Do you agree?

Question

Yesterday an American lady on YA stated that
“WE saved your *** in WW2 and you should be grateful”
WE, I believe, is First Person Plural, I take it that she was there and must, therefore be elderly.

But I was given to understand that the “good old US of A” did not join in the war until December 1941 after the Japs attack on Pear harbour.
That would indicate that they joined in because they wanted to have European support for their war against Japan.

Does that then mean that they were helping US (Europe) because it suited their needs, not because they took pity on US (Europe).

This in turn begs the question, where were they (the US of A) during that period. Sept 1939-Dec1941, when most of Europe was being overrun and dear old England had it’s back against the wall fighting for the freedom of the free world.

Now I am aware that very many brave Americans volunteered to fight in Europe long before 1941 (Eagle Squadron and all that, and that many more thousands died or were injured in the ensuing conflict). I am sure that most Europeans appreciate that.

My point is this, is it not time that silly simple minded people stop making such ridiculous statements, as she made, and learn to appreciated all that was won by the people who gave so much for us (everybody) and try to join together an make the world a place fit to live in.

Answer 1

I would not be so proud as to say that the US saved your A@@ in WWII, but you have missed many points. You have to look into the fact that of the supplies that you had until 1941, most came from the US. Many Merchant Marine Sailors many of whom went down to U boat attacks while delivering food and military stuffs to England.

Until 1941, the US was basically isolationist. We would do the back door business of bringing supplies, but not many wanted to get involved in WWI or WWII until the attack on Pearl Harbor, which was immediately followed by a Declaration of War by Hitler. At that point, we had few options. We went into a two ocean war. We turned out ships so fast that it would have amazed you. These were not just military ships with guns on them, probably most of them were cargo ships to carry goods where they were needed.

You should read an English Historians concept of what was going on in A.J.P. Taylor's ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR II. He places the basic blame for Hitler's rise directly on the inaction of the British Government.

So you are wrong in two instances, at least. (1)We did not enter the war because we needed England to help in the War with Japan, we did most of that ourselves. Hitler declared war on the US, leaving us few options.

(2) I have told you what the US was doing to assist prior to 1941, we were not just sitting on our butts. Had England taken the time to understand what Hitler was, they probably would have not been in the war. I suggest also that your read ESCAPE FROM FREEDOM by Erich Fromm. It has nothing to do with the war itself, but it discusses in a very practical way how a Hitler could come to power -

England pressed for the treaty ending WWI, the US never ratified it. The punititve action by the allied troops against Germany is the single most important thing that started WWII, caused the war in Bosnia, caused the problems in the Middle East, caused the Iraq wars. WWI is not over yet. I don't think WWII is either.

I don't think we have a problem with hautiness with GB, but we did manage to pull France out of a well twice and they resent it.

Answer 2

I partly agree with you, because the statement from that lady was very rude and she obviously don't know what she was talking about. We won the Battle of Britain without help from the Americans and we might have won the war without them, but with how many more of our lads killed?
You have to remember that these were different times, people didn't think the way they do now and the American support came as good news to us. It boosted the moral of the entire country. America chose to be neutral at the out brake of the War as did many countries in Europe among them both Norway and Denmark, but it wasn't until they were invaded by the Germans on the 9th of April 1940 that they became our allies. The Soviet Union also had a pact with Hitler, but didn't join our side until it was broken. This was wasn't only a war against fascism, but the Americans played a great part when the Soviet went into Europe after Hitlers defeat. Maybe they joined for selfish reasons and maybe we would have won without their help, but the cold war that came after might have ended differently? Now many think that America is the enemy, but back then they were welcomed as heroes. The war in Iraq is a different matter all together and must not be confused with the efforts in World War 2.

Answer 3

a flat statment is hardly ever true and it's pretty ignorant of someone to say such a thing. you have some good points. but the United States was certainly in the war before Pearl Harbor was attacked (even if not directly). even though the country was technically neutral, may clever acts were put in place to help suppy England with arms. even though it was "open" for any country, it was most inconvienient for other countries to get them and therefore was only utilized by the allies. the US didn't win the war themselves but they did help end it quickly once they did join. also the atomic bombs played a major part in the ending of the war and that was due to the US.

in short, the United States certainly were on the allies side and everyone knew it even if they didn't fight. we had already lost men in WW1 and were trying to avoid going to war again. Japan ruined that by forcing us to join. it wasn't that we wanted England to help in our war, we definitely were joining in the global efforts to defeat Germany and the other powers.

Answer 4

Winston Churchill, asked the reluctant america for some time before they joined, and I agree that I think it was due to Japan and Germany declaring War on them.

I think at the time due to lack of experience the americans provide sheer numbers at first, but soon as we got our acts together we British the americans and the Russians drove back the fascists.

Lets just thank god, we werent Italy. I mean we all did our best, and they will live in the shame, of starting on the wrong side....

Answer 5

I respect your opinion, first off. But. The US didn't join the war at first for the reason that they did not want to join the war. It's not every day a country decides to go fight a war that it's not concerned with (unless it's the Iraq war, but George Bush is an idiot so that's another thought in itself). The US (I won't say "we," because I wasn't there) then joined the war to fight Japan, who, yes, bombed us.

So I respect your opinion, and I'm sure this is in response to some idiot who posted about how awesome America is, but just keep in mind there are smart Americans out there, we're not all ignorant bastards.

Answer 6

At the end of the day they the Americans did save us and that is that (along with the Russians). Although they were in the main isolationists most were still sympathetic to the plight of the UK.
Unofficially they were helping us before they actually joined the war. One of the crew of the Catalina flying boat that discovered the Bismark after it had sunk HMS Hood was in the US military and that was before they entered the war.
I dispair of the present US government, but please don't compare them with the skilled US politicians of old

Answer 7

You might guess that the Americans would only join in something if it were going to benefit them in some way. By the time they joined the war they literally had no choice. You have in effect answered your own question. I believe that you will not find a time in history when the Americans have helped another country because it was the right thing to do.

Answer 8

Yes i agree but you must remamber that the yanks were helping us with lend lease long before the japs attacked them, so there sympathy was with us, they were also a lot of American isolationists who didn,t want there young men killed in a foreign war that was not there fight as in the first world war were nobody was theatening them , i think that was understanderble . i am not sticking up for the Americans but looking at it rationaly from their point of veiw

Answer 9

The us ws involved in "lend lease" long before we were actually int he war, and yes, porbably the US id save europes rear. it was the US' unimpinged ability to mass produce weapons of war without fear of interruption from bombings that supplied the material' to outfit the soldiers there, but we will never know otherwise as histroy is what it is

Answer 10

Well I respect your opinion an I agree with you and I have a secret: the Mexican people saved the American economy. How? because when all of the man of USA were in the war, the Mexican workers went to US and took the jobs on the field and in the company's and Mexico sold a lot of material to create new bombs and weapons for the war and how the **** US pay to Mexico? they are deporting and killing Mexicans on the borders because they are racists. I am Mexican and I hate the US people.