4 ms·

France and Britain declared war on Germany during WW2, which effectively triggered a world war.

by ungoog 6y ago

estaseuropano 6y ago
It is quite a lot more complex than that. I'd say it is a stretch to argue that Germany was to blame for WW1 (post-WW1 Germany was forced to take the blame but the reality was a lot more complex). You can then also argue about the context/contribution the harsh treaty of Versailles made to WW2. But to not blame principally Germany/NSDAP/Hitler for WW2 after Germany marched into Poland is pretty absurd.
- redis_mlc 6y ago
  I study WW2, so I'll comment. WW2 is the name we use today, but there were really about 11 wars total. 1) Britain declared war on Germany as part of their mutual-defence pact with Poland, but after Germany invaded Poland. 2) FYI: Aggressor countries have rarely "declared war" before attacking for almost 2 centuries. Because, you know, element of surprise. So it's normal to be attacked with no declaration of war, but then to declare war on your attacker or in defense of your treaty partners. Like Pearl Harbor, where the Japanese attacked without declaring war, then the US declared war on Japan, then Germany declared war on the US as part of their treaty with Japan. The problem that Japan and Germany faced was you don't declare war on an enemy that you can't bomb, and who has 10x more oil than you do. Oops. So yes, Germany did start WW2. To be fair to the German people, they were used to monarchy/autocracy. Democracy in the 1930s was not looked upon as an entirely positive thing as it is today in the West. So they were fine going along with whoever the strongman was, similar to Russia and Putin today. > the harsh treaty of Versailles made to WW2 It actually wasn't harsh compared to previous treaties that favored Germany, although politicians find fig leaves for war convenient, and one can object to any reparations at all.

France and Britain declared war on Germany during WW2, which effectively triggered a world war.

by ungoog 6y ago

France and Britain declared war on Germany during WW2, which effectively triggered a world war.

It is quite a lot more complex than that. I'd say it is a stretch to argue that Germany was to blame for WW1 (post-WW1 Germany was forced to take the blame but the reality was a lot more complex). You can then also argue about the context/contribution the harsh treaty of Versailles made to WW2. But to not blame principally Germany/NSDAP/Hitler for WW2 after Germany marched into Poland is pretty absurd.

redis_mlc 6y ago
I study WW2, so I'll comment. WW2 is the name we use today, but there were really about 11 wars total. 1) Britain declared war on Germany as part of their mutual-defence pact with Poland, but after Germany invaded Poland. 2) FYI: Aggressor countries have rarely "declared war" before attacking for almost 2 centuries. Because, you know, element of surprise. So it's normal to be attacked with no declaration of war, but then to declare war on your attacker or in defense of your treaty partners. Like Pearl Harbor, where the Japanese attacked without declaring war, then the US declared war on Japan, then Germany declared war on the US as part of their treaty with Japan. The problem that Japan and Germany faced was you don't declare war on an enemy that you can't bomb, and who has 10x more oil than you do. Oops. So yes, Germany did start WW2. To be fair to the German people, they were used to monarchy/autocracy. Democracy in the 1930s was not looked upon as an entirely positive thing as it is today in the West. So they were fine going along with whoever the strongman was, similar to Russia and Putin today. > the harsh treaty of Versailles made to WW2 It actually wasn't harsh compared to previous treaties that favored Germany, although politicians find fig leaves for war convenient, and one can object to any reparations at all.