It was 62 years ago today...

"Rob Perkins" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 08 Dec 2003 19:28:05 GMT, Martin Hotze
wrote:

what happened? (too lazy to put in on google)

!!!!!!

Aside from 11 Sep 2001, 7 Dec 1941 counts as the largest-casualty
surprise attack on United States soil in all its history.

Almost 3000 people died when the Japanese, who (I'm told) thought that
a preemptive attack would cow the U.S., sank a goodly portion of the
fleet based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which shook the U.S. out of
protectionism and brought it into the second World War.

(Y'know, that tiny thing Germans don't study anymore?)

In short, the chain of events which freed Austria from Naziism started
that day, Martin.

I don't think so. The single biggest event that really started the chain of
events leading to the end of the war was Hitler's decision to attack the
Soviet Union.
It was Hitler's biggest mistake - made the same mistake as Napoleon. The
mistake ended up destroying their armies. The Germans put their toughest
soldiers on the Eastern Front, leaving "softer" soldiers for the D Day
landing troops to face. Being in France was a holiday compared to the
Eastern Front.

Hollywood does a poor job or portraying history. I gather they a doing a
film , starring Tom Cruise about an American pilot in the Battle of Britain,
10 July - 31 Oct 1940 which will have him winning the battle single handed.
Not bad considering there were only 7 pilots from the US.

It reminds me of another movie U571 which misrepresents historical fact. But
hey, why let truth get in the way of a good story.

Funny, you could say the same about Iraq too.

On Mon, 8 Dec 2003 21:42:58 -0000, "Phil McAverty"
wrote:

It reminds me of another movie U571 which misrepresents historical fact. But
hey, why let truth get in the way of a good story.

In their interviews I think the directors and producers of U571 made
clear that they were more interested in a good story.

Rob, who rented the DVD :-)

("Phil McAverty" wrote)
I don't think so. The single biggest event that really started the chain
of events leading to the end of the war was Hitler's decision to attack the
Soviet Union.

It was Hitler's biggest mistake - made the same mistake as Napoleon. The
mistake ended up destroying their armies. The Germans put their toughest
soldiers on the Eastern Front, leaving "softer" soldiers for the D Day
landing troops to face. Being in France was a holiday compared to the
Eastern Front.


If I have to rank this - I think Russia had more to do with the German
defeat in WWII than did the involvement of the US.

What Russia and Germany did to each other on the Eastern Front, from
1941-1945, is staggering to our western sensibilities.

Ultimately, Russia defeated the Germans ...with our help.

(Family note)
My Uncle didn't land on the Normandy beaches on D-Day, he went over a few
days later.
Uncle Jack enjoyed saying - "I beat Eisenhower to France!"

--
Montblack
http://lumma.de/mt/archives/bart.gif

(Family note)
My Uncle didn't land on the Normandy beaches on D-Day, he went over a few
days later.
Uncle Jack enjoyed saying - "I beat Eisenhower to France!"

My Father -- a rear-echelon Captain in the Signal Corps during World War
II -- had nothing but wonderful things to say about his time in France.
(Although he didn't have anything good to say about the natives.) He
transferred there (from England) after the battle front was well into
Germany, and -- from the few tales he would tell -- his life consisted of
long periods of poker, partying and some minor military trials. Later, he
would assist at the Nuremburg trials, which wasn't so fun.

My Mother, who lived with her Mother-in-law for the duration of the war,
would always grow uncomfortable when the subject of his time in France was
broached. I never found out why, exactly, but I suspect there was a good
reason...

He did tell me that they bought there first post-war house with his poker
winnings!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
"Montblack" wrote in message
...
("Phil McAverty" wrote)
I don't think so. The single biggest event that really started the chain
of events leading to the end of the war was Hitler's decision to attack
the
Soviet Union.

It was Hitler's biggest mistake - made the same mistake as Napoleon. The
mistake ended up destroying their armies. The Germans put their toughest
soldiers on the Eastern Front, leaving "softer" soldiers for the D Day
landing troops to face. Being in France was a holiday compared to the
Eastern Front.


If I have to rank this - I think Russia had more to do with the German
defeat in WWII than did the involvement of the US.

What Russia and Germany did to each other on the Eastern Front, from
1941-1945, is staggering to our western sensibilities.

Ultimately, Russia defeated the Germans ...with our help.

(Family note)
My Uncle didn't land on the Normandy beaches on D-Day, he went over a few
days later.
Uncle Jack enjoyed saying - "I beat Eisenhower to France!"


--
Montblack
http://lumma.de/mt/archives/bart.gif

Jay Honeck wrote:

My Father -- a rear-echelon Captain in the Signal Corps during World War
II -- had nothing but wonderful things to say about his time in France.

Mine was a BAR gunner with the "big red one". Hit the line about two weeks
before the Bulge. He didn't have much good to say about France. Or anyplace
else he fought. He was also at the trials.

George Patterson
Some people think they hear a call to the priesthood when what they really
hear is a tiny voice whispering "It's indoor work with no heavy lifting".

My father was a field medic (He was a med student at the time). I can't
imagine the horrors he encountered, but I know he has never talked about
them or any other aspect of the war with his kids...