"Ernest Schaal" <eschaal@max.hi-ho.ne.jp> wrote in message
news:BDD3CB2F.2D41B%eschaal@max.hi-ho.ne.jp...
> Brett,
>
> I am curious. Considering that I never said that the Americans won the war
> by themselves (either WWI or WWII), and considering that I specially
pointed
> out on numerous occasions the role of the Chinese and the Russians, I find
> it amazing that you consider it wrong to point out the minor role that
> Britain played relative to them and to the United States in WWII.
>
> What has America done to you that has blinded your judgment so much?

Not getting involved in any personal spat going on and certainly not getting
involved in any American slagging but I think the above paragraph also does
a great disservice to Britain's contribution, and when I say Britain I
should really say the Commonwealth.  Belatedly although it was, Britain and
France were the main powers to actually stand up to the Nazi menace.  Both
the USSR and the USA were attacked or had war declared on them by Germany
whereas Britain and France went to war over Germany attacking Poland.
France had fallen and Britain stood with the Commonwealth though it was
Britain itself that was in direct line of fire and threatened with immediate
invasion.  The first half of the war in Europe involved Germany
unsuccesfully assaulting a very stubborn Britain which did give the rest of
Europe a significant breathing place.  Hitler didn't really want to fight
the British.  Britain could have stood back and let him attack the Soviets
at a much earlier date with no second front in the west!  Likewise the
British and Canadian contributions to the D-Day invasions of Europe can
hardly be described as minor.  In fact had Britain not first won the Battle
of Britain would D-Day have been possible at all?  What would the future
have looked like for the US had Britain not won the Battle of Britain?  The
possibility of the American continent being surrounded by hostile Axis
powers. Looking back on the war one has to admit that all the said countries
made large and significant contributions.

Allan