World War 2, how close did we really come to loosing?

[Biker Biggles]

Although I would be the first to enjoy a joke at the expense of the French,my grandad fought alongside them throughout WW1 and would not hear a bad word said about them.
Having said that,huge numbers of French troops in Africa and other colonies failed to join the fight against the Nazis,and the French navy also failed to join the Allies when it could have done.(Apart from a handful of small vessels)

[northwind]

Having family at home in a Nazi occupied country could put you right off the idea of fighting them, I reckon. When the Vichy forces in Africa did join the allies, though, they took 25% casualties in just a few months and kept fighting against massively superior german forces- they were a very poorly equipped force. My grandad was in Africa for parts of the war and said he'd never seen anything braver.

Are you sure that they were not just on strike?


Yesssss. Back of the net.

Originally Posted by UlsterSV

My Grandfather flew Spitfires and Hurricanes fighting in the Far East. Was even shot down once. He hated the Japs with a passion.

That's where my Dad was based, he had the "pleasure" of being Flight Engineer on a Handley Page Halifax, one of the first to be fitted with H2S airborne radar. I also have an old photo of said plane parked next to "Enola Gay" the plane that dropped the bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki.

Just touching on the Russian issue, I never realised that so many were killed and had always been led to believe that they were pretty much in control of what went on over there. However, as for Stalin being able to find the UK a walk over, I think the fact that we were very close to the US would have made that a little more difficult that you think.

And Northy, I agree, the fact that were an "insisgificant little Island in the North Sea" was the major reason why Hitler didn't come over when he should have done. His mistake, but I for one am glad he made it

.

I won't go into detail because you lot have covered most of it. Don't forget alot of russians were killed my their own army and also stalin had little respect for his men and would send many to their deaths.
Oh and don't forget the U.S.S.R was so close to defeat and if it were not for hitler changing his mind at the last min (again) allowing the russians to move their factorys brick by brick away from the frontlines who knows what would have happened

Would someone please tell me who the hell this starlin person was then?

Agent Starling? Silence of the Lambs is it? Its a bit off topic on a WWII thread in fairness.

Flava beans and chianti anyone?

Mother of God. Flava?

Like beans belonging to this lad?

Originally Posted by philipMac

Mother of God. Flava?

Like beans belonging to this lad?

"If I were God thou shall not worship false Billy Idols.
And thou shall add the Book Of Flavor Flav to the Bible."

Originally Posted by SteveH

I won't go into detail because you lot have covered most of it. Don't forget alot of russians were killed my their own army and also stalin had little respect for his men and would send many to their deaths.
Oh and don't forget the U.S.S.R was so close to defeat and if it were not for hitler changing his mind at the last min (again) allowing the russians to move their factorys brick by brick away from the frontlines who knows what would have happened

... and don't forget that the Soviets faced over 150 German divisions, whilst the West faced about 30!