American dreamers?

Question

Every so often on here, some Americans asks the question; "If it wasn't for us bailing out the British in WWII, they would be speaking German"
Are these guys living in cloud cuckoo land?

amofber: Not generalizing! Read the question properly! Then you wouldn't come across as stupid!

george G:
I suggest you read up on your "Facts" Before opening your mouth!

There's a flight in about an hour Tinkerbell, Bye bye!

Natsugusau; An intelligent response, thanks.
I would beg to differ on some points, but that is a different debate.
Well done.

Answer 1

You know Zulu9, I am an American and a former army officer and I don't understand half the answers that you are receiving. Either the people answering your question don't know anything about WWII, American politics at the time, history in general or are stupid people who can not form a cognitive answer.

Personally, I think you guys hung in there for one hell of a long time against a massive German war machine. And what more can you say about the RAF! Granted, when we did get into the war it was still "early" as it was 1941 but when you have been at war for as long as the UK and Europe....it still felt like a long time. And yes, our ability to gear up and change our production to a wartime footing was incredibly important...but not the only factor to us both speak English today....well,OK speaking English and American.

By the way, I think it is comments made by individuals like Lord G that makes a lot of us in the colonies respond as we did.

Also, if it wasn't for the US & UK, France might still be speaking German!

Answer 2

Well, let me first say that I'm not saying the Americans didn't help. The if they hadn't come the war would have probably cost millions more lives and dragged on for years, but it would have been won nonetheless.

For a start, before America even got involved in the war, we had stopped the German war machine's westward progress, and repelled their attacks on our country. The Battle of Britain was won with no American help to speak of, and at that time our Navy was stronger than the German's, meaning they couldn't mount an invasion. The Germans would have found it very hard to ever take this island.

Secondly, to he who said that without the yanks there would be no western front to speak of, get your facts right. I know Hollywood teaches you differently, but Yanks didn't win the war all by themselves. Nor could they have. There were five beaches on D-Day, only two were American, the others being British and commonwealth. Interestingly, in the first few days the British and Commonwealth forces took nearly twice as much ground as the Americans did.

And Africa. The British and Commonwealth (who I will hitherto refer to as simply British as I'm too lazy to type commonwealth out any more than I have to) forces won Africa from Rommel with little American help. That provided a gateway into Italy and then the rest of Europe. The fact is while the implication that you saved us, and won the war single handedly is insulting and ignorant, the implication that we were being hammered before you came is even more so, and simply not true. Always remember this, we repelled the Germans with no American help. We took Africa with little help from the American troops. And when D-Day came you did not do all the fighting and neither did you win the day, the British arguably did more on DDay than the Americans did.

Now, to be fair I doubt that the Western front would have made anything like as much progress into Europe without the Americans, if much at all. I do not think we would have attempted when we did DDay with the troops we would have had then. But there would still have been a western front. The Germans would never have been able to take us as long as they had the Russians in the east, and we did have other gateways into Europe. We could have come up through Italy, for instance. Also, if we had brought in all the troops from the commonwealth we could have beaten the Germans. The Indians could have provided more soldiers than any other nation to the war (unfortunately they mostly had to go eastwards to fight the Japs). I am certain we would have found some way to make a eastwards advance. Admittedly that might have meant sacrificing the pacific and bring in all the troops from there, but it could have been done. It is also likely the Russians would have made it to Berlin at the same time they did and the war would have been won by them. And that would mean much more of Europe would have turned commie unfortunately

Oh yes! Onto the eastern front. That was where the biggest and bloodiest battles were fought and where the most people lost their lives. Without the Russians the war probably wouldn't have been won, as Hitler could have diverted all his resources the west. If he had been able to then the westwards push would probably have failed. Even if the Allies had made no progress into Europe from the west, the Russians would have won eventually. They didn't care how many died as they had many more people where they came from (they have a huge country) and they could have beaten the Germans almost single handedly (albeit the cost would have been crippling).

I would like to point out that Hollywood war films are invariably pro-American propaganda. There are loads of films based on British successes, but they've chucked a few Yanks in and said they did it all. Even the ones that are talking about Yank victories imply that the Americans did it all on their own, and it's not hard to see where these American beliefs come from.

Answer 3

Zulu9, I understand you're frustrated at the jingoistic American who not only for the most part has never done a thing in his or her life for duty, honor, and country, but comes out and insults long-standing allies as if they had some sort of legitimate grievance.

However, facts are facts. If it weren't for American intervention, there would never have been a Western Front worth talking about. If it weren't for American material aid, the Soviet Union would have found it very, very hard to sustain even defensive operations during the 1942-43 period when all their industrial capacity was either destroyed, in transit, or retooling. If it weren't for the American Merchant Marine and Lend-Lease destroyers, the British would have found it very, very hard to come out ahead during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Conversely, the heroism of the ordinary Russian and the British public in those dark days when the Americans dithered and couldn't get themselves to oppose Hitler's atrocities, let alone Tojo's inhumane war against China, says something about the nobility of those who survived the Blitz, the rationing, the privations; and those on the far end who survived the Einsatzkommando.

Enough of the petty, meaningless insults. Give credit where credit is due.

Answer 4

There are so many things that would be different if America had not joined the war that any speculation on that subject seems like folly to me. Bailed is not the right word. I would have to say, as an American, that a lot of Americans are definitely living in cloud cuckoo land. I actually think that is one of the great things about America is that we are allowed to live in cloud cuckoo land. It sounds strange that that would be a good thing but it is...trust me!

Answer 5

I have noticed here in the u.k when you ask an american related question you are met with a barrage of abuse surely that is not the point of Q & A lets all try to get on and offer help to anyone who needs it, this is a sensible question.
Firstly america did not ever get involved in ww2 until the japs invaded pearl harbour, before that we received little or no support, in fact almost every war the americans have been in they have needed other help from other countries, this is because they do not have what it takes to finish what they started, history proves this. this is not my rantings and I have nothing against any americans, we are allies so try to act like it

Answer 6

Quite possibly yes. Have you ever seen the Simpsons episode where Lisa goes to the future and sees her English future husband to be and Moe says that America bailed us out in World War 2 and the English guy says well we bailed you out in World War 3. Well its come true as if it wasn't for British support America would have been all alone in Iraq wouldn't they? Also we were the only European country not to be infiltrated by the Germans in World War 2 so we can't have done that badly without them could we? Bloody Yanks are so American!

Answer 7

Want facts okay. First most of the worlds says they want America to mind their own business, but yet you yell because we were late getting into WWII. Make up your mind please.
England fought one of the finest battles in history (the Battle of Britain) and should be commended for the determination and Bravery. I do not Believe Hitler would have ever taken England. But even before America sent troops we were sending Weapons, food, supplies, medicines etc..etc.. Without that supply Britain would have been hard pressed to hold. I think they would have but it would have much more difficult. The rest of Europe can thank America because Britain would not have been able to drive Hitler out of Western Europe by themselves. As for Africa and India. Check your history. The American Army was heavily involved in Northern Africa. They also had troops in India. Not as many in India as Britain though. We also fought the Pacific war with mostly American troops with help from Britain, Australia, New Zealand. We also sent most of China's supplies and helped the Russians with their supply needs at the same time.

Answer 8

The US intervention in WW 2 was decisive, the first one, less so. The war was certainly shorter than it could have been but who could predict the final outcome with so many "What ifs...?" at play right up until the end?
I agree that it does feel like desperation (and blackmail?) to keep reminding people you feel 'they owe you' in some way, especially as no other nation feels the need to do it, and the world has moved on in so many ways since that time.
Personally, I think it's partly insecurity; looking back to a time when folks were truly grateful for the US and its industry, and also the last clear US victory anywhere.

Answer 9

I think these people like looking at the past, when they could, for a while, rightfully see themselves as the "good guys".

In the meantime they, as a nation, have done so much damage that they can't expect respect and gratitude any longer.

One might put it on a small, personal scale: If someone had saved your house from a fire 50 years ago, then gone and terrorized the whole neighbourhood, burning other peoples houses and killing them and their children....

Answer 10

I'm a Brit, served with the US forces in Vietnam and elshere. Never once had that crap thrown at me / but we shared a lot of banter. Yes. Ur guys turned the tide & helped not only us of a mess - but a lot of other countries as well! The American flag still flies, ever pround! Always Will, Always Should! I served under it! No amount of 9/11's will knock it down - ever!!