Tuesday, May 08, 2018

Tuesday May 8th 1945, Victory in Europe day, Germany unconditionally surrendered, and the allies then focused on winning the war in the Pacific against the Japanese which lasted another 3 months



9 comments:

  1. Bitter victory for many, but still victory and end of terrible conflict.

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    1. well, it sure got a lot of people out of labor, concentration, and death camps. I'm not sure how many countries Germany had conquered, 6 or 7, and I bet they were happy to be free of the tyrants. Ditto Italy getting free of Mussolini. Clearly the war advanced military vehicles, and tech, and brought a lot of US GIs to many other parts of the world they never would have visited elseways, and broadened their appreciation of foreigners, and that probably helped get the US out of it's abhorrent racist past into some assimilation of immigrants, mixed race marriages, etc. I think I'm right in supposing that WW2 ended most conflicts in Europe between countries, possibly brought them closer together as allies in the quest for a single Euro passport, less customs at the borders, and more tourism.

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    2. I know for a fact that the USA sure was benefited by the many scientists and smart people that fled Germany ahead of WW2, and pushed the USA into a space program, and other sciences, due to the great many of intellectuals that moved to the USA.

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    3. Well Jesse, there was some nations that were betrayed and land under different tyranny. Sold by those with whom they fought shoulder to shoulder from the beginning of the war, shed their blood and died of millions for the freedom they were denied at the end. I'm a Pole Jessie, member of nation that fight like lions from the first to the last day of war in Europe, that bleed for Allies on every front. But we had been sold out to the Soviets and as the final disgrace Allies refuse use even the place on Victory parade... every single nation did march in that parade in London, except us. Because Soviets would not like it. Six long and bloody years Jessie and they did not even give us place in victory parade, like toys they don't need anymore. Our freedom fighters land in the same Concentration Camps and Gestapo murder houses, just killers change. Soldiers returning to homes were prosecuted and throw in to prison or murdered. We get our freedom 44 years after war end with collapse of Soviet Union.
      So Jesse, for some this was bitter victory that taste more like defeat and betray. Victims of the great politics.

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    4. Sorry I am to know it Shas, the mighty nations politics has certainly ruined many lives, over such stupid things as ego, greed, and philosophy. I know very little about the details of any other country's history, but I was thrilled to post about the amazing life of Kazimierz Piechowski!
      http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/12/kazimierz-piechowski-member-of-polish.html

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  2. While the Polish pilots weren't allowed to participate in the victory parade, but watched it from the side in civilian clothes, the RAF pilots saluted them when marching past. Of course this caused the RAF guys some trouble, as The Soviet Union representatives got all upset over it, but I'm sure they thought it was worth it. Remember that soldiers don't first and foremost fight for their country, but for their comrades.

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    1. Well good for the RAF! I never heard about the parade before, nor anything about the Polish being subjugated by the Russians. Not that I want a history lesson... I don't. I'm busy enough already

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    2. They don't teach that in US, no wonder it was after all about some not the most important nation in far continent and it would put Allies in rather bad light. Nobody like bad light, so things are "forgotten" and unsaid. But as you said, mighty nations politics.

      But I will offer you a short story, even funny one. We fought on all fronts, from the cold waters of Atlantic to sands of Africa. But not on Pacific, because Empire of Japan did not want to fight with us. Brits insist that we declare war on Japan, because "enemy of my enemy is your enemy"... we did not had any quarrel with Japan, we had more then enough work in Europe. But Brits insist and threatened Poles that they will not support us if we don't declare another war. So Polish government in exile did officially declare war to Japan but Japan... refused to recognize it. Maybe first time in history one nation refused to recognize the declaration of war from other nation. Japan explain that they know that we are forced by Brits to do this, they don't have quarrel with us and they will NOT fight us. Hideki Tōjō respond: We do not accept Poles' challenges. Poles, fighting for their freedom, declared war on us under the pressure of Great Britain.
      So, Japan still help Poles escaping from Soviet Union and Polish agents travel the world using Manchukuo passports. And when they capture some Polish pilots in Singapur, they invite then to dinner, give new documents and send to closest neutral country.
      Story so fantastic that hard to believe is true... but it is. World is strange place indeed.

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    3. Amazing.. thank you for sharing a piece of history no one reading this will have ever heard of! Astonishing! Good for Poland and Japan!

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