Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I just thought I would open a thread to remember the millions of people who died in World War 2. On May 9th, Nazi-Germany surrendered. I am glad they allowed Merkel to participate in the ceremony in Russia today, along with American, French, and British Troops.If I remember correctly, they did not like Schroeder ( Chancellor ) at the D-day remembrance in 2005.
We already have. We've learned nothing. History is not only forgotten, its unknown to some.
I'm afraid that in a lot of cases, you're right. And not only that, but ignorance on the part of many people allows history to be distorted by those with an agenda for the future.
World War II is actually among the best known history, though there are obviously different interpretations of the events. But other historical events are simply unknown, or distorted beyond recognition so that the commonly accepted view of what happened is largely false.
Interesting aside -- the fact that the western powers and the Soviet Union were unable to even agree on the date to celebrate V-E Day was a harbinger of things to come. Germany surrendered on May 7th, 1945, and it had always been allied policy that Germany must surrender to the three main powers -- Britain, the US and the USSR -- simultaneously, i.e., that no separate peace would be allowed and that they wouldn't be able to bargain to get a better set of terms from one of the powers.
Britain and the US proclaimed May 8th, 1945 to be V-E Day, but suspicion by the Russians about some type of non-existent collusion between the Germans and the Western Powers delayed their celebration of victory until May 9th. It was a harbinger of things to come, as they quickly fell into disagreement on just about everything.
I'm afraid that in a lot of cases, you're right. And not only that, but ignorance on the part of many people allows history to be distorted by those with an agenda for the future.
World War II is actually among the best known history, though there are obviously different interpretations of the events. But other historical events are simply unknown, or distorted beyond recognition so that the commonly accepted view of what happened is largely false.
Interesting aside -- the fact that the western powers and the Soviet Union were unable to even agree on the date to celebrate V-E Day was a harbinger of things to come. Germany surrendered on May 7th, 1945, and it had always been allied policy that Germany must surrender to the three main powers -- Britain, the US and the USSR -- simultaneously, i.e., that no separate peace would be allowed and that they wouldn't be able to bargain to get a better set of terms from one of the powers.
Britain and the US proclaimed May 8th, 1945 to be V-E Day, but suspicion by the Russians about some type of non-existent collusion between the Germans and the Western Powers delayed their celebration of victory until May 9th. It was a harbinger of things to come, as they quickly fell into disagreement on just about everything.
Wasn't that because of time zone difference between Moscow and Western Europe?
Wasn't that because of time zone difference between Moscow and Western Europe?
I had read somewhere that it was because of suspicions between the Russians and Western Allies. I don't see why a couple of hours difference in time would result in a whole day of delay, when the German surrender was actually signed on May 7th.
Or maybe the Germans took a little longer to lay down their arms against the Russians.
I had read somewhere that it was because of suspicions between the Russians and Western Allies. I don't see why a couple of hours difference in time would result in a whole day of delay, when the German surrender was actually signed on May 7th.
Or maybe the Germans took a little longer to lay down their arms against the Russians.
I think the delay was more due to the problem of finding sufficiently ranking Allied and German Officers to be allied and axis representatives and sign on the dotted line at the respective surrender ceremonies to US, British, and Soviets. The problem would be more acute for the Germans since their High Command and General Staff were in disarry after evacuating Berlin. It was a good question as to who had any authority at all.
Yeah, lets celebrate the Russians. Lets see, Battle of Stalingrad. 91,000 German POW's. In 1955, when they finally released, I might say 10 yrs after the war was over, the surviving German POW's? 5,000 were still alive. This is just ONE example of the atrocities committed by the Russian's. I'm not glorifying Germany either; they were the scum of the earth toward the Russian's also. However, it doesn't relieve the Soviet Union with their responsibility.
I do not agree with the Brits or the US being involved with this celebration. Not until the Russian's admit and try to make amends, for the atrocities they committed.
Yeah, lets celebrate the Russians. Lets see, Battle of Stalingrad. 91,000 German POW's. In 1955, when they finally released, I might say 10 yrs after the war was over, the surviving German POW's? 5,000 were still alive. This is just ONE example of the atrocities committed by the Russian's. I'm not glorifying Germany either; they were the scum of the earth toward the Russian's also. However, it doesn't relieve the Soviet Union with their responsibility.
I do not agree with the Brits or the US being involved with this celebration. Not until the Russian's admit and try to make amends, for the atrocities they committed.
In fairness, almost all of those 91,000 were sick and starving. They were in dire need of food and medical attention which was in short supply for understandable reasons. Most of them died within days of surrender. Had their commanders allowed them to surrender earlier, more of them might have lived. I don't think the Russians deliberately wanted these people to die; they simply failed, for whatever reason, to provide for them urgent needed care.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
