Poll: American?s disillusion with WW2

[Jaded Scribe]

Germany was far from the only offensive.

We (admittedly as far as I know, but I've seen little to suggest otherwise) pretty much single-handedly put Japan out of the war with the Atomic Bomb (whether our method was right or wrong is irrelevant to this discussion).

We turned the tide in many ways in Europe. While Allied forces were fighting valiantly, and were quite successful. I do not think WWII would have been won if the Americans had not stepped in.

 

[SirDeadly]

*cough* Who was the first to defeat the Japanese on land and send them packing?

 

[Dirzzit]

In reality, nobody won. we delude our selves into thinking that winning is having less people killed or firing the last shot is a achieved victory.

everyone did there part but,

nobody won.

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

Disilluision, huh? I think Inigo Montoya said it best when he said "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y8Sx4B2Sk]"

 

[Weaver]

I think the OP of this thread needs to learn the difference between a redneck yokel and an American with a general education (and I'm Canadian BTW). You'll find a lot of people on here from the states who actually DO know a bit about history and how things happened. They know they helped in the war (which they did) but they don't think they won the whole damn thing themselves.

In Canada we study WW2 from a Canadian perspective, but that doesn't mean we think we rolled over Europe all alone. I'm sure there are tons of Americans who know about and respect the contributions of all allied countries in the war effort.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

It was projected that about one million Americans would have died attempting to invade Japan, with, if I remember correctly, between 7 and 10 million Japanese projected to have died.

Hell, there are videos of Japanese soldiers training civilians to strap themselves with explosives and jump under American tanks and into road ways

And the bomb sites were chosen because one (Nagasaki, I think) was a major industrial center, and the other (if I remember correctly, I read this one years ago) was a major civilian center

Both may have been industrial, but I'm not fully sure.

And also there was a fuck-ton of propaganda during the Cold War stating that America was the greatest thing ever

He didn't drop the bombs on "civilian" cities Hiroshima housed one of Japan's larger military bases. Nagasaki was an industrialized city that made a lot of shit for Japans war effort.

EDIT: Not that I think that dropping the bomb was right. I feel the need to also point out that prior to the bombing the U.S. urged all civilian to leave to leave cities instrumental to the Japanese war efforts. Cities like Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Murdering civilian wasn't the goal of the bombing.

Thank you to both of you for clearing that up, especially about the two cities bombed and the amount of possible soldiers killed. It just shows that, to Truman, the bomb was the better option. It also shows that the propaganda continued, assuring it's effect on today's society.

 

[The_Echo]

Wait, Americans think that?

Being American myself, I never once was under the assumption that we won WWII for you guys. We finished up Japan, which ended the war much more quickly, but as for the war in its entirety... Europe did most of the dirty work.

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

*cough* Who was the first to defeat the Japanese on land and send them packing?

Good question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet%E2%80%93Japanese_Border_Wars

The answer is the Soviet Union.

 

[Okysho]

American hate thread move along.

right... its kind of offensive to americans.

Its actually horrific that you're willing to say that britain, canada, and france deserve the praise more than any other country that fought in that terrible war. Every country that participated deserves complete respect, especially the veterans.

To say the british and canadians deserve the praise more is offensive because they suffered far lower casualties than americans, russians, germans, or chinese and japanese.

I've always been one to stand up for America, because it's my personal belief that it is the greatest country in the world (don't flame me, its my belief, and if we weren't the greatest, than how can we be the most powerful?). However in this particular thread, I'm willing to say that any country that participated in the war deserves credit.

Also, next time you try to flame america, a tleast trai two speqll thinkgs korektly.

I don't think the best way to decide "who did better than who" in the war is settled by the number of casualties. That's just not right. While I do believe that the Americans in general let their war praise get to their head, it's not like they have nothing to do with the war. They did help after all. Every country deserves some credit because every country sacrificed something.

I find your post more offensive than OP because they're trying to discredit people who just don't seem to get enough recognition for their war contributions.

And I will flame you! Your country is not the most powerful! Look at your economic situation! Sitting on a stockpile of nukes doesn't make you the most powerful! France has nukes too! They get the least amount of credit out of all the major players (not to mention the victims like Poland and Holland etc).

One last thing.

How dare you try and discredit Canada! It was our Advance flight training facilities that played a huge role in London's defense during the battle of Britain, not to mention Dieppe which Canada was used as the guinea pig for amphibious warfare which helped stage operation Overlord! (AKA the Normandy Landing). NOT TO MENTION! CANADIAN'S PUSHED THE FURTHER INTO FRANCE BY THE END OF THE NORMANDY LANDINGS THAN ANY COUNTRY FIGHTING!

Everyone played their part in the war and everyone made their sacrifices. Don't you DARE try to discredit the other countries for what they lost!

We're just saying that you're not better than everyone else. Swallow your pride and admit that we all did our part.

Also, we played a big part in the Manhattan project.

 

[RoBi3.0]

*cough* Who was the first to defeat the Japanese on land and send them packing?

Good question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet%E2%80%93Japanese_Border_Wars

The answer is the Soviet Union.

I am not saying you are wrong as I don't know the for sure answer off the top of my head, but citing Wikipedia as a source especial an entry that is currently flagged for not citing references, does not make your case any stronger.

PS. I a believe the OP of the question was trying to hint at Australia. That is just a gut feeling though

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

I am not saying you are wrong as I don't know the for sure answer off the top of my head, but citing Wikipedia as a source especial an entry that is currently flagged for not citing references, does not make your case any stronger.

Believe me. Being Russian, I studied that stuff in school.

Here, this one does cite references. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khalkhin_Gol

 

[VaderMan92]

Let me point a few things out that have probably been mentioned by this point. I'm too lazy to slog through all this.
-the only reason the Brits didn't get overrun by the Nazis was because of the lend lease program.
-the french resistance was supported and supplied by the OSS.
-France has never won a war with Germany since napoleon.
-also everyone seems to forget what the Japanese were doing this whole time. that's right they were a little distracted with their war with the United States. If they weren't they probably would have been helping out their buddies in Germany.

Basically without the United states involvement Europe would have fallen and Russia would not have been able to win a 2 front war with Germany and Japan (that probably would have ended with a stalemate however as Russia is just to damn big to conquer easily). Of course I am taking into account aid the United states gave to the allies before they got involved.

 

[JoeThree]

There's an "illusion" alright, hidden in your assumption that the European front was the only part of WW2. The Nazis were beaten by the USSR and USA. The Brits were holding the line, but were not going to win without the aide of either America or the Soviets, it's that simple. However, what's also important is that we Americans provided sanctuary for Jewish German physicists who were previously under Nazi control, and through them, we unlocked the Atomic bomb and actually ended the war by beating the final member of the Axis Powers. And no, the Japanese were not going to surrender without the Bomb, at least not without about a million more lives being lost.

 

[Vykrel]

American hate thread move along.

agreed. i am american, and i (along with everyone that goes to school in my general area) has learned the opposite of what the OP's generalization of us says

 

[SpireOfFire]

this thread is one big arguement about "whose is bigger?"

 

[Tupolev]

*cough* Who was the first to defeat the Japanese on land and send them packing?

Soviet forces, under command of Georgy Zhukov, were, I believe, the first people during WWII to successfully send a Japanese land attack "packing". Happened back in 1939.

edit: Looks like someone got there before me!


So...the Soviet Union?

 

[crimsonshrouds]

to state wats already stated

"sweeping generalizations just piss people off"

Im american and I know my history. Every country who participated in the war deserves credit. I don't hear people here bring up ww2 and say how great we are. Surprisingly the only people i hear bringing it up are the people from foreign countries over the internet. Hell, my history teachers never once said anything like that. They always talked about all the lives that were lost...

 

[Hazzaslagga]

America came in late to the war, america made profit fromt the war, american dollars became dominant(over the pound) after sending aid due to some terms of the loans.
I am one angry european person.

 

[Khushrenada]

Where is the mention of Australia, we were brave too!?!

Also I hear the whole thing that "America saved everyones ass in WW2" I honestly don't think America should be bragging about that, they put off their involvement in the war for so long when they did finally help a ton of people were already dead.

I agree the Australians did a great job in WWII, just like all the other Allies. I am a little confused about your comment about America though.

The US had sent tons of supplies and even pilots to aid in the war effort even when they were still taking a isolated stance. The US did the same thing during WWI while insisting they were a neutral nation.

If im not mistaken everyone likes to bash on the US for butting into everyones business but when it benefits the UK they were too slow to start dying for you? I think that is a bit crazy when a powerful nation much closer to the action, oh lets say France, not only fails to put up a fight but gives them a foothold. I am not insulting the Resistance just the nations leadership. On a side note I heard in the news about a year ago the French want some of the burial grounds of foreign soldiers who died in the defence/liberation of France during WWII removed. IMO maybe they should have defended or liberated themselves, then they wouldent have to worry about it.

Everyone did their part in the war, no one won it alone. I will say in my opintion the US involvement saved Britan. Even with US pilots, planes, supplies etc. defending Britan the Germans were pounding them. Inventions like the Radar (invented by the US Navy) were crucial to intercepting German bombers. The USSR's involvement late in the war dividing the fronts would not have been enough, the cities would have been in far worse shape without the assistance of the US.

For the record I am a German living in the US and my family (except my Great Grandfather and Great Uncle who immigrated to the US in the late 30's) were in Russia and died in Russia during WWII. We should all just be thankful that the greatest generation did what they did for us.