As many wars as nations

This article seems most appropriate in the 60th anniversary strand. It examines "myths and truths of World War II", and how the history of WW2 has been used by each country.

I will post the first few paragraphs (as it is rather long and even as a Word document it well exceeds the limit allowed here). It is well worth a read.

" As many wars as nations: The myths and truths of World War II. By Adam Krzeminski


The war destroyed not just countries, but the whole edifice of traditional myths that supported the identity of the European nations before it began. Meanwhile, the effort to create some new myths fell foul of the shocking reality: millions of people had been killed or murdered, there was immense material destruction, and Europe had been politically and morally degraded. In 1945 only the USSR and the USA could be triumphant without restraint. All the other nations and societies – including not just those that openly participated in the war – were deeply torn apart. People had been divided by various political options and moral choices; firstly, there was the resistance movement, which provoked repressions inflicted by the occupying forces, secondly there were the collaborators who supported them, and thirdly there was the passive majority just trying to survive. Although the Third Reich was well and truly crushed, for many countries occupied by the Red Army the end of the war did not mean peace, but the imposition of Soviet hegemony, civil war and governments that relied on Soviet tanks.

To all intents and purposes there were as many Second World Wars as there were nations. Only for the Poles and the Germans did it start on 1 September 1939. Actually, that was when it started for the Swiss too – it’s true!, and they are proud that they announced mobilisation that very day, to defend their Alpine redoubts. For the British and the French, the war formally began two days later, but in reality not until 8 April 1940, on the same day as for the Danes and the Norwegians. For the Russians, it began on 21 June 1941 (the Soviet invasion of Poland on 17 September 1939 and the cold war with Finland have been pushed outside the definition of the "Great Patriotic War"). For the Americans it began on 7 December 1941, and for the Bulgarians not until 1944, when they broke their passive alliance, and the Bulgarians and Soviets became brothers in arms.

Apart from that, among the truly victorious powers, only Great Britain and the USA did not change front during the war, which does not mean they did not change their attitudes to Poland. Moreover, with the exception of Poland most of the countries involved in the war actually changed sides, above all France, which under the Vichy governments withdrew from the war, considerably augmenting German military capability. Until 1941 the USSR was allied to the Third Reich; to some point so were Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and Finland.

In today's Europe there are some states that owed their foundation to Adolf Hitler, including Slovakia, Croatia, and others that lost their independence for a long time as a result of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. And finally there were some neutral countries – Sweden, Switzerland and Spain – that collaborated to an equal extent with both the Reich and the Allies, who are proud of their resistance and at the same time ashamed of or annoyed by accusations of dealing in stolen goods or handing over refugees.

From this mishmash we can already see that a common European version of the Second World War is not exactly probable. Each nation had a different experience, each one has fostered and exposed its own war myths, as recorded in photographs, memoirs, novels or films, changing with the passage of time and often internally contradictory. First of all, the versions told by the two main victors dominated. It was they who imposed their view on the war. The superpowers not only won the war and dictated the terms of peace, they also had the mass media to disseminate their triumph."

The original can be found:

http://www.signandsight.com/features/96.html

 

To all intents and purposes there were as many Second World Wars as there were nations. Only for the Poles and the Germans did it start on 1 September 1939. Actually, that was when it started for the Swiss too – it’s true!, and they are proud that they announced mobilisation that very day, to defend their Alpine redoubts. For the British and the French, the war formally began two days later, but in reality not until 8 April 1940, on the same day as for the Danes and the Norwegians. For the Russians, it began on 21 June 1941 (the Soviet invasion of Poland on 17 September 1939 and the cold war with Finland have been pushed outside the definition of the "Great Patriotic War"). For the Americans it began on 7 December 1941, and for the Bulgarians not until 1944, when they broke their passive alliance, and the Bulgarians and Soviets became brothers in arms.

And it began for the Chinese in 1931. While this eurocentric author makes good points in his essay, he tends to belabor the obvious. Still, a good read. Thanks Kyt.

JT

 

I'd have thought that a great many RAF & RN veterans would be shocked at the claim that the war didn't start for Britain until 8 April 1940.

According to my Masters class in Grand Strategy of WW2, the war lasted from 1937-45 as that's the longest period of continuous fighting between 2 belligerents i.e. Japan & China. I queried the tutor on why the start date wasn't 1931 & he explained that China & Japan weren't continuously fighting between 1931 & 1937.

Oh, & the USSR was invaded on 22 June 1941, not 21 June.

 

I think you merit of the article is the analysis of the way that he war has been perceived by many countries.

I agree that the the article in Eurocentric but I don't think he would deny that. From the first paragraph he makes it clear that he is referring to Europe.

As to the question of when the second world war started - I for one have never accepted the view that the "SECOND WORLD WAR" started in 1931 or 1937 etc. The fact that existing local conflicts became enwrapped into the bigger conflict is not at issue. But when did it become global? I personally believe THAT only occurred when the Germans invaded Poland. Why? Because it was only then that nations around the world became invloved and the spheres of conflict became global. The war then included the British EMPIRE, the Fench EMPIRE, the other European EMPIRES, etc. Even those countries that did not get involved in the physical conflict became involved in some way or another - neautrality became an important issue e.g. the Battle of the River Plate, the American neutrality, the Russian-Japanese neutrality pact, etc.

Right, now you will probably disagree

As to the invasion of Ruusia - I agree that everything that I've read say 22 June, but here's an interesting anomaly - google "21 June 1941" and see what you find.