Is History in Europe Destined to Repeat Itself?

Question

On October 3, 1938, Adolf Hitler's armies marched into Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia. Germany said it was responding to separatist demands from the large German population that lived there and that she was merely honoring their desire for reunion with Germany. Hitler's tanks took over a vital part of an independent country that had largely rejected his overtures and allied itself with the West. Neither Britain nor France nor the United States did a thing to stop him.

On August 7, 2008, Vladimir Putin's armies marched into South Ossetia, a part of Georgia. Russia said it was responding to separatist demands from the large Russian population that lived there and that she was merely honoring their desire for reunion with Russia. Putin's tanks took over a vital part of an independent country that had largely rejected his overtures and allied itself with the West. Neither Britain nor France nor the United States did a thing to stop him.

Encouraged by his occupation of Sudetenland, Hitler continued his designs on Czechoslovakia itself and invaded the rest of the nation a few months later.

Answer 1

yes, history always repeats itself. people need to start studying the past to prevent future mistakes.

Answer 2

Yes.  Indeed it is my friend but worse.  I see most of Europe and all of the Middle and East involved in it.  I see no one surviving from it....

Answer 3

Somehow, though I am not fond of the baby, belly kissing Putin he hardly  seems to mimic the maniacal tendencies of an Adolf. His political oats are likely well spent in a relatively harmless region, barring the oil pipe line which doesn't begin to meet world demand anyway. Certainly the most productive approach at this stage would be to ignore it as a largely self developed phenomenon that has been itching for a conclusion.

Answer 4

Godwin's Law strikes again!

So, is it OK for the US to support separatists in Serbia, but not in Georgia? Or Russia to support separatists in Georgia but not in Serbia?

All I can tell you is that neither government in Washington or Moscow really cares what best for the people in Kosovo or Tskhinvali

Answer 5

That is why we cannot appease Russia by allowing them to annex Georgia.

We need to resurrect Churchill.

Answer 6

Georgia, located north east of Turkey, can hardly be considered a part of europe.

Also, you forgot to mention that prior to the russian intervention, Georgia had started to attack South Ossetia in order to reconquer it, so there are no real similarities with the events before WWII.South Ossetia may be formally a part of Georgia, but de facto it is not, since declaring its independence a few years ago.

Answer 7

This would be a great time for Ukrainians to" run for the hills"