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During WW2 my maternal grandfather and his family including my infant mother were evacuated at a camp by the Allies. One day a British officer summoned him. Apparently he spoke German, for my grandfather did only speak German and Dutch. This officer asked him in confidence what he and his fellow Germans thought of the Russians. My grandfather told him the truth, which was that most Germans were very afraid of the Russians , that they feared Russian retaliation. The young officer turned to him and said: "Well, look at me, I'm Russian." He further explained to him that his family had fled to England and that most Russians were nice people, but that the regime was terrible.