ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

As with most historical "what might have beens"... There are arguments both ways. If you look at Russian war material output between 1943 to 1945 compared to that of Germany, it's tough to argue American supplies were critical to the Russian defeat of Germany, but a strong case could be made that the war would have been prolonged without the Arctic convoys.

From the beginning of the invasion of the East, Russia manufactured more tanks, self-propelled artillery and plane than Germany. The great tank battles were not won with American tanks, but Russian built T-34s.

It should also be kept in mind that much of the convoyed material went to Leningrad in an effort to keep that beleaguered city alive and hold Army Group North by the nose while Army Group Center and South were engaged and destroyed.

I don't think Germany would have won the European land war had the United States not shipped millions of tons of supplies over the northern sea route, but the war would definitely have been prolonged and the cost in Russian blood much higher. Germany's fate was sealed with the first Russian winter offensive in December 1941.

I just finished Omer Bartov's excellent Hitler's Army that, while not directly concerned with the war in the East, uses that background to argue against some of the historical revisionism about the conduct of the war by the Wehrmacht. Interesting book.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

I am as well. Spent 17 months in the Garden Spot of the East with the 1st Infantry Division. Six months in Redstone Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Ground learning how to repair the Field Artillery Digital Automatic Computer (FADAC) and ended up driving tractor-trailers and tank recovery vehicles.

How typical of the Army!

Nikonfan70 Loc: Long Island

At least they kept you busy.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

[quote=Nikonfan70]It's such a shame when we don't choose the best man for president. but rather the lesser of two evils.[/quote
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May be, but its still better to pick the "lesser of two evils", than the "best" of the worst....

Nikonfan70 Loc: Long Island

[quote=donrent][quote=Nikonfan70]It's such a shame when we don't choose the best man for president. but rather the lesser of two evils.[/quote
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May be, but its still better to pick the "lesser of two evils", than the "best" of the worst....[/quote
I guess so

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Here we go folks, DonRant history professor is now going to tell us all how the United Kingdom has failed as world leader. Unfortunately the only subject that Don is thoroughly prepared to speak on is "the effect of hemorrhoids on one's attitude" as he has spent so much time with his head in his rectum he is now the world's leading authority on that subject.

ngc1514 Loc: Atlanta, Ga., Lancaster, Oh. and Stuart, Fl.

Don's argument would seem to indicate we would have been better off had we let Great Britain continue to rule the US. Or does he think we were entitled to our freedom from British rule, but the other nations were not?

The end of colonialism was part of the agreements made between the Allies during World War II. Germany, of course, was stripped of her colonies. The biggest infraction was our allowing the French to go back into French Indo-China. A mistake that eventually cost the United States 58,000 lives.

photoman Loc: Budd Lake, NJ

Welcome home Brother !!!! I agree, Mitt isn't the best option either but hell, he can't be any worse than Obam-bam. Johnson fired up the war in Nam to cover up his involvement in the JFK asassination, only way he could ever be Prersident, got alot of men like us killed for nothing. The young Americans at that time hated the war but the working folk didn't mind it so much as long as nobody from their family got sent home in a box, hell they made tons of money off the war working overtime. This is a way of life in America and we only have two choices, stay nere or leave in search of another land i guess 'cause it ain't gonna change anytime in my lifetime. Be Blessed !!!

Nikonfan70 Loc: Long Island

Right;

When ever I left the USA even on vacation it was good to get back after a month or two.

alann Loc: Virginia

That video is the most accurate statement I have heard in a long time. If America had the current mindset during WWII we would all be speaking German. Regretfully many of our leaders (no matter what party they belong to) have no backbone and are more afraid of offending someone than they are of loosing our freedom.