8.26.2012

The Allies Second Front in World War II: Why Were Canadian Troops Sacrificed at Dieppe?

I found this article (link) fascinating:  Here is a bit:


"British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, on the other hand, was an outspoken opponent of a second front. He may have feared, as some historians suggest, that a landing in France might lead to a duplication of the murderous warfare associated with the battlefields of northern France in the First World War. But it is more likely that Churchill liked the idea that Hitler and Stalin were administering a major bloodletting to each other on the Eastern Front, and that he believed that London and Washington would benefit from a stalemated war in the East. Since he already had nearly three years of war experience, Churchill had much influence on Roosevelt, a newcomer to the war in Europe. It is therefore understandable that the opinion of the British leader ultimately prevailed, and that plans for opening a second front in 1942 were quietly discarded. In any event, Roosevelt himself discovered that this course of action – or rather, inaction – opened up some attractive prospects. 

For example, it allowed him, in spite of the “Germany First” principle, to quietly commit a high proportion of manpower and equipment to the war in the Pacific, which was very much “his” war, and where American interests were more directly at stake than in Europe. He and his military and political advisors also started to realize that defeating Germany would require huge sacrifices, which the American people would not be delighted to bring. Landing in France was tantamount to jumping into the ring for a face-off with a formidable German opponent, and, even if ultimately successful, that would be a bloody and costly affair. Was it not far wiser to stay safely on the sidelines, at least for the time being, and let the Soviets slug it out against the Nazis? "

7 comments:

  1. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
    Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?

    Plz respond as I'm looking to construct my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. thanks
    Here is my blog ; e-commerce website

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
    I'll bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly. I am quite sure I will learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
    Here is my web site ... make money online the internet

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog website?
    The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted
    of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea
    Here is my blog post : vacation insurance

    ReplyDelete
  4. Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this article and the rest of the website is very good.
    Visit my page ; power must

    ReplyDelete
  5. Valuable information. Fortunate me I discovered your web site accidentally,
    and I'm stunned why this accident did not came about in advance! I bookmarked it.
    Feel free to surf my weblog hypnosis stop smoking

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm amazed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that's equally educative and entertaining, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail
    on the head. The issue is something which too few people are speaking intelligently about.
    I'm very happy I came across this during my hunt for something relating to this.
    Look into my web-site :: maemofrance.fr

    ReplyDelete
  7. This piece of writing will assist the internet visitors for creating
    new webpage or even a weblog from start to end.

    Feel free to surf to my web page :: http://au.lawfall.com/w/index.php?title=User:Sadie8405

    ReplyDelete

Only by exercising YOUR freedom of speech shall you keep it. Comment now - I can handle it....

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.