StSanta said:
<sidenote: American losses during WWII were comparatively light. Poland lost more than twice the amount of soldier the US did. The UK lost about 100 000 more. The USSR millions more.
"Comparatively light". Let's ponder that unfortunate phrase again...
Try to explain that to my mother, whose father was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, one week before she was born. Try to exlplain that to my grandmother, who hasn't been the same ever since her husband was killed in some forest in Luxembourg, while she was nearing the birth of their first child.
Let's get one thing straight: there's a human side to all the statistics being bandied about. Please don't diminish the sacrifice of so many by using phrases like "comparatively light".
So far, I think Mark Luper has shown the level of maturity needed to discuss WW2, or any war, for that matter.
Those that use blanket statements like calling every German a "Nazi", are wrong. Not every German was a member of the Nazi party, although many millions were. And since service in the armed forces was mandatory for German youth, they became members of the Nazi party by default, since they had to swear an allegience to Hitler upon joining their respective branch.
That said, you must realize too that there were many, many millions of Germans that were ardent Nazi's, civilians
and military. One wonders how many of the loyal, flag-waving Nazi's of 1939 have changed their tune and now say "We were Germans, but never Nazi's." Let's face it, if you became aware that your political party murdered millions of people, would you admit that you were a loyal member of that party during that period of time?
I have nothing against people showing respect for and honoring those who fought on each side. The real lesson that we should all be learning, however, is that World War Two was the most ghastly, horrible catastrophe to inflict mankind. And World War One is a close second.
Nath, I respect your right to give your opinions here, but you are mistaken if you don't believe that there were Nazi's in the LW. I've also read some of your previous threads, and frankly, you have my pity. You are young and full of enthusiasm for war, and that's why there will always be war. The politicians and generals have counted on people like you to fight their wars for them. Young men read exploits of past veterans, and wish to live the glories of their heroes. War is very glamorous, until you find yourself in the middle of it, with your own life and property at risk.
Mattibaby80, interesting post. But I beg to differ on the cause of World War One. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was but the spark that ignited the powderkeg which Europe was sitting on for the past ten years before it. If anything, the early death of Kaiser Wilhelm's father, Frederick, was the beginning of the end of the peaceful Europe of the middle and late 1800's. For if Frederick, the peace-loving Kaiser, hadn't died of throat cancer in 1887 after being on the throne for only nine months, his son Wilhelm wouldn't have come to power until much later. A very interesting book by Robert K. Massie, "Dreadnought", details the relationship between Germany and England at the close of the nineteenth century, and follows events leading up to the beginning of WW1. Fascinating reading if you're interested in reading about the cause of WW1 and WW2 in this century.
