June 6th, 1944

It might help alter your sepia, rosetinted view of the Allies.

My disceased grandfather was a member of the Dutch resistance and was a witness to atrocious acts commited by US and British troops. He told me that in any war lines can get blurred and can cause otherwise good men to do horrible things wich is one of the tragedies of war.
 

PlasmaTwa2

The Second-Hottest Man in my Mother's Basement
Perhaps it's because Omaha beach was the most dramatic , the other beaches were won with (relatively) light casualties.The Canadians who landed on Juno beach were the only ones to reach their planned objectives-don't forget that Canada accounted for a fifth of the men involved on D-Day .

It bugs me that a lot of people nowadays think that D-Day was simply and American thing, or even a American/British thing. Canada certainly did its part, too. I remember reading a quote from a British Admiral that said the battle of D-Day was won due to the lessons they learnt after the Canadians landed at Dieppe in 1942. We had a major part to play in Normandy, and even after that; I think liberating the Netherlands is a pretty impressive thing.

I was in Europe around five years ago, and it was nice to see that specifically the Belgians, Dutch and French held a great deal of respect for the Canadians who died in both world wars.

However, this is about D-Day, isn't it? Here's to one of the best planned military invasions in history. :glugglug:
 

georges

Moderator
Staff member
My disceased grandfather was a member of the Dutch resistance and was a witness to atrocious acts commited by US and British troops. He told me that in any war lines can get blurred and can cause otherwise good men to do horrible things wich is one of the tragedies of war.

The nazis killed 6 millions jews and invaded the whole Europe, they pillaged villages, raped women, killed people who were not sympathizing with them during 5 years. Nazis even butchered people who dared to commit an act of resistance, they were beheaded on the public place. "Atrocious acts" (as you describe it) comitted against nazis by US and British troops can be justified, because Nazis killed a lot of American and British Soldiers during D-Day. Even in Soviet Russia, the partisans and the Red Army were beheading ss officers with an axe because of the horror and the more than horrible crimes the ss divisions committed during the occupation of Russia. There is a thing you will never understand, which is irreparable damage. When you have lost friends and family because of a common ennemy, you can't have feelings, you just have more hate and will to kill the ennemy.You have never faced war and you have never put your life on the line, you don't know what irreparable damage is.
 
It bugs me that a lot of people nowadays think that D-Day was simply and American thing, or even a American/British thing. Canada certainly did its part, too. I remember reading a quote from a British Admiral that said the battle of D-Day was won due to the lessons they learnt after the Canadians landed at Dieppe in 1942. We had a major part to play in Normandy, and even after that; I think liberating the Netherlands is a pretty impressive thing.

I was in Europe around five years ago, and it was nice to see that specifically the Belgians, Dutch and French held a great deal of respect for the Canadians who died in both world wars.

However, this is about D-Day, isn't it? Here's to one of the best planned military invasions in history. :glugglug:

Actually D-Day was one of the few major operations in late WW2 where the US was a minor player.They did however sustain the most casualties.

Canadian achievements in both World Wars were outstanding and Canada's influence was out of proportion to the numbers involved.
 
"Atrocious acts" (as you describe it) comitted against nazis by US and British troops can be justified, because Nazis killed a lot of American and British Soldiers during D-Day.


My grandfather would disagree with you for reasons you'll never be able to understand.
 

mr google

Banned
My disceased grandfather was a member of the Dutch resistance and was a witness to atrocious acts commited by US and British troops. He told me that in any war lines can get blurred and can cause otherwise good men to do horrible things wich is one of the tragedies of war.

Now let me start by making it very clear I'm no fan of Boothbabe's :rubbel: inducing posts. However I must support BB on this occasion. Whenever I've heard war veterans taking about the war their opinion has almost always been the same as Boothbabe's grandfather. They lived through it. We (Boothbabe, georges and I all being under 40 I'm sure) clearly did not. :2 cents:

The nazis killed 6 millions jews and invaded the whole Europe, they pillaged villages, raped women, killed people who were not sympathizing with them during 5 years. Nazis even butchered people who dared to commit an act of resistance, they were beheaded on the public place. "Atrocious acts" (as you describe it) comitted against nazis by US and British troops can be justified, because Nazis killed a lot of American and British Soldiers during D-Day. Even in Soviet Russia, the partisans and the Red Army were beheading ss officers with an axe because of the horror and the more than horrible crimes the ss divisions committed during the occupation of Russia.

All true from what I've heard and read. But both sides committed crimes against humanity. Remember two wrongs don't make a right.

For example: Just because your uncle cut of my uncle's head and feed it to a pack of wolfs that doesn't justify me shooting you and your siblings dead and feeding their heads to lions. But I'm sure many would understand why I might feel like doing it: revenge. That's why we have the Geneva Conventions other laws, courts, judges, and prisons etc. to administer justice. It doesn't always work but what does?

There is a thing you will never understand, which is irreparable damage. When you have lost friends and family because of a common ennemy, you can't have feelings, you just have more hate and will to kill the ennemy. You have never faced war and you have never put your life on the line, you don't know what irreparable damage is.

How can any of us born long after WWII really understand its horrors? We've just heard the terrible stories, watched the documentaries and the movies. I have to ask have you faced war or put your life on the line? If you haven't then surely you shouldn't condemn someone else without due cause. I think we are all in the same boat unless you confirm otherwise. BB's point is that soldiers aka trained killers often commit additional horrors whilst fighting a war. BB did not say she agreed with it or that it's right or that the Nazis were good people. BB just pointed out that "atrocious acts" happen in war and were commited by US and British troops. This is true. I hope you don't think if the Allies killed 12 million Germans that's Ok because of what they did, do you?

My grandfather would disagree with you for reasons you'll never be able to understand.

Sadly I think you may well be right. :crying:

They say history repeats itself unless people change. I think this is true and clearly we haven't changed or learned the lessons of war: Iraq and Afghanistan are just two of many examples.

And finally I don't know exactly how many countries sent troops to help The Allies in WWII but from what I've heard the list of countries is very long and included many thousands from Australia, India, Canada, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Fiji, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) etc. but some of these countries are rarely ever mentioned. Let’s try and show respect to all those that gave their lives for the freedom some of us are lucky to enjoy today. :2 cents:
 

PlasmaTwa2

The Second-Hottest Man in my Mother's Basement
My grandfather would disagree with you for reasons you'll never be able to understand.

I know what you are trying to say. You have to be part of war to realize that there are no good guys in war, just the winners and losers. Even nowadays in Afghanistan and Iraq there are countless disgusting atrocities commited by soldiers from N.A.T.O. countries. During my short stint in Afghanistan I saw more than my share of despicable crimes commited by Canadian soldiers. I know for a fact that anyone who has served has seen at least one crime commited by a fellow soldier.
 
And finally I don't know exactly how many countries sent troops to help The Allies in WWII but from what I've heard the list of countries is very long and included many thousands from Australia, India, Canada, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Fiji, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) etc. but some of these countries are rarely ever mentioned. Let’s try and show respect to all those that gave their lives for the freedom some of us are lucky to enjoy today. :2 cents:

There were twice as many Indian troops than there were US servicemen fighting the Japanese .Every single one was a volunteer.But history gives a different impression.
 

mr google

Banned
I know what you are trying to say. You have to be part of war to realize that there are no good guys in war, just the winners and losers. Even nowadays in Afghanistan and Iraq there are countless disgusting atrocities commited by soldiers from N.A.T.O. countries. During my short stint in Afghanistan I saw more than my share of despicable crimes commited by Canadian soldiers. I know for a fact that anyone who has served has seen at least one crime commited by a fellow soldier.

:hatsoff::hatsoff:

There were twice as many Indian troops than there were US servicemen fighting the Japanese .Every single one was a volunteer.But history gives a different impression.

:hatsoff::hatsoff:
 
Top