[Kalinin]

Since Americans have access to all writings about WWII that have been published, I'm not sure your statement about our histories being "filterd" is correct. It is fair to say that most Americans do not speak or read Russian, so our understanding of Russian accounts is not "filtered," we just don't happen to read the language. Can you recommend some Russian accounts of WWII that have been translated into English?

Actually, there is some "filtering", at least in the education system. I am unaware as to your age, but in US highschools nowadays, history is taught sparingly, and through the "American perspective" (i.e. we are always best). For example, students are taught that D-Day was the turning point of WW2, however this cannot be, as the numbers don't justify the fact, we killed many more Germans (at least 3 times as many as the allies in D-Day) during Stalingrad, and other operations (in the Urals, I believe...), plus Germany's advance throughout Europe was curtailed after Stalingrad. The books may be there, but, honestly, do you think m/any teenager(s) will read them?

we were completely unsure of what Stalin would DO with thath military when the war ended.

I thought it was well known, both abroad, and at home (and among Stalin's comrades) that Stalin's intentions were to attack once again and start another war, if Hitler had not started WWII, Stalin probably would have.