P.O.W. Holden

Recently I has opened for myself remarkable actor William Holden. Actually, this name was known for me for a long time, but for a while somehow it was not possible to see him «in practice». And while watching the old version of "Sabrina" with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart I has found out with surprise, reading a caption that the role of younger Larrabee, a role almost comic, was performed by William Holden. And my surprise was aroused that I heard about Holden as the actor of heroic roles.

Then I have watched two pictures, in which Holden plays leading roles: «Stalag 17» and «The Bridge on the River Kwai». As the general conditions for this were appropriate: the world celebrated 66th anniversary of a victory over fascism.

Really, William Holden – the remarkable actor! A remarkable non-standard, eccentricity, versatility. However, Let him pass, Holden. I think, both before me and without me, and at higher professional level many flatter words were written and told about Holden. I – about other.

At watching of these two absolutely remarkable pictures to any Soviet spectator (in this case means the spectator who has been brought up in the Soviet pictures about war) almost comfortable conditions in which there were American and British prisoners of war will be evident. Especially, in German camp for prisoners of war. Well, maybe conditions for the British fighters in the Japanese camp were a bit worse, but certainly in relation to the Japanese they can afford such a hundredth of what a Soviet POW would be killed several times. Differently, conditions of life of soldiers of the countries-allies in camps for prisoners of war in hundreds times were better, than similar conditions for the Soviet soldiers. This difference is perfectly illustrated by two figures: from the total number of prisoners of war of allied armies in a captivity were lost less than 3 % while from total number of the Soviet prisoners of war in a captivity 57 % were lost.

Feel, how the prisoner of war is dressed? In Russia even now in a peace time far not each "free" presumes to himself such jacket. And what sufferings could be undergone the Soviet prisoner of war in German camps, only God knows. As very few people from them there has survived. And who has survived – has disappeared in Stalin camps.

Explanation to this fact is simple enough: the USSR was one of few countries, refused to sign the Geneva convention to the Treatment of prisoners of war of 1929. At first against signing of this convention has acted Tukhachevsky, at that time still live and all from himself an ardent Bolshevik. Well, and then Stalin has equated hit in a captivity to treachery, to transition to the party of the enemy. They thereby also have doomed MILLIONS our soldiers and officers (to recollect enough that only for the first months of war approximately 5 million soldiers and officers have appeared in a captivity) to painful death from hands of fascists in prisoner-of-war camps, and their relatives – on a shame, deprivations and humiliations with in back.

And in the Japanese camp for prisoners of war the British officer does not look shabby.

In this connection one question torments me: what refusal of signing of the Geneva convention has given in the military relation? It is absolutely clear that in demographic, and, hence, in the economic relation it was a pure idiocy. After all the country has appeared in the demographic relation rejected on many years ago owing to destruction of millions able-bodied men and women. It is absolutely clear that in respect of morals it was the real cannibalism in relation to the people. But, maybe, in the military relation this decision had though any positive sense? Is there anybody who has some considerations on it, please, share?