Any WWII or History Fans out there?

[jbig31]

Just curious if there are any other history buffs out there? I love reading/watching anything related to WWII. The Allied Invasion of Normandy really interests me-what/who was involved, vehicles and weapons used, military strategies put into place....etc. Bascially anything that has to do with history intrests me.

Thoughts anyone?

[proxpilot]

me too man, i used to live on the Military Channel.

[JJ]

History minor here (wanted to have majored in it, but no money in history) - have a big ol' library of history books, but I am a pretty damn knowledgeable in 20th century warfare amongst other things. More of a hobby though, really.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I'm a huge history fan, but not that knowledgeable unfortunately.

John

[crxvtec]

Originally Posted by John72953

I'm a huge history fan, but not that knowledgeable unfortunately.

John

I really enjoyed learning history in community college. I have always been interested in this country's beginnings. .However, it is kinda disappointing to also learn that this country was pretty racist up until the last 70 years or so. I mean, African, Japenese, kinda shameful. Yes, I know it is still around but, wow, I was shocked.

I also really enjoyed when our teacher talked a bit of the military aspects( he also taught all many other history....and he was a great teacher that could make anything seem interesting)

[Teufel Hunden]

Originally Posted by crxvtec

I really enjoyed learning history in community college. I have always been interested in this country's beginnings. .However, it is kinda disappointing to also learn that this country was pretty racist up until the last 70 years or so. I mean, African, Japenese, kinda shameful. Yes, I know it is still around but, wow, I was shocked.

I also really enjoyed when our teacher talked a bit of the military aspects( he also taught all many other history....and he was a great teacher that could make anything seem interesting)

Are you aware that the US kept German-Americans in camps much longer than they kept the Japanese?

American history (or history in general) is interesting because it is taught with a high level of bias and agenda. Most history that shows that putting the Japanese is camps as "racist" is conveniently leaving out huge gaps in logic that would make it more difficult to learn and understand.

Another example that sticks out to me is the myths about the civil war, and the connection with abolishing slavery. Though, my favorite bastardized historic event is the Great Depression and FDR is God ridiculous retelling.

The worst offense is the limited time to teach a class or space in a book that simplifies very complex issues and events.

[CntdwnToExtn]

If there is a speacial on History channel, I'll watch it.
Those brave people deserve...well...anything they want.

RIP Royal Canadian Air Force, Warrant Officer Class II (pilot) Roy Bradley.

[My_Two_Cents]

Yep. I can't get enough of the History and Military channel, particularly when it comes to WWII. When they call them "the greatest generation", it's almost an understatement in my opinion. What those people (soldiers and civilians alike) did and sacrificed back in the 40's goes beyond words to describe. I go out of my way to personally thank WWII veterans whenever I have the honor of meeting one.

It's really a shame that many people these days have no clue what that generation did in order to secure the freedoms we all take for granted today. God bless them all.

[GLaDOS]

I'd ready anything related to any current events and historical wars.

[JUDGEMENT 4400]

I've always loved history.

American Revolutionary War/Declaration of Independence/Constitution
American Civil War
Captains of Industry
WWI/WWII
The Cold War

[PH3AR]

HUge history buff anything war like or related i love

[blujacket]

Love the History, and Military channels. Growing up, History was the only subject I liked, and could keep my interest.

[Gaius Marius]

If my screen name didn't make it obvious, I love Roman history I'm fascinated with ancient history in general (Greece, Rome, Egypt) as well as the middle ages. Old stuff seems more interesting to me I guess.... (though I do like 18th century, Civil War, and WWII stuff!)

[Teufel Hunden]

Originally Posted by jbig31

Just curious if there are any other history buffs out there? I love reading/watching anything related to WWII. The Allied Invasion of Normandy really interests me-what/who was involved, vehicles and weapons used, military strategies put into place....etc. Bascially anything that has to do with history intrests me.

Thoughts anyone?

Normandy is WAY overrated. Half the "history" of the landing is exaggerated and/or misrepresentations.

If you military amphibious landings interest you, expand your search a little..Crazy stuff out there.

[jbig31]

Originally Posted by Teufel Hunden

Normandy is WAY overrated. Half the "history" of the landing is exaggerated and/or misrepresentations. If you military amphibious landings interest you, expand your search a little..Crazy stuff out there.

How is the invasion of Normandy overrated? The largest amphibious landing ever.....how is that exaggerated or misrepresented? Just curious.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Normandy

[Teufel Hunden]

Originally Posted by jbig31

How is the invasion of Normandy overrated? The largest amphibious landing ever.....how is that exaggerated or misrepresented? Just curious.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Normandy

Number of casualties if often reported as dead, and/or an ungodly number, or the largest ever. It is often reported and told as the most complicated and most heavily resisted landing ever. It is also reported as the most unlikely to be successful landing ever. Etc.

It was none of the above. It was a very underwhelming landing given the pre-landing hype (hype is a poor word, but given the effort, expected resistance and planning, it was easier than expected, and later reported, as compared to other landings).

As a large number of people involved, it was very much what it claims to be. As for everything else, it is exaggerated to say the least.

It is not to undermine the battle, it is just that the misinformation surrounding the event undermines other events...


For example,
Normandy: 5% casualty rate, 1% KIA (10,264)
Tarawa: 8.5% casualty rate, 5% KIA
Iwo Jima: 23.6% Casualty rate, 6.2% KIA
Guadalcanal: 11.8% Casualty rate, 2.6% KIA
Makin: 15.4% casualty rate, 11.7% KIA
Saipan: 18.7% casualty rate, 4.1% KIA
Peleliu: 34.4% casualty rate, 6.3% KIA
Okinawa: 15% Casualty rate, 2.3% KIA (12,513)
Inchon: 2.5% Casualty rate, .5% KIA

Like I said, there are a lot of cray landings out there.

[DC_Street]

Originally Posted by Teufel Hunden

Normandy is WAY overrated. Half the "history" of the landing is exaggerated and/or misrepresentations.

If you military amphibious landings interest you, expand your search a little..Crazy stuff out there.

according to members in my family that actually were there, they said Saving Private Ryan was exactly what it felt like to be there and reminded them of how gruesome it really was.

[Teufel Hunden]

Originally Posted by DC_Street

according to members in my family that actually were there, they said Saving Private Ryan was exactly what it felt like to be there and reminded them of how gruesome it really was.

I bet it was.

I have talked to people of several landings, from Tarawa, to Iwo, to Normandy, to Inchon and I would not claim that any of them were easy or laid back. I am sure the guys who were at all of them who were wounded or died are just as wounded or dead.

Normandy was no cake walk, that is not at all what I am claiming.

[Teufel Hunden]

Anyway, the half of Normandy that is not exaggerated or misrepresented is amazing. I am not denying that.

The whole operation was nuts in scope. That is for sure. And I am not in the dark of the consequences of it failing.