The modern world is still living with the consequences of World War 2, the most titanic conflict in history. 70 years ago on September 1st 1939, Germany invaded Poland without warning sparking the start of World War Two. By the evening of September 3rd, Britain and France were at war with Germany and within a week, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa had also joined the war. The world had been plunged into its second world war in 25 years. Six long and bloody years of total war, fought over many thousand of square kilometres followed. From the Hedgerows of Normandy to the streets of Stalingrad, the icy mountains of Norway to the sweltering deserts of Libya, the insect infested jungles of Burma to the coral reefed islands of the pacific. On land, sea and in the air, Poles fought Germans, Italians fought Americans and Japanese fought Australians in a conflict which was finally settled with the use of nuclear weapons. World War 2 involved every major world power in a war for global domination and at its end, more than 60 million people had lost their lives and most of Europe and large parts of Asia lay in ruins.
Re: World War 2
Co-incedantally World War one still had the greater loss of life, largely due to the horrendous tactics used by all parties.
But World War two was the first war to suffer the use of Atomic bomb.
Re: World War 2
Co-incedantally World War one still had the greater loss of life, largely due to the horrendous tactics used by all parties.
But World War two was the first war to suffer the use of Atomic bomb.
True. World War 2 really marked the most significant change in the world. A transition that still keeps lingering. A dormant volcano as of now, yet dangerous. That very 'Atomic Bomb' holds the balances of Power today. The race began. A race for supremacy much more ambitious and devastating than the very designs of Adolf Hitler.
Faris I really hope you will take a lead on this thread and share your bits. It will be interesting.
I will be posting my views and stuff soon enough too.
Re: World War 2
"I speak in the name of the entire German people when I assure the world that we all share the honest wish to eliminate the enmity that brings far more costs than any possible benefits... It would be a wonderful thing for all of humanity if both peoples would renounce force against each other forever. The German people are ready to make such a pledge."
Adolf Hitler - 14th October 1933
Re: World War 2
Indeed I will but I’m very tired and stressed out lately… I have a lot i should post so I will definately pick myself up… and stop useless flooding, look out for my posts tommorow. 
Re: World War 2
Cool. Well I know my history too so there wont be useless floodings my friend.
Re: World War 2
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed upon Germany at the end World War I sowed the seeds of World War 2 by stripping Germany of territory and requiring her to pay huge reparations to the victorious powers. The demands in Germany for vengeance were given added stimulus when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party came to power in January 1933. By early 1939 Germany had thrown off the shackles of the Versailles treaty, remilitarised the Rhineland introduced conscription, annexed Austria and occupied Czechoslovakia. The seeds of war were almost ripe!
Re: World War 2
How is WW1 more horrendous in lives lost unless you count that spanish flu virus that killed like 50 million people right around the end of the war.
Re: World War 2
^ Brother World war one is proven to be the greater loss of lives becuase millions more troops died due to commanders incompetence, back in 1914-1918 trench warfare and the constant bayonet charges against machine guns were practically suicidal hence the massive death tolls. Compared to World War two the tactics had changed apart from the Russian front most of the theaters of World War two were a walk in the park compared to the First World War.
Re: World War 2
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed upon Germany at the end World War I sowed the seeds of World War 2 by stripping Germany of territory and requiring her to pay huge reparations to the victorious powers. The demands in Germany for vengeance were given added stimulus when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party came to power in January 1933. By early 1939 Germany had thrown off the shackles of the Versailles treaty, remilitarised the Rhineland introduced conscription, annexed Austria and occupied Czechoslovakia. The seeds of war were almost ripe!
Well said, Hitler it has to be remembered was partly so succesfull politically because his was a force motivated by the percieved injustices of Versialles treaty. It only helped the Nazis rise to power and in the early days most of the German people supported the Nazi's rise to power becuase they believed Hitler and his cohorts would free them from the oppresion and unfair treatment after WW1.
As a sidenote to Dopplegangers earlier question I might also add that wars as they have progressed have indeed led to ever increasing civillian deaths so WW1 may have been the greatest loss of life in terms of men dying on the battelfield ne could argue WW2 saw a greater loss of civillian life.
One of the alarming things about WW2 is how everyone seems to have percieved the rising Nazi menace but the Japanese empire (the other major Axis power along with italy and Germany) had also been rapidly expanding and it would not have taken a genius in figuring out that the Japanese would sweep across Asia in the way they did, many of the Desi community may not be aware of the fact that a mere two generations ago our forebears were strgulling with the Japanese a mere few miles inside India itself.
The rise of Japan can be seen to have begun before the Nazi rise of the 20's but at first the West viewed the Japanese empire as a helpfull force against both Russia and China.
Re: World War 2
World War One was the more significant war. The consequences of that war are more far reaching and more evident to this day.
Re: World War 2
World War One was the more significant war. The consequences of that war are more far reaching and more evident to this day.
Indeed you are right but since the point of this thread seems to have been about WW2 perhaps you will join me in another thread for WW1, unless NihalK is happy for us to discuss both World Wars in one thread and any matters related to them?
Re: World War 2
World War 2 marked the transition of world influence, from British Power through to US and Soviet Power, and finally back again to US power.
It marked both the final triumph and glory of the British Empire as well as damning it to history. The millions amongst the legions of white, brown, and black men who volunteered together to answer Britain's victorious call to war represented the one last great martial union of its people. The bengal famine and the virtual abandonment of Australia to face the Japanese on its own represented just how expendable the furthest reaches of the Empire were, and helped turn them away and into disintegration.
Re: World War 2
^ Very good summary, yeah I have to agree with you WW2 was the transition of British Empire to American one.
Re: World War 2
Indeed you are right but since the point of this thread seems to have been about WW2 perhaps you will join me in another thread for WW1, unless NihalK is happy for us to discuss both World Wars in one thread and any matters related to them?
As long as there are guns and planes and soldiers and war around I am ok!
Well actually both the wars do have the same DNA. The intrinsic connections between both the wars are too strong to discuss separately. The end of WW1 did give birth to the germ of WW2. It was inevitable.
Re: World War 2
Army recruitment centre is five miles down the left hand road… 
Okay jokes aside I’m happy to discuss elements of both World Wars on here then, your absolutely right when you say that both wars are intrinicly linked, in fact one is almost a direct cause of the other…
Re: World War 2
True. It will be interesting to read your views and interpretations.
Re: World War 2
Ok - one useless flooding, to relieve Faris Bhai's stress -
If Arjuna and Karna were on the same side, could the old Hindustan have ruled supreme in the 20th century?
Re: World War 2
If you ask me, I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t even born then!
But well, with the current set of Politicians around, the answer would be a very BIG NO!!! Our countries have got used to the habit of being bullied and begging and bowing down in front of Uncle SAM and others. One phone call from SAM and our people get up and salute even though the people at the other end of the receiver can’t see. Gone are the days when warriors still wanted to be treated as kings even if they were right deep in the clutches of enemy hands. So what supreme power are we talking about my friend???
To rule supreme, amongst other factors, we would either have to be heinous and conniving like SAM with a finger on the world political nerve and also have the kind courage and valor (not just in battlefields). India has neither of these traits in a focused abundance. In India I have read about courage and gallantry only in stories – mythology and history. And oh yes, we have the other required negative prerequisites but that’s all in some different directions. Currently we are all too busy with our own internal conflicts and other issues to even bother about supremacy.
Well anyway this is but off topic and deep analytical thought would be required. Faris would put more specific light on it I think. India has been ruled and manipulated by a lot of different crowns after the Mahabharata (if it is true). And if we want to bring the WW2 to India, we might as well discuss what Gandhi and Bose were doing around then. I think India’s role if any at all during the WW2 was hardly significant and merely self centered if we take Subhash Chandra Bose and the Japanese in the picture.
Re: World War 2
I have the best collection of World War-2 videos(Original footages) and this is a war that has influenced me in many ways.This war has got it's ever lasting influence on many things and even to ou day to day lives.I am happy to discuss abt it...