History /
Can a nation totally change its characteristics and national character throughout history? [79]
An interesting historical question.
The question ocurred to me after reading what Bobko wrote in another thread about the Russian army. Namely...
Anywhere we deploy them, in Africa, Latin America, or Asia - they will inevitably conquer the opposition. They are simply that hard.
Basically, nobody but Ukrainians can resist them. And Ukrainians are struggling.
... and it is this "basically, nobody but Ukrainians can resist them" bit that got me thinking.
Can a nation change totally in a rather short time of, let's say for example, 70-80 years? Are Germans still the same orderly, obedient and organised Germans that they were in the past? Are Finns the same distant, somewhat cold, consistent people that they used to be? Is Italian character basically the same that it was in the past? You get my drift.
Current Ukrainian soldiers are direct descendants of OUN/UPA "heroes". Admittedly, they might not (and, hopefully, do not) share their grandfathers' genocidal ideologies but in terms of language, culture, genetics etc. they are basically the same nation, the same people.
As we remember from history, Banderist forces were rather reluctant to fight anything more dangerous than a mother with her small children and their teddy bear. It happened sometimes, but the cases were few and far between. UPA units preferred, by and large, to conduct a withdrawal operation at the very sight of enemy combat forces (whether it was Soviet Army, Home Army or Polish Army). In general, they were really shining only when deployed against civilians. You catch my drift.
However, these days, when - with the help of most of civilised world - they face Russian invasion, we hear that they are the only ones in the Milky Way (
and possibly beyond) who could ever face Russians. As a member of a nation that actually faced Russians in history (sometimes even with success) I find this is extremely fascinating, and I feel that it can lead me to only two conclusions...
a) the descendants of banderists somehow magically turned into people of incredible bravery, honour and fighting spirit
b) they are still basically the same people culturally and genetically as their UPA grandfathers, but it is Russians who are making a complete and utter mess of their invasion
...
tertium non datur, as a famous ancient philosopher, Myhailo of Kievan Rus, used to say.
Which option, dear PF members, do you think is more likely to be true:
a or b? Cast your votes.
