your basic facts about WW2 are right,

interestingly I heard from both a German and a Russian military officer that without US, Stalin would lose.  They don't know each other, bother are very knowledgeable about WW2 and military history in general. 

I prefer to separate Russian govement/ politics from Russian people and it's culture.  Russian culture and history especially arts are very rich due to it's geograghic position and Russian people are very impressive in their manner, knowledge, intelligence and great taste of arts among all the people i've met around world.