Russia Does Disneyworld....

[ORAC]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/22/russian-replica-to-give-children-chance-to-storm-the-reichstag

The Russian defence ministry is constructing a replica of the Reichstag at a military theme park on the outskirts of Moscow, to allow patriotic Russian children to recreate the storming of the building during the Soviet capture of Berlin in 1945.

Russia’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, announced the plan for the replica during a speech to the Duma, Russia’s parliament, on Wednesday.

“We are constructing the Reichstag in Patriot Park,” he said. “Not in full, but still. Now our Youth Army guys can storm not just any old thing but the actual building.”......

[Wensleydale]

The Russian Bear Necessities?

[Chugalug2]

You could hardly call the real one 'in full' after the Red Army had finished with it.

[thunderbird7]

Maybe we could build Hougoumont farm on the playing fields of Eton and kids could bash the French every day in celebration after Brexit?

[noflynomore]

I think this (if not an April Fool's joke) is a really worrying glimpse into the Russian government's psyche.

As a bad-taste exercise it can hardly get worse, can it? I'll leave it to your imagination what the subject of an equivalent park in Germany might offer for the entertainment of the youth in whom they are trying to inculcate the hatreds and emnities of the past. How is this any different?

It certainly doesn't bode well for hopes of any rapprochement between E and W, does it? Quite the opposite in fact, this is clearly intended to actively develop anti western hatred. Just more proof of the Thug in the Kremlin's crusade to turn Russia into a dangerous global bully again.

Shame, shame on Russia.

[Just a spotter]

FWIW,

having recently spent a few days in Berlin, any "patriotic" Russian youth (or otherwise) would be better served by visiting the real building, wandering a few minutes down the road into Tiergarten to view the Soviet War Memorial there, then spend some time to generally soak up and gain an understanding of the relatively recent history of the city and country to appreciate what it all represents and the dangers of what repeating the mistakes could mean for a big chunk of the planets population.

JAS

[A_Van]

Just a spotter,


You wrote:
Russian youth (or otherwise) would be better served by visiting the real building, wandering a few minutes down the road into Tiergarten to view the Soviet War Memorial there

Absolutely right. There is also a large memorial in Treptower park (south east Berlin). I was always appreciating that such things were kept in good order there.

The idea of our Russian MoD bureaucrats is just stupid.

[Molemot]

I wonder if they will have other groups of children playing the part of the "Morale Raising Battalions".
Yet another worrying development; I have a nasty feeling that we are all being groomed for another war.....

[Dougie M]

An interesting part of the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower park which we were obliged to visit in uniform on each visit to Berlin before glasnost was that there were separate memorials to all 16 Soviet States. There aren't that many left to Comrade P to wage war with now,

[Buster Hyman]

And if any kids decide they don't want to go in & turn back, will they be shot for desertion?