Should the Americans be ashamed...?

Question

Should the Americans be ashamed of how they sat back and did nothing knowing full well that the holocaust was happening during World War 2, rather than claiming they were our saviours by joining in at the end when they realised they were in danger after all?

Firstly, Sassyk, I am sorry for your loss. Your father was obviously a hero, as were all those who willingly fought and ultimately gave their lives for the freedoms that I, and nearly every one else on the planet, take for granted. I never meant offence.

The question was/is political in a way that several people have understood it, and was critically aimed at the stereotypical attitude/opinion given by idontkno, the first respondant: "hell no we save your asses and will do it again soon". This leads to the (hopefully) tongue-in-cheek comment : "What do you mean i thort America won the war single handed"!

Sad that some individuals have seen it as an opportunity to spout anti-Semitic comments. I am from England.

Answer 1

The Americans did not win the war alone , they did not save our asses. It was a joint effort from all the countries involved. It is a shame that the some Americans seem to think that if they had not joined the conflict it would have all ended differently, Well it would have done, Germany would have gone right across Europe and then set its sights on the USA. And when you think that the Germans had all the U-Boat technology , They would have had no effort cutting the US navy down to size in a few months, Then they would have started to use the rocket technology that they had, And there would be nothing the US could have done about it, It has been shown the Germans had the rockets designed to fly to the US but ran out of time.
A lot of the Americans that claim to have saved everyone *** should look at the history of world war 2 and they will see that most of the biggest death rates were in areas that the Americans were fighting, There troops were over rated and under experienced. They only way that they got any where was the sheer numbers that they could put on the ground, With equipment that was not being built in factories that were getting bombed every day and night. If the US had ever fought a conflict on their own soil where the enemy had invaded in the sort of numbers that would be needed then I doubt if they would have stood a chance.
A look through history shows that America is just a giant bully picking on countries smaller. At least most of Europe's countries that have had a go at invading a few others picked on countries larger.

America has nothing to be ashamed off, apart from a few idiots that keep shooting off their mouths about haw they won everything and it was only because of them that Europe is not now speaking German.

Answer 2

It's a tough question which I asked myself many times. Usually the answer is - the media wasn't as it is today, USA didn't realize that it was so bad. I don't think its that simple. USA knew. The government has to convince the people that the war concerns them. If the people are not convinced - the leader is in trouble (politically). USA joined the war only when Japan bombed them! Look what happens now in Iraq. Look what happened in Vietnam. Because USA is a country of the people, the people have to be convinced its justified.
Personally, I do thing that because USA is a Supper Power, It has an obligations and I do think USA should have intervene much earlier. There are still places in the world that a genocide happens right now - do we do anything - See for example - Africa.

Answer 3

Absolutely not.
1) The holocaust was happening in Europe not in America and even the Europeans claimed not to know about it. I am sure that some knew more than they would admit.
2) the Americans did not sit back, they joined in early 1942.
My older relatives and friend's parents were surely glad to see the Americans show up at Dunkirk and liberate their cities from the Nazis.
On a different note:
Most of us were rather glad to have the Americans keep the soviets of our butts in the 60's, 70's and 80's

Correction: I meant Normandy not Dunkirk. I am European born, my mother was in London during the Blitz Krieg.

Answer 4

How do you know they knew what was going on? Most people didn't, even the British couldn't believe what had been going on until the news teams went in.

America did what they thought was right at the time. However, it IS annyoying that they seem to want to rub our noses in it and claim that they won the war. But that's just Americans - take it with a pinch of salt.

Answer 5

To Scarlett ohara, you guys were not at Dunkirk! That was May 1940, 2 years before you decided to join in!
To sassyK. My father was a P.O.W from June 1940 to June 1945.
How long was yours? Please don't lecture the Brits on WWII London had the Shite kicked out of it by Hitler, along with Coventry, Southampton, Portsmouth etc, etc.
To notadummyrat, When France collapsed the 51st Highland Division and Beaumont Division fought on until they could do no more.
Britain stood alone! And managed to defeat the Luftwaffe, securing the freedom of these Isles!
What about the British convoys that supplied Russia, for which the people of that country have shown their gratitude.
You guys need to check out your history before you come on here spouting about how wonderful you are.
Yes the Americans did get involved, and were invaluable, but PLEASE don't try to convince us that you saved our arses!
We did pretty good up till you finally joined us.

Answer 6

The Americans were not the only country that knew about it so why single them out? Americans have a lot to be ashamed of in more recent history, for example now, is in support for Israel.

Answer 7

The yanks should be ashamed of every thing they have ever done in warfare just remember the japanese atrocities in ww2 the napalm bombing in vietnam the middle east crisis the way they hold the world to ransom the price of oil

Answer 8

Instead of Americans being ashamed shouldn't you be worried about the International Red Cross who were allowed to inspect the camps and knew full well what was going on and did nothing to even try and stop it?

Answer 9

You are one sick excuse for a human being. My father fought in that war. He liberated Buckenwald concentration camp. He risked his life. If anyone should be ashamed, you should be. If it were not for the Americans, Hitler would have marched accross Europe instead of Patton.
By the way you ingrate, my father died last Friday. He was a hero to alot of people especially me. I want to know if your family is ashamed of you?

Answer 10

What do you mean i thort America won the war single handed