... Further to our 'Friendly WW2 Russian 'Allies' - It is often overlooked that
shortly after Poland was invaded by Germany - Stalin surprised the West by
signing a Non Aggression Pact with Germany - Also stabbing Poland in the back by invading - In effect aiding and abetting our enemy. It wasnt until Germany then invaded Russia in 1941 that Stalin wished to be friends with the West. However most if not all requests to Stalin to offer landing and refueling facilities at Russian airfields for UK and US airforce deep penetration raids over hostile territory were usually met with cold decline - With similar coldness often awarded to our forgotten merchant seamen who had braved harsh freezing ocean waters, many suffering torpedoe attacks
and drowning in the icy artic waters to Murmansk - Bringing much needed war munitions to what was often a cold sullen reception - with our seaman usually confined to their ships and not allowed ashore - Such was the Russian gratitude and hospitality - apart from the isolated exception.
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