Were the British, German and American soldiers entitled to leaves during WW2?

Question

After certain period of fighting on the battlefield?

Answer 1

Soldiers fighting on the fronts in certain areas could take R&R in a rear area to rest.

They could not go home (except in certain emergencies)

My Grandfather fought with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy. The 10th broke the stalemate and spearheaded the thrust into the German mountain defensive lines in the dead of winter. Fighting was fierce and they took heavy casualties. after things settled out a bit a given number of troops from each unit was regularly rotated back behind the lines and could take off and see the sights, play tourists and such, or just hang out and rest in the rear area until time to rejoin the front and let others rotate back. I have my Grandfathers letters that he wrote home detailing his taking leave to go see Pisa, Florence, etc.. while he was in Italy fighting.

Answer 2

This was a real war. No entitlement to leave after a year or fifteen months or whatever. British and Americans did usually get leaves when that was possible, as for example at Christmastime 1944 it was not. Germans were given leaves at the early, victorious stage of the war. After the Russian advance began in earnest and after the Normandy invasion, it was simply stand up and die. No one on either side, unless disabled, expected a full release from duty.

Answer 3

I have found most British people to be quite polite and rather fun. I am an American, the son of a Scotsman, and if there was ever a people to dislike the Brits, it should either be a Scot or an Irishman. Growing up, I spent at least one day per week playing soccer with foreigners, as it was not a well known game back then. The differences in our cultures explain much of how we perceive them as such, but when you get to know the people, you will find they are truly a fun loving bunch and make as much fun of themselves as the do others. It is almost a British comical cultural thing. They make fun of each others' favorite teams, much as we do, but their style of humor comes across a little "off" by our standards. So, just try to realize our cultural differences are what makes us see them as the "high and mighty, self-righteous assholes", (that and the fact that we beat them for our independence and many are still bitter about that.)

Answer 4

No they were not. They were allowed leave after boot camp and before they went overseas. But once they were overseas any leaves that they had would have to be taken close by ... for example, people in France might be able to take a leave to London. What they were not allowed to do was to go from France and then take their leave in New York City. They couldn't leave Europe, unless they were a very high ranking officer. If they were in the Pacific, they might get to Honolulu or some other island, but they wouldn't be allowed to make it back to Los Angeles.

There were simply too many soldiers and having them shuffle around like that was way too difficult.

Answer 5

Soldiers fighting in Europe were flown back to London for leave periodically. In spite of the Blitz, nightclubs were active, even though they had to operate out of cellars sometimes. The British did a marvelous job of organizing activities for men on leave, with their own canteens, entertainment etc. My uncle, who was in the Canadian Navy, wrote back about the good time they were given.

Answer 6

Of course... They just didn't go to the same places for R&R.

Answer 7

yes they were as long as they can be easily found by their superiors