Do other British users embarrassed by the constant sniping at the USA over World War 2.?

Question

After they bailed us out of our Imperialist war - World War 1 - a war which was nothing to do with them, their government positively supported us from the start of World War 2, which, in Europe, was largely caused by failed European diplomacy. We have no reason for showing fawning gratitude, but I feel that the constant "you were late for two World Wars" sniping is inappropriate and reflects poorly on the British.

Apol;ogies: Should have written "Are" not "Do" in the question.

Apologies: Should have written "Are" not "Do" in the question.

Michael B - I'm not ashamed of being British, I'm ashamed of British bigots who, through their ignorance, demean our nation in the eyes of others. also, please tell me what facts I have got wrong.

(I am a bit ashamed of my typing today though!)

British and Rude - your name says it all. Thank you so much for your constructive contributions.

Hello - And where did we get most of our ships from between 1939 and 1942? US military involvement began in 1942, but they were on our side from 1939.

Answer 1

Very true, unfortunately I think post Empire blues have caused many Brits do over emphasise the contribution of the UK to World War Two, however many Americans fail to recognise any UK contribution at all which is also unfair. Note: World war one US contribution was important but not decisive, and one could argue that the failures of European diplomacy in the 20s and 30s was largely because of the US refusal to join the League of Nations despite it being the idea of the US President Woodrow Wilson

Answer 2

It's embarassing that people not only do not know history, but actually fail to understand the nature of the allied effort, which went far beyond direct military involvement. A lot of Americans (and others) died just trying to ship things across the Atlantic to support the British effort. In the early stages of the war, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Ireland, and numerous other countries were allied against Germany; the British having a huge naval fleet. With a predominantly land-based war in Europe, such naval force was not terribly useful, unless it happened to be used in specific areas, or for the movement of troops and munitions. The pace of the German war-machine was such that no other country could gear-up so quickly, and produce what was necessary to counter-attack, and in that, the British goverment had completely failed to understand or prepare for the Nazi threat. Without American help, where do people think that the hardware would have come from? When people gloat over the effectiveness of the RAF in the Batle of Britain, perhaps they should remember that Rolls-Royce engines were being made at the Packard factory in America, and shipped over, while the German U-boat commands picked them off and sank the ships. Throughout the war, there was a constant exchange of information and science, between trusted allies and "the special relationship." It might bring people to their senses if war were to be declared against England again, because they would then realise the value of that "special relationship" and the sacrifice that so many made. I'm afraid that when you've seen brave old men cry over the memories of lost relatives,friends and comrades, as they stroll among the millions of war-graves in Europe, or witnessed the silent bitter dignity of an old Polish woman who lost her entire family in a concentratuon camp, you don't find these sort of juvenile questions amusing. America is no more Hollywood than England is Pinewood Studios. I think it is time the questioner grew up, and prove that he is half courageous as his grandparents were.

Answer 3

Hey, Mojo - do you want me to repeat my rant from the previous thread?

To summarise, the vast majority of people do not know - because they do not make it their business to know - about the USA's total involvement in the World Wars. There are formal declarations of war, and there are behind-the-scenes efforts which impact the way battles are fought and won.

You would think the "We saved your butt" brigade would put forward some more cohesive examples of how they really truly saved our butts. Even discounting the D-Day invasions and the North African and Italian campaigns, the United States made a larger contribution to the Allied cause than all the other members apart from the Soviet Union combined. The Soviets fought fierce battles and millions died and their massive contribution should never be underestimated. However, neither should the American contribution - namely the weapons, artillery and supplies they provided to the Soviets so that they could fight and win those epic battles. Thanks, America.

When counting the number of British ships sunk by German U-Boats, one should at the same time count the number of British ships which were not sunk by German U-Boats because our friends the Americans mobilized their Atlantic fleet to escort our ships and arm and re-arm us. Where were we supposed to get ammunition, spare parts and material for bombs - occupied Europe? Thanks again, America.

And who was going to liberate the Continent? The British? The British did not lack courage, but let's be realistic, there were never enough of us to free our friends across the Channel. We could easily have been occupied ourselves had the Americans not sent their own to fight beside us. They came, they bled, many died. For us. I'll thank them once again.

We shouldn't feel as if we owe them fealty or that we have to go along with them every time they want to launch a military campaign somewhere. But underplay their part in the World Wars? That shows an incredible lack of knowledge on our parts, never mind gratitude.

If we dislike the Americans so much because they're loud and wealthy and boastful, imagine how much we'd dislike them if they were batting for the enemy! How much would we like being occupied by Germany (twice) and being force-fed brachtwurst and Wagner?! Would we have sat idly by and let Hitler crucify the Archbishop of Canterbury, string up our MPs and imprison King George, Queen Elizabeth and the princesses? Or would we all have jumped like lemmings off Beachy Head? Well, we will never know, because the Americans saved us from what would otherwise have been an awful fate no matter how you look at it. Thank God.

Answer 4

Good question.

I am very embarrassed about British sniping at USA.

I am proud of the friendship and alliance we have.

The alliance is probably the reason the cold war never became WW3.USA supplied Britain with sidewinder air to air missiles during the falklands war,without which, we would not have been victorious.This despite Americas friendship with Argentina.


On the negative side;
USA fought bravely during both world wars ,as did other belligerent nations.However,contrary to the questioners beliefs,USA did not "bail us out".Victory by the allies in ww1 was a certainty,the involvement of USA,though decisive,simply forced an early armistice.
WW2,USA did not enter the war for the benefit of the allied cause,but rather its own interests.
USA,together with the lack of foresight of clement attlee,effectively destroyed the british empire after the war.


Ultimately,USA is a freedom loving ,english speaking model of democracy.Their global exploits will benefit the west in the future,although some people are too short sighted to understand this.

Long live our friendship and shame on those who slander USA.Perhaps a spell living in Iran will improve their perspective.

Answer 5

I'm a Yank. Can't say I've seen very much of this sniping you speak of.


Having started out as the rebellious least-favorite child of the British Empire, I think it is very good fortune that the U.S. and the Commonwealth Countries are the best friends the other has got.



Could do without some of the elected employees of all countries though.

During WW II, a friend of mine went to England to do his unofficial part. During the Battle of Britain, he was a school teacher by day and watched the coast by night. He told me that he was issued an antique rifle, three rounds of ammunition and a bicycle each evening. Had the germans attempted an attack from the sea, he was to fire his three rounds at the. Should that prove insufficient to repel the invasion... he was to use the bicycle, ride fourteen. miles to a depot where... he would be given an additional three rounds.

When the U.S. became involved in the war officially. my friend returned to the U.S. and was trained as an aircraft pilot. Returned to England and was issued something a good deal more authoritative than a rifle.

Answer 6

The USA was late for WW 2 because of the isolationists in this country at the time. We have similar views here today only that is regarding the war on terrorism. Iraq is a battle within the war on terrorism, yet we have those in the USA, as well as many other western nations, that will argue that we have nothing to fear from the islamic radicals because they are such a small group. Regardless of the facts and known events, these people rant and rave that the USA is the evil and George Bush is their main enemy. The US and British news media, the French, the Germans and many other nations are almost totally anti-Bush on this issue. Well, during the lead up to WW 2 we had Winston Churchill trying to awaken all the other countries from their slumber and pacification of Hitler. He was almost totally alone. True FDR, the American president was wanting to join Great Britain but the isolationists in congress would not hear of it. FDR was able to establish the lend-lease program which provided needed war supplies to England for their war with the Nazis. Even when Hitler over ran Poland and France, we (the USA) were quiet. All the nations that had not been conquered by Hitler were shaking in their boots and trying to pacify Germany. It took an attack on the USA navy at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to get the USA into the war. The very next day, our congress declared war on Japan. Japan, being one of the 3 major Axis powers of Germany, Japan, and Italy was supported by Germany & Italy by a treaty which said that a war on any of them constituted a war on all of them. As it was, the historians seem to think that if Hitler had not invaded Russia (one of his major errors) that the world may all be speaking German, Italian, or Japanese today. Stalin, the Russian leader, had signed a treaty with Germany where both countries agreed to a non violence stance against each other. Well, that forced Hitler to have to divide his military to fight on the eastern front against Russia and on the western front against England, USA, Australia, Canada and a few other countries. That gave the USA and its allies time to where they could produce the necessary war materials and provide the needed training for their military. Now, late or not, the over 400,000 men the USA lost and thousands that were maimed is a pretty big price to pay, much less the vast amount of war materials provided to Russia, England and other allies as well as to our own military. This war on terror is similar to that war. Think about it.

Answer 7

I am heartily sick of hearing people snipe at the Americans.The thing about it is it obvious that most are ignorant of the facts and base them on what their dads and grandads said most of which was total rubbish.This constant harping on about the Americans coming into the war late is crazy .Why should the Americans rush to join us when we declare war on other countries.
That said US destroyers engaged Uboats whilst the US navy escorted our convoys US pilots joined the white eagle squadrons of the RAF and also flew with the Chinese against Japan before their government declared war.In the Falklands the US supplied our forces with technology and equipment we didn't have even though their own president and congress hadn't been asked.In the enquiry afterwards Pentagon officials said(bloods thicker than water we're cousins aren't we).
I hate the swaggering ignorant attitude of some Americans but I hate the ill informed constant carping Brits who constantly go on about matters which they obviously have no real knowledge.

Answer 8

I don't think it's the British who snipe at The Americans but certainly the reverse is true. Every time this issue comes up we get the big stick hitting us.

How often do we hear "We won the war, not the Brits" "Without us you would have been losers"

Now think this through. If we had been beaten, which I'm certain, without American intervention we would have been, we would now be an extension of a German superstate. NOW, still assuming that Hitler had come to power, anybody who disagreed with his policies would be in prison, or worse, become part of the Big Solution. We certainly wouldn't have any kind of freedom of speech or rights.

Now, swing the picture to the USA. Mr J Kennedy Sr was a suspected Nazi sympathiser and would have loved dealing with a nice man called Hitler. Where would that have left America if he had any kind of influence on American policy? How long before America became affiliated with a fascist, homophobic, anti-Semitic and every other anti they could think of, and then signed a non-aggression pact with Germany. Suckers. You would soon have been attacked and subjugated along with everyone else.

So, no I'm not embarrased about anything. I'm proud of what WE did during the war, grateful for the help we got but pissed off that we were held accountable for the money we had to loan just to stay alave so forgive me for not agreeing with you.

Step into the real world and stop smelling the crap that America feeds us.

Answer 9

SHUT YOUR MOUTH

They were late for 2 world wars, had hostile reasons to join in the second ( dismantle our empire to try and begin there own, which they have totally failed. lol ). They only pressed for the UK to pay back war debts, Canada did more for us ( thanks Canada, your the real heros ), they constantly go on about the fact they saved us when we saved ourselves ( Battle of Britain WW2 and the Naval Blockade of Germany WW1. We won WW1 not the US ) We continued to fight even though we had won our war against the Nazis. The US joined when they got bombed and it made them cry. We invented radar and sonar which were major weapons in the war. We invented the Nuclear Bomb and allowed the US to construct it. ( not a good thing really ). They never acknoledge the contribution made by the British, French, Polish, Canadian, Austrailian, Indian, West Indies, Pakistani ( part of India ), Chinese, Russian, Italians ( after they Fell ), Dutch, Belgium, Finish, New Zealand and Brazilians that fought in both wars. This is the main thing that annoys us. We take it as a right to point out everything they did wrong.

I mean Britain put everything, and i mean EVERYTHING it had into the war. It lost its empire, its place of power and hundreds of thousands of its people. We didnt have to fight in either war but we did in order to preserve the freedom of Europe. We could of said no and sat back and watched but we are not like that. No body starts a war in Europe and gets away with it.

Great Britain gave the most and lost the most during the first 50 years of the 20th century. We did it with honour and respect. If anything the rest of the world should show us some gratitude and not the US. I respect the US of that day and the help they gave us but i also believe they did no where near as much as the UK. Im sorry if you dont agree but im affraid it is very much the case.

Britain was the most powerful, influentual, dignified nation ever and gave it all up in the name of freedom.

Sorry mate but you seem to dislike your British heritage and I think you should learn to love it because it does make you feel goo, and even a little superior ( even though we are all equal, Brits did educate the world so we have had the most influence ).

Just to add, thanks to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hollland, France, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Poland and all the rest that sacrificed themselves during both world wars.

Answer 10

Yes it's all abit stupid really and shows a lack of knowledge as it was the USA that supplied us and we could not of won the war without them. My dad was in the RAF in WW2 unfortunately no longer with us wouldn't have anything said against the US.

The things which probably wind people up a bit is the way sometimes the USA (Hollywood) appear to portray themselves as the sole winners of WW2. In reality it was the grindstone of the Russian front that broke Hitlers armies.
Also a fact that never gets put across Britains Lancaster Bomber (without doubt the greatest heavy bomber of the war) on it's own carried by far the heavest bomb load of any aircraft used in Europe dropping 2 thirds of all the bombs dropped on Germany including all the US heavy bombers put together, but this appears to be ignored.