[Blueisthecolour]

I haven't heard the conversation.

If he says that WWII could have been avoided had we acted differently, then he's right.

If he says we should have been "nicer" to Germany then he is dead wrong. We appeased Hitler too much and that was the problem - as did the Russians for that matter - as did other countries.

A lot of us got it wrong.

But until I hear for myself what Ben actually said I'll withold judgement on him.

[StGeorge]

Originally Posted by Blueisthecolour

I haven't heard the conversation.

If he says that WWII could have been avoided had we acted differently, then he's right.

If he says we should have been "nicer" to Germany then he is dead wrong. We appeased Hitler too much and that was the problem - as did the Russians for that matter - as did other countries.

A lot of us got it wrong.

But until I hear for myself what Ben actually said I'll withold judgement on him.

I would be interested to know how you think we could of acted differently?
From purely a hindsight point of view, i think we had no choice and war was inevitable, whether via our pledge to Poland (incedently our reasoning for war) or whether due to a later act which would of peeved us off. More Invasions of innocent countries and mass exterminations perhaps.

IMO its no different to Iraq. Whether we went in on the premise that there were W.O.M.D.s (which have never been found) or not, i think his track record of invading a sovereign country and then after being given another chance....exterminating Kurds & Shiites....justified blowing his arse away.
No one will ever know what his next step was going to be....i dont think the Nobel Peace Prize contenders were threatened that year....but my view is that if i could go back in time to Hitler as a 1 month old baby....i would have no qualms with putting a bullet in his head, irrespective of the fact he was just a loveble innocent child.

As i say..hindsight is wonderful....foresight is guessing.

[Blueisthecolour]

Originally Posted by StGeorge

I would be interested to know how you think we could of acted differently?

Simple really, Hitler promised Chamberlain that he had no claim on Europe and that he was no threat to Britain whom he saw as his friends.

Whether or not Chamberlain believed it...he chose to accept it and came back waving the infamous piece of paper proclaiming "Peace in our time".

There was also the fact that we turned a blind eye to Germany's rearmament which was against the Versailles Treaty, we were told he was rearming...we did nothing.

Then there was the boatload of "Undesirables" ejected from Germany which we refused to give refuge to.

We were sending the message to Hitler that as long as he didn't threaten us, we would pretend we hadn't noticed.

Lots of other countries made the same mistakes, whilst Russia made an even more blatant agreement with Hitler could take land that he laid claim to as long as Russia could have lands that they laid claim to. That led directly to Hitler invading Poland, the Russians had told him he could.

After the invasion of Poland we had no choice but to go to war, I accept that. But it should never have got to that situation.

The policy of appeasement during the 30s was the problem.

[StGeorge]

Originally Posted by Blueisthecolour

Simple really, Hitler promised Chamberlain that he had no claim on Europe and that he was no threat to Britain whom he saw as his friends.

Whether or not Chamberlain believed it...he chose to accept it and came back waving the infamous piece of paper proclaiming "Peace in our time".

There was also the fact that we turned a blind eye to Germany's rearmament which was against the Versailles Treaty, we were told he was rearming...we did nothing.

Then there was the boatload of "Undesirables" ejected from Germany which we refused to give refuge to.

We were sending the message to Hitler that as long as he didn't threaten us, we would pretend we hadn't noticed.

Lots of other countries made the same mistakes, whilst Russia made an even more blatant agreement with Hitler could take land that he laid claim to as long as Russia could have lands that they laid claim to. That led directly to Hitler invading Poland, the Russians had told him he could.

After the invasion of Poland we had no choice but to go to war, I accept that. But it should never have got to that situation.

The policy of appeasement during the 30s was the problem.

100% agree with you on all of that....what it says to me is we should of gone to war earlier perhaps, but then wouldnt we of been in the same boat we are in now over Iraq?
Same in the Falklands....we now know that Thatchers gov' knew certain things were going to happen, but if we had garrisoned the islands with a million men or started blowing up Argy boats prior to the invasion....we would of been a laughing stock around the world and hung out to dry.
Its unfortunate that sometimes you may know you're about to be punched in the face, but you have to wait and take the hit to justify retaliatory action.