America and WWII - Historum

Yankee · December 11th, 2012, 03:20 AM

I'm not one of those "my country right or wrong" people. My unschooled opinion is that maybe we shouldn't have gotten involved in WWI and that, like Grant, the Mexican American War was unjust(although we were more than fair in treaty and compensation). That being said, I think the Union was right in the Civil War and that we were on the right side of WWII. Both put me at odds with many facebook friends and I have to see many posts to the contrary. Quiet a few are inaccurate. However I saw this one today. Can anyone confirm or deny how true it is? :
"Reasons for Hitler's Declaration of War on Poland, as it really boils down to 3 things:
1. Danzig was 98% German and wanted to be German, and to be re-united with the Fatherland, but the WWI allies who only gave lip service to “democracy” and “the right of self-determination”
2. Poland’s stubbornness, and complete unwillingness to negotiate in good faith, while being encouraged and duped by the UK and France to not settle on even the most generous proposals put forth by the German Reich for the transit corridor
3. The outrageous and heinous atrocities being committed against the German ethnic minorities which the world media did not report on, and which the alleged “freedom and peace loving” and “democratic” allies and League of Nations” refused to acknowledge, much less take action on. They knew about this of course, but were intent on letting all these wounds fester and on fomenting war." JFG

astafjevs · December 11th, 2012, 03:33 AM

Even if all of that is true (I would suggest that there is truth in it, but it's presented in a biased and hyperbolic way), how on Earth would it mean America was on the wrong side of WWII?

**Nemowork** · December 11th, 2012, 03:36 AM

Who cares if you were right or wrong?

Germany declared war on you, what were you going to do apologise for being confused, surrender and ask if you could play on Germanys team now?

**Clemmie** · December 11th, 2012, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee

I'm not one of those "my country right or wrong" people. My unschooled opinion is that maybe we shouldn't have gotten involved in WWI and that, like Grant, the Mexican American War was unjust(although we were more than fair in treaty and compensation). That being said, I think the Union was right in the Civil War and that we were on the right side of WWII. Both put me at odds with many facebook friends and I have to see many posts to the contrary. Quiet a few are inaccurate. However I saw this one today. Can anyone confirm or deny how true it is? :
"Reasons for Hitler's Declaration of War on Poland, as it really boils down to 3 things:
1. Danzig was 98% German and wanted to be German, and to be re-united with the Fatherland, but the WWI allies who only gave lip service to “democracy” and “the right of self-determination”
2. Poland’s stubbornness, and complete unwillingness to negotiate in good faith, while being encouraged and duped by the UK and France to not settle on even the most generous proposals put forth by the German Reich for the transit corridor
3. The outrageous and heinous atrocities being committed against the German ethnic minorities which the world media did not report on, and which the alleged “freedom and peace loving” and “democratic” allies and League of Nations” refused to acknowledge, much less take action on. They knew about this of course, but were intent on letting all these wounds fester and on fomenting war." JFG

I don't know if these things are true or not, as my knowledge of 20th century history is very sketchy, but I do not believe we were on the wrong side of WWII. Ally with Hitler and the Holocaust! No.

Yankee · December 11th, 2012, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clemmie

I don't know if these things are true or not, as my knowledge of 20th century history is very sketchy, but I do not believe we were on the wrong side of WWII. Ally with Hitler and the Holocaust! No.

I don't like Hitler- AT ALL. But Stalin was worse. He had many more people put to death.

* I am not trying to argue the merits of one man v the other man. My point is that I am fond of Poland and my own country(though I hate FDR). Was it acceptable to Hitler to invade Poland? MY visceral reaction is no. Am I awrong?

Baltis · December 11th, 2012, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee

I'm not one of those "my country right or wrong" people. My unschooled opinion is that maybe we shouldn't have gotten involved in WWI and that, like Grant, the Mexican American War was unjust(although we were more than fair in treaty and compensation).

I'm not really a "my country right or wrong" fellow either. At least not all of the time. However, I am wondering how that statement relates the idea that 'we should not have gotten involved with WW1'.

zincwarrior · December 11th, 2012, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee

I don't like Hitler- AT ALL. But Stalin was worse. He had many more people put to death.

* I am not trying to argue the merits of one man v the other man. My point is that I am fond of Poland and my own country(though I hate FDR). Was it acceptable to Hitler to invade Poland? MY visceral reaction is no. Am I awrong?

You seem to have forgotten that whole "Day of Infamy" thing ...

WWII - the US was drafted onto the side by the Allies. Clearly bad scheduling on the part of the AXIS in scheduling games in the global John Deere - Leowenbrau World Domination Bowl.

Yankee · December 11th, 2012, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baltis

I'm not really a "my country right or wrong" fellow either. At least not all of the time. However, I am wondering how that statement relates the idea that 'we should not have gotten involved with WW1'.

I am willing to admit that I may be wrong. My knowledge on WWI is very limited. But I feel like, Europe is Europe. They have been in civil war for centuries. Not our business or our problem.

zincwarrior · December 11th, 2012, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baltis

I'm not really a "my country right or wrong" fellow either. At least not all of the time. However, I am wondering how that statement relates the idea that 'we should not have gotten involved with WW1'.

Considering the US actively tried to stay out of it, and in fact could have gone either way, seems to be glossed over as well. Remember, prior to WWI, we had been in wars with Britain twice, Germany none, and had many many German immigrants (and not so supportive Irish and Scot immigrants as well). If Britain had sunk some US ships instead of Germany, things might have been completely different.

**Clemmie** · December 11th, 2012, 04:59 AM

Based on what I know, they declared war on us. At that point, we couldn't have stayed out of the war.

I think I understand what you are saying about European wars and it being their problem. Some of the same isolationist thinking that was prevalent in our early history by our founding fathers.

I don't think we had a choice in WWII, especially after Pearl Harbor.