Why do Americans try take all the credit for WW2?

Question

To be fair they did play a big role but they came at a late stage where Britain had already been fighting for 2 years before america stepped in, and only because of japan - which may i add the British helped fight against.

We had the Battle of Britain in which we defended our country from a German attack. If we had fallen to the Germans then Hitler would had set up base and made an attack on the US.

I would just like to see a little more respect from americans about Britains role in WW2. I dont deny the role the US played. They did us proud. But I think alot of americans watch to many hollywood war movies (none which are made about Britains efforts) and these movies have convinced young americans that it was all America doing the fighting.

Britain will be and for a long time allies with America with war on terror but it just seems that americans only appreciate their efforts and no one elses

Anyone got any views on this? am i right or wrong about american views?

I know not all americans think like that but i do see alot of americans on the yahoo saying if it wernt for us youd be speaking german or we saved your asses.

what about russia and canada they helped 2!

I know not all americans think like that but i do see alot of americans on the yahoo saying if it wernt for us youd be speaking german or we saved your asses.

what about russia and canada they helped 2! aswel as alot of other countrys

To Bubba

The movie U-571 took all the credit from the BRITISH capturing the first enigma machine and turned it into a hollywood film with AMERICANS capturing it.

Our efforts turned into false American glory

Its disgusting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/773913.stm

Answer 1

WWII was won through global efforts. Anyone said it differently did not speak for the rest of us American. Facts are more accurate through watching documentaries and not through Hollywood movies.

Answer 2

Sorry but that's just an opinion. Though many countries contributed, the Soviets were probably the single biggest factor in the defeat of Germany. And they were able to do so in part because of America's help, especially with logistics by way of the lend lease act of 1941. The same is true of England. As far as Japan goes, it is very doubtful they would have lost the war if not for the efforts of the American military. So no the U.S.A. didn't win the war on it's own, but the outcome would have been very different without Americas involvement. I know some Americans may seem to make a little too much of it, but America's contribution to victory is undeniable. That's just my opinion.
As far as Holly-weird goes, 99% of what spews out of there is garbage anyway.

Answer 3

Only Hollywood and ignorant fools think the US "won" WW2. It was a team effort. W/O any of the key allied players, the axis may well have been victorious.

That being said, one should not take lightly the contribution to victory that America made. Great gobs of machines and material were provided by the US. And don't forget, the US was fightin in both the European and Pacific theatre. But, if Britain had not stood fast, and the Soviets had not chewed up the NAZIs from the East, then all would have been lost.

Answer 4

Hollywood has always been full of you know what, but the fact of the matter is that American fighting forces tilted the scales in favor of the European allies and saved the day in WWII. Americans ALWAYS come to the rescue and view Great Britain as a natural ally. Yes, the people of Great Britain, were better partners in the war effort, than the Russians, the Canadians, and the limited support from the French woosies, but much of the delay in American support can be attributed to the mistakes of Ambassador Nevil Chamberlain and his appeasement policies. Mass communication was not what it is today, and as such, many of the US Government, the American public, and even the world, did not have a grasp of the events that were actually taking place in Europe at the time. (Government moves slow in your country too.) Britons are some of the best fighting men and women in the world and fought bravely and valiantly to save their country.

The American forces were without a doubt the MVP in WWII, and are the only remaining Superpower in the world. If we need an ally, we can always count on the British people to stand and deliver and conversely so from the USA.

In WWII, we helped to save the French, The British, the Jewish peoples, and even the Germans from the tyranny of the Nazis.

Answer 5

This entire discussion, as one pointed out, is at the very least a bit late in the complaint department.

If the US wanted to "Puff up our Chest" we would simply remind our fellows across the pond, that you haven't repaid your bill from the Lend-Lease Act.

By political decision, the US was assigned daylight bombing of Germany; while fellow aircrews from the RAF and RCAF were afforded the protection of the night sky.

And the P-51 Mustang was indeed modified to accommodate the Rolls Royce Merlin, it didn't become the fighter it was however, without the Merlin Modifications courtesy of Pratt and Whitney.

And if we want to throw Monty into the soup... It was Monty's plan to invade Cicily, and Palermo without the aid of advanced supplies waiting to be delivered at Cherbourge.

And just why was The Kesirine Pass such a debacle? Why were US forces in Africa in the first place? Oh yeah, Monty hadn't quite mopped up The Afrika Corps.

The US waited to officially join the fray due to a small piece of paper called the Constitution. Many Americans felt Isolation was once again the answer to Mr. Churchill's war. Despite this feeling FDR went forward with the Lend-Lease Act. US ships carried desperately needed war supplies, Fuel, Food, etc. towards Britain; only to be met by Germany's U-Boats.

Those smoking stretches of the Atlantic have US merchant seaman under them. Men who were charged with saving Mother England.

At the time, and throughout the war British tabloids screamed for US forces to "GO HOME YANK".

Oh the list could go on for megabytes... but why?

For this Yank, having Tony Blair stand with our President, by sending and keeping the British Army in place in a nasty bit of Real Estate, is refreshing.

And those who don't think Iraq is necessary... Remember, those who fail to study history, are condemned to repeat it.

Semper FI all.

Answer 6

The unnoccuppied countries of Europe did not have the resources to repel the Germans. It is not known if the Germans could have invaded the UK successfully, the Brits are a determined and tough bunch, and defended their airspace well during the Battle of Britain. What is a virtual certainty is that even if Germany did not invade the UK, they still would have controlled all of Europe and no one would be able get them out. The industrial might of the US is the only thing that prevented that. France is the country that owes the greatest debt of gratitude.

Answer 7

Awesome post!

I am an American and I was born well after WWII. I think that there should be an international monument for all those who opposed the Nazi and Fascist threats. Russians, British, Canandians, New Zealanders, Australians, French, Belgian, Yugoslavians, Czechs, Poles, Jews, Nordes, Hungarians, Greeks, Egyptians all played huge roles in defending the world. I think high praise should be given to the british and their dominions at the time. They fought hard, they fought well and they made a difference.

I would also like to state that although there are few movies in American that have minorities in them, that all minorities fought well in WWII. the Russians proved women fight as well as men, no religious members (as a whole) disgraced their uniforms and skin color had nothing to do with valor or courage.

I thank all those who fought and died to stop the mad men who created, pursued and ultimately died for their mad dreams taking with them 50 million innocent people.

Answer 8

Wow! What a sad post. I believe it's that way with most soldiers since side by side training and operations are rarely done with mixed units, most soldiers fight as a unit and the units are hardly ever mixed so it's usually their own soldiers they see., but what I never thought I'd see, was the day when after losing thousands upon thousands of American lives in WW2 was someone like you casting doubt about what America sacrificed during the war. Who the hell do you think you are? Not only did the USA jump in and help save many countries from annihilation, but we paid to rebuild them as well after the war. I don't remember anyone helping to pay for Pearl Harbor after WW2 or the World Trade towers either. And not only WW2 but WW1 as well. I have not heard one WW2 American soldier say that the USA won WW2 without any help from anyone, but in their eyes, it may well seem that way since it was only American GI's they ever got to see. But if you or anyone else is trying to deny the heavy price the USA paid during that war, you are sadly mistaken. If you need more proof, take a trip across the channel and walk through some of the American cemeteries, NO HOLLYWOOD INVOLVED, or do you think these are all empty graves and one more stupid conspiracy theory??. I will say one thing though, with the exception of the UK, it's these same countries that have turned against us the most while our former enemy's have jumped to our side. Wonder why that is if we are such a horrible race of people you would think by them becoming the spoils of war we would treat them as such, but this has not been the case, has it? You should be ashamed for not giving America it's due, no one from here has taken any "glory" from your country. If all you have to go on is movies and you don't like the Movies Hollywood cranks out, make your own damn movies! Oh wait, I forgot! Your movies stink!

Answer 9

Yep the Americans probably saved us but we had to give up a lot of assets to do so.

The brave Russians were killed both by savage Germans and evil soviet communist leaders and their minions on an industrial scale.

The french always look after themselves.

The poles were not all on our (UK) side but then again they were overrun and subject to terrible brutality, something we cant imagine (mind you we have been overrun in the last10 years or so). Many poles were outstanding warriors and I would rather be on their side than against them!

Of course there were many brave European factions trained and equipped by the Brits.

Many many Indian and commonwealth troops fought bravely with us although there were plenty of Indians on the Japanese side (yes maybe with good cause?). I'm sure the Japanese would have enslaved India far worse than the Brits given the chance.

Overall I do feel that the Brits have given a lot back to the world in defeating oncle Adolf and dare I say current campaigns. its time the left gave us some credit for that.

Its time our European brothers realised that appeasement doesn't work - are you listening Mr Chirac and Chancellor Murkle? You owe us.

War is futile but until all you excitable foreign countries get your act together and stop starting wars, thank god for the Brits.

Answer 10

As an American--i take pride in knowing my own history of my country. And to be honest--while i was in highschool, we barely ever reached WWII in our studies. So alot of me knowning about it--by my own warrant. But by no means do i believe you guys are ignored in WWII as a country that rose to the fight. Infact, the only part that i really think it seems that the US got most of the credit is in the pacific--and I think it's just because how the war started there--such a blind fight from the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. If you notice (and i notice this on the History channel on cable)..that whenever they refer to the war in Europe on old news reels, they don't really say "the Americans" as much as they say 'allied forces"--now i have heard them say 'americans" when it was an American offensive..but I find they say "allies" more often.

Another thing--about the after thought concerning "americans who spite british by exclaming 'if it weren't for us you'd be speaking german'", I really don't think those sorts are speaking for all of us Americans. Being of Greek decent--like the majority of Americans we trace our pride in America to our pride in our mother countries. I think it's a small majority who really mean that. You also have to take into consideration that when we were kids learning about the American Revolution (i'm not sure what they would call that in Britain), we are told that the British were harsh people, greedy, and tyrrants. I've always been one to want to know my own history and find out for myself. I don't like bias teachings--and I like to see both sides of every story--and just make my own decisions--which i can tell you are the same. So you can blame our American Education System and it's School book publishers--for making the British seem as thought hey are the Nazi's of the 1770's.

And i really can't tell you that there is any movie where we do memorialize the British that fought in War, but there is a brief part in Pearl Harbor at the beginning, where Ben Affleck is an American Pilot fighting for the Royal Airforce. This isn't much to go on--but it's something. You have to understand that these american producers aren't going to make a movie that's going to glorify another nation--they do have to look at what will sell right now--and in a time where they are already losing money on really dumb projects--its no wonder they haven't made a blockbuster in a while. I think the idea could be developement there--for example a movie depicting the air raids of london...the london underground shelters--etc; or even one about Prime Minister Churchill during the war years.

To sum this all up--I personally think that the ignorance against the British is unfortuned--but you have to understand--we aren't British--and we never will be British--in movies i've seen when a British Gentlement would talk of America, He always refers to us as "the Colonies"--and I myself get a little aggitated to be referred to as "the Colonies"--and this is why i think there is this sentiment. When you hear something like that in a movie--you can't help but feel as though.."if it weren't for us..." So I think this is a two-way Street.

I think you should be rest assure that the Americans do appreicate all that you have done for us-- you gave our country independence, a democratic government, and even helped us construct a better constitituion. I personally applaud the British, America, Free French, Australians, Soviets, and any other Allied force, that are responsible for keeping Europe free from Tyrants.

On another note: I do not support the American Operations in Iraq, Iran, etc. I have never supported backward policies of the Bush adminitration. Like i said--History and current events is a two sided deal, and you must find out the facts for yourself.

Answer 11

Fact: The Enigma Machine which was a complicated code sender and receiver, was given to Britain by the Belgians in 1939. They got it I believe, from the German Embassy.
And the deciphering of secret messages from Berlin to their Armies was entirely the work of brilliant BRITISH Scientists, using an early Computer that filled several rooms!
This made it possible for the Allies to be one step ahead of the Nazis who were ignorant of the fact that their Secrets were being stolen.....That gave us a tremendous military advantage, and had a terrific effect upon the successful outcome of WW2.