by woof woof ! » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:34 pm
Without wanting to detract from the heroism and sacrifice made by members of the United States armed forces in Europe during WW2 ,for some to suggest that the "Allies could not have won without them" is nonsense. Certainly the US made a significant contribution, their biggest contribution to the allies however was in the form of "lend lease" materiel ( food and equipment and weapons) , this materiel was not freely given, in the case of the uk it took us 60 years to pay off the debt.
From a purely military perspective more than two thirds of the German armed forces were deployed on the Eastern front and in excess of 80% of all German casualties suffered in WW 2 were inflicted by the Russians . The American involvement certainly allowed a second front to be opened in Italy and Normandy and in all probability shortend the war , I say "in all probability " as at the time the western allies were landing in Normandy and marching into an undefended Rome the bulk of the German armed forces were disintergrating under massive assaults from the Soviet Red Army who were at that time driving into Romania, Hungary and Poland. Six months later the Russians paused for breath on the River Oder as they gathered themselves for the final assault on Berlin.
In truth if there was anyone "we couldn't have done it without" it was the Soviet Red Army.
Estimated Military Casualties WW 2 in Europe(main protagonists)
Russia.......... 10,700,000
Germany.........5.533,000
UK...................382,6000
USA (in Europe)..120.000
Finally the USA never declared war on Germany and came riding to Europes aid. Four days after Pearl Harbour Germany declared war on the USA !.
ps for Sabre, 4500 Spaniards died in combat during WW2. All members of the "Blue Division" , they fought on the Eastern front, supporting the Germans.
Last edited by
woof woof ! on Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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