What did your country do during WW2?

[Carrigage]

I'm curious of what people know of World War 2, beside what's common knowledge. I'm also curious of what actually happened during World War 2, because it's quite interresting to hear what went on beneath the surface of a major war between major countries.

I'll begin by explaining what my country did during World War 2.

Sweden:

We saved more jews than any other country in the entire world.

We were the first on location in Germany when rescuing jews from concentration camps after Nazi-Germany's surrender.

After experience from World War 1, we maintained our trading agreements with both England and Germany, because without either we'd be suffering economically, which we couldn't afford. Cancelling trading agreements with either side would favour the other, which would be in direct conflict with our neutrality.

We used the money gained from trading with both sides to build up our sister-country Norway, also supporting both Denmark and Finland economically after the war.

We helped train Norweigan Resistance Fighters during the German Occupation of Norway, calling them "Swedish Police officers", whilst in reality being the Norweigan Resistance Group.

We sent our best pilots in our most advance fighter aircrafts to Finland during the Continuation War to aid against the Russian Assault. Those aircrafts were painted as Finnish aircrafts since Sweden couldn't enter the war officially.

20,000 Swedes travelled to Finland to help fight the Russians in the Continuation War.

We intercepted German Encrypted Messages being sent across Swedish Territory, and decrypted them for the Allied forces.

Close to 100% of every Swede with any political influence were in near-constant contact with the Germany Authorities to try to release as many Jews as possible. One of the most famous Swedish Heroes of World War 2 is Raul Wallenberg, who went missing in Ukraine and is still missing to this day. There's a strong possibility that he perished in a Russian Prison back in the 70-80's.

Sweden was one of the 5 countries that managed to maintain their Neutrality throughout World War 2, out of the 20 countries that tried.



And I just wanna add before I quit writing, that Sweden has a well established military history, but we decided in 1800 to be Neutral, and not because we're cowards, but because we've done our fair share of fighting in the past, so I'd rather not have people tell anyone what chickens they were for not being an official part of the Allied/Axis forces.

So this thread is not about bashing other Countries in any way, but to learn more of what is one of the Modern Age's most crucial historical events.

-Sewora

 

[redscores]

We were the people which catched jews, put them into concentration camps, and killed them in pain...

Sad truth...

 

[takakenji]

we were the people who killed over 100,000 innocents because we lost 2,000 soldiers

 

[redscores]

Hm, guess what, I am from germany.

 

[En_Fuego]

My country screwed the Axis powers out of victory (Pearl Harbor, which essentially brought the U.S. into the war).

I'll leave out Germany's blatantly random attack on the USSR, mainly because Pearl Harbor made it 2x worse.

 

[Hakeem]

We did everything.


"America! Fuck yeah!"

 

[Destroyer25]

My country screwed the Axis powers out of victory (Pearl Harbor, which essentially brought the U.S. into the war).

I'll leave out Germany's blatantly random attack on the USSR, mainly because Pearl Harbor made it 2x worse.

You do realize that Stalin was going to invade Germany anyway? War with the USSR was invetiable, had Japan invaded the USSR though...Then the axis would have won.

My country contributed supplies to Britain for the first 4 years of the war, I'm from Canada btw. We also trained a huge amount of Commonwealth pilots, Canada is really the best place for it. Huge wide open spaces, and the praries are really just 1 giant airfield. During the Blitz the 1st Canadian division was stationed in England incase Germany came over. TBH we were the only thing standing between the German army and London. The majority of the troops in England were horribly trained and equiped, the 1st Canadian Division was the best equiped one at the time.

Then in 1943, the 1st Canadian Corps landed in Scicily, and fought some very tough battles, many of which were against the Herman Goering Division, which was the strongest Division in Scicily. Then we landed in Italy and fought our way up the east coast. Fighting the 1st Paratroop Division numerous times. The Canadians also took Ortona, which was an incredibly costly battle, but established Canadians as the best urban fighters of the war.

Then in 1944 we fought alongside the British and Americans in France. We also played a key role in the capture of Antwerp. And we are famous and loved for liberating the Netherlands. Monty tried but we all know how fucking stupid he is and therefor failed. I'm sure the Dutch were happy for his effort though, he did suceed in destroying Arnhem though. So good on him.

 

[X.e.r.e.X]

Finland had fun with commies.

 

[Destroyer25]

Finland had fun with commies.

Indeed they did. Finland>Russia. If Putin's mind ever reaches the insanity of Hitler's then its going to be Finland that saves the world. Not the US, not England. Finland will defeat Russia. I have great confidence in Russian incompetance, they will invade Finland in November, in 2139. It is destiny. On November 1st, 2139, the world will hold their breath, as Russia invades Finland. They will lose in a month. I couldn't be more confident in that statement.

 

[Carrigage]

Would help if you guys actually induldged us in actual events. And I also realize that any Germans could potentionally be offended by this thread because all they could say is "we were the bad guys".
But I believe there is more to the germans than just the Nazi's in World War 2.

So I'd advice that any Germans would focus on what Germany (Civilians and Wehrmacht alike) did, not what the Nazi's did.

There are several things that comes to mind about Germany's bravery and success, as opposed to the Nazi "success".

The final offense of Germany is one, when a high-standing German general decided to ditch Hitler in Berlin in favour of breaking through a Russian pocket and save another division of German Soldiers who had bravely been fighting back the russian onslaught. And bring both his own division and the one he saved West, towards the Allieds to surrender and save lives instead of wasting good lives for a madman like Hitler.

Or the "project valkyrie" which most people are familiar with. The near-successful attempt on Hitler life by German Officers and Soldiers who realized what insanity Hitler had brought upon Germany.

Alot of people forget that Germany, And Nazi-Germany can be considered two different things. The German Army followed orders, granted they were being spewed out by madmen, they still fought like any other Army in the world. So never confuse Wehrmacht with the SS or similar.

So, carry on!

 

[Fussiler1]

Mhm.. let me see.. what did the Netherlands do ..

Try to stay neutral once more like in WW 1.
Get invaded by Germany, and fight them with weapons out of the Age of Napoleon.
(It's not because we were dumb, but meh, we didn't had war for like 150 year)
Actually put some resistance up, example, battle of Grebbenberg, then the Germans threatened to bomb one of our main cities. Before we even could surrender, they bombarded it and threatened to bombard another city. We surrendered. Our queen fled to Britain where she talked to the Dutch People through the BBC.
Oh, and she got complimented by Churchill that she was the only man in (?)

The NSB get's the power, a nazi like group, and they get all the good things, jobs and food. Meanwhile, lots of resistance was mobilized by the BS, Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten, in English, Native Battleforces. We also helped lots of English Militair soldiers escape through the place named Duinkerken.

Lots of Jews catched, but at the first exportations, the Dutch people became furious and in many cities in the country they striked, and it began in Amsterdam. I'm not sure, but I believe this was the first non-Jewish protests against the exportations against the Germans. Well.. meh, the Germans took many men who striked and shot at them. All the Jews were brought to the camp named Westerbork and then transported to the camps in the east. But one Jew became very famous, named Anne Frank.
The Diary of Anne Frank's a good sold book, eh?

Then the Invasion came. They rolled through France, Normandy and such. They almost neared the Netherlands and the people became almost crazy of happyness. They started to feast, but then the angry Germans shot at them. Mhm.. but then the Allied Forces came, and they liberated the south part of the Netherlands. Why? The main key to the north part of my country are the bridges of Arnhem, a city. A huge battle occured there, and the Allied Forces lost.

Then the winter started. The Germans had took most food in the north of the Netherlands, and this wasn't a normal winter. It was an extremely cold winter. People started to rob empty houses only for some wood. The people started to make extremely long journeys to farmers to get some food, but it usually got taken by the Landguard. People started to eat beets and make from flowers soup. So many people died in the winter. :\

But then it got liberated.

 

[Luffy]

how nice that we didn't get involved into anything. how nice...

 

[crawdaddy029]

. And I also realize that any Germans could potentionally be offended by this thread because all they could say is "we were the bad guys".

the Germans were not the bad guys though. German people for the most part wanted nothing to do with Hitler and his Thugs and rebeled by hiding jews away in thier holmes. Germans were decent people. now on the other hand Japanese people were the bad guys. Japan at the time was one of those societys that all citizens were ready to go to battle and die for thier cause (this would be the reason for the A-bomb as the war would never end otherwise).

The U.S. in the war. pre-1941 we were nuetral allies as we provided weapons and men to the war effort but had no direct involvement. post-1941 i could tell you more about the battle with Japan then in Europe cause i was in the navy so i learned alot of the history from that. Miday was probably the most important battle won although many smaller battles were probably more key into winning the war all together. Alot of Japanese flagships and carriers groups were getting obliterated (so to speak) by smaller less armed U.S. ships. The battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa were very important victorys as well as it allowed land based bombing raids over japanese Islands. There was also the battle of Coral Sea which was the first naval battle which no ships spotted or fired upon each other and was strickly carrier vs carrier.

 

[redscores]

Thats true... well, I am german, and why should I get offended by this thread? It is just some discussion.

 

[En_Fuego]

the Germans were not the bad guys though. German people for the most part wanted nothing to do with Hitler and his Thugs and rebeled by hiding jews away in thier holmes. Germans were decent people. now on the other hand Japanese people were the bad guys. Japan at the time was one of those societys that all citizens were ready to go to battle and die for thier cause (this would be the reason for the A-bomb as the war would never end otherwise).

That's because when the shogun tells you something, you do it honorably. The war would have ended without the A-bombs. They used them for testing purposes.

If you don't believe me, why don't you read a little bit about all of the apologies the US has made to Japan, unless of course you're telling me your country is full of shit. Which everyone already thinks anway.

 

[DudeSpirit]

Well i was born and raised in England, i guess i'll tell what the UK did then.

I don't really know THAT much about WW2, I've read some texts about it, and seen many documentaries.

Britain fought the toughest war it had ever experienced. World War II was total war - every person, every business, every service was involved.

"On September 3, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. This marks the beginning of World War II in Europe."

"In May 1940, Britain got a more aggressive war-time leader -- Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister."

"That same month, on May 26, 1940, in the face of a large-scale German offensive, British troops on the continent were forced into one of the largest evacuations in history -- the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk on the Belgian coast."

"From July to October 1940, the English people suffered under the Battle of Britain: intense German bombing. But the Royal Air Force valiantly defended its homeland from the German Luftwaffe, and the Nazis were unable to crush British morale."

"In March 1941, the U.S. began giving direct support to the British in the form of arms and ammunition through the Lend-Lease Act. After Pearl Harbor, in December, America would become directly involved in aiding the British in Europe. In January 1942, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to establish a Combined Chiefs of Staff and to the make defeating Germany their first priority. (Winning the war in Europe would come before winning the war in the Pacific.)"

Great Britain had fought from the opening salvoes of the conflict to its last day, and stood exhausted, poverty-stricken, but proud.

 

[Carrigage]

That's because when the shogun tells you something, you do it honorably. The war would have ended without the A-bombs. They used them for testing purposes.

If you don't believe me, why don't you read a little bit about all of the apologies the US has made to Japan, unless of course you're telling me your country is full of shit. Which everyone already thinks anway.

America Dropped the Atombomb on Japan to force a surrender because there were in reality no military targets left in the entire country. The Second atombomb was dropped to display the capability of massproduction of a weapon of such massive magnitude, and it worked. (Even though they couldn't mass produce them in reality.)

Fact is, that dropping the atombombs saved lives, both Japanese and American. Because an American landing on Japan would have turned into a bloodbath. Every person in all of Japan was being trained to fight and kill American soldiers. Even school girls were equipped with blades and teached how to fight.

The official apology from America derives from the lack of knowledge of the side effects of using the Atombomb, the radioactivty left behind. That is what they apologized for, not for retalliating by any means they could against an enemy that refused to surrender.

Edit: now stop going off-topic and induldge us in what YOUR country did! Not what every other country did! (That includes me )

Well i was born and raised in England, i guess i'll tell what the UK did then.

Edit 2: You forget to mention that right after World War 2, when England's economy had gone straight to hell, they introduced free (Socialist) healthcare to offer people the means to mend their wounds after having endured the war. That is something that England should be proud of.

 

[En_Fuego]

America Dropped the Atombomb on Japan to force a surrender because there were in reality no military targets left in the entire country. The Second atombomb was dropped to display the capability of massproduction of a weapon of such massive magnitude, and it worked. (Even though they couldn't mass produce them in reality.)

Fact is, that dropping the atombombs saved lives, both Japanese and American. Because an American landing on Japan would have turned into a bloodbath. Every person in all of Japan was being trained to fight and kill American soldiers. Even school girls were equipped with blades and teached how to fight.

The official apology from America derives from the lack of knowledge of the side effects of using the Atombomb, the radioactivty left behind. That is what they apologized for, not for retalliating by any means they could against an enemy that refused to surrender.

Edit: now stop going off-topic and induldge us in what YOUR country did! Not what every other country did! (That includes me )



Edit 2: You forget to mention that right after World War 2, when England's economy had gone straight to hell, they introduced free (Socialist) healthcare to offer people the means to mend their wounds after having endured the war. That is something that England should be proud of.

I'm from Japan, ergo, anything I say will end up with Americans going "yeah, but you guys were bad so we hit you with a-bombs".

 

[Carrigage]

I'm from Japan, ergo, anything I say will end up with Americans going "yeah, but you guys were bad so we hit you with a-bombs".

I have no clue of what to say here really.. Japan did horrible things, they were outside the boundries of what a war is all about. I know that Japan regrets it, and that they'd wanna remove that period from their history. Come a long way since.

I really don't know much about the war outside Europe. I guess the Attack on Pearl Harbour HAVE to be one of the most tactically successful attacks during world war 2. I guess that has some value. The defense of Iwo Jima is in my books one of the most stoic defenses I've ever heard or read about.

So even though Japan could be considered the bad guys, does in no way overshadow their efficiency in combat. So focus on the war things, not the bad things.

I mean, I'm Swedish, do you know how often I get referred to as a "nazi-sympathizer" because we traded with the Germans during WW2? If you're only seeing it from the outside, it's easy to pass prejudice. But as you said, the Emperor orders something, and you don't say no to him. Same goes for Germany. High-command tells you something, you don't say no. A good soldier never says no. THAT Applies for all countries.

 

[TheDivineBoss]

World War 2 ended in 1991.

True fact.


Aside the very true fact: We tried to stay neutral and (off course) gain a profit from it. The country was undermanned and lacked weapons. Our tactics and defences sucked too, since most of them were still from WW1 and before that. When we were invaded/blitzkrieg'd, we lost the war in a week. Rotterdam was threatened to be bombed, we surrendered but there was a slight miscommunication and R'dam got bombed to the ground anyway. Even though our royal family and government escaped to England and we surrendered, a puppet government was placed and the small pockets of resistance were swept away.

During the occupation, nothing much really happened, though there were some extra Germans digging on our beaches and some Jews went away, but nothing really else happened.

Oh and next time, when you want to liberate us: Try asking first if there are elite SS units based in our country instead just waltzing in and go a bridge too far.

 

[Carrigage]

World War 2 ended in 1991.

True fact.


Aside the very true fact: We tried to stay neutral and (off course) gain a profit from it. The country was undermanned and lacked weapons. Our tactics and defences sucked too, since most of them were still from WW1 and before that. When we were invaded/blitzkrieg'd, we lost the war in a week. Rotterdam was threatened to be bombed, we surrendered but there was a slight miscommunication and R'dam got bombed to the ground anyway. Even though our royal family and government escaped to England and we surrendered, a puppet government was placed and the small pockets of resistance were swept away.

During the occupation, nothing much really happened, though there were some extra Germans digging on our beaches and some Jews went away, but nothing really else happened.

Oh and next time, when you want to liberate us: Try asking first if there are elite SS units based in our country instead of thinking they are young boys and old farts.

He's from the Netherlands. He also neglected to say that (Rotterdam was sort of revealing, but for the sake of those with zero geographical knowledge, please say which country you're talking about. )

 

[TwistedImage]

Eh, is this a topic on "What heroic deeds did your country do during war?" War is pathetic. It's always a bad excuse to randomly kill people you don't like.

 

[The_Grapist]

If WW2 ended 1991 then another war began in my country.
1991-1995
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_War_of_Independence

 

[Aeroblyctos]

 

[Destroyer25]

Very true about Finland, but the Finish Army was actually only about 40 000 strong, but ofc every able bodied man was called up to join the militia. So It was a much larger amount, but It was nowhere near 250 000. At the most maybe 150 000, but that says even more about Finland.

Oh and in referrance to the A-Bomb. It was not needed, Japan was already thinking about surrender, or at least some wanted to. I think an another month of bombing by air would get them to surrender.

 

[DudeSpirit]

And you're not even Finnish?
(Directed to Destroyer, i already know EVERYTHING about you Aero.)

 

[Anders]

Sweden made meatballs and nazi-train-transports

 

[Aeroblyctos]

And you're not even Finnish?

Yea I am and currently I'm in army.

 

[Destroyer25]

And you're not even Finnish?

I'm just congradulating Finland on their epicness.

 

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

We destroyed the Death Star.

 

[TheDivineBoss]

He's from the Netherlands. He also neglected to say that (Rotterdam was sort of revealing, but for the sake of those with zero geographical knowledge, please say which country you're talking about. )

Just click people's profiles, jeez.

 

[NhazUl]

We Bulgarians behaved like faggots.

Before the war our government gave in to Hitler's pressure and joined the Axis. All we did was to declare war to UK and USA (WTF?! We had nothing to do with these guys).

Okay, we saved thousands of Jews while our King and government had sworn an allegiance to the Axis. No single Bulgarian trooper was sent to the Eastern Front. That was the good part.

Then on September 9, 1944, the Red Army invaded the country and the commies made a coup. They "purged" the army (as well as everything else) from non-communists and then invaded Yugoslavia with the intention to reclaim what lands we lost in WWI and the Balkan Wars in 1912-1913. Good, it was an epic win (wtf, during the Communist rule this part of the war was referred to as "Fatherland war" and not a part of WWII). Well, all lands that were lost in 1912-1919 were occupied by the Bulgarian army.

However, we failed because we were fags. Bulgaria was on the side of the Axis until 1944 and switching sides did not change anything. We were still treated as a losing participant of the war. Moreover, we fell into the USSR's zone of influence... so we were additionally fucked up. To this day.

 

[crawdaddy029]

We destroyed the Death Star.

so that would make you a rebel x-wing pilot?

 

[Destroyer25]

We Bulgarians behaved like faggots.

Before the war our government gave in to Hitler's pressure and joined the Axis. All we did was to declare war to UK and USA (WTF?! We had nothing to do with these guys).

Okay, we saved thousands of Jews while our King and government had sworn an allegiance to the Axis. No single Bulgarian trooper was sent to the Eastern Front. That was the good part.

Then on September 9, 1944, the Red Army invaded the country and the commies made a coup. They "purged" the army (as well as everything else) from non-communists and then invaded Yugoslavia with the intention to reclaim what lands we lost in WWI and the Balkan Wars in 1912-1913. Good, it was an epic win (wtf, during the Communist rule this part of the war was referred to as "Fatherland war" and not a part of WWII). Well, all lands that were lost in 1912-1919 were occupied by the Bulgarian army.

However, we failed because we were fags. Bulgaria was on the side of the Axis until 1944 and switching sides did not change anything. We were still treated as a losing participant of the war. Moreover, we fell into the USSR's zone of influence... so we were additionally fucked up. To this day.

Sorry buddy, I'm not sure if your lieing or just stupid. But Bulgaria was a major patricipant on the Eastern Front. They were said be the only useful ally Germany had in Army Group South. Bulgaria was taken by the USSR though and turned into another puppet, or Satalite State along with Hungary, Romania, Poland, Yugoslavia, etc.

 

[Arowanna]

Sweden

Don't know if someone has posted this, but we also sold iron ore to Germany.
But man, we did some great stuff as well, just like Carrigage said.

The rest have been mentioned, I guess.

 

[crawdaddy029]

i want someone from Switzerland to post

 

[Arowanna]

i want someone from Switzerland to post

I don't know anything about them,
but here's some from everyones favorite, Wikipedia:
Switzerland during the World Wars

 

[xxdingo93xx]

Multi-Cultural ftw ehh?
Ok, this is what "my" countries did:

The Netherlands:
Being attacked by the fascistic germany. After that being captured by it ...

Spain:
Allying the fascistic germany.

Germany:
Being fascistic and controlled by a brainless stupid moron who never got a lollypop as child (lulz).

 

[Destroyer25]

i want someone from Switzerland to post

I believe Switzerland gave supplies to Germany in exchange for their safety.

 

[trolman]

Sorry buddy, I'm not sure if your lieing or just stupid. But Bulgaria was a major patricipant on the Eastern Front. They were said be the only useful ally Germany had in Army Group South. Bulgaria was taken by the USSR though and turned into another puppet, or Satalite State along with Hungary, Romania, Poland, Yugoslavia, etc.

No "buddy" we were never on the east front.

 

[Destroyer25]

No "buddy" we were never on the east front.

Learn some history kid, you were on the Eastern Front.

 

[TheDivineBoss]

I believe Switzerland gave supplies to Germany in exchange for their safety.

Partially correct, Germany didn't bother to invade them since they were basically in Axis territory (Germany, Italy and occupied France).

 

[trolman]

Learn some history kid, you were on the Eastern Front.

Hey listen grampa we werent on the german/russian front (it was called the eastern front).

 

[TheDivineBoss]

Hey listen grampa we werent on the german/russian front (it was called the eastern front).

Don't worry, he's just ignorant enough to confuse Eastern Front with Eastern Bloc.

 

[raid1000]

Well romania wanted to be neutral but USSR gave us an ultimatum to give them a province or they be invading us (we lost the province to this day) so we joined with the axis. By the middle of the war we changed sides to the allies and have been used as cannonmeat by the russians from then on. So meh we pretty much sucked.

fighting someone else's war is gay

 

[Coolty44]

We tried to prove that we wern't Bitians bitch. By delcaring war on Germany a day after. We also got responsibility for Junno I do believe, and Italy

 

[Destroyer25]

We tried to prove that we wern't Bitians bitch. By delcaring war on Germany a day after. We also got responsibility for Junno I do believe, and Italy

See my post for a far more descriptive account of Canada's involvement in WW2.

 

[Mulgrim]

i'm pretty sure italy was involved with germany in ww2... but i never studied it (or remember it)

fill me in

 

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

They invaded northern africa to try and seize control of a canal whose name I don't remember. They were actually involved a lot in different fights, but they were absolutely terrible at warfare and Germany had to save their asses over and over again. It's one of the major reasons why Germany lost the war - they had to split forces to fight Italy's battles.

 

[Kwaliti]

As for me, some guy launched a coup in Yugoslavia, so the Nazis screwed us over, even though we obeyed the Tripartite pact. Then we got owned by the Nazis. Then we started a liberation war. Then we won with the help of the Allies, mostly Soviets.

Then the communists took over. ☭