The largest in terms of population and territory in the history of mankind was, perhaps, the British Empire with colonies and dominions. But it also fell apart pretty quickly. And there was also the Spanish colonial empire, which crumbled even earlier.

  Tsarist Russia, having reached its peak under the reign of Nicholas II, collided with Japan. And as if to confirm the fact that there is an anti-imperial force, the tsarist troops lost this war. And as if evil fate pursued them. There were so many failures and bad luck in that war, from beginning to end. So do not believe after that in the fate of all powers.

  Then, in the First World War, it was not very lucky, and there was a military, and rather even a palace coup. After that, an illegitimate interim government came to power.

  Well, and then the Bolsheviks with the civil war. Well, yes, under Stalin there was a new rise of the empire, but at the cost of huge bloodshed. And after the death of the leader, the twentieth congress and the collapse of the cult took place. And the USSR began to lose its positions already under Khrushchev.

  And then Gorbachev took and finished off the Soviet empire. Moreover, it cannot be said that Mikhail Sergeevich did it on purpose. Then everyone was engulfed in the frenzy of perestroika. And personally, Vladimir Putin, although a KGB officer, has turned into an ardent democrat. And he was against the GKChP, and also rejoiced at the collapse of the CPSU. And he became the right hand of Sobchak. And actively supported Yeltsin. Including in October 1993. Yes, the collapse of the USSR was, but most of the people and especially the elite rejoiced!

  Or, in any case, the people did not mind, but the elite was really pleased. Especially in Central Asia, where everyone remembered very well how the KGB persecuted local magnates in the cotton business.

  In short, then in the ninety-first USSR rested on the Bose. And maybe only Vladimir Zhirinovsky grumbled a little, like that for show. Or maybe playing for the audience or wanting to stand out.

  Then there was Yeltsin's rule. A time of great opportunities for some, and deprivation, and terrible problems for others. Yeltsin himself did not even try to glue the empire of the USSR, but only to return Chechnya under control. And what a fierce resistance it caused. Including within the country. And even Gaidar's Choice of Russia spoke out against it. As well as the communists. Only Zhirinovsky supported this war. But maybe that's why he undermined his own rating and deprived himself of the chance to become the new Russian tsar.

  Zhirinovsky, of course, was a charismatic leader. But he lacked neither courage nor will. In particular, it was not necessary to corrode the belly so-so when a significant part of the people are starving. And diet and exercise.

  Well, okay, Zhirinovsky is dead. And the king lost his favorite jester. Which was so funny and funny. He entertained and uplifted. But there was little real sense and benefit from it. Rather, on the contrary, Zhirinovsky was too radical a patriot, perhaps even a caricature. And he seemed to ridicule patriotism. Well, like the good soldier Schweik, he was also a caricature of the patriot of Austria-Hungary.

  And it was funny, but rather harmful to the cause. But all the same, the king is not well and bored without a jester. Here Dmitry Medvedev is clearly not drawn to this role.

  Vladimir Putin, in Hitler's body, sighed heavily. He was not yet accustomed to the new body, and lived in memories of the past. And it was ambiguous, especially in recent years. However, of course Putin was a lucky ruler. For example, such a rare gift of fortune as the September 11 terrorist attack. This is indeed a great success. Instead of fighting the Taliban themselves, the Americans were dragged into a massacre unnecessary for the United States.

  This, for example, is the same if Hitler fought for twenty years with Britain and the Yankees than attack the USSR. And Stalin himself could choose in this case the moment when to strike. And do not fall under a terrible blow yourself.

  But Hitler was able to forestall Stalin. And here is the result - the Germans near Moscow. And if the winter had been milder and drier, then perhaps we would have been in the capital itself.

  Yes, Stalin was lucky here. Although on the other hand, well, why are the most successful rulers, those who are so cruel? Here he is Vladimir Putin, of course, not Stalin. But maybe that's why Ukraine was not given to him?

  What can be said about Hitler? On the one hand, he had phenomenal successes, but on the other hand, he had catastrophic failures. A kind of fortune laughed at Adolf - gave him confidence in himself. But then she abandoned and framed. And there were so many casualties and losses on both sides.

  The USSR did not gain much from victory in this war. Territorial acquisitions were small. Moreover, Stalin gave away part of the Brest region and the Bialystok region for free and without asking Poland. And they didn't get much. It would be better if this war did not exist. The population of the USSR decreased to 170 million. And under the tsar-father Nicholas II, in 1914 it already amounted to 180 million people. So the tsar-father Russian increased, and Stalin thinned.

  And the Germans lost a lot under Hitler. Although the capture of Europe and Poland cost only thirty thousand killed. Stalin in the war with Finland lost 126 thousand, which is much more significant. Yes, this is how it turned out gallimo.

  It was good to get into the body of Stalin before the attack on the USSR by Nazi Germany. And do something. Really, what exactly is it? Hit yourself, as Suvorov-Rezun advised? This has its pros and cons.

  The downside, in particular, is that the Soviet troops are not quite ready to attack. In particular, both new tanks and aircraft have not been properly mastered by the troops. The good news is that the Germans don't expect a preemptive strike. And they can be taken by surprise. Yes, and the Soviet troops were much larger and better taught to attack than to defend. By the way, real practice has shown that the Nazis are much better at attacking than defending.

  For example, if the Nazis advanced magnificently, and by the fall of forty-two captured territory comparable to two Roman empires. Then in defense they quickly merged.