World War II - 80 Years On
 

A remembrance thread.

September 1, 1939, from Wikipedia,

"Nazi Germany and Slovakia invade Poland, beginning the European phase of World War II."

"Switzerland mobilizes its forces and the Swiss Parliament elects Henri Guisan to head the Swiss Armed Forces (an event that can happen only during war or mobilization)."

"Adolf Hitler signs an order to begin the systematic euthanasia of mentally ill and disabled people."

Awful period in history that I hope is never forgotten or repeated, though sadly in many ways it seems like we're always never too far away from history repeating...

Anyone have relatives who served/fought in WWII?

here it is 75th anniversary of independence, and we get a lot of WW2 specials on our dutch NPO channels, also a lot of that on national geographic too

Sadly most of those that served have passed on now.
My dad and father-in-law both served, one in the Air Force and one in the navy.
My maternal grandfather was in the army.

Yes Poland left alone
no help.
At the Start

Not much help later either. Oh well

Two of my lot died in combat, a third one in a German labour camp. A fourth survived a different camp but didnt return to communist Poland and settled in France instead.

why did he do it

It was a dare.

our PM Rutte with Canadian veteran Don White, who he had named a tulip after earlier this year

Rutte about 75th anniversary of liberation, in Terneuzen was the 1st festivity where loads of veterans were honoured who had their share in liberating our country :)

My Granddad was in the RAF, a rear gunner in Lancaster Bombers during WWII as well as a like “spotter” after the war was over flying around the waters surrounding the UK locating submarines with binoculars from the same glass-bottom part of the LB’s.

He also went into one of the concentration camps after it was liberated (don’t know which one) and would NEVER speak about it. I used to be fascinated when I was younger but now I can’t help but think what horrific things he must have witnessed.

September 2, 1939, from Wikipedia,

"Following the start of the invasion of Poland the previous day, the Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) is annexed by Nazi Germany."

our king willem alexander's new look, at the 75th anniversary of liberation here

https://content-cdn.tipsenweetjes.nl...nder-baard.jpg

he looks good

September 3, 1939, from Wikipedia,

"France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia declare war on Germany after the invasion of Poland, forming the Allies."

"The United Kingdom and France begin a naval blockade of Germany that lasts until the end of the war. This also marks the beginning of the Battle of the Atlantic."

September 4, 1939, from Wikipedia,

"William J. Murphy commands the first Royal Air Force attack on Germany."

Any update on invasion of Poland?

This is a fascinating read.

I can't even imagine what people went through during that time, it must've been terrible, and how did Hitler manage to get so much power in his own country? it's crazy.

When Hitler
was mass murdering Jews in Poland
it was kept secret from the General Public in Germany.
Evil Hitler kept his plans secret.

September 6, 1939, from Wikipedia,

"Britain suffers its first fighter pilot casualty of the Second World War at the Battle of Barking Creek as a result of friendly fire."

"South Africa declares war on Nazi Germany."

September 9, 1939, from Wikipedia,

"The Battle of Hel begins, the longest-defended pocket of Polish Army resistance during the German invasion of Poland."

Hel peninsula, a very good seaside spot now, beautiful.

..The different expressions of six Polish civilians moments before death by firing squad on 9 September 1939 in Bydgoszcz...

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jTatXymWt..._the_death.jpg

Nazis were cruel murderers, this was like no other war before.
Wermaht was implicated as much as SS and Gestapo.

"The different expressions of six Polish civilians moments before death by firing squad on 9 September 1939 in Bydgoszcz..."

Yes Evil Nazi's
were the worst

...meanwhile back in the USA, Patricia Donnelly was being crowned Miss America in New Jersey...it’s surreal...

https://www.thewrap.com/wp-content/u...erica-1939.jpg

That pic Ammi is very moving

First one is in despair, the second in a trance, the third laughing?, the rest standing expressionless