Stallin Welcomes Back Nazi Held Soviet POWs At The End Of The War?

[SlickWilly]

It Seems in his paranoia, Stallin remembered that previous returning Russian POWs from 19th century conflicts brought with them radical ideas which could lead to revolution as a consequence, many returning Soviet POWs were killed or Gulaged! What if this was not the case and the religious freedoms which had been granted in a show of national unity during the war and clamping down on anti-semetism as also happened then continued after the war.

[NoOneFamous]

ASB, Stalin is too paranoid to do that

[MerryPrankster]

ASB, Stalin is too paranoid to do that

He could also paranoidly think that if he did that, it could provoke opposition to his rule.

[Snake Featherston]

This requires a radical enough change in the Stalinist system that it's arguable there would have been far fewer such POWs in the first place and a shorter war with an even more decisive and more rapid Soviet victory than IOTL. Stalin's predilections toward the Romanov disease need to really get a shot in the arm somehow.

[Elfwine]

This requires a radical enough change in the Stalinist system that it's arguable there would have been far fewer such POWs in the first place and a shorter war with an even more decisive and more rapid Soviet victory than IOTL. Stalin's predilections toward the Romanov disease need to really get a shot in the arm somehow.

Incurable and inexplicable distrust of anyone who might resemble a threat?

[Evan]

I think the simplest way to have this happen would be to either have Stalin die or have Russia be so close to being defeated that it literally can't afford to lose them.

[Snake Featherston]

Incurable and inexplicable distrust of anyone who might resemble a threat?

No, the Romanov disease was military parade fever. It was a joke from Tsarist times. If Stalin's willingness to favor the army can get a boost somehow, then he would welcome back his POWs. He would also have adopted very different policies prior to WWII that butterfly away the entire start of the war as we know it.

[Elfwine]

No, the Romanov disease was military parade fever. It was a joke from Tsarist times. If Stalin's willingness to favor the army can get a boost somehow, then he would welcome back his POWs. He would also have adopted very different policies prior to WWII that butterfly away the entire start of the war as we know it.

Ah, misread.

Wouldn't this take a rather different Stalin from the start of his rule, not just the years of purging prior to WWII ?

[MerryPrankster]

Just because someone is paranoid doesn't mean it is INEVITABLE he will commit a certain action based on his paranoia.

[Snake Featherston]

Ah, misread.

Wouldn't this take a rather different Stalin from the start of his rule, not just the years of purging prior to WWII ?

Yes, which is why I said the changes required to Stalinism are too vast to make it recognizable. ;)

[Elfwine]

Just because someone is paranoid doesn't mean it is INEVITABLE he will commit a certain action based on his paranoia.

It does seem rather likely that if not "radical ideas", a lot of these guys will fall under "Stalin sees anyone who isn't sucking his...man-thing...as a threat." whether by ill fortune or not.

It would be a darkly amusing irony for them to be welcomed back...and then killed in a purge for unrelated reasons.

[Johnrankins]

Near ASB as Stalin was a complete paranoid who trusted no one. Besides that he probably that it made an example of anyone thinking about surrendering in any future war.

[seraphim74]

Problem is Stalin already in 1941 declared all Soviet POWs traitors, because they surrendered instead of fighting and dying for the Motherland. The families of POWs were persecuted as families of traitors. He might be more lenient towards the civilians taken to Germany as forced workforce, but he was indeed affraid they would tell the Soviets some very unconvenient things comparing life in Western Europe with life in USSR.