Battle of Stalingrad 1943 -2013

[pastafarian]

Britain's main contribution really was to serve as a base for America. Our own national myth overstates our importance in the war

no doubt you would be willing to explain this thinking to any remaining survivors of the Battle of Britain,

 

[poidy]

The thread title is misleading.

What's the bets someone's read that and thought "crikey,70 years, that's a long time for a war"

 

[poidy]

The reason the German people continued to support Hitler for months on end when it was clear the war was lost was not down to Nazi ideologies and his charismatic leadership. It was down to fear of Communist rule. The Russians at that time were truly barbaric. Two wrongs don't make a right as the saying goes

 

[beorhthelm]

... Britain's main contribution really was to serve as a base for America. Our own national myth overstates our importance in the war so it's not hard to see why when Russia does the same they don't even know we exist.

even accepting that was our only contribution (which is wrong), this attitude grossly overlooks just how important that contribution was. the US could never have launched a trans-atlantic invasion, they would have simply not entered war with Germany if we fell, or else held a state of cold war. Certainly as far the Russians were concerned, the Royal Navy kept the supply lines to Russia open, without them the German navy would have blockaded the Black sea and Barents sea easily. thats no national myth, even the germans avoided direct engagment with the RN.

Still never understand reason why Japan attacked USA , what was the gain to pick on such a giant..

sphere of influence and resources. Japan lacks of lot of raw materials and it wasnt considered OK to have a major power in your neck of the woods that could potential threaten you or your access to resources. essentially the same reason Germany went at Russia, and engaged in North Africa.

in the modern world we've adopted a more pragmatic responce to these issues, that we all trade with each other so where the resources are is academic, as long as every has access to them.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Video: Stalingrad anniversary: war veterans recall battle 70 years ago - Telegraph


On 02 February 1943, the forces of the Soviet Union completed the destruction of the Nazis and their allies at Stalingrad, destroying or capturing 22 enemy divisions.

After Stalingrad the Nazis never won another strategic victory on the Eastern Front. The USSR lost over a million people killed or injured during the siege and battle from August 1942 to February 1943. Without victory at Stalingrad and later at Kursk any non-nuclear defeat of the Nazis would have been nearly unthinkable.

Never forget.

that Von paulus was a turn coat who was prepared to see his troops march away into the snow and who eventually went back to Germany to give evidence in the Neuremberg war trials , also became a communist sympathiser

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Very true. Up to 850,000 Nazi casualties (Killed, Wounded, POW) and up to 1.1 million Soviet ones plus the destruction of the city and surrounding areas. I'm not sure anyone really knows the total number of dead.

were they all SS then

 

[mel blyth]

Yeah 41-45 is what was called the Great Patriotic War, undoubtedly there's a propaganda element to this view of history but it's true that the whole Western Front is small in comparison, something like 20% of German casualties, and Britain's main contribution really was to serve as a base for America. Our own national myth overstates our importance in the war so it's not hard to see why when Russia does the same they don't even know we exist.

Britain lost 500,00 men USA lost 300,00 men so I think we were a bit more than just a staging post for the Americans.

 

[poidy]

that Von paulus was a turn coat who was prepared to see his troops march away into the snow and who eventually went back to Germany to give evidence in the Neuremberg war trials , also became a communist sympathiser

You are not a member of Hitlers SS Panzer Division, nor are you the editor of The Third Reich's Socialist newspaper also named Das Reich.

Change your username you attention seeking twat

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

You are not a member of Hitlers SS Panzer Division, nor are you the editor of The Third Reich's Socialist newspaper also named Das Reich.

Change your username you attention seeking twat

you don't like the truth then