World War 2 (WWII) Over Today - 7th May 1945

[monkey tennis]

Whaaaa

You didn't take the bait

[Bo8a_Fett]

One of my grandfathers was in a stalag after the battle for monty casino...even though he knew I was war mad he never told me anything about his time in the army...not even to his son (my dad).
My other grandfather was in the merchant navy and he did tell me about the daily threat of u-boats once but that was all.
Both my parents were born during the war and grew up during the blitz ...although too young to remember about it.
My grandfather kept the anderson shelter in the garden after the war and also kept the garden as mainly a veg plot (which most Brits did to supplement rationing).

[Bo8a_Fett]

My partners grandfathers were also in the war....One in the desert rats fighting at el alamien and the other was held by the japanese and came back a walking skeleton after the way he was treated as a POW..till he died he hated the Japanese for what they done to him but would never say what.

[Adam West]

My partners grandfathers were also in the war....One in the desert rats fighting at el alamien and the other was held by the japanese and came back a walking skeleton after the way he was treated as a POW..till he died he hated the Japanese for what they done to him but would never say what.

I highly recommend the book "Ghost Soldiers" which is a historical account of the bataan death march.

I know most of WWII was focused on the brutalities of the Nazis but they treated U.S. POW's much better than the Japanese soldiers did. They had zero sympathy and considered anyone who surrendered a coward.

[Bo8a_Fett]

It's now on my "to read " list...thx for the pointer ...
good reads are always the "voices" books...that reprints letters or prints anecdotes or thoughts from the Imperial war museums audio archive....a few years ago they started recording memiors of as many vets as they could...before they passed away such as many of the WWI vets have now.....they are amazing insights into the ordinary people (from all sides in the conflict)...both at the front and at home...they've got books out on WWI, WWII (navy, airforce and POW editions) Falklands and Gulf wars.

[Mikey]

I highly recommend the book "Ghost Soldiers" which is a historical account of the bataan death march.

I know most of WWII was focused on the brutalities of the Nazis but they treated U.S. POW's much better than the Japanese soldiers did. They had zero sympathy and considered anyone who surrendered a coward.

Oh, I heard many times how the Japs treated their prisoners

They were literally sadistic *******s

I have a Philippino friend ......

Some of his horror story's would haunt anyone forever

[EmergencyIan]

World War II was one of the only necessary wars. Many countries, including the United States had no choice but to fight. It was either fight, be killer or be taken over by Hitler's band of whacko's.

True story: Hilter actually contacted Henry Ford at Ford Motors, during the war, and wanted to place an order for a significant number of tanks. Hilter told Ford that he need not ship them to Germany. Hitler stated that he would pick them up on his way through Detroit.

- Ian

[misterdroid]

True story: Hilter actually contacted Henry Ford at Ford Motors, during the war, and wanted to place an order for a significant number of tanks. Hilter told Ford that he need not ship them to Germany. Hitler stated that he would pick them up on his way through Detroit.

Hitler was a pretty big fan of Ford. Had his picture in his office and gave him the highest decoration awarded to a foreigner. Ford is also the only foreigner mentioned in Mein Kampf.
Here is an old, but interesting, article about some of the connection between Detroit automakers and the early German war machine.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...nazicars30.htm
I don't think they had any special sympathy for the Nazi cause (well, Ford is questionable, he was up to some strangeness in the 20's), but instead were just greedy fatcats double dealing as long they could keep the money coming in.

[Adam West]

World War II was one of the only necessary wars. Many countries, including the United States had no choice but to fight. It was either fight, be killer or be taken over by Hitler's band of whacko's.

True story: Hilter actually contacted Henry Ford at Ford Motors, during the war, and wanted to place an order for a significant number of tanks. Hilter told Ford that he need not ship them to Germany. Hitler stated that he would pick them up on his way through Detroit.

- Ian

20/20 is hindsight. Many people might disagree with our involvement with certain conflicts past and present but it's difficult to run the What If scenarios and call wars necessary or not.

As a side note, I'm not sure Germany would have been able to defeat England had we not been involved.

[megoat]

It's funny, growing up in cold war America, we were of course taught that we alone saved the day in Europe. The truth of the matter is, without the Soviets kicking major arse on the eastern front (first just surviving the Nazi onslaught--then kicking arse), D-day woulda been next to impossible.

[Adam West]

That's was Germany's big mistake. Trying to fight a two front war. Things could have been far worse had Stalin and Hitler allied with one another.

[Hotfoot]

Very touching tribute to the Soldiers of WWII and Korea

http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGI...p?page=playBYG

[nvmbrsdoom5]

It's funny, growing up in cold war America, we were of course taught that we alone saved the day in Europe. The truth of the matter is, without the Soviets kicking major arse on the eastern front (first just surviving the Nazi onslaught--then kicking arse), D-day woulda been next to impossible.

All of the allies were important in World War 2, not just the U.S. Just look at the Canadian Army, who were largely responsible for liberating the Netherlands from the Nazi, and rescued many Dutch Jews and the people who were hiding and helping them. They also fought at Normandy in '44 and helped win important battles in Belgium, etc.

My grandfather fought the Japanese during WW2. He received a medal, I forget which one (might've been the Silver Star?) for something he did over there, but he would never tell any of his family the story of what happened, and took it to his grave. Everyone well knows of the atrocities of the Nazis, but man the Japanese forces were vicious. After hearing and reading some of the stories that I have about that, I'm not surprised many soliders refused to discuss it especially to loved ones.

[toystalker]

It's funny, growing up in cold war America, we were of course taught that we alone saved the day in Europe. The truth of the matter is, without the Soviets kicking major arse on the eastern front (first just surviving the Nazi onslaught--then kicking arse), D-day woulda been next to impossible.

yikes dont forget the great british

my gramp was in the war, he had both ears cut off in a pow camp, he made it home though

never forget the brits especially the welsh dragoons

no disprespect to anyone here either but you guys do your fair share of damage too, i lost a good old school mate out in iraq when he was caught in so called friendly fire from your guys.
im glad we work as a team though, abbott and costello, morecamb and wise, tom and jerry

[Mikey]

You lost a school chum in Iraq due to friendly fire ?

Man, that's so tragic

What happened ?