"What We Think of America."

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Serb
If he wanted revenge, he has opportunity to kill this soldier before. They meet face to face with each other several minutes earlier. But at this moment this guy was crying and was absolutely helpless and the German soldier could easily kill him, but he didn't.
This guy killed him later not because of revenge, but because German recognised him and said his name.
He was afraid that he could tell to Americans that this guy didn't fought, that he din't bring ammo to his freinds and that he is the reason why his freinds were killed.

There were no Brits in Saving Private Ryan. The invasion beaches were seperated by nationality and by miles. The British and Commonwealth forces were located on the north of the front, and the Americans on the south. The soldier who froze under fire was a translator from the 1st Infantry Division, the same Division as the rest of the squad that went after Ryan. He shot "Steamboat Willie" because he realized that it was a mistake to let him go earlier, and because of his own shame.

In the opening scene I thought the two "German" prisoners who were killed by the Jewish guy were Russians or Ukrainians who had been captured early in the war and defected to the Germans. There were many of these guys manning the defenses at Normandy, and they created quite a stir when they didn't fold immediately. In the movie the GIs don't understand what they were trying to say, and then shoot them.

If you are interested in an excellent short history of the Normandy campaign I recommend the one by Max Hastings. I have read a lot of history and military history, but this is the best short history I have ever seen. It tackles grand strategy, operational level, tactics and manages to spend the vast majority of it's time at the level of personal experiences. That's an amazing accomplishment because it does all of this well, clearly and concisely.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Roland
You overestimate your importance for our amusement.

No not for the Austrians, they can take care of themselves. Isn't there an old Austrian saying, "If you are looking for a good laugh, just look around you."?

[Victor Galis]

Also, I notice yankees and southerners bickering. Forget your petty squables. You are hopelessly outclassed by Texans.

All I can say is; we americans win wars. FeAr Us, IgNoRaNt MaSsEs!

-You mean, fear our ignorant masses, don't you?

[Roland]

Originally posted by Sikander

No not for the Austrians, they can take care of themselves.

Indeed. Kafka is alive and well here.

That's not to say that we don't enjoy some highlights of US comedy, like the last presidential "election".....

[Roland]

"If you are looking for a good laugh, just look around you."

Where I live that usually means "see a dozen tourists".

[Victor Galis]

I have to agree that the Germans were already doomed in 1944. I can't really comment on how helpful the Americans were, but I firmly believe that the war could have been won without America entering it, but certainly not if America hadn't sold the allies supplies. I think the profit motive implicit in that nullifies the we saved your ass argument though.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Roland
"If you are looking for a good laugh, just look around you."

Where I live that usually means "see a dozen tourists".

Perhaps you saw me and my girlfriend, we visited Austria a couple of years ago. We were on a whirlwind rail trip of Europe and spent 3 days in Vienna. Very nice museums btw.

[Roland]

Now don't get mean.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Roland
Btw, what is this supposed to refer to ?

"America shapes the way non-Americans live and think. "

How does America shape the way I live ? How does it shape the way I think ?

You are asking this question in English and you don't know the answer?

[Roland]

I don't live in english, I usually think in german, and "english" does not equal "american". So yes, I do not know what this is about.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Serb
When you entered the war Germans were on their legs, not Russians. Germany was already doomed.

Is that why Stalin was begging the Allies to open up an additional front?

The biggest and most imortant battles of WW2 was already over.

That must be why the Nazis were still walking through the Russian Motherland in 1941 and had yet to be turned back despite the aura of invincibility you place on the Red Army.

[Arrian]

Another WWII pissing match? Seriously, I thought we'd had this one out. Serb, as you well know, the American posters here do not attempt to take away from the contributions of the USSR (or UK, or anyone else for that matter) in the war. In fact, the posters in this thread have affirmed that. Your bluster, which is wildly exaggerated, as you damn well know, does not change people's minds - it makes you look nuts. An American who claims that America won WWII all by itself is likewise considered to be an idiot. It was a team effort, with each ally leaning on the others. Saving Private Ryan was a Hollywood movie about American soldiers. It made no attempt to say that the US won the war solo: it was a fictional snippet of the Normandy campaign. The soldiers were all Americans, including the cowardly little interpreter, and the only reference to another ally was actually a denegration of Field Marshall Montgomery (the Americans *****ing about him being slow to take Caen), so if anyone should be complaining, it should be the Brits.

So ENOUGH!, all of you, at least discuss the bloody topic!

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Having said that, I read several of the essays, and they were interesting. I may read the rest of them later on. Thanks for posting them, Che.

-Arrian

[Victor Galis]

Is that why Stalin was begging the Allies to open up an additional front?

-Because he wanted to have some sort of army left after he defeated Hitler. The allies didn't open up a propper second front until long after the Nazis were retreating in Russia.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Victor Galis

and stop making comments about the South. It's not that bad.

-Do you live there? If not, don't tell it's not that bad.

Apparently you've missed the many, many threads and posts about my Southern migration. Yes, I live in the South now, in a rather hick city (albeit with many Northern transplants). Jacksonville, Florida is within spitting distance of Georgia and is the conservative armpit of this state.