Hitler's Britain

I dont think that it is generally realized just how close we came to becoming another German state. At that time, our position was hopeless The enemy stood at our gates with the Russian/German pact.

For in the 1940 era there was a a great many influential voices calling for an armistice with Hitler. One man stood alone, backed by the British people....Churchill. But it was a close run thing.

For many of those born after that time, would just not be here.... It was closer than anyone realises now.
Churchill Speeches still have that magic quality. Even after all these years.
Sapper

 

And I Sir, will drink to that !!!!

I have but one concern.

When Brian & I are no longer here to explain why this is so, who will take on our cause ?

Ron

 

Spot on Ron.
Who indeed: will remind the Country how near they came to being under Nazi Rule with all the horrors that would ensue.

This land would have been worked to death for the fatherland. All the horrors of what happened in Europe would have swept over us.

sapper

 

'SS-GB' by Len Deighton gives a pretty (and chilling) good idea of what it would look like.

 

Something just struck me.........

I cannot think of a single occasion when Brian & I have held different viewpoints, not surprising really, when you think of our similar ages and the events that we both lived through.

But that's not what I just spotted.

Have a look at how many posts I have made to date.

Now have a look at Brian's last comment.

 

Same post number, 1859, same join year and month

What an interesting coincidence, it calls for some celebration!



May we enjoy many more from you both!

 

Don't you worry you warriors of old. For the young there has been many discussions on this forum with excellent contributions from you and those who are students of history who have a rational approach to its study.

Those who think Nazi Germany were treated badly by the Allies and condemn Bomber Command for their role should appreciate the alternative.We could have been reduced to the staus of a Vichy France.Make no mistake, there were some influencial people in Great Britain who saw no wrong in the likes of Hitler and his policies and are on record as praising him.Their credibility must have been shattered as the truth of Hitler's regime unfolded.

We do know that the Nazis intended to deport males between 16 and 45 years to the continent for slave labourers.On the other hand Hitler saw us as being of Aryan stock which would have been his motivation to harness British youth.

It was a close run thing and one thing is clear had we fallen,it would have been extremely hard to liberate us.Eire would have been occupied despite the cry of neutrality, making it difficult for any aid from North America and the Empire to establish bases for operation against Nazi Germany.Fortunately the British Bulldog bit Hitler's hand offering "friendship and accomodation" and Hitler, mad dog as he was, went off to bite the Russian bear.

 

Ron

Us just a bit younger ones will continue and so on.
To make sure that it is not forgotten now or ever.
Yours and many others have documented knowledge and facts that are recorded for time immemorial.
Also there was a documentary running last night on Nat Geographic
about the Einsatzgruppen.
That documentary chilled the heart.

regards
Clive

 

accreditationThe UK would have known about Dr Franz Alfred Six. This 31 year old was to have been Head of the Gestapo.
Goering decided on August 1. 1940 that the SS and their security police would: " Commence thier activities simultaneously with the military invasion in order to seize and combat effectively the numerous important organisations and societies in England which were hostile to Germany"

He was to be based in London and would have been furnished with well prepared Search List and the Black Card File, the latter contained names of all British Jews,Freemasons, Refugees, Socialists, Communists and liberalists.

After Nurenburg he was sent to prison for 20 years, but only served four.

David Lampe info

 

I agree. I don't think that we who never lived thru that era have a clue to how close we came to living under the jack boot. Scary times.

 

I agree. I don't think that we who never lived thru that era have a clue to how close we came to living under the jack boot. Scary times.

Craig,

You are correct, just think of all the late night doors being knocked at and the occupants being whisked away, never to be seen again.

I believe the list was a very long one.

Regards
Tom

 

I definitely agree, we can't begin to comprehend how it must have felt to live under those kind of consequences.

I remember reading the odd argument in the past that Britain only went to war to defend its Empire - I'm not sure how that works, considering at the time we were standing along our biggest threat was across the Channel, and that we pretty much lost the Empire by fighting the war anyway!

 

And you both joined at the same time....You sure you are not the same person

As for Churchill.....I posted quite a few of his speeches here

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/19166-speeches-world-war-two.html

 

LIke Ron, I expect he recalls the state of the nation in the 1940 era. We had nothing. We stood entirely alone. Facing annihilation from a totally evil and massive force.
It was a time that needed great courage and determination. As I am sure Ron will bear out. It was our determination not to give in that saved this nation from unspeakable things
sapper.

 

I agree with Za Rod (unusually) and recommend Deighton's novel SS-GB to anyone who hasn't read it.
Thanks again to the 22 miles of Channel that protected us in the dark years of 1940 and the RAF and RN. No disrespect to Army, they did a good job with BEF but just weren't prepared for or, equipped to counter, new tactics of Nazi 'Blitzkreig' despite Guderian having gained the pedominant idea of 'armoured spearheads' from Liddel Hart's researches after WW1 (some might disagree).
Mike L

 

Tu quoque, Brutus?

 

With strict reference to Churchill and purely by coincidence, Nita & I had been invited yesterday evening to a 15th Lottery Anniversary reception given by the National Lottery Good Cause distributors & Camelot. The venue was the Cabinet War Rooms and we had been told that there would be a opportunity to look around after the event.

The reason I had been invited was because I had been a "beneficiary" of Lottery Funding under the Lottery's "Heroes Return" scheme, had been able to re-visit both Cassino & the Messina Straits and had given them a bit of feedback as a token of my thanks.

The pics below are fairly self-explanatory but I hope you notice the one of me toasting my late and great Colonel !

After the debate I was able to speak to a few of the bigwigs present.

After telling them that I had already had two bites of the proverbial cherry I asked them (on behalf of all veterans) if they contemplated a "Heroes Return number 3".

I am pleased to report that I was told, unofficially, that if I am still here in five years time there will probably a further chance to visit the scenes of my wayward youth

 

When Brian & I are no longer here to explain why this is so, who will take on our cause ?



Don't worry lads, you've got plenty of advocates on this forum.

I always go by the following saying: "If it wasn't for our boys in WW2, we'd all be spending Reichmarks and speaking German, IF you were unlucky enough to have been born".

That usually gets peoples attention.

 

I definitely agree, we can't begin to comprehend how it must have felt to live under those kind of consequences.

I remember reading the odd argument in the past that Britain only went to war to defend its Empire - I'm not sure how that works, considering at the time we were standing along our biggest threat was across the Channel, and that we pretty much lost the Empire by fighting the war anyway!

Hi James,

I see you are quoting here, however what part of the "Empire" was under threat in September 1939 by Germany?

I figure that you are thinking the same as me.

 

I have to admire the men like my father, Canadian born and who was living in Vancouver, on the west coast of Canada, volunteered in 1939 for service. If you know may father you'd know that he joined up, not out of some sense of adventure but because he has always believed in standing up against evil. I have heard him talk about, as a youth, hearing Hitlers speeches over the radio and although he didn't understand German, he knew this man was evil.