Are UK people aware of how other nations suffered during WW2?

Question

Such as the native populations of South East Asian countries like Burma (now Mynamar), Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia (which didn't exist then), Indonesia (also didn't really exist)?

Is anyone aware that in my country, over 2 million are known to have died from starvation, forced work and general savagery of the Japanese- maybe as high as 5 million?

Is it because we don't bang on about it all the time like the Jews?

Can we get some memorials too then?

This is Indonesia- the Dutch ran away as soon as they heard a Japanese gun. Yes- I have actually led some Australian former POW's back to their camps in Central Java (as I'm tri-lingual) and my government continually finds unmarked, unidentified decapitated corpses.
My point is- not only the Jews suffered- everyone did.
The railway was the Changi Burma railway built through Indo-China from Malaysia thru into Thailand- sorry wrong nation- but we're well aware of the bones it is built on- including many thousands of native peasants.

Jaymac- we have some. But forgive us for not having so many as remember the British were used by the Dutch to reinstate their colonial hold on my nation and managed to burn the two of you out- so we are slightly rather proud of ourselves for that.

Yes the Dutch were scattered- we had them routed them then we routed the British and the Yanks were too scared of us so allowed us independence.

Annie- Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Satu Negara Pribumi- Serikat Indonesia! Pribumi Raya!

Answer 1

Yes i am aware Its wasn't only the Dutch who ran from the Japanese the Brits and Oz ran to Singapore and gave up in less than a week turning over much needed supplies to them Were you aware that after the war the Brits demand 6 million tons of rice and be allowed to place bases in Thailand as war reparations and the U .S .of A had them back off Are you aware that the Brits ask for war reparations from the Japanese for the damage in Malaysia but didn't ask for anything for the Chinese in Malaysia I know how you feel many don't talk about what had taken place in this part of the world both long before the war and during the war A good question why did the Philippines get it Independence soon after the war but it took many years for the rest of this part of the world too get it?

Answer 2

Unless you yourself were involved personally in the fighting against the Japanese, then do not be so quick to pass judgment on events.

The Dutch Forces were along way from the homeland and with very long supply lines, the Japanese caught the Americans off-guard and they had a far bigger force than the Dutch had.

Much of the Dutch military was scattered through-out the Dutch-East Indies.

As for your remark about the Jewish people that was totally out of order, and I for one would what to see how you calculate your figures.

The British & Australians would have been well aware of the fighting and losses in Burma which was their Colonal Area, and aware of other areas when reported in the news.

You also list a number of countries but convienantly forget to name the one you yourself are from, there is a certain aspect of your posting that will preclude any sympathy being given to an anti-semitic troll even one from Asia.

As for memorials build your own, or have you no pride in the sacrifices made by YOUR people, better still go ask the Japanese to contribute something.

Answer 3

I love indonesia. A fabulous country and I hope that todays earthquake has not caused too much mayhem.

Some facts however....

You never beat the Brits because all we did was to take over from the Japanese and then hand it straight back to the Dutch who you then did beat.

The only time Indonesians fought the Brits was in a guerrilla war in the territories of northern Borneo (mainly Sarawak) and a tiny number of special forces and Gurkha troops kicked your asses.

You are correct to say however that your populations and in fact those of most of South East Asia suffered terribly at the hands of the Japanese forces, who demonstrated an incredibly cruel national characteristic far in excess of the average German soldier.

I think you are being a little disingenous when you say that the Jews bang on about what happened to them, because they had had several thousand years or persecution globally before Hitler and his fans decided to wipe out the whole lot in one go.

But yes you should have some memorials as the only ones i see when I go to Indo are self serving statues of your post war dictators.

Answer 4

Which is your country?
Personally, I am aware of the misery inflicted upon peoples of East Asia in WW2, having visited many of the countries you mention. Maybe there should be more memorials and these people should be remembered. The situation with the Jews is slightly different in that they were deliberately targeted in attempt to wipe them all off the face of the earth. In that sense, they have a lot to "bang on about" and are quite right to do so. In the end, lots of people from all over the world suffered in that war. If we have never faced what they faced, we are lucky. I don't think it's a competition, tho'. If we stopped thinking about "our people" and "them" and just accepted that we are all people we'd have defied those responsible for all those deaths far more than putting up memorials.

Answer 5

until you your self have been in touch in my view in the battling against the eastern, then don't be so rapid to pass judgment on activities. The Dutch Forces have been alongside way from the area of foundation and with very long grant traces, the eastern caught the individuals off-safeguard and that that they had a much larger stress than the Dutch had. many of the Dutch militia grow to be scattered by way of-out the Dutch-East Indies. As on your commentary relating to the Jewish those that grow to be completely out of order, and that i for one might what to confirm the way you calculate your figures. The British & Australians could have been nicely conscious of the battling and losses in Burma which grow to be their Colonal section, and conscious of alternative areas while suggested in the information. you in addition to mght checklist various international places yet convienantly forget approximately to call the only you your self are from, there's a definite factor of your posting which will sidestep any sympathy being given to an anti-semitic troll even one from Asia. As for memorials build your guy or woman, or have you ever no delight in the sacrifices made by ability of YOUR people, extra effective nonetheless pass ask the eastern to make a contribution something.

Answer 6

I think the Brits just need to look and see that WWII was not all about just the them it was a WW (World War).
But they make it sound like they suffered more than any other country even though they still had their hot tea and something to eat unlike some of the other country's had may-be just enough to eat once a day or sometimes once a week. But I guess they don't want to look at anything like that.

Just like some of them on here act as if they are happy with what happen on 9/11 here in the United States.

Answer 7

u know u must be brain dead -- most of the countries that u noted above are/were members of the the Commonwealth and they sent or suppliled trooops and supplies to fight against the Japs -- why don't u brain dead individuals learn to read history b/4 u put ur foot in ur mouth as u have done-- for ur information there a many many memorials to the individuals that lost their lives during WW2 -- get off ur butt and investigate on ur own -- I've had it with u morons that know nothing about history -- u scare me, and u are the people that will be in charge of this world in the very near future

Answer 8

Most of us are very aware.

The Soviet Union lost the most with 25 million deaths, but only about a third were combat related.
China's death toll is incomplete but estimates are between 15 and 22 million.
Poland had 6 million deaths including 3 million Jews, roughly 20% of its prewar population.
Germany lost 4 million soldiers and 2 million civilians, many of them women.
Japan had 1.2 million battle deaths and another 1.4 million soldiers listed as missing, almost 1 million civilians were killed in the bombing raids between 1944 and 1945.
Over 1.7 million Yugoslavs and 500,000 Greeks died in the war.
France lost 200,000 soldiers and 400,000 civilians.
Italy lost 330,000 people.
Hungary lost 147,000 men in combat.
Bulgaria lost 19,000 in combat.
Romania lost 73,000 in combat.
Great Britain lost 264,000 soldiers and 60,000 civilians in bombing raids.
The United States lost 292,000 soldiers.
The Dutch lost 10,000 soldiers and 190,000 civilians.
Australia lost 23,000 men in combat.
Canada lost 37,000 soldiers.
India lost 24,000 men in battle.
New Zeland lost 10,000.
South Africa lost 6,000.
These totals do not include the 6 million Jews who perished in the Final Solution of Nazi Germany or the 17 million dead as a result of Japan's policies in Asia from 1931 to 1945.

There are thousands of memorials in the UK, on commemorative plaques in cathedrals, churches, town halls, town squares and villages - remembering those who gave their lives.

Don't forget most of our troops were not killed in the UK, defending the homeland.

They went out to Europe and the far East to fight Germans and Japanese with the intention of making the world a better place.

Do you have memorials to the UK and USA troops in your country, those who fought on your behalf too?

Answer 9

My grandfather died buidling the Burma railway; have you ever caught a train that travels that route, you who talks about suffering whilst travelling on the broken backs of other Japanese prisoners? Have you not seen the memorial at Kohima?

Please, I know nothing of the world outside of the UK, educate us ignorant peasants.

Answer 10

I would think that the thousands of UK SOLDIERS who gave their lives for your country are well aware!!!
What`s your POINT?
Why don`t your people erect a memorial???
Why blame the UK???
Your question should be directed towards the Japanese, it was they who invaded your country NOT the UK.
Ask them to give you some memorials.......!!!