Military History

History isn't just written by the victors. It is written by the more articulate, media savvy, english speaking sides.

We have all read about of the exploits of the allies in the world wars. Most of us have admired the brave american and british soldiers. Some of us would have marvelled at the efficiency of the German armed forces. But nary a thought is spared for the Russians. The largest losses were suffered by the Russians. The course of the war was reversed by the Russians. They retreated from their eastern front right back to Moscow, and advanced again, pushing back the German forces. It was the red army that liberated Poland and freed the inmates of Auschwitz.

Yet, it is only now that the Russian veterans of the great war are demanding their rightful place in history, in public consciousness. They feel they have been denied credit due them, but not in their own country. It's only in the english speaking and reading areas that the contributions of the red army have been ignored. Russia has always held its veterans in high esteem. More than in Russia, it is in Israel that the achievements of these strong silent men are venerated.

Israel declared 09 May, the day of the German defeat, as a national holiday in in 1996. Every Israeli city has a WW-II memorial. For getting their matriculation certificate, all students have to pass an exam in military history. To make sure the younger generations remember the contribution of the soldiers of the great war, grandchildren of these soldiers march with them in an annual parade. They share photographs and stories of their grandfathers and feel a part of the struggle against the Nazi regime.

Recently, Israel celebrated 70 years of Hitler’s defeat.The whole country was able to appreciate the significance of the event due their deep involvement with their veterans and understanding of their military history. The event was attended by the Israeli Prime Minister and President. Not only were all the Israeli war veterans invited as guests, but so were those from Russia and the other allies. Israel acknowledged the Russians and other allies soldiers as saviors of the Jewish people.

Will we ever see such an acknowledgement for the Indian army from Bangladesh? Or our own countrymen? India’s 1965 war celebrations were a much quieter affair, with only the armed forces setting up stalls at the venue.  The actual veterans, camping a few km away, were totally ignored. The tussle between the bureaucracy and the veterans is understandable, but what about the public? They have no idea of the wars fought or being fought. Military history is hardly a priority area, except for career soldiers. The Israeli response to external threat is often quoted on Indian TV debates, and the Entebbe rescue has inspired a few Bollywood flicks. But the Israeli attitude is fashioned through a sound national policy. Israel does not think of the military as an Insurance policy. For Insurance policies are meant to help recover from losses. Militaries are meant to avoid losses altogether.

After all, the Indian armed forces, though well versed in English, aren't any more media savvy than the Russians. And they never marched into a concentration camp to rescue starved, flogged, gassed Indians. One pregnant woman on the rooftop of a flooded house is hardly an Auschwitz now, is it?