The Year That Changed History

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The Year That Changed History

by Victor Davis Hanson

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Sometimes, just a few months can change the course of civilization. That’s what happened in 1942 when a series of decisive events changed the trajectory of World War II.

Before that turning point, Germany seemed destined for victory. In 1939 and 1940, Hitler’s army had won a series of border wars, giving the Fuhrer control over ten conquered European countries. By the autumn of 1940, Britain was the sole European power standing against Hitler—and it was being mercilessly bombed by the Luftwaffe. At the same time, Russia was colluding with Germany, and America remained isolationist. Hitler and his allies, who reigned over an area larger than the present European Union, believed that the European wars were over, for all purposes—and decisively won.

But suddenly in 1941, Hitler’s calm march to victory ended and the global inferno of what we now call World War II began. The surprise German invasion of the Soviet Union (June 22, 1941), the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Singapore (December 7-8, 1941), and the declaration of war by Germany and Italy on the United States (December 11, 1941) precipitated a level of violence and destruction never before seen in world history.    https://www.hoover.org/research/year-changed-history

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The Second World Wars

 Military historian Victor Davis Hanson recounts the key battles of World War II. He’s joined in conversation by National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry.   https://www.c-span.org/video/?437392-1/the-world-wars

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SAGA - The Snow Fell

And The Snow Fell

Seventy-three years ago yesterday, the Ardennes offensive began as the last major German offensive of WW2. The Germans poured men an material into Belgium and Luxembourg in attempt stop the Allied invasion  forces and to capture the port of Antwerp which was vital to the Allied supply system. While this ferocious battle was taking place during the "coldest winter on record" in Europe. German soldiers had  been retreating since their defeat by the Soviets at Stalingrad in February 1943 and for sure after the Battle of Kursk. The losses for both armies was staggering as was civilian loss of life. It is estimated that thirty million Soviet civilians died during the war. Many civilians died at the hands of the Stalin regime from starvation and by execution for various "crimes". As an example of the harshness of the Soviet rule, app. 7,700 Soviet soldiers were executed by Communist political officers at Stalingrad alone and for minor offenses such as "drunkeness" and not "fighting hard enough". It was a very brutal war with horrible winter conditions that both sides had to endure. I came across this video of Germans in the snow and thought I would share.