Post by invisiblescientist on Sept 6, 2009 15:46:29 GMT -5
However, when you say that less people wanted WW II, this is mostly for England, France, and the US, who were tired of WW I... But in Germany, almost everybody did want WW II for revenge. Hitler had already educated the German people to get ready for total war before WW II, and so your comment does not apply to Germany, as far as WW II is concerned.
What I find so astounding is how quickly nations change their mind about who their friends and foes are. During WW II, US and Russia became very good friends, and just after WW II, they demonized each other, whereas Germany and Japan became allies of the US against Russia.
I don't think that you're completely right about this theses. It may be true that the Nazi extremists and the governmental propaganda were praising this upcoming war, but most of the people did feel different. I've been talking to witnesses.
When Hitler attacked Poland most of the common people were very sceptical about this step and many were completely against it, even Nazi supporters. Especially the older people had the loss of WWI in front of their eyes and were convinced that Hitler won't be able to win against UK and France. The youth raised by Nazi propaganda felt completely different about that.
The mood turned when France was defeated quicker as anyone thought it might be possible. THEN the believe in victory and the total support for the war took its lead between the people. Hitler needed to be successful first to convince the German people to support his war. When they believed that victory was possible, nearly everyone did so.
And about Russia and the USA... The UdSSR and the Western Allies NEVER were friends. Their partnership worked upon the need of cooperation ONLY. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend!"
Stalin and the Western Allies knew that they wouldn't stand a chance against Germany, Japan and their allies if they wouldn't work together.
Especially Churchill had to swallow a very bitter pill with this as a total communisthater. But he did, because he had no other choice. If the UdSSR would have been defeated, GB had no chance against a Wehrmacht invasion. That's fact.
I agree that not all Germans wanted to start WW II so easily, but I only wanted to emphasize that because of the suffering caused by the Versailles Treaty, the German population was MORE eager to fight than England, France and the US. And as you said, once it became apparent that France could be defeated so easily, even the older generation that was not totally brainwashed like the younger generation that studied in Nazi high schools, became in favor of the war.
Of course, Russia and the US were only temporary allies during WW II, but a lot of Russians have good memories from that alliance, as some Russian friends told me that they still remember the food and other things the US was sending them during WW II.
In any case, I was using the word "friend" only in the superficial way Cleric John Preston meant at the beginning of the Equilibrium movie.