Perhaps not in my country. Though I would agree that the logical association of causes with consequences is already lost on many, because the generations that remember the war are almost gone. But the war left its undeniable mark that can still be felt today. There are plenty of places where even a stranger can tell that something is clearly missing.
I was born in '53. My dad was a WWII vet, B-17 pilot, 8th Air Force. My maternal grandfather was a flight instructor in France in WWI. He was an "old guy". The Civil War was ancient history, a hundred years past. Now, WWI is a hundred years past. I served during (but not in) Vietnam. Now approaching my 70's, I am the old guy.
That's because it didn't. Depending on your perspective, it kicked off 3/18/31, when the Nips invaded Manchuria; 7/7/37, when the Nips invaded China, or 12/7/41 when the Nips bombed Pearl Harbor.
September 1st, 1939 is the accepted date as the beginning World War Two. The Japanese invasion of Manchuria (considered to be part of China today, but in '37 parts of Russia and China overlapped) was at the time was considered to be a regional conflict. Because of the complexity of treaties and allegiances between Germany, Italy, and Japan (Axis Powers) and treaties between Poland, France, and Great Britain (at that time considered to be the Allied Powers) made the basis of a global conflict. Italy and Japan were as bound to Germany as Great Britain and France were committed to Poland. By treaty they were obligated to declare war on not only Germany but Italy and Japan making what historians considered at that time to be a global conflict. Russia came on the side of the Allies as did China to a lesser extent. As you well know, Germany declared war on the United States four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor awakening a sleeping giant and sealing the fate of the Reich and Axis forces. Up until this point The United States had been supplying war materiel via the Lend Lease agreement to England and Russia. America became a dynamo contributing manpower and materiel to the Allies on massive scale. Eventually, many other countries chose their respective sides and the war drug on for six long years.
As I say, 2 wars initially, joined by American involvement. History being written by Euros and descendants of Euros focuses on things European; my point being what makes something a "world" war is largely a matter of perspective.
What we call WWI may have been the Great War, but, except for some peripheral action in the Middle East and colonial Africa, was mainly a European thing.
PS Hello, Jeffery (the troll, not the one in AL). You can't help giving yourself away, can you?
I think Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada might all disagree with you.
In general you're "fighting a lost war", so to speak. This discussion has been had a thousand times and the general consensus is that WW2 has been defined by the winning powers as a war against Hitler and Germany. In that sense, the first time they saw any armed opposition to their drive to conquer the world, was on September 1st, 1939. It is a largely symbolic date, especially for those who lost their lives or loved ones. Still, until you come up with a better definition, that's what you have to accept.
And it shows it the crap leadership we have now. One thing I wasn't aware of until many years later in my life, was that Hitler's armies were mostly not mechanized.
I believe in 1940 the German Army had over 600,000 draft animals. Soldiers still marched great distances. Naturally, in the Wochenshau newsreels we saw the panzers, half-tracks, a variety of armored cars, along with other modern "Blitzkreig" vehicles.
It is already known as "some people did something" to a lot of the latest generation. I made sure that when I had the chance I brought my kids to the holocaust museum.
No, did not invade: the Allies committed to return the German land offered to Poland after 20 years and they did not keep the promise. Meanwhile, the Judeo-Polish_bolshevick gangs killed thousands of Germans just to clean the land of Germans... So, Germany took it back. Fair and right move. The real WWII start was on the 3rd when the war criminal Churchill declared war to Germany to oppose the only State to fight Communists and stop the Soviet Union to occupy the entire Europe. ---- You could find this real facts from the open US archives.
Just seeing the word 'BOLCHEVICS' gets my blood to boiling. . I am generally a peaceable person, but I think this is a good time for them to skee-daddle out of here. Maybe they could go annoy some Somalis for a while.
I saw a documentary recently about how deception was used. Some frikkin genius came up with the idea that more forces were necessary,, up to and including tank. So they built them! They were inflatable,, how cool is That!?
I can remember seeing WWII damage on the buildings at the kaserne my father worked at in Germany. The war had been over for only 20 years at that point.
Perhaps not in my country. Though I would agree that the logical association of causes with consequences is already lost on many, because the generations that remember the war are almost gone. But the war left its undeniable mark that can still be felt today. There are plenty of places where even a stranger can tell that something is clearly missing.
ReplyDeleteGloria Victis.
wojtek
It might as well be the Roman legions now
ReplyDeleteI was born in '53. My dad was a WWII vet, B-17 pilot, 8th Air Force. My maternal grandfather was a flight instructor in France in WWI. He was an "old guy". The Civil War was ancient history, a hundred years past. Now, WWI is a hundred years past. I served during (but not in) Vietnam. Now approaching my 70's, I am the old guy.
ReplyDeleteThat's because it didn't. Depending on your perspective, it kicked off 3/18/31, when the Nips invaded Manchuria; 7/7/37, when the Nips invaded China, or 12/7/41 when the Nips bombed Pearl Harbor.
ReplyDelete9/1/39 merely started the War in Europe.
Or it coulda been 9/4/39 when Britain and France declared war on Germany...
DeleteChrist almighty, special E.D., you don't have to demonstrate what an ass you can be all the time.
September 1st, 1939 is the accepted date as the beginning World War Two. The Japanese invasion of Manchuria (considered to be part of China today, but in '37 parts of Russia and China overlapped) was at the time was considered to be a regional conflict. Because of the complexity of treaties and allegiances between Germany, Italy, and Japan (Axis Powers) and treaties between Poland, France, and Great Britain (at that time considered to be the Allied Powers) made the basis of a global conflict. Italy and Japan were as bound to Germany as Great Britain and France were committed to Poland. By treaty they were obligated to declare war on not only Germany but Italy and Japan making what historians considered at that time to be a global conflict. Russia came on the side of the Allies as did China to a lesser extent. As you well know, Germany declared war on the United States four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor awakening a sleeping giant and sealing the fate of the Reich and Axis forces. Up until this point The United States had been supplying war materiel via the Lend Lease agreement to England and Russia. America became a dynamo contributing manpower and materiel to the Allies on massive scale. Eventually, many other countries chose their respective sides and the war drug on for six long years.
Deletehttps://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history
As I say, 2 wars initially, joined by American involvement. History being written by Euros and descendants of Euros focuses on things European; my point being what makes something a "world" war is largely a matter of perspective.
DeleteWhat we call WWI may have been the Great War, but, except for some peripheral action in the Middle East and colonial Africa, was mainly a European thing.
PS Hello, Jeffery (the troll, not the one in AL). You can't help giving yourself away, can you?
@edutcher
DeleteI think Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada might all disagree with you.
In general you're "fighting a lost war", so to speak. This discussion has been had a thousand times and the general consensus is that WW2 has been defined by the winning powers as a war against Hitler and Germany. In that sense, the first time they saw any armed opposition to their drive to conquer the world, was on September 1st, 1939. It is a largely symbolic date, especially for those who lost their lives or loved ones. Still, until you come up with a better definition, that's what you have to accept.
wojtek
And it shows it the crap leadership we have now. One thing I wasn't aware of until many years later in my life, was that Hitler's armies were mostly not mechanized.
ReplyDeleteI believe in 1940 the German Army had over 600,000 draft animals. Soldiers still marched great distances. Naturally, in the Wochenshau newsreels we saw the panzers, half-tracks, a variety of armored cars, along with other modern "Blitzkreig" vehicles.
DeleteOnly the panzers and the panzer grenadier divisions were motorized, but the same held true for most armies.
DeleteOnly the US and British forces were completely merchaized
It's been said we fought on the wrong side, not that I prescribe to that.
ReplyDeleteGo watch Europa - The final battle on rumble…
DeleteNo, it's just easier to pick your enemies than your friends in war.
DeleteIt is already known as "some people did something" to a lot of the latest generation.
ReplyDeleteI made sure that when I had the chance I brought my kids to the holocaust museum.
No, did not invade: the Allies committed to return the German land offered to Poland after 20 years and they did not keep the promise. Meanwhile, the Judeo-Polish_bolshevick gangs killed thousands of Germans just to clean the land of Germans...
ReplyDeleteSo, Germany took it back. Fair and right move.
The real WWII start was on the 3rd when the war criminal Churchill declared war to Germany to oppose the only State to fight Communists and stop the Soviet Union to occupy the entire Europe.
----
You could find this real facts from the open US archives.
Just seeing the word 'BOLCHEVICS' gets my blood to boiling.
Delete.
I am generally a peaceable person, but I think this is a good time for them to skee-daddle out of here.
Maybe they could go annoy some Somalis for a while.
I saw a documentary recently about how deception was used. Some frikkin genius came up with the idea that more forces were necessary,, up to and including tank. So they built them! They were inflatable,, how cool is That!?
ReplyDeleteI can remember seeing WWII damage on the buildings at the kaserne my father worked at in Germany. The war had been over for only 20 years at that point.
ReplyDelete