It's funny that some septics think they did a great job in WW1 and WW2. We're very grateful that they eventually decided that it might not be a good idea for Germany to become the world superpower, dominating all of Europe and Hitler being the most powerful man in the world, but it wasn't quite as the movies show it.
Let me think:
Germany invades Poland in 1939. Britain issues an ultimatum telling the Germans to withdraw, they don't and Britain declares war. US does nothing.
Germany invades France and others in 1940. Britain send almost the entire Regular and reserve forces, and all our equipment, tanks and big guns, to fight. US does nothing.
British and French forces are defeated in France. Britains sends every available naval, merchant and pleasure craft to evacuate as many as possible, while British navy defends the retreat. US does nothing.
British airfields, factories and cities are heavily bombed by Germany. Britain trains every available school-leaver to join the forces, builds fighters and guns flat out, ceases production of civilian goods like fridges, cars, furniture, radios and clothes, and shuts down TV broadcasting to turn over all production to the war effort. US does nothing.
Germans consolidate grip on almost the entire European continent. Britain bombs German forces, fights on in North Africa, maintains naval defences and prepares for invasion and suicidal last-ditch defence. US does nothing.
British forces attacked by the Japanese. Singapore and Malaya fall. US does nothing.
German submarines sink British merchant ships by the thousand. US does nothing.
US Ambassador to Germany, Joe Kennedy (JFK's dad), writes home that the Nazis are splendid people, and that US should stay neutral, but if it does decide to join in, it should be on the Nazi side. US does nothing.
Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. Germans declare war on neutral US. US decides to do something.
But not, I think, out of a desire to immediately come to the aid of a friend in trouble.
Let me think:
Germany invades Poland in 1939. Britain issues an ultimatum telling the Germans to withdraw, they don't and Britain declares war. US does nothing.
Germany invades France and others in 1940. Britain send almost the entire Regular and reserve forces, and all our equipment, tanks and big guns, to fight. US does nothing.
British and French forces are defeated in France. Britains sends every available naval, merchant and pleasure craft to evacuate as many as possible, while British navy defends the retreat. US does nothing.
British airfields, factories and cities are heavily bombed by Germany. Britain trains every available school-leaver to join the forces, builds fighters and guns flat out, ceases production of civilian goods like fridges, cars, furniture, radios and clothes, and shuts down TV broadcasting to turn over all production to the war effort. US does nothing.
Germans consolidate grip on almost the entire European continent. Britain bombs German forces, fights on in North Africa, maintains naval defences and prepares for invasion and suicidal last-ditch defence. US does nothing.
British forces attacked by the Japanese. Singapore and Malaya fall. US does nothing.
German submarines sink British merchant ships by the thousand. US does nothing.
US Ambassador to Germany, Joe Kennedy (JFK's dad), writes home that the Nazis are splendid people, and that US should stay neutral, but if it does decide to join in, it should be on the Nazi side. US does nothing.
Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. Germans declare war on neutral US. US decides to do something.
But not, I think, out of a desire to immediately come to the aid of a friend in trouble.
