Why all the Brits so unappreciative of American efforts and sacrifices in WW2?

Question

They all sound so snobby...What's up with that?

Americans did not win the war, and neither did the Brits. It was a GLOBAL effort. And in the end we all won...

Why all the snooty bashing on Yahoo answers?

Answer 1

A lot of us Britons who think simply, do not have any conception of the political difficulties that Mr Roosevelt would have encountered in the USA had he entered World War II at the same time that Britain and France took up the cudgels. America was persuing a course of Isolationism, similar to that of the "Spendid Isolation" policy that Britain pursued in the Nineteenth Century - we relied entirely on our naval supremacy and our industrial capacity and shunned the disputes of land-locked Europeans.

The US, thanks to Roosevelt, and a significant proportion of the American population, gave Britain a lot of help in 1940-41. Lend-lease saved our bacon, (Give us the tools and we will finish the job - Churchill to Roosevelt) and, as soon as the US could find legitimate excuse, they joined us. The US even prejudiced their own preparations for the war that would encompass them (the far-east commitment), by sending us tanks and aircraft that they needed for their own preparations, and re-armament, for the forthcoming war in America's sphere of influence - to wit, the Pacific. America, in 1940, had a lot more to fear from Japan than from Germany.

In the nineteenth century, Britain acted no differently than America did in 1940 - we looked after our Empire, and left the squabbling French, Russians, Serbs, Austrians etc to their own devices. We had nothing to gain.

America did not sell so much as one bullet to the Fascists, even though they could have made money by doing so. Britain, despite 'splendid isolation', set up the Japanese Navy, re-inforced that of Chile, and sold arms to anyone. The Boers sniped our troops with Lee-Enfields. No German shot a Brit with a Springfield.

Perhaps us Britons should look back to Winston Churchill - our great hero. When asked how it was that his predictions re Hitler, the Sudentenland, Czechoslovakia had come true, he replied "I study history". If us Britons who castigate the Americans were to study the history of the US in the years between 1918 and 1939, and were to analyse the ethnic make-up of the US at the time, we might understand why the US forces, who, Navy excepted, were proportionately weaker than the forces of France and the UK, were unable to immediately charge to our succour. The cliche runs that the 'fifth cavalry' always came to the rescue. On 1st September 1939, the US hardly had a 1st Cavalry. That they managed to recognise the the threat, and be able to supply us with oodles of arms from 1940 onwards, in the dodgy political climate that they faced, is a tribute to the USA. Britons - educate yourselves!

Answer 2

We are happy with what your Grandfathers did but not with what your Government did. Your government went into the war becuase it wanted what we had, POWER. It waited until we were broke and then decided to enter the war with a few if you dont agree we wont help. We cannot blame the soldiers but we can blame the scum that is the US government. It is very corrupt. We had to give up everything we had in order for you to offer us assistance and if Japan had not attcked then you wouldnt of joined the war for another year or two.

Did America win the war? NO, Did they do more than anyone? NO. Britain and Russia did a hell of alot more fighting, won more battles and suffered alot more but the US says that they supplied all the equipment and therefore thats why we won. Well yes you did supply alot but we PAID for it and that makes it ours. When you buy a car on finance it is still your car you just pay it off in installments.

WW2 was won by the allied nations, all played there parts and all payed a price. Some paid more than others and some paid with very little even gaining huge amounts off the suffering of others. The majority of people in the US have my respect and I thank them for there sacrifices but i detest your government and every government you have had. They are a disgrace to what is supposedly democrocy in the free world when they have one mission and thats to make money of the suffering of others via war.

As for Britain speaking German I would like to point out that Hitler scrapped plans to invade Britain after we destroyed his airforce and defended our country in the Battle of Britain. This was scrapped indefinatly.

Also to the person asking the question its not the Brits that have the problem its the Americans. The Americans corrupted by hollywood and the like. British people know the events of the war as its something until recently was a mojor thing still amongst the patriotic Brits until the government in a sense banned patriotism.

America is not beater than Britain in any way nor is Britain any better than the US.

Answer 3

It's not that Great Britain and it's allies are unappreciative, more that when people on Answers dare to criticise our cousins across the pond on any kind of subject, that we get the stock answer back of "Well if it wasn't for the US of A you would all be speaking German", that kind of arrogance gets you nowhere, I'm sure there are some Americans that know their history, and realise that the Russians did more to damage Hitler plans, than they did, but just because the Hollywood version of what America did in WWII is what they know, it's no excuse for ignorance.

Answer 4

We do make our personal, or a minimum of we did, yet u . s . a . got here to dominate the leisure international and action pictures depicting British people combating in WW2 that dont contain some style of visual attraction of the Yanks to save the day did not promote all proper contained in the U. S.. With Hollywood growing the massive of the movie market it did and making action pictures with a lot higher budgets than the British movie market had at the same time as also aiming their action pictures at American audiences the British action pictures fell out of style and all yet dissapeared and were consigned to the annuals of historic past. Its style of a mirrored image on the yankee psyche that purely about each English actor in American action pictures must be the undesirable guy or some style of comedy relief at the same time as the individuals get forged as rushing heroes.

Answer 5

I am English.The Americans didnt enter either the first or second world wars until after us So What!they didnt have any obligation to do so.In the WWII they supplied the British with arms okay they were paid but how many people know that US destryers escorted our convoys and engaged German submarines before they joined the war.When Britain needed pilots the White Eagle squadron was manned by American volunteers wearing RAF uniform.American pilots also served with the Chinese before Pearl Harbour.Half the problems are caused by old men who probably never heard a shot fired in anger moaning about their allies and Hollywood who made out John Wayne won the war single handed.Very few arguments are based on fact..

Answer 6

I hope that most intelligent Brits aren't unappreciative of American efforts and sacrifices. Without US support we could have continued to defend ourselves but there's no way we could have liberated Europe. Unfortunately Brits often appear 'snobby' to Americans, which in turn brings out the worst, insular aspects of US opinion and policy; which makes Americans seem dumb and arrogant to Brits. Most American don't realise, as most Brits and Europeans have no idea, how much Britain gave up to keep fighting WW2; but in terms of military comittment & bravery nobody can or should fault the US contribution.

Answer 7

What should be remembered is that we British fought the war alone until the yanks got caught at Pearl Harbour.And yes we would have struggled(to say the least) without American assistance,but let's not forget that it was a business deal for the yanks and we have only just paid off the final instalment on the war loans.Most importantly nobody should forget the sacrifice made by men and women from all countries to fight for freedom against the oppressive evil of fascism.

Answer 8

I think most of the credit obviously goes to the Red Army ,without who,the germans wouldnt have been defeated.

However,US industrial and economic might was an overwhelming factor in the war against the axis.

Much British resentment probably stems from the way that hollywood has marginalised 6 years of British input and sacrifice.

Neither did USA enter the war for British interests,they were solely for US benefit.
The USA even managed to blackmail Britain ,after the war,into surrendering trading right s to our colonies against financial help and use of bases during the war in exchange for destroyers.

Seems a cheap trick to pull on someone who has just been the major ally through a world war.

All this said,most of the modern feeling is simply left wing hype of the young and foolish who dont actually know anything about ww2.The resentment stems from the liberals opposition to the liberation of iraq.

I personally am proud to have USA as a brave ally in this uncertain world of freedom hating enemies.

Answer 9

Im not a historian, but from what i've heard teh Americans didnt join in the war until the final push when all the hard work had been done, and just needed the final move executed. Apparently, americans like the arsehole that said we'd be speaking german if it wasnt for you, believe that the victory was theirs, ignorant of all other efforts, ignorant of that they sat and watched the war while your current presidents grandfather held shares in a business operation that funded nazi germany. Im not sure to what extent it 'funded' nazi germany, but hey.

Besides as far as i know people are over the stereotypes associated with the war eg germans being nazis. My generation definately are. Unless you're one of the american that fought in the war, then maybe you should get over it and leave it in the past. You did nothing to help, and neither did I, so why should we have mutual appreciation for efforts in a war which we, nor our parents were even alive during?

Answer 10

why arent the brits and the yanks unappreciative of the russian chinese indian australian efforts becuase all of em entered the war way before the yanks