liberation

liberation. Despite dictionary definitions, liberation is a term which in the context of war is usually employed selectively and subjectively, i.e. for military operations that are approved. Hence, in Allied literature, military operations undertaken by the western Allies or by the USSR are described as ‘liberations’, while similar operations conducted by Axis forces are described as ‘invasions’ or ‘occupations’. In Axis literature, the roles of ‘liberator’ and ‘occupier’ are exactly reversed.

Reality was rather more complicated. The only true touchstone of liberation must be sought in the feelings and attitudes of the supposedly liberated populations. Yet such attitudes were often ambiguous. In many parts of the USSR and eastern Europe, for example, where Soviet and Nazi regimes were equally resented, the arrival of the Red Army or of the Wehrmacht could be felt as a longed-for liberation and a hated occupation at one and the same time. The German advance into the Baltic States in 1941 was welcome to the extent that it put an end to the murderous Soviet occupation of the previous year. Yet it brought terrible impositions and murderous policies of its own. Similarly, the western advance of the Soviet armies in 1944–5 was welcome to the extent that it put an end to the murderous Nazi occupation of the previous years; yet it brought reprisals and totalitarian policies that were no less vicious than those it removed. Liberations that did not liberate are not worthy of the name. See also collaboration and occupation.

Norman Davies