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What James Holland thinks about Russia

@james-holland · 27 positions · 0 changes of mind

British historian and writer specialising in the Second World War, author of the War in the West series and co-host of the podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk.

James Holland did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

4 dated positions, 2025, in their own words. Our reading of what James Holland has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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  1. Our readingOperation Barbarossa should never have come close to being a victory; the Germans got as far as they did because of Red Army and Soviet incompetence, not German prowess.

    Their wordsI mean, it is largely down to incompetence of the Red Army and the Soviet leadership in the summer of 1941 that they get as far as they do. I mean, Barbarossa should never have come close to being a victory.

    ↗James Holland: World War II, Hitler, Churchill, Stalin & Biggest Battles | Lex Fridman Podcast #470youtube.com 1st of 27 in this recording

  3. Our readingFrom the moment Hitler took power in 1933 a war between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union was inevitable; only which of them would fire first was undecided.

    Their wordsI think whoever fired first was not decided at that point, but I do think that from the moment that Hitler takes power in 1933, a conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany is inevitable.

    ↗James Holland: World War II, Hitler, Churchill, Stalin & Biggest Battles | Lex Fridman Podcast #470youtube.com 13th of 27 in this recording

  5. Our readingHitler was always going to invade the Soviet Union unless the Soviet Union struck first; no Allied decision forced that war on him.

    Their wordsWell, no, because Hitler was always going to invade the Soviet Union unless the Soviet Union invaded Germany first. So that was always going to happen.

    ↗James Holland: World War II, Hitler, Churchill, Stalin & Biggest Battles | Lex Fridman Podcast #470youtube.com 16th of 27 in this recording

  7. Our readingIt was not the street fighting in Stalingrad that destroyed the German Sixth Army, it was the encirclement that followed.

    Their wordsAnd Russians will hate me for saying this, and I probably will get a whole load of bots on the back of it, but the truth is, it is not the street fighting that destroys Sixth Army, it is the encirclement, the subsequent encirclement.

    ↗James Holland: World War II, Hitler, Churchill, Stalin & Biggest Battles | Lex Fridman Podcast #470youtube.com 26th of 27 in this recording