Yes, correct answer. If I remember correctly, it was only 3 days after the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor when Hitler declared war on the U.S. Germany had signed a mutual defense treaty with Japan. BUT, that defense treaty was NOT in effect IF Japan had attacked the U.S. FIRST. Why Hitler felt he needed to declare war on America, based solely on that treaty is a mystery.
Thank you for that educational link. This is the 1st time I ever heard about the "Battle of Bamber Bridge between white and black American troops stationed in the U.K. Such a bizarre situation when black troops, who were trying to serve their country were harassed/attacked by white M.P.'s.
Tom, Maisie sent me this address where you can buy her book (really a booklet), https://www.reprintuk.com/books/yesterdays_child_world_war_two. I believe she live outside London these days.
I have no special knowledge about literally starving, malnourished people, but from what little i know, the body can not handle large amounts of real food. They needed SMALL amounts of food... at first.
Good post, Bobby. In the movie, Band of Brothers", there is a small section about how the allies had to keep those starving captives in place and feed them just enough food to SLOWLY bring them back to a healthier condition. In the movie, a doctor said, "Thee people are starving. If you give then too much too soon, they'll eat themselves to death".
We don't hear about the fascist elements in Poland, Great Britain and France that supported Hitler's rise. French fascists literally allowed the blitzkrieg of the invasion of France to succeed. Also, we hear about Germany's supposed superior tank technology but France had better tanks at the outset of WW2 than Germany. In fact, the Germans learned much from the French about the design of main battle tanks. It's pitiful to hear how American tank designs were chosen by corrupt govt/business leaders, leaving us with inferior gas driven death traps when diesel was the best way to go. In one incident during the allied invasion of France a German Tiger destroyed over 40 American tanks in a column by taking out the first and last in the row and then leisurely targeting the rest. The Tiger was hit multiple times by direct American fire with no effect on it's superior armor. The Germans respected the courage of the individual American soldier but looked down on our equipment, leadership and tactics. Montgomery, Patton and Eisenhower proved them wrong.
There were fascist elements in the U.S. also, at least at the start of the war. Interesting how the French fascists had a hand in not supporting their own forces during the blitzkrieg of France. It was disgraceful how so many French forces abandoned their equipment and either surrendered OR simply ran away. Yes, the American Sherman tank was a gas powered death trap. One good hit and it went up in flames. The British also used the Sherman tank and the German;s called them "Tommy Cookers".
I don't think some people on here are reading their history either correctly or from reliable sources. Great Britain went to great lengths before WWII began to get Hitler to sit down to re-negotiate the Treaty of Versailles, but all he did was sign a paper called The Non-Agression Act between Germany and Britain. At that meeting France, Germany, and Great Britain, without an in put from Czechoslovakia, ceded the Sudetenland to Germany. That was the first betrayal. Of course Hitler tore up that paper, as he did with all the pacts he ultimately signed. After the Anschluss and the gaining of the Sudetenland, Hitler went after Czechoslovakia while the French, and Brits sat back and did nothing. The U.S. was torn at this point, as Roosevelt did want to get involved, but Congress told him he'd lose the election if this happened. Meanwhile, the French relied on their Maginot Line, feeling that the Germans would not dare to enter the Rhineland as the Maginot was well guarded. But, that line only ran just so far and for some reason the French never thought of them going around it. Also, while the gun turrets and lookouts were retractable on that line, they only looked East. With their engineering, why they weren't able to swivel as well is an enigma. Most of the soldiers on the Maginot Line were poorly armed, if at all. So the Nazis marched on through. The French put up a good fight, but not with enough matériel. Once France was occupied, Hitler looked to England, as he needed her for several reasons. Mainly, he did not have the air range to reach the U.S. from the mainland of the continent. Another thing, when Germany marched into Poland, we all knew we'd be involved in this war since we had a treaty to protect her and we did not. Betrayal 2. We ramped up our war machine with whatever goods we could lay our hands on. There is so much more to be said regarding that war and what transpired behind the scenes that much is being told only today.
When you speak of a non-aggression act between Germany and Britain. I assume you are speaking about the Munich Agreement ? From my understanding, all that the Munich Agreement (Sept 1938) stipulated was that if Hitler was given the border regions of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudeten land, he (Hitler) would make no further demands for land surrounding Germany. Germany wasted no time in occupying the Sudenten land and in a few weeks had taken control of those regions. It is interest to note that the leaders of Czechoslovakia were not invited to participate in the Munich Agreement. The agreement was exclusively between Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy. Hitler tore up the agreement in March 1939 and took control of the remainder of Czechoslovakia. Great Britain and France sat by and did nothing.
Great Britain had a treaty to defend Czechoslovakia, BUT Great Britain backed out and chose appeasement to avoid war.
There were indeed fascist elements in the US that delayed our support of Britain. Roosevelt had enemies. There are hints that even Churchill had reservations about him. History is written by the winners so it is never the full story.
I can't disagree with any of your comments. Refer to my recent opinion about history being written by the victors. .... and stop being so intelligent. I've repeatedly said that smart women scare me.