The US military may not have won the war for the Allies, but it's doubtful whether Britain could've carried on the war without US loans. Interesting fact: Britain made its final repayment to the US on 29 December 2006.
what a load of bs. the lend least only accounted for 8% of soviet war production, and none of western war machines were used in the most critical battles. get a clue retard.
In war, deception is ultimately necessary, especially against hitler...deviousness vs. deviousness...Roosevelt was a wonderful man, a great warpresident, who entered the war against hitler long before war was declared. after pearl harbor and germany's declaration of war, we had full reign to fight against tokyo and berlin. Roosevelt is to be praised for helping us win the war, against the isolasionist especially.
Roosevelt promised to American Nation to not to support England but may be Germany depending who will succeed. But on the contrary, Roosevelt and company neglected the German superiority and remained helping Britian well before Pearl Harbor.
Europe is not a state,it has no ''internal affairs''
Europe,is a group of countrys ,like Nord -America
,as the americans may have problems with Mexico,or Canada,as Europe may be divided into opposite sides,ho need a third party to make order,that party should be America
i am an englishman in america. my girl friend says... we fought you for our inderpendence and now you expect us to help you!!!!
i answer no, all that is asked is that for once america has to stop thinking that its on its own little planet we all live in one world and we all have a duty!
the british empire frought none stop through out both world wars, only germany can say the same!!! no other people could have fought all over the world with such resolve.
Such a laught that both the USA and USSR kept out of the war for as long as they could. Let the 'old' countries bleed themselves before stepping in, eh?!
The USA's citizens at that time had no interest in getting into another European war. But in the end, the US had to come to the rescue yet again because France and Britain couldn't defend themselves. Think about it, would you want to send your children to go fight someone else's war?? Oh, but people bitch about the US getting into foreign affairs (Iraq/Afganistan) until its their country that needs military assistance (France and UK in WWII). Hyppocrites.
Actually, America neither joined the war to save Britain nor indeed to save France.
America declared war on Japan on Dec 8th, 1941 the day after America had been attacked at Pearl harbor, therefore America joined the war to defend themselves. Britain declared war on Japan on the very same day.
Germany - in alliance with the Japanese- declared war on America on Dec 11th 1941 only after which did America decalre war on Germany - again to defend themselves.
Of course, Britain thanks the United States for the loan of $420 billion, every cent of which I believe our country has just managed to pay back to you - as of 2006.
Naturally, we also pay recognition to all American troops who fought against Nazism, and guess what........ .......................................
we alsao happen to pay recognition to the troops of all nations who contributed to the defeat of Nazism ands fascism; including Soviets, Canadians, Poles, Free-Frenchmen, Australians, New-Zealanders, Indians, Pakistani's, Bangladeshi's, the Ghurka's, South-Africans, Danes, Norwegians, Belgians, Greeks, Yugoslavians,Dutch, Chinese, Czechs etc, etc
Yeah, like all those minor countries made even a dent of a contribution to the Allied effort (sarcasm). Again.....all of them depended on the U.S. for something. And what did we get in return for all the war materials and sending our boys to fight for them - air bases and land bases.....in order to fight for them. Thanks (sarcasm)
"Yeah, like all those minor countries made even a dent of a contribution to the Allied effort (sarcasm)."
military casualties in WWII
------------------------------------
U.S.A 416,800
U.K 382,700 (we are 1/3 the size of Texas)
other allies combined 12,872,700
(not incl. china, soviet union) 1, 072,700
Your unconscionable disrespect of the deaths of 2.5 times as many dead men as U.S.A suffered is indicative of why SOME people have an aversion for SOME Americans
Personally speaking, I don't hate America - never have done, never will do!
I also know of not a single Briton who does "hate" America.
If I disagree with an American foreign policy I will say so, in just the same way as I will voice my concern with British foreign policy that I might find objectionable. That does not mean that I hate either your country or my own.
"Britain would have "rolled" without American money". Again, you are on the wrong side of the historical facts.
Britain defended itself from the Nazi's in the battle of britain in 1940 (lend-lease began in 41). It was Britain that gave the luftwaffe it's first taste of defeat in the air in this battle, it was Britain that gave the German army their first defeat on land (El-Alamein), and Britain was the main contributor in defeating the kriegsmarine at sea (battle of the atlantic 1939-1945)
Britain has provided much help to America, doubtless for no money whatsoever, including MI5 & MI6 training your intelligence services in their earliest days; our British Army Commandos trained your U.S. Army Rangers in their infancy, and i'm quite certain that the SAS provided much support in the early formulation of your Delta Force.
I apologise that it took a country 1/3 the size of Texas 60 to pay back $420 billion. Please forgive us for our lack or respect (sarcasm)
@PBSmithy You are correct about UK contribution to the war. Let's not forget that
Britain was short on supplies and bankrupt in '41 or '42, the British army defeated on the European continent and driven from the shores of Dunkirk. Without the lend lease program supplies greatly needed by the British never would have arrived and Briton would have been doomed. Briton did have early victories in the war but would not win any without supplies we gave.
Most of the world thinks down on the U.S. for one reason or another. It's "F#CK the U.S" from everyone....UNTIL....they need our friggin' help for something. Whether it be money, food, or military assistance. Then after they get what they want, its back to "F#CK you America". And who in the US pays for it all - the American citizens.....ME.
Well, thanks. It only took your country 60 friggin' years to pay back. I surely hope the U.S. was smart enough at that time to add interest to the bill, but probably not.
Twist it anyway you want. Another "fact" still remains - If not for the U.S., Britain would surely have gotten rolled by the Nazis, it was just a matter of time. France was already under German occupation. The Soviets were getting rolled in Russia. None of those countries would have had a chance if not for the massive U.S. industry supplying them with war materials let alone sending our boys over there to fight for them and their motherlands.
Man you hit the nail on the head with all your comments. PBSmithy is just another ignornant person who never wants to credit the US with anything. Britain was not even a threat to the Nazis. The Soviets were heavily supplied by us even though they at least had a ligitament army. Britain thinks they did so much (lmfao). When the allies invaded the continent it was 95% American supplies. We dont have to explain our countries good deeds to anyone. They should do something for us for once.
I love how the dumb asses of the earth just have to put their two cents in and show us how many jackasses there are on the planet to those (and its easy to see who they are) people graduate middle school b4 you comment
Kingeric77 is absolutely right and one of the people who financed herr hitler was none other than president bush's grandpappy. Some of you lot ought to learn your real history.
My girlfriend and I once attended a fascist type meeting in the Bay Area. These people came around wishing to put together a vigilante that was obviously directed against racial minorities who were supposedly on the brink of revolution. So we went, feeling very vulnerable and on hostile ground. The main speaker gave his speel and then the audience began to respond. Suddenly we realized that everyone there was like us. These fascist soon realized the game was up and escaped.
I am a proud American for sure, but as for the war in Europe 8 of 10 dead Germans was killed by a Russian. No doubt our manufacturing capacity did some heavy lifting. We were however the only country that fought in all theters of the war.
Erm, the British are actually the only country which fought in all theatres...- Pacific, Africa, Europe, The Middle East- even South America. In fact none of my relatives fought against the Germans - all of them fought against the Japanese, mainly in Burma...
Oh I know, and I expect it lol. Just stating the obvious :)
Hollywood movies were meant for sale in..... America! Who'd of thunk it! I'm grateful to anyone who served, just wish Hollywood wasn't taken as fact to so many Americans, you know?
I think Hollywood makes it seem like America was the only reason the war was won, and that bothers people of other nationalities who fought or had loved ones fight in WWII.
@cpynch For instance: "Saving Private Ryan" actually happened - but it was a BRITISH undertaking; "The Great Escape" actually happened - but there were no Americans in the camp, only Europeans, and the "cooler king" was Norwegian. As for the "anti-commie" crap, read Schindler's Ark - the Schindler's Jews were given rations and vodka by Russian troops, who moved them by declaring "you are no longer untouchable" and hugged each one.
They described that - being touched and sharing food and drink - as being the moment they rejoined the human race, but it couldn't be shown because the All American Cretins in the cinemas couldn't have stood to see "commie bastards" shown in a good light.
Yep, there are many undertakings from the Allied Forces that go claimed by the USA unfortunately.... There is no question USA was a major contributor to the war, it's just a shame more effort isn't made to publicize the great triumphs of the friends and allies of the USA as well...
The Russians fought one of the hardest campaigns in the war, and suffered incredible losses but are virtually forgotten in American media....
@cpynch There are other myths too, which simplify the whole thing, for instance "Britain stood alone". I am British, and I am proud of that, but we "stood alone" with the help of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India (all "commonwealth" so in the parlance of the day they counted as "British" ) and they were true heroes because they had plenty to lose by involvement - not to mention those from every occupied country who risked their lives escaping to Britain to continue to fight.
@cpynch Not any more. Of course, every country likes to celebrate its heros. By the same taken, the Americans were vital. Look at what de Gaulle said in his most important radio address, the one embedded into the brass at the Arch of Triumph.
@cpynch True. Although in the Pacific theater I think it's fair to say that the US was the only reason Japan was defeated. The Chinese were on the run and Australia was in danger of being invaded before Guadalcanal. The vast majority of Common Wealth troops were fighting in Europe and the Russians didn't declare war on Japan until after Germany fell. Australia and New Zealand helped a good bit, but almost all the decisive naval victories were 100% American.
@cpynch well you're comments could easily be misunderstood. and youre not going to see the brittish film industry focusing on russian efforts in the war, will you? or vise versa. people seem to forget that hollywood is american after all...
Honestly, it's not really my problem if someone doesn't have a firm enough grasp on the English language to understand the meaning of a simple statement. I was quite explicit in the meaning, there's not much of a grey area.
I don't think all Americans think that, however a fair amount of Americans get their history taught to them from Hollywood, and it shows. This is not a stab at America, or it's citizens... They were key to a victory over Japan, Italy and Germany
@cpynch well it is your problem if you think Hollywood makes it look like we did more than other countries in the war. believe me, you dont know english better than me (we are discussing the history of my country after all). i understand your comment, i just disagree with it. you see from hollywood what you expect to see, which is chauvinistic americans downplaying the contributions of others (maybe the canadians?) which isnt the case.
How does you being American make you more proficient at English? That makes no sense, whatsoever. And as a Canadian, I bet I know more about the history of your country than you do, not to mention the rest of the countries in the world.
It's not "my problem", I rather enjoy the Hollywood movies, just pointing out an observation I've made through talking to Americans. It's not the opinion of all Americans, but from my experience it is a sizable portion.
@cpynch and i highly doubt youve talked to a sizeable portion of americans. you've made a faulty observation. not only is it not the opinion of all americans, its not even the opinion of of a sizeable amount of americans. i would know, considering im actually from the United States, and no you dont know more about my country than i do. if i thought you were respresentative of the average canadian, then yours would be a sad country indeed. fortunately, youre just an outlier.
I never said it was the opinion of all Americans, learn to read sir.
How do you know how much I know about the USA at all? Who is making a faulty observation now? For all you know I could be an American History Major, perhaps you should think before speaking. It will surely make you look like less of a hypocrite.
My information was gained through experience. Not a sample big enough to write a paper on, but big enough to at least give an idea. Stop being so sensitive.
@cpynch well you are criticizing my country. but lets make an agreement: ill be less sensitve, you'll be less ignorant. can we agree on that? whatever number of Americans youve encountered, its not even close to being large enough to represent any portion of my country. if you were an american history major, id expect you to be a lot smarter. and considering ive studied american history my whole life, in addition to being born and raised here, i think i would know more about this than you.
I am criticizing Hollywood for making movies that portray USA as the bread winner of the war when they were 2 years late on joining the rest of the world fight the axis. Now, these are facts.... ignorance has nothing to do with it. Like it or hate it, it's history. If Hollywood wants to be accurate they should make movies depicting the USSR winning the war for everyone, but they're so biased they never would.
@cpynch yes, we joined after pearl harbor. but at least we didnt betray czechoslovakia. we didnt promise to defend poland, then turn our backs as it burned to the ground, with the help of the russians. thats history. or would you like movies about the allies getting routed off the continent after the "battle" for france? and i though the war ended because of OUR atomic bombs? im not denying the contributions of other countries, but AMERICANS would rather watch AMERICANS than another country.
February 19, 1939, Madison Square Garden. New York. Some 20,000 people attended and heard Fritz Kuhn criticize President Franklin D. Roosevelt by repeatedly referring to him as Frank D. Rosenfeld, calling his New Deal the "Jew Deal", and stating his belief of Bolshevik-Jewish American leadership. Most shocking to American sensibilities was the outbreak of violence between protesters and Bund storm troopers.
Lighthouses of liberty !! .... Yeh, that's what we need to watch over today, in the US and all over the planet : fascisme, NWO, the UN. dangerous times today !!!
Even though 6 of my Uncles fought bravely (4 were seriously wounded in the war), in 1940 the Americans really didn't have any reason to enter into the war. Europe should have worked out their own issues without bloodshed. General feeling in USA was that as long as Hitler was "only" killing Jews and Communists that we should sell him the bullets. Nowadays that's not Politically Correct to say, but it was quite true in 1940 America...
Dayvelsh i agree, i am canadian and i'm not trying to pull the we did more, as warthog said we needed each other to win, i think war should not be looked at the cause, but with respect and pride for every person fighting for what they believe in, i have respect for anyone who is willing to die for what they believe in, i just hope we never have to unit to win a war this big ever ever again.
Hey look, a video on Youtube about WWII and every American with an internet connection is in here telling everybody how they singlehandedly won the war and were the throbbing heart of human rights and empathy and how nobody could defend themselves.
Answer me a question. Why, when discussing a war that took the lives of 50 million people, most of them civilians, do Americans feel the need to condescendingly tell everybody how amazing they were and belittle everybody elses effort int he war?
I see those comments too, and the comments from both side of the fence make me sick. Both from Americans who say they singlehandedly won the war, and from people who say they came in when it was almost over and didn't do anything.
People can't discuss world war two in a civil manner, they have to drag the conversation down into an insult throwing match, and attempt to boost their own ego by saying "we saved your ass".
Just because other people do it, doesn't mean you should too.
The problem I have with watching all these FDR people is discerning which of them were Soviet spies -- Harriman was -- so was Alger Hiss who is interviewed in other W@W episodes. Interesting to hear these men talk as if they loved their country.
The war in Europe was not the fault of the Europeans, but the fault of Hitler and his supporters which did not consist of a majority on the European continent.
Britain did everything it could to prevent war through appeasment policies toward Germany.
Many Americans were ignorant concerning the intricacies that caused the war to begin.
That woman in the beginning even admitted that she had no knowledge of European affairs.
If that is the case, your opinion becomes less valid. Americas opinion.
Well if britain did everything they could to prevent war then why were they the first to get involved with Germany's war with France and Poland and why did Britain still insist on fighting when Hitler offered them peace so many times and Churchill refused
Austria and Czechoslovakia was not free they were also under a national socialist rule and joined as part of the third reich and as for France's pussy ass they declared war on Germany as did Britain. Hitler gave Britain every chance to make peace but they still insisted on fighting. Also Nazi occupation of West European countries was not so bad it was only in the East where the concentration camps were at. What would you say about Britains sovereignty over various territories around the world.
Czechoslovakia was a democracy, Austria had a authoritarian regime, not Nazi, but had a lot of Nazis in the opposition, so yeah Austria smelled a bit off Nazi country. But the Checks had democratic rule.
It was only after Hitler annexed them both, that they became governed by Nazis, and that was against the will of the majority of people in Czechoslovakia.
Even more, Hitler had Promised Britain and France that he would not annex all off Czechoslovakia. He was only allowed to get part of it
But he invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia 6 months later anyway.
Then Hitler wanted to invade Poland. Britain and France promised the Poles to help them if Hitler invaded them too. So anyway Hitler then attacked Poland without much reason, bombing them ruthlessly, killed and wounded hundreds of thousands of people in a month before Poland gave up.
And finally the French and English have had enough of Hitler invading everybody and declared war on Germany.
In fact, the French and British were being nice toward Germany. They let Germany get the Szaar region back, they let Hitler re militarize the Rhineland. They let Hitler build up Germany's army, air force and navy again even if that was forbidden according to the Versailles treaty.
They let Hitler invade Austria, and remove it's independency. They let Hitler get the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
They let Hitler invade the rest of Czechoslovakia even if that meant Hitler broke his promise.
Every Empire in Every Centuries FallDawn. USA also Fall dawn. The only thing that will survive after the collapse of the U.S., Coca-Cola is the unrust of Russian tanks
2 reasons US stayed out until '41..(1)they hadn't figured out how to draw Japan into attacking them and (2)most importantly, as in all other US campaigns, their big elitist bankers hadn't figured out how to maximize their profit from getting involved yet..German conglomerate I.G.Farben(they were responsible for 83% of the war effort in Germany..incl. Xylon B the gas they used on Jews) bankrolled the Third Reich war effort..the Rockefellers and Standard Oil bankrolled I.G.Farben..need I say more?
although hitler and stalin knew they were gonna go to war together anyway, their non-agression pact was just a way of saying "lets invade poland first, get our share, and fight off later"
unless Pearl Harbour they would let half the Europeans die...haha...the USA had supported Hitler at first as he came to power in 1933....and even at the end of the war in 1945 they didn't want to fight with Japan but just cowardly dropped the atomic bomb...what a hypocrisy..nothing really to be proud of. The real winners of this Great War were Britain and the Soviet Union.
this is a very interesting, albeit a bit inaccurate, perspective on US involvement. the United States did not support Hitler, though there were some in high level positions that agreed with many of his early policies and reforms. I don't know if you noticed, but most of Europe was perfectly happy to let Hitler take over whoever he wanted...until he was knocking on their front door. Even then, France didn't resist much at first.
World War II was not our war to fight, but the Europeans were not doing a great job of saving themselves, even with our money and supplies. As for Japan...I think it's funny that people who claim we know nothing about fighting or being at war will also claim that our first response to Pearl Harbor was two atomic bombs. We fought Japan and lost quite a good number of men doing so. Some of you Europeans would do well to remember that.
I have to say, some of what you say doesn't make a lot of sense damoosebelly. You say for instance that most of Europe were 'perfectly happy' to let Hitler take over whoever he wanted. But what were tiny countries like Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to do? They could never have stood against the industrial might of Germany. And the British empire had been in such long decay that it was in no position either. Really, this failing falls nearly entirely on the French.
British Empire at that time in such long decay? Where did you learn that twaddle? Granted, the Depression had delayed a lot of modernization of its military, but GB was at the zenith of her powers and foreign holdings at this point in time. The failing falls on the entire nominally 'protestant' west, in not preventing Rome from stirring again...and once it was noted to be stirring, from refraining to drive the dagger home.
the failure of Europe to take care of its own is NOT wholly the responsibility of the French. the bizarre diplomatic line taken by the European powers, collectively, was insanely counter-intuitive. I think it could be reasonably understood from my comments that I was not resting military responsibilities of that magnitude at the door of small nations with little military, but the big and powerful ones who ought to have stepped in when Hitler's aggression became clear early on.
I don't see how you can say that it wasn't your war to fight either. With the nationalistic, imperialistic and militaristic regime of Japan, it was nigh inevitable that it would come to war with the most major power in the pacific. And Japan of course stood with the Axis powers due to it's strained (to put it mildly) relationship with the USSR. Also the US didn't know much about fighting before WW2, it entered with outdated tactics and weapons, luckily for the world, it learned fast.
It was not our war to fight. Had Japan not directly attacked us as they did, we would likely have continued to be involved only on the periphery, doing what we could through arms shipments and supply drops for our friends.
In comparison to Germany's and Japan's technological developments, all the countries outside those two came into WWII with "outdated" weapons and delivery systems.
As for outdated tactics, the US Marine Corps was central in innovating a number of new vehicles, personnel delivery craft, and weapons that enabled us to bring some creativity to the trench-style warfare Europeans were so lovingly attached to. Old tactics were employed throughout WWII and new ones were developed as people adapted to conditions. This is all war, Retuobak, in reality, anyway.
Invading the Island of Japan would have resulted in more than 1 Million casualties on both sides. Dropping the atomic bombs (there were two of them) was unfortunate for their victims, but the lesser evil. As the sole possessor of the atomic bomb, the USA clearly emerged from WW II as the world's most powerful nation.
I think a huge part of our emergence at that point was that the European nations had shown early that they were clearly willing to tolerate the taking of anyone's freedom or national borders (not their own) so long as they themselves didn't have to get involved in a fight. Clearly, the United States was the only Allied nation with the guts, backbone, and energy at that point to do something decisive and effective...and it moved us up the food chain a bit ;)
More to the point, the US was the only nation in which the black nobility, the Orders and that which they support did not hold complete sway. That cannot be said today.
Are you taking the piss? Only reason the US got involved because they knew that if Britain fell the Axis would have smashed the US within a year. Only one with guts, don't make me laugh. Only one's without a brain perhaps, look at the ridiculous military mistakes the US continues to make.
yeah...you're right...no OTHER country in history has made more than one military mistake...certainly, the British military has never made one...*rolls eyes*
thank you for not reading the entire sentence you referenced, by the way...
@damoosebelly One more thing... America has never won a war on it's own. All kudos to those young Americans who fought and died, but they started halfway through. America lost 400000 men; Britain lost 380000 (not counting 95000 civilians killed by German bombing raids, or thousands of "special service operatives") and as our population is only 1/6 of yours, anyone with half a brain can work out the relative sacrifices.
@TheBelovedButterfly American has never won a war on its own, except for the War of 1812, the Mexican American War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War...and America turned the tide of both World Wars to victory for the Allies, with the tremendous force of its industrial might
@ITILII Yes, you made a massive contribution....after watching everyone else bleed and die for years, at the rate of 59000 people per day, lives, cities and cultures destroyed forever. This was a WORLD war, with implications for Americans - so where were you? So although God bless those Americans who, at last, sacrificed everything, it is incredibly offensive to airbrush history so the USA are the heroes, when really America watched Europe being murdered - and then picked the carcass at the end.
@TheBelovedButterfly True, we were the last to enter the war. However, lend-lease had been going on since early 1941. Without all the war material the US supplied to England and Russia, it is quite possible that Hitler could have successfully invaded England and maybe even have captured Moscow. Also, I don't think it's quite fair to say that the US "picked the carcass". The Marshall Plan was massive foreign aid to western Europe to help rebuild. The US was never repaid for that.
@xekul One thing I notice is that the American people are some of the nicest in the world, and yet your governments are among the vilest. I am sure that the American people were sold Marshall Aid as being charitable, but if you look into the details of it, it was a very cynical method of hamstringing Europe - elections were rigged in countries which the US considered to be too socialist; much needed national industries were sacrificed to US imports, etc.
As for Britain, the aim was to finally kill off the Empire - when we were practically bankrupt anyway - so we received no "aid" only the offer of loans at up to 65%. As a child in the 60s I was still playing in bomb craters, for want of money to rebuild, and yet we treated you honourably - you were repaid only 1/3 of the loans you had made to all the allies, and we paid all of that, despite other commitments. Have you never wondered why the 50s were "boom" in the US but austerity in Europe?
Something any "ally" will tell you they resent is that almost all of American rebuilding happened in Germany, including propping up nazi-based industries and rescuing convicted war criminals (1200 of them to work on the space programme alone!) After what they had done to Europe, to this day that is beyond understanding. as every other nation in Europe was a million times more deserving, but whatever the reasons for it, it was the only truly "charitable" act of American reconstruction.
@TheBelovedButterfly I find it hard to believe that Europe doesn't remember how much was done to rebuild ALL of Europe under the Marshal Plan. Billions in aid was sent to every country, not only in Europe but all across the Pacific and in Japan, Formosa,and Korea as well. American President Wilson tried to help Germany after WW1 but no one listened and the result was a Germany willing to listen to Hitler and his Nazi insanity. The lesson was learned,and today Germany is a democracy.
@Bullettube We remember how you sat on your arses for 20 years. So you should have aided Europe after the war, The US caused the war by doing nothing for so long
@TheBelovedButterfly I used to play in bomb sites well into the 70's only recently realised they were actual bomb sites, and all of that so I can get blown up by imported jihadists on the tube or the bus, I am one angry fucker, I have to travel daily on public transport while religious maniacs in my opinion worse than nazis plot to kill me while im on my way to work, I am not happy with the outcome of WW2 and the successive governments of the UK since then. the UK has gone crazy!
@TheBelovedButterfly The US' entire culture is airbrushed. If the average American knew the truth, their entire country would collapse (re: Israel, Iraq)
It is startingly naïve to think that the U.S.A. entered the war to defend democracy. They had felt their Pacific possessions threatened by Japan throughout the 1930's and made every effort to hamper Japan's expansion, purely for economic and geopolitical reasons. The attack on Pearl Harbour was not a surprise but rather the logical result of America's efforts, together with the rest of the Western Powers, to isolate Japan economically.
True it is naive as the USA deliberately remained isolationist throughout the 20's 30's and early 40's and only declared war on the axis after they had been militarily threatened after japan attacked the pacific fleet at pearl harbor and actually came out of the war territorially better off, however, japans open attempts at imperialism and expansionism throughout this era were deliberate attempts to provoke the sleeping American bear into a war to see who would control the pacific and Asia.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was not a logical at all. It was a horrible strategic blunder. if the Japanese had attacked the Dutch only, (they wanted their oil to assist their invasion of India,) we may have stayed out. They sowed the seeds for their own defeat by attacking the one power strong enough to turn them back.
From the Japanese perspective, war with the US was inevitable as soon as we refused to sell them oil. Japan's economy (then as now) was entirely dependent on exports in order to literally put food on the table. They wanted to knock out the US's immediate military threat to give them a free hand to get the resources they needed.
Not entirely illogical but there are always better ways of going about one's business.
@damoosebelly arrogant, ignorant rubbish. Europe had been decimated only 20 years previously; while Americans like Ford, the Manhatten Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank financed Hitler. After WW1, 1/4 of all French males were dead, 1/4 disabled, the land and industry ruined, but still declared war in 1939. Britain and the Commonwealth held the fort for over 2 years while you sat on the fence watching us fighting the war machine you had helped to build.
"Backbone"? I'm British - my parents were reared on WEEKLY rations of 1 egg, 1oz cheese, 4oz meat (a burger, in other words) and a bomb dropped on my country on average every 12 minutes for 6 years. 59000 Europeans died DAILY during WW2, but ONE ATTACK - 9/11 - had you in psychological meltdown, as if it was the first attack in the world. It was 1/1000,000 of what Europe suffered, but still we fought. You don't know what "backbone" is.
And what you mean by "moving you up the food chain" is that when you had watched us being pulverised and finally joined in because we couldn't protect you any more, you made money out of the grief of a devastated world, and sneaked convicted war-criminals to lives of comfort in order to work on your ridiculous space-programme - meanwhile allowing those American companies who had paid to set Hitler up, to continue to live and trade. Hardly your "finest hour".
Lindbergh was a leader of the America First movement, a group of isolationists and Nazi fans (such as Lucky Lindy) who, of course, wanted U.S. to stay out of den Zweiten Weltkrieg.
This was so unfortunate for us as a nation, too, as his father was really a level headed man who seemed to have an excellent grasp of our constitution and the importance of liberty. It would have been better for America if more of her public figures would have taken the right stand on Hitler's actions, but rarely do we see celebrities involved in anything that isn't an extreme of some sort.
The US military may not have won the war for the Allies, but it's doubtful whether Britain could've carried on the war without US loans. Interesting fact: Britain made its final repayment to the US on 29 December 2006.
SkullOfYorick 1 year ago
@SkullOfYorick Your right, the USSR would have collapsed aswell without US loans and suplies.
XXXpallisterXXX 1 year ago
what a load of bs. the lend least only accounted for 8% of soviet war production, and none of western war machines were used in the most critical battles. get a clue retard.
MrTheaterjunkee 1 year ago
@oberstinky Agreed, the US didn't save the world from Germany. Instead it saved the western world from Communist Russia.
SnowBlind853 1 year ago
GOD BLESS THE USA!!!.
hellraiserdarkloid 1 year ago
This is a marvelous documentary series. I can remember watching this as a kid back in the 1970's. Wonderfully done
davidrodgersNJ 1 year ago
@anebt
Yes, USSR did nothing to help Britain.
USSR only destroyed 80 percent of Nazi forces...
And 1.040.000 of Kwantung Army on continent...
archanticipator 1 year ago 2
This is old, but still perhaps the best documentary film on WWII. Thanks for the post.
voskresene 1 year ago
In war, deception is ultimately necessary, especially against hitler...deviousness vs. deviousness...Roosevelt was a wonderful man, a great warpresident, who entered the war against hitler long before war was declared. after pearl harbor and germany's declaration of war, we had full reign to fight against tokyo and berlin. Roosevelt is to be praised for helping us win the war, against the isolasionist especially.
CRUDSLUDGE 1 year ago
Roosevelt promised to American Nation to not to support England but may be Germany depending who will succeed. But on the contrary, Roosevelt and company neglected the German superiority and remained helping Britian well before Pearl Harbor.
sirdard1 1 year ago
roosevelt is such a big liar,tsk,tsk,tsk...
teslagod2003 1 year ago
@oberstinky
I think it made a difference to the countries of western Europe who were rescued from Stalinism.
DarthChr1st 1 year ago
@oberstinky usa saved the asian world. the ussr are bad guys fuc them.
lifes40123 1 year ago
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anyway , Fuck USA
davdi0032 1 year ago
fuck you, bitch
lakerfan198126 1 year ago
Mabey they say fuck you too.
JAGDPANTHER20 1 year ago
The comment below is laughable. Washington DC had not been defended as Singapore was with guns pointed to the sea.
the82spartans 1 year ago
Europe is not a state,it has no ''internal affairs''
Europe,is a group of countrys ,like Nord -America
,as the americans may have problems with Mexico,or Canada,as Europe may be divided into opposite sides,ho need a third party to make order,that party should be America
georgel19841 2 years ago
FDR was a badass. I wish obama had a little FDR in him.
Birdie3040 2 years ago
god damn isolationists...yeah let the nazis rule the world... good call
makerwidow 2 years ago 5
I heard that where Grandpa Bush, Geo W grandfather, made the family fortunes
davidperi 2 years ago 2
American bankers financed german war industry durring WW2. Why? It's more profitable to rage war than to keep peace!
stuky800 2 years ago 5
have you guys ever stop and think who finances all wars
616OWLOVERLORD 2 years ago
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america saved the world 2 times in both world wars. i wonder if it can save the 3rd world war
lifes40123 2 years ago
Comment removed
dawdoo 2 years ago
So the US fought the war to have it's ass kissed?
Nope. It fought the war to defeat Naziism and Japanese Militarism.
Nothing is owed, because nothing was asked for.
chas63 2 years ago 3
so your like 70 to 100 years old?
lifes40123 2 years ago
And you're like retarded?
DCLT05 1 year ago
i am an englishman in america. my girl friend says... we fought you for our inderpendence and now you expect us to help you!!!!
i answer no, all that is asked is that for once america has to stop thinking that its on its own little planet we all live in one world and we all have a duty!
the british empire frought none stop through out both world wars, only germany can say the same!!! no other people could have fought all over the world with such resolve.
god save the queen
bigredletterbox 2 years ago 2
wow,2.08 the american nazi party
andykrin 2 years ago
Such a laught that both the USA and USSR kept out of the war for as long as they could. Let the 'old' countries bleed themselves before stepping in, eh?!
pix042 2 years ago
The USA's citizens at that time had no interest in getting into another European war. But in the end, the US had to come to the rescue yet again because France and Britain couldn't defend themselves. Think about it, would you want to send your children to go fight someone else's war?? Oh, but people bitch about the US getting into foreign affairs (Iraq/Afganistan) until its their country that needs military assistance (France and UK in WWII). Hyppocrites.
busarider29 2 years ago
Actually, America neither joined the war to save Britain nor indeed to save France.
America declared war on Japan on Dec 8th, 1941 the day after America had been attacked at Pearl harbor, therefore America joined the war to defend themselves. Britain declared war on Japan on the very same day.
Germany - in alliance with the Japanese- declared war on America on Dec 11th 1941 only after which did America decalre war on Germany - again to defend themselves.
I believe these are known as facts
PBSmithy 2 years ago
Of course, Britain thanks the United States for the loan of $420 billion, every cent of which I believe our country has just managed to pay back to you - as of 2006.
Naturally, we also pay recognition to all American troops who fought against Nazism, and guess what........ .......................................
PBSmithy 2 years ago
we alsao happen to pay recognition to the troops of all nations who contributed to the defeat of Nazism ands fascism; including Soviets, Canadians, Poles, Free-Frenchmen, Australians, New-Zealanders, Indians, Pakistani's, Bangladeshi's, the Ghurka's, South-Africans, Danes, Norwegians, Belgians, Greeks, Yugoslavians,Dutch, Chinese, Czechs etc, etc
I wonder if you see where I am going with this?
Get over yourself!
PBSmithy 2 years ago 2
Yeah, like all those minor countries made even a dent of a contribution to the Allied effort (sarcasm). Again.....all of them depended on the U.S. for something. And what did we get in return for all the war materials and sending our boys to fight for them - air bases and land bases.....in order to fight for them. Thanks (sarcasm)
busarider29 2 years ago
"Yeah, like all those minor countries made even a dent of a contribution to the Allied effort (sarcasm)."
military casualties in WWII
------------------------------------
U.S.A 416,800
U.K 382,700 (we are 1/3 the size of Texas)
other allies combined 12,872,700
(not incl. china, soviet union) 1, 072,700
Your unconscionable disrespect of the deaths of 2.5 times as many dead men as U.S.A suffered is indicative of why SOME people have an aversion for SOME Americans
PBSmithy 2 years ago
Personally speaking, I don't hate America - never have done, never will do!
I also know of not a single Briton who does "hate" America.
If I disagree with an American foreign policy I will say so, in just the same way as I will voice my concern with British foreign policy that I might find objectionable. That does not mean that I hate either your country or my own.
PBSmithy 2 years ago
"Britain would have "rolled" without American money". Again, you are on the wrong side of the historical facts.
Britain defended itself from the Nazi's in the battle of britain in 1940 (lend-lease began in 41). It was Britain that gave the luftwaffe it's first taste of defeat in the air in this battle, it was Britain that gave the German army their first defeat on land (El-Alamein), and Britain was the main contributor in defeating the kriegsmarine at sea (battle of the atlantic 1939-1945)
PBSmithy 2 years ago 2
Britain has provided much help to America, doubtless for no money whatsoever, including MI5 & MI6 training your intelligence services in their earliest days; our British Army Commandos trained your U.S. Army Rangers in their infancy, and i'm quite certain that the SAS provided much support in the early formulation of your Delta Force.
I apologise that it took a country 1/3 the size of Texas 60 to pay back $420 billion. Please forgive us for our lack or respect (sarcasm)
PBSmithy 2 years ago 2
@PBSmithy You are correct about UK contribution to the war. Let's not forget that
Britain was short on supplies and bankrupt in '41 or '42, the British army defeated on the European continent and driven from the shores of Dunkirk. Without the lend lease program supplies greatly needed by the British never would have arrived and Briton would have been doomed. Briton did have early victories in the war but would not win any without supplies we gave.
weinmanjoe 2 years ago
I don't dissent from anything that you've said!
PBSmithy 2 years ago
Most of the world thinks down on the U.S. for one reason or another. It's "F#CK the U.S" from everyone....UNTIL....they need our friggin' help for something. Whether it be money, food, or military assistance. Then after they get what they want, its back to "F#CK you America". And who in the US pays for it all - the American citizens.....ME.
busarider29 2 years ago
Well, thanks. It only took your country 60 friggin' years to pay back. I surely hope the U.S. was smart enough at that time to add interest to the bill, but probably not.
busarider29 2 years ago
Twist it anyway you want. Another "fact" still remains - If not for the U.S., Britain would surely have gotten rolled by the Nazis, it was just a matter of time. France was already under German occupation. The Soviets were getting rolled in Russia. None of those countries would have had a chance if not for the massive U.S. industry supplying them with war materials let alone sending our boys over there to fight for them and their motherlands.
busarider29 2 years ago
Man you hit the nail on the head with all your comments. PBSmithy is just another ignornant person who never wants to credit the US with anything. Britain was not even a threat to the Nazis. The Soviets were heavily supplied by us even though they at least had a ligitament army. Britain thinks they did so much (lmfao). When the allies invaded the continent it was 95% American supplies. We dont have to explain our countries good deeds to anyone. They should do something for us for once.
tginn07 2 years ago
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The Burning Of Washington 1814, August 24.
British redcoats grin as the cowardly defenders of Washington flee before them, it would be a nice night for a torchlight stroll..
lmfao.
smoochym 2 years ago
obama want to turn is back as per his recent speah saying america cannot fix the world problem? lol. we may end up a ussa?
Rico8458 2 years ago
AH and germany were the first to come out of the great depression. where did they get the gold and money to do it?
Rico8458 2 years ago
I love how the dumb asses of the earth just have to put their two cents in and show us how many jackasses there are on the planet to those (and its easy to see who they are) people graduate middle school b4 you comment
reanimate280 2 years ago
american capital financed the war- including german re-armanent
kingeric77 2 years ago
Kingeric77 is absolutely right and one of the people who financed herr hitler was none other than president bush's grandpappy. Some of you lot ought to learn your real history.
JamesArranMcGregor 2 years ago 2
J.F.K.'s daddy, was pro German as well, bad old Joseph Kennedy. Some well-known American's were heroes, James Stewart for one.
locheelad2 2 years ago
So? That should make him an enemy of the jews, but it did not.
Lachausis 2 years ago
My girlfriend and I once attended a fascist type meeting in the Bay Area. These people came around wishing to put together a vigilante that was obviously directed against racial minorities who were supposedly on the brink of revolution. So we went, feeling very vulnerable and on hostile ground. The main speaker gave his speel and then the audience began to respond. Suddenly we realized that everyone there was like us. These fascist soon realized the game was up and escaped.
mc0558 2 years ago 4
Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- the greatest of the great.
Governor Harriman was a fine man as well.
mc0558 2 years ago
children always suffers in conflicts.
WeakedWeak 2 years ago
I am a proud American for sure, but as for the war in Europe 8 of 10 dead Germans was killed by a Russian. No doubt our manufacturing capacity did some heavy lifting. We were however the only country that fought in all theters of the war.
4mrtd 2 years ago 3
Several nations had troops in all theatres
FeatheredIV 2 years ago
Right, all were British or part of the Empire.
locheelad2 2 years ago
Erm, the British are actually the only country which fought in all theatres...- Pacific, Africa, Europe, The Middle East- even South America. In fact none of my relatives fought against the Germans - all of them fought against the Japanese, mainly in Burma...
Bazanadu 2 years ago 4
Oh I know, and I expect it lol. Just stating the obvious :)
Hollywood movies were meant for sale in..... America! Who'd of thunk it! I'm grateful to anyone who served, just wish Hollywood wasn't taken as fact to so many Americans, you know?
cpynch 2 years ago
ya gotta love this docu!!
seen alot of them now..
its fabulous..!
R0D1NZ 2 years ago 4
I think Hollywood makes it seem like America was the only reason the war was won, and that bothers people of other nationalities who fought or had loved ones fight in WWII.
cpynch 2 years ago 22
@cpynch For instance: "Saving Private Ryan" actually happened - but it was a BRITISH undertaking; "The Great Escape" actually happened - but there were no Americans in the camp, only Europeans, and the "cooler king" was Norwegian. As for the "anti-commie" crap, read Schindler's Ark - the Schindler's Jews were given rations and vodka by Russian troops, who moved them by declaring "you are no longer untouchable" and hugged each one.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
They described that - being touched and sharing food and drink - as being the moment they rejoined the human race, but it couldn't be shown because the All American Cretins in the cinemas couldn't have stood to see "commie bastards" shown in a good light.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly
Yep, there are many undertakings from the Allied Forces that go claimed by the USA unfortunately.... There is no question USA was a major contributor to the war, it's just a shame more effort isn't made to publicize the great triumphs of the friends and allies of the USA as well...
The Russians fought one of the hardest campaigns in the war, and suffered incredible losses but are virtually forgotten in American media....
cpynch 1 year ago
@cpynch There are other myths too, which simplify the whole thing, for instance "Britain stood alone". I am British, and I am proud of that, but we "stood alone" with the help of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India (all "commonwealth" so in the parlance of the day they counted as "British" ) and they were true heroes because they had plenty to lose by involvement - not to mention those from every occupied country who risked their lives escaping to Britain to continue to fight.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
@cpynch Not any more. Of course, every country likes to celebrate its heros. By the same taken, the Americans were vital. Look at what de Gaulle said in his most important radio address, the one embedded into the brass at the Arch of Triumph.
P1B1U1H1 1 year ago
@cpynch Unfortunately there's always mythology. War is very politicised, and the US is very culturally insulated, etc.
Redcarpet01 1 year ago
@cpynch True. Although in the Pacific theater I think it's fair to say that the US was the only reason Japan was defeated. The Chinese were on the run and Australia was in danger of being invaded before Guadalcanal. The vast majority of Common Wealth troops were fighting in Europe and the Russians didn't declare war on Japan until after Germany fell. Australia and New Zealand helped a good bit, but almost all the decisive naval victories were 100% American.
xekul 1 year ago
@cpynch well thats not what americans think or how we feel. we realise the sacrifices made by other countires.
soccer21928 1 year ago
@soccer21928
As I figured, the media does a poor job of portraying Americans.... that's why I said;
"Hollywood makes it seem like....",
not
"Americans think the only reason..."
cpynch 1 year ago
@cpynch well you're comments could easily be misunderstood. and youre not going to see the brittish film industry focusing on russian efforts in the war, will you? or vise versa. people seem to forget that hollywood is american after all...
soccer21928 1 year ago
@soccer21928
Honestly, it's not really my problem if someone doesn't have a firm enough grasp on the English language to understand the meaning of a simple statement. I was quite explicit in the meaning, there's not much of a grey area.
I don't think all Americans think that, however a fair amount of Americans get their history taught to them from Hollywood, and it shows. This is not a stab at America, or it's citizens... They were key to a victory over Japan, Italy and Germany
cpynch 1 year ago
@cpynch well it is your problem if you think Hollywood makes it look like we did more than other countries in the war. believe me, you dont know english better than me (we are discussing the history of my country after all). i understand your comment, i just disagree with it. you see from hollywood what you expect to see, which is chauvinistic americans downplaying the contributions of others (maybe the canadians?) which isnt the case.
soccer21928 1 year ago
@soccer21928
How does you being American make you more proficient at English? That makes no sense, whatsoever. And as a Canadian, I bet I know more about the history of your country than you do, not to mention the rest of the countries in the world.
It's not "my problem", I rather enjoy the Hollywood movies, just pointing out an observation I've made through talking to Americans. It's not the opinion of all Americans, but from my experience it is a sizable portion.
cpynch 1 year ago
@cpynch and i highly doubt youve talked to a sizeable portion of americans. you've made a faulty observation. not only is it not the opinion of all americans, its not even the opinion of of a sizeable amount of americans. i would know, considering im actually from the United States, and no you dont know more about my country than i do. if i thought you were respresentative of the average canadian, then yours would be a sad country indeed. fortunately, youre just an outlier.
soccer21928 1 year ago
Comment removed
cpynch 1 year ago
@soccer21928
I never said it was the opinion of all Americans, learn to read sir.
How do you know how much I know about the USA at all? Who is making a faulty observation now? For all you know I could be an American History Major, perhaps you should think before speaking. It will surely make you look like less of a hypocrite.
My information was gained through experience. Not a sample big enough to write a paper on, but big enough to at least give an idea. Stop being so sensitive.
cpynch 1 year ago
@cpynch well you are criticizing my country. but lets make an agreement: ill be less sensitve, you'll be less ignorant. can we agree on that? whatever number of Americans youve encountered, its not even close to being large enough to represent any portion of my country. if you were an american history major, id expect you to be a lot smarter. and considering ive studied american history my whole life, in addition to being born and raised here, i think i would know more about this than you.
soccer21928 1 year ago
@soccer21928
I am criticizing Hollywood for making movies that portray USA as the bread winner of the war when they were 2 years late on joining the rest of the world fight the axis. Now, these are facts.... ignorance has nothing to do with it. Like it or hate it, it's history. If Hollywood wants to be accurate they should make movies depicting the USSR winning the war for everyone, but they're so biased they never would.
cpynch 1 year ago
@cpynch yes, we joined after pearl harbor. but at least we didnt betray czechoslovakia. we didnt promise to defend poland, then turn our backs as it burned to the ground, with the help of the russians. thats history. or would you like movies about the allies getting routed off the continent after the "battle" for france? and i though the war ended because of OUR atomic bombs? im not denying the contributions of other countries, but AMERICANS would rather watch AMERICANS than another country.
soccer21928 1 year ago
February 19, 1939, Madison Square Garden. New York. Some 20,000 people attended and heard Fritz Kuhn criticize President Franklin D. Roosevelt by repeatedly referring to him as Frank D. Rosenfeld, calling his New Deal the "Jew Deal", and stating his belief of Bolshevik-Jewish American leadership. Most shocking to American sensibilities was the outbreak of violence between protesters and Bund storm troopers.
CamiloRelampago 2 years ago
Lighthouses of liberty !! .... Yeh, that's what we need to watch over today, in the US and all over the planet : fascisme, NWO, the UN. dangerous times today !!!
terfle1106 2 years ago
Even though 6 of my Uncles fought bravely (4 were seriously wounded in the war), in 1940 the Americans really didn't have any reason to enter into the war. Europe should have worked out their own issues without bloodshed. General feeling in USA was that as long as Hitler was "only" killing Jews and Communists that we should sell him the bullets. Nowadays that's not Politically Correct to say, but it was quite true in 1940 America...
randy95023 2 years ago
Dayvelsh i agree, i am canadian and i'm not trying to pull the we did more, as warthog said we needed each other to win, i think war should not be looked at the cause, but with respect and pride for every person fighting for what they believe in, i have respect for anyone who is willing to die for what they believe in, i just hope we never have to unit to win a war this big ever ever again.
blazeaffy420 2 years ago
Hey look, a video on Youtube about WWII and every American with an internet connection is in here telling everybody how they singlehandedly won the war and were the throbbing heart of human rights and empathy and how nobody could defend themselves.
Answer me a question. Why, when discussing a war that took the lives of 50 million people, most of them civilians, do Americans feel the need to condescendingly tell everybody how amazing they were and belittle everybody elses effort int he war?
DayveIsh 2 years ago 2
On the reverse, do you know how many comments I read about how when America entered the war was basically over and we didn't really do anything.
Britian and many of the smaller nations put up one hell of a fight but we needed each other to win. It was an allied effort.
WarthogL2 2 years ago 2
I see those comments too, and the comments from both side of the fence make me sick. Both from Americans who say they singlehandedly won the war, and from people who say they came in when it was almost over and didn't do anything.
People can't discuss world war two in a civil manner, they have to drag the conversation down into an insult throwing match, and attempt to boost their own ego by saying "we saved your ass".
Just because other people do it, doesn't mean you should too.
DayveIsh 2 years ago
Agreed, those types of comments are dishonorable and I don't do anything like that either.
WarthogL2 2 years ago
The problem I have with watching all these FDR people is discerning which of them were Soviet spies -- Harriman was -- so was Alger Hiss who is interviewed in other W@W episodes. Interesting to hear these men talk as if they loved their country.
ConcealedCarrier 2 years ago
I stand with my country!!! we fight for democracy and peace everywhere... All hail AMERICA!!! may she last for a thousand years!!!
BlastingFatHerns 2 years ago 2
wow no wonder there was a war world was so divided back then
Saintapache86 2 years ago
The war in Europe was not the fault of the Europeans, but the fault of Hitler and his supporters which did not consist of a majority on the European continent.
Britain did everything it could to prevent war through appeasment policies toward Germany.
Many Americans were ignorant concerning the intricacies that caused the war to begin.
That woman in the beginning even admitted that she had no knowledge of European affairs.
If that is the case, your opinion becomes less valid. Americas opinion.
askjiir 2 years ago
Maybe her opinion becomes invalid but not mine. You show your ignorance just like "many americans".
MindCloud420 2 years ago
And what is your opinion?
I'm saying mine.
askjiir 2 years ago
Well if britain did everything they could to prevent war then why were they the first to get involved with Germany's war with France and Poland and why did Britain still insist on fighting when Hitler offered them peace so many times and Churchill refused
tginn07 2 years ago
Would you make peace with someone who just conquered all of free Europe without asking?
Hitler made a peace offer after Germany had attacked and taken over Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg and France.
Before you make a peace offer don't force an entire Continent under brutal Nazi tyranny.
Basic rule.
Should Britain stand still and LET Hitler take over the world?
Does that really make sense to you?
askjiir 2 years ago 3
Austria and Czechoslovakia was not free they were also under a national socialist rule and joined as part of the third reich and as for France's pussy ass they declared war on Germany as did Britain. Hitler gave Britain every chance to make peace but they still insisted on fighting. Also Nazi occupation of West European countries was not so bad it was only in the East where the concentration camps were at. What would you say about Britains sovereignty over various territories around the world.
tginn07 2 years ago
Czechoslovakia was a democracy, Austria had a authoritarian regime, not Nazi, but had a lot of Nazis in the opposition, so yeah Austria smelled a bit off Nazi country. But the Checks had democratic rule.
It was only after Hitler annexed them both, that they became governed by Nazis, and that was against the will of the majority of people in Czechoslovakia.
Even more, Hitler had Promised Britain and France that he would not annex all off Czechoslovakia. He was only allowed to get part of it
askjiir 2 years ago
But he invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia 6 months later anyway.
Then Hitler wanted to invade Poland. Britain and France promised the Poles to help them if Hitler invaded them too. So anyway Hitler then attacked Poland without much reason, bombing them ruthlessly, killed and wounded hundreds of thousands of people in a month before Poland gave up.
And finally the French and English have had enough of Hitler invading everybody and declared war on Germany.
So.. the Germans started it dude.
askjiir 2 years ago
In fact, the French and British were being nice toward Germany. They let Germany get the Szaar region back, they let Hitler re militarize the Rhineland. They let Hitler build up Germany's army, air force and navy again even if that was forbidden according to the Versailles treaty.
They let Hitler invade Austria, and remove it's independency. They let Hitler get the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
They let Hitler invade the rest of Czechoslovakia even if that meant Hitler broke his promise.
askjiir 2 years ago
Even after Hitler attacked Poland they still didn't do much to stop him or help the Poles.
Before the Germans attacked Western Europe there was no fighting and nobody even shot at the Germans or vice versa for many months.
But then Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway (My country) and the british and French sent troops to help us, but they ultimately lost.
Then Hitler invaded France, Belgium and neutral Holland and bombed their cities to rubble without reason. France fell, and Hitler asked "peace"
askjiir 2 years ago
Every Empire in Every Centuries FallDawn. USA also Fall dawn. The only thing that will survive after the collapse of the U.S., Coca-Cola is the unrust of Russian tanks
PenThomiDe 2 years ago
fucking nazi yanks
amigolakota1974 2 years ago
2 reasons US stayed out until '41..(1)they hadn't figured out how to draw Japan into attacking them and (2)most importantly, as in all other US campaigns, their big elitist bankers hadn't figured out how to maximize their profit from getting involved yet..German conglomerate I.G.Farben(they were responsible for 83% of the war effort in Germany..incl. Xylon B the gas they used on Jews) bankrolled the Third Reich war effort..the Rockefellers and Standard Oil bankrolled I.G.Farben..need I say more?
the2ofme 3 years ago
LMAO.
Skwurltale 2 years ago
they stayed out cuz they were too pussy to fight in a real war until the russians got to do most of the work
paydafee 2 years ago
although hitler and stalin knew they were gonna go to war together anyway, their non-agression pact was just a way of saying "lets invade poland first, get our share, and fight off later"
sammygee17 2 years ago 2
unless Pearl Harbour they would let half the Europeans die...haha...the USA had supported Hitler at first as he came to power in 1933....and even at the end of the war in 1945 they didn't want to fight with Japan but just cowardly dropped the atomic bomb...what a hypocrisy..nothing really to be proud of. The real winners of this Great War were Britain and the Soviet Union.
Pamoc 3 years ago
this is a very interesting, albeit a bit inaccurate, perspective on US involvement. the United States did not support Hitler, though there were some in high level positions that agreed with many of his early policies and reforms. I don't know if you noticed, but most of Europe was perfectly happy to let Hitler take over whoever he wanted...until he was knocking on their front door. Even then, France didn't resist much at first.
damoosebelly 3 years ago
You forgot to point out Neville Chamberlain. More interested in bringing, "Peace in our times." than stopping a tyrant.
BigOldScout 3 years ago
World War II was not our war to fight, but the Europeans were not doing a great job of saving themselves, even with our money and supplies. As for Japan...I think it's funny that people who claim we know nothing about fighting or being at war will also claim that our first response to Pearl Harbor was two atomic bombs. We fought Japan and lost quite a good number of men doing so. Some of you Europeans would do well to remember that.
damoosebelly 3 years ago
I have to say, some of what you say doesn't make a lot of sense damoosebelly. You say for instance that most of Europe were 'perfectly happy' to let Hitler take over whoever he wanted. But what were tiny countries like Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to do? They could never have stood against the industrial might of Germany. And the British empire had been in such long decay that it was in no position either. Really, this failing falls nearly entirely on the French.
Retuobak 3 years ago 2
British Empire at that time in such long decay? Where did you learn that twaddle? Granted, the Depression had delayed a lot of modernization of its military, but GB was at the zenith of her powers and foreign holdings at this point in time. The failing falls on the entire nominally 'protestant' west, in not preventing Rome from stirring again...and once it was noted to be stirring, from refraining to drive the dagger home.
abbesieyes 3 years ago
the failure of Europe to take care of its own is NOT wholly the responsibility of the French. the bizarre diplomatic line taken by the European powers, collectively, was insanely counter-intuitive. I think it could be reasonably understood from my comments that I was not resting military responsibilities of that magnitude at the door of small nations with little military, but the big and powerful ones who ought to have stepped in when Hitler's aggression became clear early on.
damoosebelly 3 years ago
I don't see how you can say that it wasn't your war to fight either. With the nationalistic, imperialistic and militaristic regime of Japan, it was nigh inevitable that it would come to war with the most major power in the pacific. And Japan of course stood with the Axis powers due to it's strained (to put it mildly) relationship with the USSR. Also the US didn't know much about fighting before WW2, it entered with outdated tactics and weapons, luckily for the world, it learned fast.
Retuobak 3 years ago 2
what Retobak said.
Napolleion 3 years ago
It was not our war to fight. Had Japan not directly attacked us as they did, we would likely have continued to be involved only on the periphery, doing what we could through arms shipments and supply drops for our friends.
In comparison to Germany's and Japan's technological developments, all the countries outside those two came into WWII with "outdated" weapons and delivery systems.
damoosebelly 3 years ago
As for outdated tactics, the US Marine Corps was central in innovating a number of new vehicles, personnel delivery craft, and weapons that enabled us to bring some creativity to the trench-style warfare Europeans were so lovingly attached to. Old tactics were employed throughout WWII and new ones were developed as people adapted to conditions. This is all war, Retuobak, in reality, anyway.
damoosebelly 3 years ago
Invading the Island of Japan would have resulted in more than 1 Million casualties on both sides. Dropping the atomic bombs (there were two of them) was unfortunate for their victims, but the lesser evil. As the sole possessor of the atomic bomb, the USA clearly emerged from WW II as the world's most powerful nation.
hoosierdaddy3277 3 years ago
I think a huge part of our emergence at that point was that the European nations had shown early that they were clearly willing to tolerate the taking of anyone's freedom or national borders (not their own) so long as they themselves didn't have to get involved in a fight. Clearly, the United States was the only Allied nation with the guts, backbone, and energy at that point to do something decisive and effective...and it moved us up the food chain a bit ;)
damoosebelly 3 years ago
More to the point, the US was the only nation in which the black nobility, the Orders and that which they support did not hold complete sway. That cannot be said today.
abbesieyes 3 years ago
Are you taking the piss? Only reason the US got involved because they knew that if Britain fell the Axis would have smashed the US within a year. Only one with guts, don't make me laugh. Only one's without a brain perhaps, look at the ridiculous military mistakes the US continues to make.
LeviAAA 3 years ago
yeah...you're right...no OTHER country in history has made more than one military mistake...certainly, the British military has never made one...*rolls eyes*
thank you for not reading the entire sentence you referenced, by the way...
damoosebelly 3 years ago
@damoosebelly One more thing... America has never won a war on it's own. All kudos to those young Americans who fought and died, but they started halfway through. America lost 400000 men; Britain lost 380000 (not counting 95000 civilians killed by German bombing raids, or thousands of "special service operatives") and as our population is only 1/6 of yours, anyone with half a brain can work out the relative sacrifices.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly
Now hold on there, we Americans beat the Mexicans in the 1850's, all on our own, now didn't we?
davidrodgersNJ 1 year ago
@davidrodgersNJ ;-) the Mexicans!
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly American has never won a war on its own, except for the War of 1812, the Mexican American War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War...and America turned the tide of both World Wars to victory for the Allies, with the tremendous force of its industrial might
ITILII 1 year ago
@ITILII Yes, you made a massive contribution....after watching everyone else bleed and die for years, at the rate of 59000 people per day, lives, cities and cultures destroyed forever. This was a WORLD war, with implications for Americans - so where were you? So although God bless those Americans who, at last, sacrificed everything, it is incredibly offensive to airbrush history so the USA are the heroes, when really America watched Europe being murdered - and then picked the carcass at the end.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly True, we were the last to enter the war. However, lend-lease had been going on since early 1941. Without all the war material the US supplied to England and Russia, it is quite possible that Hitler could have successfully invaded England and maybe even have captured Moscow. Also, I don't think it's quite fair to say that the US "picked the carcass". The Marshall Plan was massive foreign aid to western Europe to help rebuild. The US was never repaid for that.
xekul 1 year ago
@xekul One thing I notice is that the American people are some of the nicest in the world, and yet your governments are among the vilest. I am sure that the American people were sold Marshall Aid as being charitable, but if you look into the details of it, it was a very cynical method of hamstringing Europe - elections were rigged in countries which the US considered to be too socialist; much needed national industries were sacrificed to US imports, etc.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
As for Britain, the aim was to finally kill off the Empire - when we were practically bankrupt anyway - so we received no "aid" only the offer of loans at up to 65%. As a child in the 60s I was still playing in bomb craters, for want of money to rebuild, and yet we treated you honourably - you were repaid only 1/3 of the loans you had made to all the allies, and we paid all of that, despite other commitments. Have you never wondered why the 50s were "boom" in the US but austerity in Europe?
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
Something any "ally" will tell you they resent is that almost all of American rebuilding happened in Germany, including propping up nazi-based industries and rescuing convicted war criminals (1200 of them to work on the space programme alone!) After what they had done to Europe, to this day that is beyond understanding. as every other nation in Europe was a million times more deserving, but whatever the reasons for it, it was the only truly "charitable" act of American reconstruction.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly Lies.
kilfridg 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly I find it hard to believe that Europe doesn't remember how much was done to rebuild ALL of Europe under the Marshal Plan. Billions in aid was sent to every country, not only in Europe but all across the Pacific and in Japan, Formosa,and Korea as well. American President Wilson tried to help Germany after WW1 but no one listened and the result was a Germany willing to listen to Hitler and his Nazi insanity. The lesson was learned,and today Germany is a democracy.
Bullettube 1 year ago
@Bullettube We remember how you sat on your arses for 20 years. So you should have aided Europe after the war, The US caused the war by doing nothing for so long
1middlesbrough 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly I used to play in bomb sites well into the 70's only recently realised they were actual bomb sites, and all of that so I can get blown up by imported jihadists on the tube or the bus, I am one angry fucker, I have to travel daily on public transport while religious maniacs in my opinion worse than nazis plot to kill me while im on my way to work, I am not happy with the outcome of WW2 and the successive governments of the UK since then. the UK has gone crazy!
photonprojector 1 year ago
@xekul
I agree. America played the biggest role in the Pacific theater.
cpynch 1 year ago
@TheBelovedButterfly The US' entire culture is airbrushed. If the average American knew the truth, their entire country would collapse (re: Israel, Iraq)
stephenry2 1 year ago
It is startingly naïve to think that the U.S.A. entered the war to defend democracy. They had felt their Pacific possessions threatened by Japan throughout the 1930's and made every effort to hamper Japan's expansion, purely for economic and geopolitical reasons. The attack on Pearl Harbour was not a surprise but rather the logical result of America's efforts, together with the rest of the Western Powers, to isolate Japan economically.
Kamphoer 2 years ago
True it is naive as the USA deliberately remained isolationist throughout the 20's 30's and early 40's and only declared war on the axis after they had been militarily threatened after japan attacked the pacific fleet at pearl harbor and actually came out of the war territorially better off, however, japans open attempts at imperialism and expansionism throughout this era were deliberate attempts to provoke the sleeping American bear into a war to see who would control the pacific and Asia.
opinionater 2 years ago
The attack on Pearl Harbor was not a logical at all. It was a horrible strategic blunder. if the Japanese had attacked the Dutch only, (they wanted their oil to assist their invasion of India,) we may have stayed out. They sowed the seeds for their own defeat by attacking the one power strong enough to turn them back.
ryznaga 2 years ago
From the Japanese perspective, war with the US was inevitable as soon as we refused to sell them oil. Japan's economy (then as now) was entirely dependent on exports in order to literally put food on the table. They wanted to knock out the US's immediate military threat to give them a free hand to get the resources they needed.
Not entirely illogical but there are always better ways of going about one's business.
ConcealedCarrier 2 years ago 2
@damoosebelly arrogant, ignorant rubbish. Europe had been decimated only 20 years previously; while Americans like Ford, the Manhatten Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank financed Hitler. After WW1, 1/4 of all French males were dead, 1/4 disabled, the land and industry ruined, but still declared war in 1939. Britain and the Commonwealth held the fort for over 2 years while you sat on the fence watching us fighting the war machine you had helped to build.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
"Backbone"? I'm British - my parents were reared on WEEKLY rations of 1 egg, 1oz cheese, 4oz meat (a burger, in other words) and a bomb dropped on my country on average every 12 minutes for 6 years. 59000 Europeans died DAILY during WW2, but ONE ATTACK - 9/11 - had you in psychological meltdown, as if it was the first attack in the world. It was 1/1000,000 of what Europe suffered, but still we fought. You don't know what "backbone" is.
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
And what you mean by "moving you up the food chain" is that when you had watched us being pulverised and finally joined in because we couldn't protect you any more, you made money out of the grief of a devastated world, and sneaked convicted war-criminals to lives of comfort in order to work on your ridiculous space-programme - meanwhile allowing those American companies who had paid to set Hitler up, to continue to live and trade. Hardly your "finest hour".
TheBelovedButterfly 1 year ago
Only wish we had all stuck together, A better world?
michaelwright999 3 years ago
Lindbergh was a leader of the America First movement, a group of isolationists and Nazi fans (such as Lucky Lindy) who, of course, wanted U.S. to stay out of den Zweiten Weltkrieg.
romeo9k 3 years ago
This was so unfortunate for us as a nation, too, as his father was really a level headed man who seemed to have an excellent grasp of our constitution and the importance of liberty. It would have been better for America if more of her public figures would have taken the right stand on Hitler's actions, but rarely do we see celebrities involved in anything that isn't an extreme of some sort.
damoosebelly 3 years ago
Great post, 5 stars. It shows the USA weakness in remaining isolated and neutral, until Pearl Harbor, and the Eagle was awakened!
DJgaZman 3 years ago
gotta love this series, that opening roosevelt speech is sick
fuckoff187 3 years ago