September 1, 1939

[SamuelKhan]

Europe plunged into the ultimate darkness 72 years ago today...

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[roxita]

Horrible.

 

[Bugman]

Europe was plunged into the horror and madness of WWII that September day in 1939, and much of the world would soon follow. So many lives lost or changed forever..

 

[paracarl44]

It was a sad day in World History. The USA did not want to become involved in another European War at this time.

 

[Filthyweasel]

At this time nobody did. Those who pledged to protect Poland never lifted a finger to help those people. Germany came from one side, Russia came from the other. A radio station in warsaw played the national anthem over and over again for as long as it could, then there was silence. Poland was wiped from the map and descended into a new dark age. The rest of the world sat on it's arse and condemned the Nazi's and the Reds from afar...

 

[General Zod]

At this time nobody did. Those who pledged to protect Poland never lifted a finger to help those people. Germany came from one side, Russia came from the other. A radio station in warsaw played the national anthem over and over again for as long as it could, then there was silence. Poland was wiped from the map and descended into a new dark age. The rest of the world sat on it's arse and condemned the Nazi's and the Reds from afar...

I wonder how far into Nazi Germany France and England could have gotten while the Polish invasion was on.

 

[Filthyweasel]

I wonder how far into Nazi Germany France and England could have gotten while the Polish invasion was on.

Enough to drop propaganda flyers informing the Germans that it was very poor show and that they really wish they hadn't done it...basically a slap on the wrist.

 

[emilyemilyemily]

no words.

 

[SamuelKhan]

Hitler's war machine was nowhere near it's 1939 strength and capacity when he violated Versailles and occupied the demilitarized Rhineland in 1936. No armed forces were allowed to be in that part of Germany, but Hitler took a chance that the Western Allies, who wanted peace, wouldn't fire a single shot. If Britain and France had mobilized a few divisions and moved up to the border, Hitler would have pulled out of the Rhineland, and history would have been different.

But then followed Anschluss (Austrian Annexation), the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, and subsequently the rest of the country after the Munich Pact. Hitler grabbed all he could peacefully, knowing the Western Powers wouldn't dare challenge him.

You have to stand up to despotic leaders. When it appears they want to talk peace and simultaneously have a ravenous appetite for that real estate that touches theirs, you have to say no and be willing to fight them. Peace doesn't come easy. It never did. Freedom must be defended. You have to be willing to go all the way to keep the peace.

When the Stukas divebombed Poland, it was too late.

 

[Insidious]

BS

Bullshit. In practicality no one could help them. Attempts were made.

AND even though it was terrible the Poles were performing a JUST fine version of the Final Solution on their own.

 

[Insidious]

Hitler's war machine was nowhere near it's 1939 strength and capacity when he violated Versailles and occupied the demilitarized Rhineland in 1936. No armed forces were allowed to be in that part of Germany, but Hitler took a chance that the Western Allies, who wanted peace, wouldn't fire a single shot. If Britain and France had mobilized a few divisions and moved up to the border, Hitler would have pulled out of the Rhineland, and history would have been different.

But then followed Anschluss (Austrian Annexation), the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia, and subsequently the rest of the country after the Munich Pact. Hitler grabbed all he could peacefully, knowing the Western Powers wouldn't dare challenge him.

You have to stand up to despotic leaders. When it appears they want to talk peace and simultaneously have a ravenous appetite for that real estate that touches theirs, you have to say no and be willing to fight them. Peace doesn't come easy. It never did. Freedom must be defended. You have to be willing to go all the way to keep the peace.

When the Stukas divebombed Poland, it was too late.

You need to learn more about the 3rd Reich and German economics. Hitler did not in fact know the Western Powers would do nothing. He was literally praying they wouldn't as he knew he'd be shattered. Had the Czechs fought most historians believe they would have fought Germany to a draw at the minimum and had France or Britain pledged support they probably would have won.

 

[kopfhorer]

Europe plunged into the ultimate darkness 72 years ago today...

Hitler and his ilk were supported by politicians and corporate leaders who wanted to snuff workers rights out once and for all (sound familiar)? So what if their main man was a dangerous psychopath?