Why do some Americans labour under the impression that they somehow prevented Britain from 'speaking German'?

Question

I mean, they didn't enter the war until Summer 1941 after Pearl Harbour. War had already been raging in Europe since 1939, just about everywhere had been invaded, London had experienced the horrendous Blitz and the Battle of Britain had been fought and won. Germany was already on the defensive and then the US came to help just in time for the end. I'm grateful that they did, but why do so many of them say that they "saved our butts by kicking Hitler back to Germany" etc etc? Is it not possible to be a bit more gracious about it? Adademics (not just from the UK) widely believe that we would have won the war without them anyway as it was already on the turn and the german machine was becoming unsustainable.
Oh and for the record - all those war films the US produce are largely rubbish. Take U571 for example - look at the end to see the acknowledgment that the story is true but in fact it was a British ship, HMS Bulldog, that performed the heroics. As is the case in many others.

"Settle down. I do not know anyone that says that. Also, Hollywood largely is a rubbish machine." -
Well... Try reading almost ANY of the posts on here! That's all they ever seem to say if a question has "Britain" in it!

PLEASE READ THE QUESTION! I am not saying all Americans think like this - I know that there are plenty of you that are intelligent. And even some of them are well-versed in world affairs!
Don't get so wound up!

Answer 1

Valid question. First off, one of the reasons Americans tend to "over-thump" our chests about things is because we take 99% unearned, undeserved crap from the rest of the world (not so much Britain, of course). So we're continually hyping all the amazingly good things we do, and have done, because the rest of the world sucks when it comes to gratitude (again, not so much the British).

Second, you're de-emphasizing America's effect, I think. Although our major, military involvement came late (you can't be heroes if you show up early), we had already ramped up our war production machine and were supplying much needed materials. Without all that, who knows?

I'm pretty sure Europe would've been hosed without both our military AND our supply line. Britain could probably have fallen eventually because you were never going to get any help from France, or any other European nation. If nothing else, without our intervention, you could've been surrounded and starved to death by the Nazis.

Having said that, two points well taken; one, we tend not to be a gracious bunch and, two, most U.S. movies - including war movies - suck.

One more thing, sorry. Whatever we did, however we contributed to keeping the Nazis from your shore, you've more than paid us back by trying to be the best ally possible (unlike France). It's not always easy to be on the unpopular side of the fence (even when it's the right side of the fence). Thanks.

Answer 2

A lot of what you say is true, but on the other hand I also know that the Yanks had supplied Britain with the materials to wage war. Had that not been enough, they also sent their Army to assist in bombing campaigns, before the Normandy Invasion. I do not slam the Brits for their history, until they start slamming my country, for what it has done in it's history and what it is doing now making history. WW II was a nasty affair for all involved and not knocking the bravery of the pilots during the Battle of Britain, but Hitler's air power was diminished for sure, his new found weapons the V1 and V2 would have demoralized the Brits to the point of surrender had the Americans not been there. So instead of bashing Americans for the words of a few, be thankful we were allies and that we won the war together. On the record most WW II history buffs know about the HMS Bulldog and watch movies strictly for entertainment and don't take much stock in Hollywood's version of it.

Answer 3

There were a number of factors involved. Roosevelt pushed through Lend For Lease in order to supply Great Britain in the first couple years of the war but there was no American presense aside from a diplomatic one. The British people fought heroicly in the face of a stubborn enemy. The single most deciding factor though was the stupidity of the German High Command. Had Goering continued to bomb RAF fields then Operation Sea Lion would have taken place as Hitler intended and England would have been invaded, but he decided instead to bomb civilian targets, which gave the RAF time to repair airfields and construct more Spitfires to thwart German bombers and the ME109. No, if anyone owes The United States, as well as the rest of the Allies, a debt of gratitude for saving them from German occupation it is the French.
To be honest, I think that many of my countrymen don't take the time to consider the complexities of the Second World War. Many don't even realise that we won our Independance from England not because we had such a superior army or stout hearts but simply because King George did not want to spend the money it would take to secure the North American continent because he had other interests.
As far as war films go, oddly enough my favorite is a German film...Das Boot.
Take care and I'll see you across the pond.

Answer 4

No idea, even if the US hadnt entered the war, The British would have slowly taken back the western areas, whilst the russians would have finished off the rest. The russians in my opinion, were the single biggest factor leading to hitlers downfall. If all the troops fighting in the eastern zones, had commited to the west, things may well have turned out differently.

Answer 5

I love their accents :D especially little kids!!! its one of the reasons beside the good universities that I want to move there, I want my children to have that accent :) Also, I love their vocabulary and the people I have met from Britain so far have been really nice :) I'm only jealous that they get to drink 3 years before us, and they have some of the most fittest famous chaps (1D, the Harries twins, Marcus Butler and more).

Answer 6

The Americans did nothing for Britain,Britain was doing absolutely fine and were kicking German *** all over europe and the Americans think they saved Britain bullshit.The americans couldnt win a war by themselves if they wanted to,the only thing they're good at is sitting on their *** all day and eating fast food.
Have that you American red necks

Answer 7

Actually it was twice. You should be thanking the Russians as well. Even before America entered the war they supplied England with everything they needed to survive. Those academics wouldn't by chance be the same ones that considered Dunkirk a smashing military victory? Good God I can't believe anyone still questions this.

Answer 8

I personally have never heard anyone say that, but it's good to know you had things so well in hand. Sounds like we could have stayed home. There wouldn't have been so many white crosses at Normandy and other places on the coast of France. How far is that again from Great Brittain?

Answer 9

More power to The Brits but just maybe if we hadn't helped and the end was delayed by a few years Germany would have had the nuke. Then Britain and the USA would have been dead meat.

Answer 10

Way back in the history of the USA The goverment voted on which language the country should adopt English or German English won by one vote.