VE Day Anniversary - What If ?
Discussion
This weekend saw the 60th anniversary of the end of WW2. I'd like to express my thanks to those British and Allied Forces, also the people who worked in the factories etc who fought and gave their lives to defeat a particularly nasty group of German gentlemen.
A nod of the head also to HRH for taking yesterday's salute in an open Range Rover.
To put it all into context, a "What If" question:
If the British and Allied forces had been destroyed, and Britain came under the occupation and rule of the n*zis, would you personally have continued to fight back, and if so, how far would you have been prepared to go ?
BOR
A nod of the head also to HRH for taking yesterday's salute in an open Range Rover.
To put it all into context, a "What If" question:
If the British and Allied forces had been destroyed, and Britain came under the occupation and rule of the n*zis, would you personally have continued to fight back, and if so, how far would you have been prepared to go ?
BOR
VE day is May 8, 1945 and VJ day is August 15, 1945. I was a little annoyed about this. They rolled the celebrations into one day with no historical significance whatsoever. Personally I thought it was a little insulting to those that gave their lives in service of our country. 
Well I wasn't around then, but I sure would have made life miserable for them until I was killed. I probably wouldn't have done a suicide bombing because you can do fare more damage by staying alive as long as possible and having little regard for your own life. If you can't have it then noone can.
Personally, I'd like to think that I would have the courage to fight back, but it's hard to know how you will react to a situation until you find yourself in it.
The resistance forces in occupied countries ran risks which don't bear thinking about, and the risks were not just to themselves - their actions often brought reprisals on the local community. If ever you happend to be in the vicinity of Limoges, I can highly recommend a visit to Oradour-sur-Glane. It's very thought provoking.
I think you'd end up with something like what happened in France. The majority would fall into line, but harbour extreme resentment. Some would actively fight back and some would collude with the occupying forces.
The resistance forces in occupied countries ran risks which don't bear thinking about, and the risks were not just to themselves - their actions often brought reprisals on the local community. If ever you happend to be in the vicinity of Limoges, I can highly recommend a visit to Oradour-sur-Glane. It's very thought provoking.
I think you'd end up with something like what happened in France. The majority would fall into line, but harbour extreme resentment. Some would actively fight back and some would collude with the occupying forces.
Tank Slapper said:
Personally, I'd like to think that I would have the courage to fight back, but it's hard to know how you will react to a situation until you find yourself in it.
I agree totaly but if the Nazis had invaded they would of shown no mercy and it would of been a fight to the bitter end,i was kinda thinkin about this with the terrorists,if you knew you was in a situation in a crowded area and this guy had a bomb strapped to him, would you go up to him and give the guy a hug to cushion the blast for your fellow countrymen just so the bastard couldnt claim more than one life,of course smiling in his face,or would you turn and run and let woman and children be blasted to bits?
Bor said "I'd like to express my thanks to those British and Allied Forces, also the people who worked in the factories etc who fought and gave their lives to defeat a particularly nasty group of German gentlemen."
I'll pass on your thanks to my dad, he drove Churchill tanks, and was 'there' on July 6th '44. I'll also thank my mum for you, she was in the land army.
I'll pass on your thanks to my dad, he drove Churchill tanks, and was 'there' on July 6th '44. I'll also thank my mum for you, she was in the land army.
Tank Slapper said:
Personally, I'd like to think that I would have the courage to fight back, but it's hard to know how you will react to a situation until you find yourself in it.
The resistance forces in occupied countries ran risks which don't bear thinking about, and the risks were not just to themselves - their actions often brought reprisals on the local community. If ever you happend to be in the vicinity of Limoges, I can highly recommend a visit to Oradour-sur-Glane. It's very thought provoking.
I think you'd end up with something like what happened in France. The majority would fall into line, but harbour extreme resentment. Some would actively fight back and some would collude with the occupying forces.
Well said, particularly the first bit. This is ones of the reasons I get so pissed off when idiot commentators describe sportsmen or women as 'heroes' or being 'courageous' when they are nothing of the sort. For a true definition of courage and heroism, you need to read about the Maquis and SOE's exploits in occupied France.
What happened on July 6 1944 (apart from it being one month after the D-Day landings)?
Part of the British Isles WERE invaded and occupied i.e. The Channel Islands. People there behaved in much the same way as they did in the occupied countries of continental Europe. Some collaborated enthusiastically. Others collaborated begrudgingly (in order to keep their business running or to stay in work). A tiny few openly resisted the occupation and usually paid with their lives. Most just kept their heads down and tried to get on with life as best they could.
What you have to remember is, those living in occupied countries had no idea as to how long they would have to live under German rule. In 1940 I'm sure many people would have thought that it was going to be forever. After all, Hitler had proclaimed that his Greater Reich would last 1,000 years.
Part of the British Isles WERE invaded and occupied i.e. The Channel Islands. People there behaved in much the same way as they did in the occupied countries of continental Europe. Some collaborated enthusiastically. Others collaborated begrudgingly (in order to keep their business running or to stay in work). A tiny few openly resisted the occupation and usually paid with their lives. Most just kept their heads down and tried to get on with life as best they could.
What you have to remember is, those living in occupied countries had no idea as to how long they would have to live under German rule. In 1940 I'm sure many people would have thought that it was going to be forever. After all, Hitler had proclaimed that his Greater Reich would last 1,000 years.
bor said:Probably would've let them come and assimilated to their culture.
If the British and Allied forces had been destroyed, and Britain came under the occupation and rule of the n*zis, would you personally have continued to fight back, and if so, how far would you have been prepared to go?
Nothing wrong with a bit of colonialisation to force idealogies down throats and to exploit natural resources.
The Brits themselves were once pros at this sort of thing...
Try Fatherland by Robert Harris
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099263815/202-7800026-1411068
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099263815/202-7800026-1411068
thunderstruck said:
Try Fatherland by Robert Harris
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099263815/202-7800026-1411068
There was a "made for TV movie" based on that book with Rutger Hauer playing SS-Sturmbannführer Xavier March. Quite good.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0109779/
Alternate History fiction is a favourite of mine.
ErnestM
It is a difficult, hypothetical question. I'm not sure what my own response would be, but tend towards resistance. If I was married with kids, maybe try to keep my head down and shield the family as much as possible ?
If you did fight back, the question does eventually lead you to ask yourself if you would bomb a bus load of German civilians if there was no other way. Hmmmm.
If you did fight back, the question does eventually lead you to ask yourself if you would bomb a bus load of German civilians if there was no other way. Hmmmm.
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