Sixty-five years ago: Victory in Europe Day

[Gaith]

While any day is a good day to wish for peace on Earth and goodwill among humans, today in an especially apt day for celebrating peace in Europe. May all the planet's regions soon enjoy the same tranquility that prospers in Britain, France, Germany and the other former belligerent countries of the world's worst war.

​

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Too bad peace in Europe required surrendering the eastern half to Stalin and his oppresive puppet regimes.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

Sixty-five years ago, it seems like it won't be too long until there are no surviving veterans of that conflict.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I am curious for anyone who lives in a former Axis country. Is it the general opinion in the Axis countries today that it was a good thing that they lost the war?

 

[ancientone51]

/** to all who served in that conflict and all conflits through the years.

 

[Count Zero]

I am curious for anyone who lives in a former Axis country. Is it the general opinion in the Axis countries today that it was a good thing that they lost the war?

In Germany it is.

 

[gturner]

Shouldn't the Axis powers call it DE day (Defeat in Europe)???

 

[Deranged Nasat]

There are always wars and conflicts and then periods of peace before the next, though I hope, as Gaith says, that Britain, Germany, France, etc, will remember. I know Gaith is celebrating peace...yet the Day celebrates victory. Governments and regimes- and people in general- are rarely serious about peace, at least not in the long term. It's all in the victory. People enjoy the satisfaction of victory; they forget the cost is always terrible. Maybe not as terrible as defeat if defeat is the alternative, but still terrible. Victory is a bitter word. Peace on the other hand, is a good word. I appreciate Gaith's genuine celebration of peace and understanding. In the spirit of his opening post, I personally hope the Western Europeans will commit truly to the ideal of peace and reject celebration of victory as every bit as bitter as defeat.

My Grandfather was stationed in Germany in the aftermath of the war. He helped them rebuild. Allied victory, Axis defeat, was the preferred outcome, because ultimately that was the path to less dead and less rubble and less scars, but the lesser of two evils is still an evil. A necessarry evil is still an evil. The rubble and the dead and the scars- that was the victory. The German friends my Grandfather made, the people he helped, the nation he helped rebuild following one of the most terrible periods of its history- that was the peace. A genuine peace. My Grandfather is not a great man because he won, he is great because he helped build something. I hope we do not confuse the two terms.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I am curious for anyone who lives in a former Axis country. Is it the general opinion in the Axis countries today that it was a good thing that they lost the war?

Speaking as an Italian, you betcha! The Nazi and the Italian fascists were profoundly evil governments that fully deserved what they got.

Now, I'm obviously saddened by the suffering of my people during the war, the bombing and the destruction, but I and my fellow countrymen don't hold any grudge against the Allies. In fact, the most common sentiment is gratitude, as it is felt that the Anglo-American troops actually liberated the country from the fascist regime, which was oppressing the Italian people as well. Mussolini had the support of the country when he made it look like the war was necessary for the protection of the country, but as soon as it was clear that the pact with Hitler was a pact with the devil himself, most people regretted entering the war, but the fascists grip on the country was too strong. Even then, many Italians joined forces with the Allies fighting the Nazi-fascists guerrilla-style.

In short, we are very much ashamed by the actions of our government during WWII, but the general feeling is that the general population was too scared, hungry and uneducated to fully understand the implications. Unfortunately, a lot of people had it rough before we understood the lesson.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

I am curious for anyone who lives in a former Axis country. Is it the general opinion in the Axis countries today that it was a good thing that they lost the war?

Speaking as an Italian, you betcha! The Nazi and the Italian fascists were profoundly evil governments that fully deserved what they got.

Now, I'm obviously saddened by the suffering of my people during the war, the bombing and the destruction, but I and my fellow countrymen don't hold any grudge against the Allies. In fact, the most common sentiment is gratitude, as it is felt that the Anglo-American troops actually liberated the country from the fascist regime, which was oppressing the Italian people as well. Mussolini had the support of the country when he made it look like the war was necessary for the protection of the country, but as soon as it was clear that the pact with Hitler was a pact with the devil himself, most people regretted entering the war, but the fascists grip on the country was too strong. Even then, many Italians joined forces with the Allies fighting the Nazi-fascists guerrilla-style.

In short, we are very much ashamed by the actions of our government during WWII, but the general feeling is that the general population was too scared, hungry and uneducated to fully understand the implications. Unfortunately, a lot of people had it rough before we understood the lesson.

Well, that's the thing with those sort of regimes- the people of those countries might not be the greatest victims, but they're certainly victims, and often for a long time. It can be a lose-lose situation. A nation turning on itself is in need of salvation too.

 

[Bisz]

Here's to the defeat of the Germans! Too bad the Russians stepped right in and filled the role of mindless butchers. :s

 

[Bloodwhiner]

oh, the Soviets were butchers long before they defeated the Nazi's. They were just better at covering their tracks and casting blame elsewhere.

Regardless, a thanks to all the troops from all the allied nations.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Former enemies become friends. Humanity is descended from primates who fought over resources like food, water, mates and territory, just like other animals. But when former enemies become friends, we show that what separates Humanity from the rest of the animals is that we can move beyond the law of the jungle and live by the laws of civilization. This is the road down which the future lies.

 

[scottydog]

Former enemies become friends. Humanity is descended from primates who fought over resources like food, water, mates and territory, just like other animals. But when former enemies become friends, we show that what separates Humanity from the rest of the animals is that we can move beyond the law of the jungle and live by the laws of civilization. This is the road down which the future lies.

Well said!

I don't think people realize just how close Hitler came to taking over all of Europe. Just a few different decisions here and there, and the outcome could have been very different. It's good that we continue to honor those who sacrificed their lives to make ours today possible.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Here's to the defeat of the Germans! Too bad the Russians stepped right in and filled the role of mindless butchers. :s

Yeah but the Germans lost the war in the Eastern Front. Without the Russians, the war would have gone a lot differently.