Eric Hobsbawm, a tribute British intellectual and Stalinist. Approved Hitler–Stalin pact of 1939 which led to Second World War, Soviet annexation of Eastern Poland and the Baltic States and Soviet assault on Finland. “Fiercely” defended a Soviet-sponsored post-war campaign for the persecution and sacking of anti-communist Polish academics at British universities, and the Soviet crushing of the 1956 Hungarian uprising. In 1993 told a group of Hungarian students that for Eastern Europe the Stalinist era was “probably the best period in their history”. Appointed Companion of Honour by the British Labour government.   Hell’s got a new guest today, Eric…