Rescuing British English

[Bogeyman]

You turned up late to the last two big ones, when all the hard work had been done.

...The victory over Nazi Germany was achieved through the economic power of the United States and the lives of millions of Soviets, who for reasons that defy logic made the ultimate sacrifice to keep in power a regime as brutal as their Nazi enemy...

http://www.historynet.com/russias-l...d-to-the-ussr-in-world-war-ii-book-review.htm

As regards WWI:

...“But the balance was broken by the American troops. The Argonne battle was slow and difficult. But it was strategic….The day came when the American command sent new divisions into the battle and when I had not even a broken division to plug up the gaps. There was nothing left to do but ask terms.”...

Von Hindenburg interview immediately after the war with American journalist George Seldes in You Can't Print That, 1929.

Seldes later remarked:

...” This article was so important, Seldes wrote in his 1987 autobiography Witness to a Century, that “If the Hindenburg interview had been passed by Pershing's (stupid) censors at the time, it would have been headlined in every country civilized enough to have newspapers, and undoubtedly would have made an impression on millions of people and become an important page in history. I believe it would have destroyed the main planks on which Hitler rose to power, it would have prevented World War II...

Of course, one cannot negate the fact that the flower of European manhood had been ground into dust by late 1918 after four years of madness. The British were finally starting to turn the tide in July 1918.

http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/General_Paul_von_Hindenburg_Interview_1918-pdf

 

[Fergiebilly]

You turned up late to the last two big ones, when all the hard work had been done.

A Little Known Empirical FACT..Both the USA & UK by 1944 Had Only Ever Engaged with 5 % of the German Wehrmacht..The Russians had Engaged with 95 % of the Wehrmacht Until that Time..The Russians Took the Brunt of the War Against Germany..Another Little Known Empirical Fact..The Chinese Took the Most Casualties Fighting the Japanese..In Fact..The Russians & Chinese Took More Causalities in World War 2 than the Rest of the Allies..

Russia & China Were the Wests Most Powerful Allies then the Allies Made Enemies of them to this Day..The Biggest Threat to World Peace Today is the Global USA Empire & its Friends in Europe..

Billy

 

[Bogeyman]

A Little Known Empirical FACT..Both the USA & UK by 1944 Had Only Ever Engaged with 5 % of the German Wehrmacht..The Russians had Engaged with 95 % of the Wehrmacht Until that Time..The Russians Took the Brunt of the War Against Germany..Another Little Known Empirical Fact..The Chinese Took the Most Casualties Fighting the Japanese..In Fact..The Russians & Chinese Took More Causalities in World War 2 than the Rest of the Allies..

Russia & China Were the Wests Most Powerful Allies then the Allies Made Enemies of them to this Day..The Biggest Threat to World Peace Today is the Global USA Empire & its Friends in Europe..

Billy

More than 5% and you went a little off the rails at the end, but.........OK.

Without food imported from the USA Russia would have starved and the Germans would have rolled 'em up like a rug. However, winning WWII was a multi-faceted event that involved everything from Ultra, the XX program & Lend-Lease to internecine pettiness among Allied generals. I cannot help but admit my personal fondness for Field Marshal Bill Slim who was not only an incredible general, but one who truly respected the men who fought for him. Tragically, he is little known in the U.K. today it appears and the less capable & arrogant Montgomery remembered. A similar case was that involving U.S. generals Terry de la Mesa Allen & Patton.

Back on point, the U.S. & Britain needed each other to win WWII for surely if there had been no alliance the war would have gone on far longer and with far different results most likely.

 

[Far Cry Toff]

When you win the next war then you can dictate protocol. Until then........es tut mir leid.

You turned up late to the last two big ones, when all the hard work had been done.

http://www.historynet.com/russias-l...d-to-the-ussr-in-world-war-ii-book-review.htm

As regards WWI:



Von Hindenburg interview immediately after the war with American journalist George Seldes in You Can't Print That, 1929.

Seldes later remarked:



Of course, one cannot negate the fact that the flower of European manhood had been ground into dust by late 1918 after four years of madness. The British were finally starting to turn the tide in July 1918.

http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/General_Paul_von_Hindenburg_Interview_1918-pdf

I rest my case,....your lot turned up late for the party,....again.

 

[wayne_m]

We can't blame other cultures for ruining the English language. Have you heard how Da Yoof talk in our inner cities these days innit? Believe me we home grown British are more than capable of destroying our own language especially if you are from Da hood.

 

[Fergiebilly]

More than 5% and you went a little off the rails at the end, but.........OK.

Without food imported from the USA Russia would have starved and the Germans would have rolled 'em up like a rug. However, winning WWII was a multi-faceted event that involved everything from Ultra, the XX program & Lend-Lease to internecine pettiness among Allied generals. I cannot help but admit my personal fondness for Field Marshal Bill Slim who was not only an incredible general, but one who truly respected the men who fought for him. Tragically, he is little known in the U.K. today it appears and the less capable & arrogant Montgomery remembered. A similar case was that involving U.S. generals Terry de la Mesa Allen & Patton.

Back on point, the U.S. & Britain needed each other to win WWII for surely if there had been no alliance the war would have gone on far longer and with far different results most likely.

The USA Supplied the Germans as Well to 1944..The USA were Hedging their Bets..IBM & Many Others Companies..FACT..

Billy

 

[Steve Bowles]

The Germans had absolutely no interest in Britain during the war. They needed to conquer Western Europe so they would have a buffer so they could concentrate on their only real goal, the natural resources of the Soviet Union. The Germans were aware that their only concern other than the Soviets was America if she decided to open a second front on the West, which is what ultimately happened. The old lament of Brits about how the U.S. showed up "late after the heavy work had been done" is preposterous. What heavy work? Both world wars were at a stand-still until the U.S. entered the conflicts. During WWII 3 out of 5 soldiers in France were American. The only reason the German air force didn't pound Britain into the ground was the fact that by the time the German aircraft reached British airspace from their bases deep in France, they only had about 30 minutes of fuel left if they were to make it back to their bases. Also, America had no treaties or pacts with any European country which would require them to enter the war. It was England's arrogance that she thought she could beat any foe with the remnants of WWI equipment. There was no reason for the Germans to want to invade and conquer Britain, it would only cost them needed resources for very little gain.

My God, during the Falklands conflict you fought Argentina to a draw. Argentina for God's sake. Do you really think you could have beaten the Third Reich? You're lucky you had the English Channel as your buffer, and the United States as your ace in the hole.

 

[wayne_m]

He has a point, if it were not for the English Channel we would be speaking German now. We didn't have the resources or man power to take on the might of the German war machine. If the U.S had not joined when it did (Which incidentally cost us a fortune which we only stopped paying for on 31st Dec 2006 which was a final payment of $83 million as we built up debt to the value of $21 billion to the U.S. They didn't do it for nothing) Germany once they had finished with Russia would have finished us off with ease. I know it makes hard reading but we do tend to look at WWII through rose tinted specs especially with regard to the United States role. They did more than just shag our women whilst our lads were fighting...Mind you they did plenty of that too.

 

[chris.hale]

Cut and paste response to any argument for Americans:

"We won the war." (Not the one in Vietnam obviously)

"We have guns."

 

[Fergiebilly]

The Germans had absolutely no interest in Britain during the war. They needed to conquer Western Europe so they would have a buffer so they could concentrate on their only real goal, the natural resources of the Soviet Union. The Germans were aware that their only concern other than the Soviets was America if she decided to open a second front on the West, which is what ultimately happened. The old lament of Brits about how the U.S. showed up "late after the heavy work had been done" is preposterous. What heavy work? Both world wars were at a stand-still until the U.S. entered the conflicts. During WWII 3 out of 5 soldiers in France were American. The only reason the German air force didn't pound Britain into the ground was the fact that by the time the German aircraft reached British airspace from their bases deep in France, they only had about 30 minutes of fuel left if they were to make it back to their bases. Also, America had no treaties or pacts with any European country which would require them to enter the war. It was England's arrogance that she thought she could beat any foe with the remnants of WWI equipment. There was no reason for the Germans to want to invade and conquer Britain, it would only cost them needed resources for very little gain.

My God, during the Falklands conflict you fought Argentina to a draw. Argentina for God's sake. Do you really think you could have beaten the Third Reich? You're lucky you had the English Channel as your buffer, and the United States as your ace in the hole.

I was a Marine Commando in the Falklands & have the 7.62 Wound in the Groin for My Escapades..I Love Battle..It was Great..But..You are Spot On..It was Almost a Suicide Mission they Sent Us On..The UK Sent Everything they Could Mobilize, Beg, Borrow & Steal..3 Commando Brigade had to Supply 2 Brigades..

I Can Tell Ya this for a Fact..If the Argentinians Had Not Surrendered in Port Stanley During the Final Assault We Would have Been Defeated..We had NO Ammunition to Continue a Sustained Battle..Also Thatcher Sent the Cream of the World Forces Over there or Britian would have Been Defeated Well before that..

The UK has NOTHING..Except for Nuclear Weapons..

Billy

 

[Blademonkey]

I was a Marine Commando in the Falklands & have the 7.62 Wound in the Groin for My Escapades..I Love Battle..It was Great..But..You are Spot On..It was Almost a Suicide Mission they Sent Us On..The UK Sent Everything they Could Mobilize, Beg, Borrow & Steal..3 Commando Brigade had to Supply 2 Brigades..

I Can Tell Ya this for a Fact..If the Argentinians Had Not Surrendered in Port Stanley During the Final Assault We Would have Been Defeated..We had NO Ammunition to Continue a Sustained Battle..Also Thatcher Sent the Cream of the World Forces Over there or Britian would have Been Defeated Well before that..

The UK has NOTHING..Except for Nuclear Weapons..

Billy

I can see you yomping towards Stanley with a GPMG in hand with a wild look in your eye and a smile on your face loving every second and letting out a battle Cry......You can take our land but you canny take our freedom!
P.

 

[JohnnyO]

Don't know about Grid Iron, but in football if a player comes on during the game and scores a goal, it's the whole team that wins not just the latecomer.

I like Borus' comment ... and it's in excellent grammatical English as well. Just in passing, dare I point out that Britain consists of more than just England. I doubt if many of my American friends would appreciate my referring to them as Canadians in posts.

JohnnyO. o/

 

[Redbeard]

Good gosh, the vitriol is flying faster than a squadron of Spitfires here!! Its time for the Jolly Rodger popcorn!!!

 

[Steve Bowles]

I like Borus' comment ... and it's in excellent grammatical English as well. Just in passing, dare I point out that Britain consists of more than just England. I doubt if many of my American friends would appreciate my referring to them as Canadians in posts.

JohnnyO. o/

Canadians do have one thing Americans don't - they border the world's only superpower.

 

[Eeyore68]

Canadians do have one thing Americans don't - they border the world's only superpower.

Well, some say this is going to be China's century.

I left my crystal ball somewhere, I am afraid

--
Pitralon forever - Real pens have a nib - If it doesn't tick, it's not a watch.

 

[Count of Undolpho]

Language is a living thing and cannot be kept in stasis. Shakespearean English differs from that of the 18th Century, which differs from that of the 19th and so on. 21st Century English will be as different again.

I can't bring myself to say pants for trousers though.