Well that’s equivalent to me ha. Yes I consider agreeing with Hitler to carve up Europe in a certain way and then invading Poland as part of this plan, to be complicit in the broader war that started from these actions. How could you not is the better question?
Didnt Britain/France sign the Munich Agreement which allowed Germany to annex territory too? Seems like they would be "complicit" too if this is the standard you are setting, being in a room carving up Europe in exchange for guarantees in their interest. That arguably led to the Soviets to pursue their own non-aggression pact with Germany, which you say "caused" the war. Maybe there is a reason Britain/France declared war on Germany and not Russia when Poland was invaded?
Britain and France were trying to avoid war through appeasement. They did not coordinate a joint military invasion or directly benefit territorially. The Soviets actively participated in the partition of Poland alongside Germany after agreeing to divide Eastern Europe in secret. The Munich Agreement happened before Hitler’s full-scale aggression was proven inevitable. By the time the USSR signed its pact in 1939, Hitler had already violated multiple agreements. The Soviets knew what they were signing up for—and did so anyway. Britain and France were guilty of appeasement. Soviets took steps of aggression to start the broader war in Europe.
Appeasers are off the hook, Chamberlain vindicated for responsibility because he selflessly didn't ask for territory when dealing with Hitler!
Off the hook? No. I think pretty general consensus that Chamberlain and French leadership were fools in retrospect. (Hence current discourse on Ukraine trying to avoid a repeat) The Soviets participated in the aggressive acts though. That is a lot different than being cowardly. A lot of brave Americans died because of these actions.
Trying to put an accomplice (Russia) on the same level of complicity as bystanders/appeasers (Britain and France) is a false equivalence.
To be clear, I dont think any of them bear responsibility for Hitler's war, you are the one making a false equivalency saying the Soviets and Nazis started WWII, which I've never heard anyone seriously argue lol. Ultimately we allied with the Soviets, and they got even more of Poland out of it ... after the Allied powers sat in a room in Yalta and literally carved up Europe and zones of influence after the war.
Did you learn history from Moscow text or something? It is extremely common knowledge that the Russian secret pact with Hitler was a very big part of WW2 outbreak in Europe. Then to have to defend their homeland from Nazis later on isn't quite the same level as America liberating France. Sorry about your Russians not looking as good as our American heroes. But it's just documented facts.
I mean I'm obviously aware of it, since I mentioned it lol. I've never heard anyone argue that Russia bore responsibility for the war, at least not in a way that was similar to all the people who say appeasement with Hitler led to the war, because it emboldened him to try to take more. This is why I said your post was the same sort of revisionism Trump is trying to by making it all about America - we didnt appease, etc so we are best - ra ra . We also dropped a nuke on a a bunch of civilians twice so ...
I feel like often times, Canada’s contribution in World War II is overlooked. All the more reason they should become our 51st state.
I get that the president is basically a cheerleader for the country, and it's great to recognize and be proud of our many accomplishments. This is fine, and universal. But Trump doesn't stop there. His bloviating "patriotism," requires that he diminishes the contributions of others. I think it's a combination of ego and ignorance of history. I sincerely believe, for example, that he's never heard of Alan Turing and Bletchley Park. I don't know why he isn't more inclusive and generous in his discussion of the World Wars. It's not like it's zero sum, and all it does is put up the backs of the slighted nations.
A million French and British die between Somme and Verdun alone, we cruise in at the end of WWI and are like "you're welcome, losers"
Do you really think he's ignorant of history? Listen to him wax poetically about the Declaration of Independence and what it means to him.
Not to mention the Civil War airports, and his favorite Bible verse. It's pretty funny how he turns softball questions into gotchas. Trump is a profoundly stupid man.
