The Lesser Evil: Soviet Union vs Nazi Germany - A Critical Analysis

When comparing the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, it's crucial to understand the different contexts and the distinct ways each regime treated their citizens. Often, discussions revolve around the comparison between the two dictatorships, overlooking the fact that their policies and human rights records were vastly different.

Contextualizing the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany

Despite the terrible crimes committed by the Nazi regime, the Soviet Union, despite its much smaller population relative to its vast territory, treated its own citizens in a manner that prioritized expendable labor over respect for human life. Even those without political power were considered worth little more than a cheap laborer, and often faced conditions that would be considered inhumane in any society.

The Nazi regime, while undeniably brutal towards Jews and other minorities, often ensured that citizens, especially non-biracial white men of a non-criminal background, were treated as normal citizens, with human rights still applicable. However, this was not the case in the Soviet Union, where the system was fundamentally geared towards exploiting and dehumanizing the workforce regardless of their social or political standing.

Comparing the Treatment of Citizens

The Soviet Union's disregard for human rights was evident in various policies and practices. For instance, USSR citizens without political power were often subjected to forced labor in Gulags, even when there were no criminals available for such work. This is a stark contrast to Nazi Germany, which, while undoubtedly inhumane, had policies that at least in theory provided protections for certain groups within their society.

It's also important to note that the Nazi regime announced before the war that they would allow Jews to leave Germany and even provided facilities for their stay, a step that can be seen as an act of humanitarian concern, albeit a deeply misguided and ultimately ineffective one. In this sense, while both regimes were totalitarian and oppressive, the Soviet Union's treatment of its own people was arguably more brutal and less concerned with the ethical treatment of its populace.

Impact on Civilians and Civilians' Experiences

During the Second World War, the experiences of civilians in both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany were deeply traumatic. Cities like Dresden were decimated by Allied bombings, while civilians suffered under relentless bombardment and ensuing scarcity. The Soviet Union, which bore the brunt of the German invasion, faced similar hardships, with cities like Stalingrad becoming battlegrounds for both military and civilian suffering. However, these experiences do not negate the inherent differences in the way the regimes treated their citizens.

Many often romanticize the concentration camps and the suffering they imposed, but it's important to recognize that these structures were a monument to the darkest aspects of human nature, regardless of their location or narrow time frames. The lasting impact of these camps is a testament to the brutality both regimes were capable of.

Personal Reflections

As a personal account, I lived in the USSR until the age of 24, and I must say, I had a happy childhood. Summer camps were a significant part of the experience, providing a unique and affordable way for children to enjoy the outdoors and develop social skills. Urban life in the USSR was not paradise, yet it offered certain benefits, such as very cheap and practically free apartments, free university education, and free, including dental care.

However, these advantages must be weighed against the oppressive and dehumanizing policies of the Soviet regime. Human rights were often trampled upon in favor of economic and political goals. This personal experience highlights the complex nature of the Soviet Union, but it does not make it less undesirable. It is a critical reminder that while the Nazi regime was undoubtedly more destructive in certain ways, the Soviet Union still inflicted immense suffering on its own people.

In conclusion, while both regimes were oppressive and caused immense suffering, the treatment of citizens in the Soviet Union was often inhumane and focused on exploiting labor regardless of social status, while Nazi Germany, though brutal, did make some attempts to treat certain groups as human beings, albeit misguided and ultimately ineffective.

Despite the horrors of both regimes, attempting to declare one as worse than the other without considering these nuances can lead to a misunderstanding of history. Each regime should be judged on its own merits and the impact it had on the lives of its citizens and the wider world.

Final Thoughts

It is crucial to acknowledge the horrors of both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. While the latter is often seen as the epitome of totalitarian evil, the Soviet Union's treatment of citizens and the disregard for human rights make it a darker period in history. However, it is important to recognize that Nazi Germany, while also inhumane, did not treat its citizens as expendable in the same way as the Soviet Union did.

To sum up, human rights and dignity were central to Nazi Germany's policies, even if that dignity was deeply flawed, whereas the Soviet Union's policies often disregarded human dignity and prioritized labor over ethical treatment.

Keywords: Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, Human Rights