what did european countries do in WW2?

[MOBIUS]

IIRC the Rotterdam incident was a tragic mistake, Holland had basically surrendered and the German ground control tried to call the planes back but too late. Most dropped their bombs, but some did manage to pull away in time...

As for Belgium, IIRC the King became exasperated at the dithering by the British and French forces whilst his country was being destroyed. The Belgians put up a fierce resistance just as they did in WWI - if anyone should feel betrayed, it was the Belgians by the British and French...

I think all countries did what they felt they should at the time - no one had any inkling of just what Hitler was about to unlease on the World...

[Ecthy]

KH, I didn't know I'm one of your favourites

[Ozz]

Originally posted by our_man
Churchill made some overtures to Ireland about giving back the North if Ireland joined in on the Allied side, but de Valera didn't take the bait.

There is no way Churchill would give N. Ireland to
the Irish republic. It guarded the inlet to the Mersey & the
Clyde were all the Atlantic shipping came into Britain. If your
going to quote Churchill try reading his memoirs, instead of your Fenian historians.

Chruchill had more foresight than that, he was P.O. ed
at parliment for giving up the Irish Naval bases (Cork) before
the war, because he knew de Valera would be happly to watch
Britain starve.

Originally posted by our_man
An interesting fact is that one of the most prominent members of Goebbels propaganda machine was an Irishman by the name of William Joyce. He specialized in anti-British propaganda and became known as Lord Haw-Haw for his polished accent. The British got hold of him at the end of the war and hanged him for treason, which was strange, since he wasn't even British.

If he used a British passport, that is enough to convict him.
(A lot of Republician Irish did use British Passports in the 30s-40s)

[Col Bigspear]

I don't know if this has been posted (Can't be Arsed looking at all 3 pages)

Poland: Attacked from 2 sides. Free Polish Government established in London. Free polish Armed forces set up. Service men begin making their way to Allied countries( Including my Grandad). Polish Mathamatitions (SP?) pass on what they Know about ENIGMA.
Polish Free Army is involved in a few big battles (the taking of Monty Cassino, My GD fought there. Polish paras at Arnhem etc)

[Ecthy]

the Poles thought they could beat us. wrong thought. and nowadays they claim they only lost because our guys were backed by the commies. typical.

[ZoboZeWarrior]

Italia wasn't very active during WWII. One of the rare Italian victory was against France which army was already destroyed by Germany : Italian air planes shot on civilians who were on the roads fleeing german army.

One of my taunt was killed by an italian pilot while she was keeping sheeps. She was 9.

[Ecthy]

arse, wasn't that one... happens when soldiers get blinded by the ideology behind it all

[Lonestar]

Like to point out Ecuador supplied 25 soldiers and a Swiss Army Knife(tm).

[DarkCloud]

Originally posted by faded glory



That is true, but Hitler's troops were set up and ready to kick ass on the border for 3 weeks prior to barbarossa. So, that arguement doesnt really hold water. He could of attacked earlier...but didnt think the winter would have been an issue.

And the Russians didnt really get the upperhand till 43'. 41 was a disaster, 42 was mostly a disaster, except stalingrad, and 43 the germans were still kickin ass in Khar'kov Salient. They fumbled at kursk.

In 42' Russians retook Kiev.

At the very least- the delay of the German offensive allowed the Allies time to prepare. The germans wasted troops in Greece to hold down the partisans, etc.

[DarkCloud]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Unless you're about to stipulate that every German civilian was complicit in the war crimes of the Nazis

They all were, unless they actged against the regiem.
They knew what was happening- and they allowed it to happen.
Of course, yes, they thought the Jews were subhuman- but that still implicates tehem as murderers since Jews are of course, considered Humans.

Therfore the German citizens got what they deserved.

Dresden may not have been deserved, since it wasn't an industrial target, but nearly every other target deserved to be destroyed, leveled to the ground- killing all the enemy.

Then yes, the allies should have helped rebuild germany and good will. But during war desperate measures are needed in desperate times.

--
Side note: I fully support the dropping of BOTH atom bombs on Japan- they got what they deserved.

If I was Japanese, I would have supported spreading chemical/bio weapons in America- becasue america would have got what it deserved.
---
I am even handed, am i not?

[Boris Godunov]

No, DarkCloud, I'd say you were just disturbed. Tell me how a 6 yr old Japanese girl in Hiroshima got what she deserved.

[Natan]

The argument that civillians tacitly participate the acts of their regime simply by virtue of being its citizens is dangerous and disturbing.

[KrazyHorse]

I remember people (not you, Natan) making that argument about Afghans...

[Saras]

Re: Chiune Sugihara

Originally posted by Sprayber
This man isn't European, but he was busy doing something that few others were doing in that era. Saving lives. And he did it in Europe.


http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Hol.../sugihara.html

There is a memorial in Kaunas and a street named in Vilnius.

Attracts hordes of Japanese tourists with HUGE cameras.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by DarkCloud

Dresden may not have been deserved, since it wasn't an industrial target, but nearly every other target deserved to be destroyed, leveled to the ground- killing all the enemy.

Then yes, the allies should have helped rebuild germany and good will. But during war desperate measures are needed in desperate times.

135,000 dead. The greatest one-day slaughter in human history.