About the "Horror of World War I..(and Trump's disrespect)

[Stuart G]

Last edited Sun Nov 11, 2018, 12:17 AM - Edit history (1)

Because the incredible carnage of WWI, there was a peace movement during the late 20s and early30s. This was a reaction to the carnage of the war, which was publicized in books and magazine articles. (two books in particular, All Quiet on the Western Front, and A Farewell to Arms)..But the peace movement reflected a reaction to this horror. The idea was..".no more war"...The United States entered the war late, in 1917 and lost maybe a couple of hundred thousand soldiers...Where as Russia, Germany and other and others lost millions, yes millions..
...very important...because of the carnage of WWI, and the peace movement and total revulsion to the idea of war, Hitler was able to rearm without too much opposition..Here is the key point...NO one could believe that Hitler would start another horrific war in Europe after what was experienced 20 years earlier..
...NO ONE!!!! So the leaders in the 30s made deals with Hitler, not believing that it could happen again. Russia in particular lost a lot of soldiers in The Great War as it was known, so it was very anxious to avoid another. Stalin's deal with Hitler was made to avoid another carnage like WWI. When Stalin was told that Germany was amassing troops along the Soviet Border, Stalin did not believe it. It wasn't till invasion was absolutely positive that Stalin believed that Hitler would invade. Therefore, Hitler's invasion was successful, and the Germans killed millions of Russians..perhaps tens of millions..

..Also.. there were men who fought in that war who were still alive, and could not believe that anyone who was alive and knows the history of the...The Great War as it was known, could start another war. It was way beyond believability..That belief is why Hitler had such success in the beginning. So, not knowing or caring about WWI, really shows how little one cares about WWII. Those leaders who went to the memorial of WWI, (all but Trump) knew the significance...Trump in his stupidity and self centered nature, didn't give a shit..
If Trump understood or cared, as leader of the United States, he would have paid respect in the exact same way the other leaders did. The two wars are totally connected.

one last note: In the 60s I took a class at the university I attended on the period of European history from 1920 to 1940..the professor's whole point was to show exactly why the Europe was totally unprepared for another war, and why Hitler was so successful in the beginning..the above is what I recall from that class.

[brush]

1. Russia lost even more in WWll, some 30 million.

The megalomaniac Hitler didn't give a shit of course about any millions of deaths from before.

He just wanted what he wanted.

Dangerously reminiscent of someone else we all know.

[Stuart G]

2. Yes, Germany's invasion was meant to make Russia a "German Colony"

..Hitler had no idea that he could possibly lose and have difficulties during the invasion. (no idea at all) When the invasion stalled outside of Moscow, Hitler could not believe it. Then as the winter approached, his soldiers were not prepared for the Russian winter. (no winter clothes or equipment)
But, Russia brought in thousands of troops from..Siberia who knew how to deal with the winter. (very cold up in SiberiaJ)..
..So, when those troops were brought in, and fought the Germans with winter protection and the German soldiers had none, that is when the Russians were successful. Many have said the Russian Winter did what no nation could do, destroy the German Army that invaded. Also: by stalling the German Army in Russia, and killing many, it slowed down the Germans in a way that nothing else could. By slowing the German Army down, it gave the U.S. a chance to have an effect on the war, once we entered.

[brush]

3. Yep. Hitler wasn't as smart as he thought he was. And the expanse of Russia is what...

11 time zones, nearly 6000 miles wide?

It's as if Hitler didn't even look at a map. No time to conquer all of that without factoring in winter preparation and fighting.

And think about the length of his supply lines if he had even gotten past Moscow.

"That's nuts", (paraphrasing Gen. McAullife).

[flotsam]

4. I'm betting the book was "Johnny got his gun"

"Joe Bonham, a young American soldier serving in World War I, awakens in a hospital bed after being caught in the blast of an exploding artillery shell. He gradually realizes that he has lost his arms, legs, and all of his face (including his eyes, ears, teeth, and tongue), but that his mind functions perfectly, leaving him a prisoner in his own body.

Joe attempts suicide by suffocation, but finds that he had been given a tracheotomy that he can neither remove nor control. At first Joe wishes to die, but he later decides that he desires to be placed in a glass box and toured around the country in order to show others the true horrors of war. Joe successfully communicates these desires with military officials after months and months of banging his head on his pillow in Morse code. However, he realizes that the military will not grant his wishes, as it is "against regulations". It is implied that he will live the rest of his natural life in his condition.

As Joe drifts between reality and fantasy, he remembers his old life with his family and girlfriend, and reflects upon the myths and realities of war."

The book has stuck with me for 50 years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Got_His_Gun

[Stuart G]

5. I remembered it, not above, but also well known, "All Quiet on the Western Front"or,

"A Farewell to Arms"..