70 Years Ago Today....

[sharkbit]

...the horror began. :cry:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32637688/

[Brag]

Horror is the correct word. :nope:

[Sailor Steve]

Yes indeed, it was this day. I remember commemorating the 50th anniversary. Hard for me to believe that one was twenty years ago.

[Bosje]

makes me feel like a beer commercial
sink em all! but remember kids, war is hell

still, it's amazing to think that it's already been 70 years. my oldest living relative served in the Dutch army may '40. the guy is 90 now, damn

hats off to those who did it for real

[Jimbuna]

Yes, unlike those few who are left that gave service in WWI, there are still many living who served in WWII.

~SALUTE~

[Mopy]

Terrible time for all involved, and lessons learned will be remembered for a long time to come I hope.

[Contact]

Terrible time for all involved, and lessons learned will be remembered for a long time to come I hope.


I sure hope history is the greatest teacher for all humankind. Unfortunetlly untill we have two versions of history existing there is no guarantees about that. First version is the one that knows everybody, and the second which is tweaked by Kremlin a bit.. to make it a bit more "comfortable" to see for themseves this way denying or not accepting certain facts..

[Torvald Von Mansee]

http://www.iwondr.com/files/pictures/sgt-pepper.jpg

[Torvald Von Mansee]

(I'm wrong, aren't I?)

[sharkbit]

Daft bit if the war had not happened I may not have been here, as they met because of the war.

Or if that bomb that landed near them had exploded. :03:

:)

[Spike88]

Its funny, today is the anniversary for the beginning of the war, tomorrow is the anniversary for the ending of the war.

[Randomizer]

Its funny, today is the anniversary for the beginning of the war, tomorrow is the anniversary for the ending of the war.
Yes but tomorrows anniversary does not end in a zero or a five and so will pass largely unnoticed. Odd how that works...

Good Hunting

[java`s revenge]

If that war wasn`t happened i must have met my grandparents
of my father`s side.

They were killed by a british bomb on 27 june 1940

[JHuschke]

I will never forget World War I nor World War II. Notice how easy the Americans get into the war..

The Germans knew that the allies depended on food, equipment and other supplies from both U.S. and their overseas empires. If Germany could strangle that trade, it could starve out the British and French into surrender. To get around Britain's blockade, the Germans deployed submarines known as U-boats "Unterseeboot/Underwater boat". In February 1915, the Germans announced that they would attempt to sink without warning to any ship that was sighted in waters around Great Britain.

Germany's announcement triggered outrage in the U.S. and elsewhere. Attacking civilian vessels without warning was a violation of an international treaty stipulating that military vessels must reveal their intentions to merchant ships and make provisions for the safety of the targeted ship's crew and passengers before firing upon it. The Germans claimed that many merchant ships were actually warships in disguise and that their U-boats would be placed at great risk if they were to reveal themselves before firing.

The issue reached a crisis on May 7, 1915. Despite warnings from Germany, the British passenger liner Lusitania entered the war zone. A submerged German submarine, U-20. Killing nearly 1,200 passengers including 128 Americans. Many Americans regarded the attack as an act of terrorism, not war. The Americans and British denied, saying there were no munitions or war provisions on board the Lusitania.The German government, claiming in an official statement that she had been armed with guns, and had had "large quantities of war material" in her cargo..They also stated that since she was classed as an auxiliary cruiser, Germany had had a right to destroy her regardless of any passengers aboard, and that the warnings issued by the German Embassy prior to her sailing plus the 18 February note declaring the existence of "war zones", relieved Germany of any responsibility for the deaths of American citizens aboard. Her cargo had included an estimated 4,200,000 rounds of rifle cartridges, 1,250 empty shell cases, and 18 cases of non-explosive fuses, all of which were listed in her manifest, but the cartridges were not officially classed as ammunition by the Cunard Line.

The British Navy attempted to destroy the wreck in the 1950s to conceal its military cargo. Researcher, Gregg Bemis who found Lusitania and excavated the site said, "The charge that the Lusitania was carrying war materiel is valid, She was a legitimate target for the German submarine."

In late March 1916, President Wilson's (U.S.) policy was tested when a U-boat torpedoed the French passenger ship Sussex, injuring a few Americans on board it. Wilson chose to issue one last warning. Germany didn't want the allies strengthened by drawing the U.S. into the war. It promised with certain conditions to sink no more merchant ships without warning.

[JHuschke]

I do, but it is sad that all these countries were wanting to be involved. Britain and the U.S., and when Britain and France came together it started questioning with the Russian forces (who to join), so therfore thats why there were so many countries in a war against one.

[Red Heat]

*Salute

70th Aniversary from the end of the W.W.II...my parents born in 1942 and they tell me horrible stories from that time...even in a "neutral" country as Portugal!

No more war, please...

[94cruiser]

My grandfather served in the Polish Navy and was stationed on the mine layer ORP Gryf which was anchored near Westerplatte.

After surrender he spent most of the war in prison camps. Most of it was at Stalag XB near Sandbostel.

He never talked much about the war, basically nothing at all. I remember he loved the Navy and the sea. I think he was 18 or 19 when the war broke out...

[Sledgehammer427]

My grandpa Kieth served in the merchant marine 42-45, he's seen plenty of U-boats. He passed when I was 12.

[nikbear]

It is sad to think that it was the start of one of the most horrific episodes in human history,But.....
It was also the moment when a generation throughout the world came together to defeat an indescribable evil,A generation that will always stand head and shoulders above any other for what they achieved....For they will always be looked upon with admiration and awe and have our undying respect:salute::salute::salute:.
They were ordinary men and women,who gave their all,in extraordinary circumstances,I sadly don't think we will see their like again,but at least we have been able to bear witness to their achievment,and for that alone if nothing else we should feel blessed.:yep:

[Ford Prefect]

If you're from GB you can go here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/ww2outbreak/index.shtml

There's period radio broadcasts about the build up and out break of war.

[DaveU186]

I still find it hard to comprehend those times, but appreciate the sacrifices made by my countrymen and their allies that helped to protect the world we live in today. I also salute the bravery of all those who participated in the war, and especially those u-boat men.

We certainly won't see their like again. They are all true heroes.

[U-46 Commander]

I salute all Veterans of all wars, on both sides. However, as long as there is sin in the world, there will be wars.

[Ford Prefect]

I salute all Veterans of all wars, on both sides. However, as long as there is sin in the world, there will be wars.

As long as there's money, the concept of god/religion and separate nations there will be something to fall out about and go to war over.

[gadflyjs]

I salute all Veterans of all wars, on both sides. However, as long as there is sin in the world, there will be wars.
As long as there's money, the concept of god/religion and separate nations there will be something to fall out about and go to war over.

To summarize, as long as human being exist, there will be wars :har:

[Sailor Steve]

To summarize, as long as human being exist, there will be wars :har:
I find that comment highly offensive. Impuning the human race that way is just mean. I would never do that. You've got me so ticked off I've decided to declare war on you tomorrow morning at 1100 hours!

Wait a minute...

[Ford Prefect]

To summarize, as long as human being exist, there will be wars :har:

I don't think it's beyond us to put such petty stuff aside. After all look how far we've come! From a primitive creature living in caves, learning to wield fire to being able to land a man on the moon, send probes to the furthest reaches of the solar system and finding cures for diseases which once plagued us. If we can do all that off our own backs then we certainly hold the promise as a species of going far if the aforementioned afflictions on our race don't destroy us first!

[TigerShark808]

I find that comment highly offensive. Impuning the human race that way is just mean. I would never do that. You've got me so ticked off I've decided to declare war on you tomorrow morning at 1100 hours!

Wait a minute...

I feel you are over reacting and your threat of war against another sickins me. Therefore I shall ready my forces and prepare them for battle should your threat of war come to reality.

[TigerShark808]

I don't think it's beyond us to put such petty stuff aside. After all look how far we've come! From a primitive creature living in caves, learning to wield fire to being able to land a man on the moon, send probes to the furthest reaches of the solar system and finding cures for diseases which once plagued us. If we can do all that off our own backs then we certainly hold the promise as a species of going far if the aforementioned afflictions on our race don't destroy us first!


I agree !

Although they don't actually believe man lived in caves. Neanderthal lived in caves mainly to hide from early man who would kill Neanderthal Man when ever they came across them.Poor Neanderthal Man . So I guess even early man found it necessary to exterminate another race of man.. huumm!

Sorry to get off topic.Its just that NeanderthalMan -verse-Early Man has always been a very interesting topic to me.


I SALUTE THE GREATEST GENERATION!