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I recall reading stories (with no idea as to accuracy) of WWII Russian POWs attempting suicide to avoid be “repatriated” back to mother Russia.
100% spot on. They were all treated as 'contaminated and untrustworthy' even unto death.
ISTR the Allies behaved disgracefully with respect to 'returning' certain peoples to the 'other side' after WWII, so as to avoid upsetting our red allies who were about to become our cold war foes. I think the word appeasement had been retranslated into realpolitik.
I just watched a drama-doc which showed
Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvili running rings round the remainder of the Allies with respect to promising democratic elections in their newly 'liberated' territiories. Just like the current lot with their dictatorship at home and fake referenda in their temporarily stolen territories. Josef even re-badged a whole russian army and air force into Polish uniform, to keep the locals in order.
PS - Don't mention Katyn.
... LFH