How much did Britain really win WW2?

[chicoazul]

I hear it used often about “we won the war” but how significant was Britain in defeating rather than resisting the Nazis during WW2?

There’s no doubt the island resisted gallantly and were a part of the drive in storming France and pushing to Berlin but was Britain as significant as Russia in winning the war? Or even as effective as the Johnny-come-lately US in turning the tide of the war. Was it Hitler’s own folly in opening up a second front more decisive in ending the war than Britain’s toil?

It should be a great source of pride to anyone who took part in the war that they overcame an oppressive far right government of course.

 

[Rita_Poon]

shame they couldn't win the peace!

 

[dholliday]

some american friends told me they had no idea it was the soviets who invaded Berlin.

the nazis hard-on for Russia was their ultimate undoing (Op. Barbarossa).

the americans dropping the fatmans in Japan was another biggie.

those two emerged as the big don't-mess-with-us superpowers of the post-war era.

thankfully the losers like Germany & Japan recovered with significant economic & cultural booms in the decades after the war.


...England won one World Cup.

 

[PKwalnuts]

Its the taking part that counts

 

[sbbefc]

Can't stand it when people who contributed 0 to the war effort say "we" when referring to the war. Anyway, Britain contributed a huge amount. Without the island as a springboard for the Yanks the world would be a different place now. But ultimately the Soviets took the biggest hit and without them I reckon Britain/US would probably, eventually, have had to make peace with the Nazies.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Britain won the Brexit.

And that is it.

Just.

I believe the answer is a combination of factors and forces.

 

[Shevin Keedy]

Other than a few odballs, it's fairly comprehensively agreed upon by academics that Russia won WW2; if you consider the Cold War as an extension of the same conflict (as many do), then you arrive at a very different conclusion.

Ultimately, Britain gave a great account of itself until the big boys done that which was necessary.

 

[DavidH]

Hitler wanted too much too soon.

 

[chicoazul]

some american friends told me they had no idea it was the soviets who invaded Berlin.

the nazis hard-on for Russia was their ultimate undoing (Op. Barbarossa).

the americans dropping the fatmans in Japan was another biggie.

those two emerged as the big don't-mess-with-us superpowers of the post-war era.

thankfully the losers like Germany & Japan recovered with significant economic & cultural booms in the decades after the war.


...England won one World Cup.

I find it interesting that both Germany and Japan are both progressive economic powerhouses with decent societies far preferable to their conquerors nearly a century ago. Perhaps Britain needs to get beaten in a bar for longer term beneficial societal chance.

Are England the baddies now?

 

[Baines' left foot]

Sovverinitty!!!

*dribbles down chin

 

[Martin Alvito]

Let's see. Britain fought much of the war in the Far East, cracked Enigma and took the brunt of the early German punches.

No shame in being unable to win it alone. Same would have held true for the US or the Soviets.

 

[dholliday]

I find it interesting that both Germany and Japan are both progressive economic powerhouses with decent societies far preferable to their conquerors nearly a century ago. Perhaps Britain needs to get beaten in a bar for longer term beneficial societal chance.

it's the humility aspect...once totally humbled, and accepting of one's utter wrongness, the ability to move on and progress becomes quite striking.

Are England the baddies now?

i'd been meaning to use that Hans, are we the baddies meme as a standard-reply in CA discussions, alas...

 

[Martin Alvito]

it's the humility aspect...once totally humbled, and accepting of one's utter wrongness, the ability to move on and progress becomes quite striking.

This is fair. Japanese society completely transformed after Perry showed up, then transformed again after WWII. History suggests that wheezing along rarely works out well in the end for nations, or empires.

 

[Connor]

Send word from the Eastern front, comrade

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

I find it interesting that both Germany and Japan are both progressive economic powerhouses with decent societies far preferable to their conquerors nearly a century ago. Perhaps Britain needs to get beaten in a bar for longer term beneficial societal chance.

Are England the baddies now?

Scotland and Sweden need to invade England in order for England to become a magnificent country.