Remembrance or confrontation?

[Lee Winger]

I begrudge all the money we and the allies spent building up Germany and Japan, that makes me sick!

[jonnie t]

I begrudge all the money we and the allies spent building up Germany and Japan, that makes me sick!

 

but without it we wouldn't have the BMWs, Mercs and Audis that we all drool over. What if just fraction of that money had been spent on British industry instead ...............?

[Andy Collins]

I begrudge all the money we and the allies spent building up Germany and Japan, that makes me sick!

 

If they'd won, would they have paid for reparations, I think not, but surely this is what made us better than them, to have vanquished an enemy, then help them re-establish themselves as a country, no-one could wish them to have suffered for actions of their leaders. Surely this is just what separates us from their evil actions?

[Quickthorn]

If they'd won, would they have paid for reparations, I think not, but surely this is what made us better than them, to have vanquished an enemy, then help them re-establish themselves as a country, no-one could wish them to have suffered for actions of their leaders. Surely this is just what separates us from their evil actions?

 

I think funding for Germany after ww2 was more down to the US and the start of the cold war more than compassion or anything like that. Originally, I believe one plan would have kept Germany as a rural nation incapable of hardly any industry. However, the US realised that to leave them to it would probably allow them to fall into the hands of the USSR. Also, some believe it was the harsh terms of the Versailles treaty after ww1 that created conditions in which Hitler could flourish in the first place, and so they were desperate to avoid repeating that mistake. The money poured into Germany at the same time as the tap was turned off for Britain, initially at least.

 

As for Remembrance day, never forget them. And remember that the bodies are still stacking up in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[TheTreeWiseMen]

Good post....

[Will]

Having spent 23 years in the Royal Navy, I have lost a few good friends in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, Former Yugoslavia, Bosnia, the 1st and 2nd Gulf wars, Afghanistan, Somalia and a few other places that you won't of heard about.

Maybe the 2 world wars are fading in our memories but as you read this post, our brave boys and girls of the armed forces are all over the world fighting for their lives, in wars that they don't really want to be involved in, so that we can live our lives in a safe (ish) and democratic country.

Having been there, seen it, got the t shirt (and the medals), I for one will be Remembering on the 11th of the 11th.

[Andy Collins]

Good to see a good turn out for the lads from the Vikings (Royal Anglians) in the local towns, on their return from Afghanistan, restores your faith in humanity!!