In ways few could have imagined: From technological breakthroughs to the geopolitical impact around the globe, but especially the Middle East. And the fundamental cultural and economic changes in our country.
I just thank God, Ike and the good people of he Manhattan Project that the good guys won.
immediately. Anybody that lived during that time would tell you that nothing that existed on December 6, 1941 was the same again on December 8, 1941. December 7, 1941 was perhaps the greatest single date in American history, perhaps surpassing July 4, 1776. A fun argument for history geeks like me.
on a historic anniversary like today, what do they do? ... Pawn Star marathon.
It's been a joke for a while now, with all this Ice Road Truckers/Ancient Aliens bullshit. It's the History Channel, yet I feel like I'm watching Randy's personal stash.
September 18, 1931 Japan invades Manchuria.
July 7, 1937 Japan invades China
March 11–13, 1938 Germany incorporates Austria in the Anschluss.
April 7–15, 1939 Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania.
September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland
September 18, 1931 Japan invades Manchuria.
July 7, 1937 Japan invades China
March 11–13, 1938 Germany incorporates Austria in the Anschluss.
April 7–15, 1939 Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania.
September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland
WORLD WAR II: TIMELINE - ( New Window )
I did say for all intents and purposes :P But I think the magnitude of the war didn't hit until after Germany invaded Poland.
I'd suggest that the Treaty of Versailles was the unofficial start of Â
WW2. It put Germany in the position where it was possible for a closeted, no talent painter from Austria to sweep into power on a nationalist platform, rebuild an army, justify territorial expansion, etc. just something to nibble on.
occupied the Rhineland and France and England did nothing, the war started then. Several German generals and other politicians, self serving no doubt, later testified that if the French and British had opposed the Rhineland occupation the German army would have been defeated and Hitler would have been deposed. One of the many ifs of WWII.
It's easy to point to the systematic failures of Western Powers to stand up to Hitler in the early years. He was allowed to rebuild with impunity and nobody was stopping him. He saw the allied nations as weak and dared them to stop his advances. What a shame.
I've never bought into that bit of the reigning narrative... Â
WWII was not inevitable after Versailles. A lot happened in the intervening years. The peace was not unduly harsh considering the scope of the conflict and the death toll that resulted. The undermining of the treaty by German authorities even during the Weimar period coupled with the ebbing of British and French resolve (and our inattention) made it feasible, the treaty itself did not.
Not saying it is the direct or but for causation Â
But it ignited huge resentment in a beaten Germany, the economy was in shambles, military dismantled, people emotionally battered and the leaders feckless. A prime candidate for extremism IMO.
Merely suggesting that Versailles created conditions that were exploitable by a terribly charismatic force of nature. If the terms were more inclusive and not so onerous, who knows how the rebuilding period would have shaken out.
I am purposefully avoiding any commentary regarding our inaction Â
But it ignited huge resentment in a beaten Germany, the economy was in shambles, military dismantled, people emotionally battered and the leaders feckless. A prime candidate for extremism IMO.
Merely suggesting that Versailles created conditions that were exploitable by a terribly charismatic force of nature. If the terms were more inclusive and not so onerous, who knows how the rebuilding period would have shaken out.
As many as died on the French and British side, and extrapolating from the peace in the East what the Germans would have done if they won, the sort of restraint people wanted in hindsight was impossible. And rightfully so. That's the way war used to be fought, and if the peace was going to be something novel it needed us to play the role of Britain after 1815.
The wars of German and Italian reunification fought during the 18th and 19th centuries were the beginning if we are going to be like that.
Once the modern nation state was formed then war in Europe was inevitable.
Why shouldn't it be like that? History is a tale told in chapters, flanked by context. These events didn't occur in a vacuum. The richness and fullness of history is what makes it so interesting to study.
RE: RE: Not saying it is the direct or but for causation Â
In comment 11836316 Dunedin81 said:
As many as died on the French and British side, and extrapolating from the peace in the East what the Germans would have done if they won, the sort of restraint people wanted in hindsight was impossible. And rightfully so. That's the way war used to be fought, and if the peace was going to be something novel it needed us to play the role of Britain after 1815. [/quote]
Sorry, I'm not following you here Dunedin. Can you clarify this post?
and did with the treaty they imposed on the Russians after the Bolshevik Revolution. They did not deserve restraint and the people of Western Europe were not inclined toward it after the hell they went through - truly a lost generation. The only way they would have accepted restraint - if at all - is if they had a clear signal from the United States that we were going to stay involved, much as the British did after the Congress of Vienna ended the Napoleonic Wars. The unwillingness of us to do that, as brought home in bold relief by the unwillingness of the Senate to ratify the LON, meant that the piece the Germans did get was milder than what they could reasonably have expected.
For global affairs when things were bad enough at home.
While diluted from what it may have been, I still think that Versailles opened up the door to a wave of Nationalism and desire for pride in Germany. Perhaps not enforcing the treaty to its full extent was worse than doing nothing at all. A lot of cracks in the armor were exposed, so to speak.
I just thank God, Ike and the good people of he Manhattan Project that the good guys won.
Actually, looking back, WWI had a greater impact on the Middle East.
It's been a joke for a while now, with all this Ice Road Truckers/Ancient Aliens bullshit. It's the History Channel, yet I feel like I'm watching Randy's personal stash.
Though the Houdini movie looks to be good
July 7, 1937 Japan invades China
March 11–13, 1938 Germany incorporates Austria in the Anschluss.
April 7–15, 1939 Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania.
September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland
WORLD WAR II: TIMELINE - ( New Window )
Quote:
September 18, 1931 Japan invades Manchuria.
July 7, 1937 Japan invades China
March 11–13, 1938 Germany incorporates Austria in the Anschluss.
April 7–15, 1939 Fascist Italy invades and annexes Albania.
September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland
WORLD WAR II: TIMELINE - ( New Window )
I did say for all intents and purposes :P But I think the magnitude of the war didn't hit until after Germany invaded Poland.
Merely suggesting that Versailles created conditions that were exploitable by a terribly charismatic force of nature. If the terms were more inclusive and not so onerous, who knows how the rebuilding period would have shaken out.
--
Perhaps if there were some more intrepid photojournalists trying to get into the Wolf's Lair we'd have seen first hand what was happening :P
Once the modern nation state was formed then war in Europe was inevitable.
Merely suggesting that Versailles created conditions that were exploitable by a terribly charismatic force of nature. If the terms were more inclusive and not so onerous, who knows how the rebuilding period would have shaken out.
As many as died on the French and British side, and extrapolating from the peace in the East what the Germans would have done if they won, the sort of restraint people wanted in hindsight was impossible. And rightfully so. That's the way war used to be fought, and if the peace was going to be something novel it needed us to play the role of Britain after 1815.
Once the modern nation state was formed then war in Europe was inevitable.
Why shouldn't it be like that? History is a tale told in chapters, flanked by context. These events didn't occur in a vacuum. The richness and fullness of history is what makes it so interesting to study.
As many as died on the French and British side, and extrapolating from the peace in the East what the Germans would have done if they won, the sort of restraint people wanted in hindsight was impossible. And rightfully so. That's the way war used to be fought, and if the peace was going to be something novel it needed us to play the role of Britain after 1815. [/quote]
Sorry, I'm not following you here Dunedin. Can you clarify this post?
While diluted from what it may have been, I still think that Versailles opened up the door to a wave of Nationalism and desire for pride in Germany. Perhaps not enforcing the treaty to its full extent was worse than doing nothing at all. A lot of cracks in the armor were exposed, so to speak.