NationStates Jolt Archive

They had an easy way out of World War II, and they didn't take it. This marks them pretty damn high in my book.

As most, or at least some, of you know, all the royal families from Old Europe were related. The kings and queens weren't allowed to marry peasants, so they married royals from other nations. So, the English King was related to the French King, and he was related to the German King, and he was related to the Russian King, etc. (Yes, I do know that the seperate nations had different names for their rulers). Sometimes, these relations came into play.

One time, in England a long long time ago, a German royal sat on the English throne. He didn't speak English and was really just a figurehead, but he was German and he was King of England. So, when Hitler came to power he viewed England as Germany's long lost bastard cousin. You know, they show up at family reunions and birthday parties but nobody really hangs out with them very often.

So, since England is Germany's long lost cousin, Hitler decides to cut them some slack. After the defeat of France and the retreat of the British forces to the island, Hitler calls up Churchill and says, when you take out all the fluff, "Let us have Europe, and we'll leave you alone." He requires that England recognize Germany as the dominant military power in Europe, but other than that he (officially) lets them off the hook. Of course, we know that he was probably planning on knocking them off later, but at that point in time we was ready and willing

You know what Britain does? They throw it right back in his face. They say they will not bow to him, they say they will fight to defend their nation, and they say that they will free what he oppresses.

I so often here how "America saved WWII" but, while it would have been damn hard to win if we hadn't gotten involved, it would have been just as hard (if not harder) if Britain had taken Hitler's offer. They stuck in there, and they did what was right.

Here here!

Not meaning to burst your bubble (well actually yes I do mean to LOL)...wasn't it the British government who allowed Hitler to gain so much power in Europe to begin with?

...remember Chamberlain.

Yes, but Chamberlain was a naive idiot.

Winston Chirchill wasn't.

And the entire world bought Hitler's spiel, including America, France, and Russia. Chamberlain might have made the worst mistakes, but he wasn't the only one fooled.

Yes, but Chamberlain was a naive idiot.

Winston Chirchill wasn't.

And the entire world bought Hitler's spiel, including America, France, and Russia. Chamberlain might have made the worst mistakes, but he wasn't the only one fooled.

No, the French government (I cannot believe I am saying this - someone shoot me LOL) actually saw Hitler as a threat when he took the Saarland in 1935. Britain and France were prepared to move in a finish Hitler off then and there. In fact France had 100 divisions on the Franco-German border, and Hitler a mere 3 battalions when he took the Rhineland in 1936.

But...the US government threatened economic sanctions against both Britain and France should they attempt to intervene in Hitler's defiance of the Versaille Treaty. So they backed down reluctantly.

Of course, the US was looking after its own interests in German manufacturing and the vast amounts of investment poured in during the 20's. Hitler appeared to be an economic genius to the US...that is why they kept him in power.

I know they saw him as a threat. I didn't say they didn't. I just said that they bought his story that he would stop after being given the Sudentland.

I know they saw him as a threat. I didn't say they didn't. I just said that they bought his story that he would stop after being given the Sudentland.

No they didn't buy his story...after Munich, France and Britain made an alliance with Poland which stated that in the event of Poland's sovereignty being threatened, Britain and France would come to her aid.

Both Britain and France knew Hitler wasn't going to stop. The alliance was the key to getting into a war without looking bad. I refer here to governments and not just individual leaders. Chamberlain may have bought Hitler's rubbish, but others didn't. e.g. Churchill.

Dude, I know all this. What are you getting at?

Churchill was a terrorist and a terrible Prime Minister... but he got the job done.

Dude, I know all this. What are you getting at?

That you are wrong.

You know who gets my respect in WWII?

Denmark.

Yes, they were occupied. But when they were occupied, they were uncooperative. The Danish king was ordered to give an armband to all Jews living in the country and he put it on himself as a show of solidarity with the Jews. It ticked the Germans off.

In addition, Danes were actively moving Jews out of their country and into neutral Sweden.

They couldn't resist the Germans on the batlefield, so they resorted to sabotage.

About what? Seriously, what are you trying to prove me wrong about? Are you saying Britain didn't stay in the war? Are you saying Hitler didn't offer Britain a way out? Are you saying England never had a German king? Cause if you're not saying anything relateing to this you are going off topic and trying to start an argument for no reason.

Sarzonia, damn straight!

All of the danes put on the star. The germans couldn't put them all in camps.

As for Churchill, he was a racist. He was a journalist during the cuban uprising and the first thing he said was that there had to be something done about it, or we'd have another black republic. (Referring to Haiti.)

Still, the british people, not the government, showed the most courage. The men went to die in europe, and those who stayed were bombed, but they kept their chins up. I heard so many stories about the blitz, and sing-songs in the underground stations, shelters in the back garden, people making do, but doing it cheerfully. That was enough to make you cry, knowing that these people went through so much, but they managed to keep a smile on their faces doing it.

About what? Seriously, what are you trying to prove me wrong about? Are you saying Britain didn't stay in the war? Are you saying Hitler didn't offer Britain a way out? Are you saying England never had a German king? Cause if you're not saying anything relateing to this you are going off topic and trying to start an argument for no reason.

Not at all...

They had an easy way out of World War II, and they didn't take it. This marks them pretty damn high in my book.

As most, or at least some, of you know, all the royal families from Old Europe were related. The kings and queens weren't allowed to marry peasants, so they married royals from other nations. So, the English King was related to the French King, and he was related to the German King, and he was related to the Russian King, etc. (Yes, I do know that the seperate nations had different names for their rulers). Sometimes, these relations came into play.

One time, in England a long long time ago, a German royal sat on the English throne. He didn't speak English and was really just a figurehead, but he was German and he was King of England. So, when Hitler came to power he viewed England as Germany's long lost bastard cousin. You know, they show up at family reunions and birthday parties but nobody really hangs out with them very often.

So, since England is Germany's long lost cousin, Hitler decides to cut them some slack. After the defeat of France and the retreat of the British forces to the island, Hitler calls up Churchill and says, when you take out all the fluff, "Let us have Europe, and we'll leave you alone." He requires that England recognize Germany as the dominant military power in Europe, but other than that he (officially) lets them off the hook. Of course, we know that he was probably planning on knocking them off later, but at that point in time we was ready and willing

You know what Britain does? They throw it right back in his face. They say they will not bow to him, they say they will fight to defend their nation, and they say that they will free what he oppresses.

I so often here how "America saved WWII" but, while it would have been damn hard to win if we hadn't gotten involved, it would have been just as hard (if not harder) if Britain had taken Hitler's offer. They stuck in there, and they did what was right.

You act as if Britain was brave in refusing to bow to Hitler...when in fact they did bow to him in the 1930's and had they not, WW2 would never have come about.

They deserve a swift kick up the backside for being so naive!

If you would read the title, I said "WWII-era Britain". That's post 1939, and after Hitler already invaded Poland and the naive treaties were made.

As for Churchill, he was a racist.

Damn straight.

"I do not understand this sqeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favour of using poison gas against uncivilised tribes."

So how come when Churchill gassed the Kurds it was okay, but when Saddam did it it was wrong?

Because the victors write the histories, Bodies Without Organs.

For the record, America has no problem with dictators. Since when did that ever bother us? Also, if you'd like to know, Lincoln was a racist too. He was all in favor of sending the slaves back where they came from, because he didn't believe that they should be given equal rights if freed. If he could have won the war at their expense, he wouldn't have freed any of them.

I have to say, I'm pretty cynical about who the world calls "heroes".

Because the victors write the histories, Bodies Without Organs.

"What is a rhetorical question?"

Different times, BWO. When Churchill was a journalist, racism was the norm. Why do you pick him out. Is he supposed to have 21st century morality just because he was the leader of the free world? Nope. Slavery used to be common, but you don't condemn every government in the world for all eternity because of it, do you?

Klonor, you are right. We Brits do deserve recognition for holding off the nazis, don't we.

I deeply respect the Russians too. Some may mention the non-aggression pact, but that was just to give them time to move all the industry east, out of German hands.

Sorry, BWO, I didn't catch that in your tone of voice. ;)

One other thing- When Hitler proposed peace to Churchill, there was a catch. Britain and the commonwealth would join the anti-comintern pact with Japan and Italy against the USSR. That might have helped him say "no".

WW2 is probably the most Romanticized period in Western history.