Pearl Harbor Day

[Flake]

Fun Fact, I used to live here.

[ZeroAX]

So is this thread about remembering those who died or talking about history?

[Flake]

I was hoping to talk about the significance of the day. I think that covers both the people who died and the history of the war.

[ZeroAX]

I was hoping to talk about the significance of the day. I think that covers both the people who died and the history of the war.

I want to respect the dead, but at the same time as a WW2 history buff I can't stop from disagreeing with you on the importance you played in the European theater, namely that, well....it was really the Soviets who defeated Hitler (well...the Soviet's endless land, total disregard for human life and cold winter really, but the ends justify the means).

Perhaps your biggest contribution was giving the British enough supplies to survive the war, so Hitler had a thorn on his western front, so he could never focus his entire army on the USSR.

On the other hand I don't know so much about what happened on the Pacific theater, but these death toll numbers amaze me http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties. How come the Japanese lost so many more people than you did?

[AppleQueso]

I was going to say something to the effect of "Germany lost the second they picked a fight with the USSR", but I only have a passing interest in history and couldn't really elaborate on it further.

[Flake]

I was going to say something to the effect of "Germany lost the second they picked a fight with the USSR", but I only have a passing interest in history and couldn't really elaborate on it further.

The USSR, while a freaking juggernaut, didn't possess the technological prowess that the Germans did. Also, after the war of Polish Succession with Charles XII, most Russian military doctrine was to allow invaders to enter the plains of Western Russia, meet them in skirmish, and then retreat to St. Petersburg or Moscow, slashing and burning the landscape behind them. The goal was to starve out the enemy until the weather turned cold. The climate would take care of the rest, ala Napoleon.

In the 20th century this wasn't as effective. The Germans were unprepared for extended warfare in Russia (they had summer uniforms, their vehicles were gasoline based as opposed to diesel) but technology allowed them to lay siege to Leningrad for far longer than any enemy would have been able to do so in centuries past.

Over 10 million Russians died holding that line. This great sacrifice is, in part, what led to the Cold War. Stalin believed that the US and Britain were deliberately holding off the invasion of Normandy specifically to wait for the Russians to be broken by the Germans, in hopes of either denying Russia a share of the spoils after the Germans were defeated OR to lay out the ground work for an invasion of Russia immediately after WWII.

Perhaps your biggest contribution was giving the British enough supplies to survive the war, so Hitler had a thorn on his western front, so he could never focus his entire army on the USSR.

Oh, the contribution of the Russians can't be overstated. If they had done as they had in World War I, we'd all be fairly fluent in German right now.

But ultimately it was a stalemate. The US provided both the material and the manpower that the British needed to make an effective push from the West. No offense to the British, but they simply didn't have the numbers - they were still recovering from the 'lost generation' effect of the Great War.

On the other hand I don't know so much about what happened on the Pacific theater, but these death toll numbers amaze me http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties. How come the Japanese lost so many more people than you did?

Because they were so willing to die.

[Chris Leach]

In Michigan the Governor sent out for all flags to be at half staff....This is kinda funny, because the Chemical Bank across the street from where I work has yet to put their flag to half mass and it is 2 o'clock.......come on people, respect the fallen....!

[fingersmaloy]

Because they were so willing to die.

Yeah, no honor in returning home alive for them.

Also, no food or stuff.

[lisalover1]

I want to respect the dead, but at the same time as a WW2 history buff I can't stop from disagreeing with you on the importance you played in the European theater, namely that, well....it was really the Soviets who defeated Hitler (well...the Soviet's endless land, total disregard for human life and cold winter really, but the ends justify the means).

The Russians didn't defeat the Germans, Russia defeated the Germans.

[ZeroAX]

The Russians didn't defeat the Germans, Russia defeated the Germans.

hey it might be cold over there, but at least it's a natural defense mechanism