So let us do real fighting, boring in and gouging, biting.

Let's take a chance now that we have the ball.

Let's forget those fine, firm bases in the dreary, shell-raked spaces.

Let's shoot the works and win.

Yes, win it all. U.S. General George Patton.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music The

The Episode 443, Shoot the Works

On July 17, 1944, the Soviet government celebrated the success of Operation Bagratian with a spectacle,

marching some 57,000 tired, unshaven and bedraggled German prisoners of war through the streets of Moscow.

This event was later dubbed the Parade of the Vanquished.

These prisoners had been captured two weeks earlier and brought to Moscow to demonstrate

the magnitude of the Soviet victory.

When they first arrived at the Soviet capital, some of these German POWs expressed

surprise that the city was mostly intact.

They'd been told the Luftwaffe had reduced Moscow to rubble.

The German prisoners also had opportunity to witness what was becoming a regular ritual in Moscow,

yet another artillery salute celebrating the liberation of yet another Soviet

city. These salutes had grown increasingly elaborate and now included the nighttime firing of

multi-colored star shells in red, green, white, and blue. Most averted their eyes from the Soviet celebrations,

though a few shouts of,

Hitler kaput could be heard.

...