Given my specific interest in my father's Battalion, I could've gone for the obvious - 1944 - but I have voted for 1945. Simply for the aftermath - and how the manoeuvrings shaped subsequent world politics.
I voted for the whole era simply because I was very much involved in the war during the years 1939 to 1945. 1939 Aged 16, I found myself packed off by my parents to Hove 1940 Back in London in time for the Blitz 1941 Commuting daily into London and serving as an Air Raid warden at night 1942 October saw me called up into the Forces 1943 In April I was posted to North Africa and subsequently arrived in Sicily & Italy 1944 Enjoyed life at Monte Cassino 1945 Saw a different side of the Army with the 4th Hussars and finished up chasing wanted ex-SS War Criminals in Austria
It has to be 1942 - the most pivotal year of the war. Until then Hitler was unstoppable and at the peak of his power. 1942 brought Stalingrad and Alamein, the great turning points of the war. "The Germans have received back again that measure of fire and steel which they have so often meted out to others. Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning" - Winston Churchill.
Wow, its amazing how many people voted for "the whole era". It is fairly difficult to pinpoint one year. Everyone can quite justifiable point to each year as being interesting. Well done everyone who has voted so far.
Voted for whole era too. Later this year will have to read up on the campaign in Poland. After all it will be 70th Anniversary.
Voted for whole era too. Later this year will have to read up on the campaign in Poland. After all it will be 70th Anniversary. I wonder how many anniversaries or "firsts" there were September to December 1939?
Wow, its amazing how many people voted for "the whole era". It is fairly difficult to pinpoint one year. Everyone can quite justifiable point to each year as being interesting. Well done everyone who has voted so far. Along with GH, I thank all of you who have so far taken part. Would have been interesting if 'Whole Era' had been left out. But maybe some forum members wouldn't be able to take part and pick just one year.
I've taken the liberty of removing 'The whole era' to polarise the poll a little. So apologies to: duncr, Elven6, Gnomey, James S, John H, jwp59, Lucy Stag, Niccar, Owen, Paul Reed, Peter Clare, ramacal, riggerphil, Ron Goldstein, ShropshireMad, soren1941, spidge, Steve G, WotNoChad?, Za Rodinu As you'll now have to pick a specific year :p. ~A
One year , 1943 - it was the year in which the Pigeons came home to roost as far as the Third Reich went. Everything finally came together in the Atlantic , Stalingrad finally fell ,Goebbels asked the German people if they wanted "total war , Bombing by day and by night finally brought home the harsh cold reality of war to Germany , the destruction of the Luftwaffe dayfighter force began , the end in Africa, Kursk decided the war in the east, Italy was invaded and left the Axis, Scharnhorst sunk off North Cape , Tirpitz crippled. In Europe it was the year which finally confirmed that the Axis would be beaten. In the far east the Japanese Empire was starting to fall apart , they had reached and past their high tide and now their gains were being taken back.
Blast i liked the whole era option, it took away the need to think. Oh well better think about this........ Got to be 1940 Neil
1940 for me. And this series always makes my mind up for me. YouTube - Dunkirk: Episode 3 - Deliverance :: [Part 6 of 6]
VP has taken the liberty of removing 'The whole era' to polarise the poll a little. So apologies to: duncr, Elven6, Gnomey, John H, jwp59, Lucy Stag, Niccar, Paul Reed, Peter Clare, ramacal, riggerphil, Ron Goldstein, soren1941, spidge, Steve G, WotNoChad?, Za Rodinu As you'll now have to pick a specific year :tongue:. Roll up, gents. Time to pick a year!
I voted for 1944 because i always found the conflict between the Americans and Japanese VERY interesting. And my most favourite moment in that point was the Battle of Iwo Jima!