Quote:
Originally Posted by Vortec
OT - sorry...
This optical illusion is typical for Anglo-Saxons. As early as late summer 43 the status af the resistance forces in Denmark changed from terrorists to freedom fighters!
Half a year before the Germans was defeated by the Russians. Under the Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940, the red army had learned the lesson and was well prepared. In my eyes the course of the war changed forever in the Winter 42/43 in the battle of Stalingrad.
Pierre
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Hi, Vortec,
The battle of Stalingrad set the stage for opening two fronts--East and West which was certainly a contributory factor to Germany's demise. However, if the Germans maintained their alliance with
Russia, and focused on Western Europe, the war would have ended much later but would have undoubtedly had the same result. However, there has been a spiritual hatred/enmity of Germans and Russians that is historic and has survived even today. Hitler's alliance with Stalin was a temporary stall to have access to Eastern European/Russian
oil reserves and to forestall the eventual invasion of
Russia by
Germany. And, so that the
record is clear, Stalin had no love for Germans or Hitler. So, your above point is certainly true, but for the historical
record, it was the untenable opening of two fronts that derailed Hitler and
Germany. The
Allied Invasion was comprised of roughly 160,000 troops and materiale. And, if us Yanks did not intervene, as was the sentiment of the majority of Americans until Pearl Harbor (to remain neutral), Europe today would probably be divided East and West: East controlled by the Russians and West by Germany. And, in spite of Churchill's bold resolve and the courage of the great
English nation, they would have succumbed to the Nazi war machine. So, your statement is partially true, but needs additional fleshing of historical fact to reflect the actual conditions that existed in the final statages of WWII. Good luck and safe sailing. P.S. And for the record 418,500 American GI's died to save Europe from Hitler-- a number very close to the number of our good friends the
English:450,900.