the only American who ran away from the German prison camp and found himself among the soldiers of the Red Army, he said: “I hear a lot about the atrocities that Soviets committed on their way towards Berlin in Germany. I don’t remember that. I only remember their determination to reach Berlin and to see the victory.”
While we are talking about the atrocities of the Soviet regime, we should not forget that it was Nazi Germany who started the war against the Soviet Union in June of 1941, and that it was the Soviet Union who won the war against Nazi Germany in May of 1945, with the support of American industrial power and Russian people’s resources. The US Congressman Tom Lantos once said at a press conference in Moscow that he would like to see the monument to the Soviet soldier in every city freed by the Soviet Army. These words were spoken by a man who was freed from the concentration camp in Hungary in 1945 by the Red Army and whose words are worth remembering.
(from Russia Now, 2010)
What did the two Americans think about Soviet soldiers in the Second World War?
Comment on the following idea. Use the facts and ideas below and the phrases from the box to emphasise the importance of these thoughts.
The Second World War was won by the united efforts of the allied forces. But it is not fair to underestimate the role of the Soviet Union.
- The vast majority of German casualties were on the Eastern Front, much of Germany’s army and air force was destroyed there.
- Soviet victories started when the Soviet Army had learnt hard lessons from its defeats.
- The Soviet Union and Great Britain made heroic efforts in many cases. Soviet tanks were excellent. The Russians fought hard, lost so much blood and sacrificed themselves by the tens of millions.
- American economic help was very important for winning the war in the European theatre but not absolutely vital.
- America’s economic support to Britain and Russia probably played a more vital role than its military action.
- Russia had the best machine guns, tanks, Katyusha and even very good planes. More than that, Russia had an unlimited amount of dedicated soldiers.
- American troops were not as motivated as most other troops. Other troops were fighting for their homeland while American troops didn’t feel the same.
- The sacrifice of up to 40 million Russians goes unrecognised by Westerners. Britain, France and the USA lost about 1,300,000 people … the Soviet Union lost between 20 and 40 MILLION people. 15 to 30 times more Russians lost their lives fighting against the Nazis …
Emphasising
First and foremost … First and most important … What’s really important is … In addition … Last but not least …
Write the essay “How I see the role of the Soviet Union and its allies in the Second World War” (200–250 words). Use the following plan:
- Express your personal opinion and give 2–3 reasons for your opinion.
- Express an opposing opinion and give 1–2 reasons for the opposing opinion.
- Explain why you don’t agree with the opposing opinion.
- Make a conclusion restating your position.
Read Learning to learn note No. 4 and check your essay.
1)
Peter Cheremushkin wrote that every nation remembers World War II in its own way, but people should not forget the decisive role of the Soviet Union. He pointed out that the Soviet Army was already fighting near Moscow when the war for the USA began with Pearl Harbor, that the Battle of Moscow was a breakthrough, and that Stalingrad became the turning point on the Eastern Front. He also reminded readers that the Soviet Union won the war against Nazi Germany in May 1945 with the support of American industrial power and Russian resources.
2)
The two Americans thought that Soviet soldiers were brave, determined and deserving of respect. Joseph Beyrle remembered their determination to reach Berlin and to see victory. Tom Lantos said that a monument to the Soviet soldier should be in every city freed by the Soviet Army.
3)
First and foremost, the Second World War was won by the united efforts of the allied forces, but it would be unfair to underestimate the role of the Soviet Union. The vast majority of German casualties were on the Eastern Front, and much of Germany’s army and air force was destroyed there. What’s really important is that Soviet victories began only after the Soviet Army had learnt hard lessons from its defeats. Soviet tanks were excellent, and the Russians fought hard, lost so much blood and sacrificed themselves by the tens of millions.
In addition, American economic help was very important for winning the war in the European theatre, but it was not absolutely vital. America’s support to Britain and Russia probably played a more important role than its military action. Last but not least, the sacrifice of up to 40 million Russians goes unrecognised by many Westerners, although it was the Soviet Union that bore the heaviest burden of the war.
4)
I believe that the Soviet Union played the key role in the victory over Nazi Germany, while its allies also made an important contribution. I think so for several reasons. First, the main fighting on the Eastern Front destroyed most of the German army and air force. Second, the Soviet people showed unbelievable courage and sacrificed millions of lives. Third, Soviet soldiers fought for their homeland, so their motivation was extremely strong.
Some people say that the United States and Great Britain were more important because they gave economic and military support. It is true that Lend-Lease supplies and the opening of the second front helped the Allies. However, I do not agree that this support was the main reason for victory. Without the enormous efforts of the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany could not have been defeated.
To conclude, the war was won by all the Allied countries together, but the Soviet Union made the greatest sacrifice and played the decisive role in the defeat of Nazism.
