Lt Kije Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 The allies did win the War Obs, I see you have not answered about Suez, should we pay reparations for that, and how about Vietnam,? You open a can of worms when it comes to war reparations Obs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 Errm nope; it's up to the winner to decide what reparations should be paid, but they also have to be in a position to enforce payment - the Egyptians and Vietnamese weren't in a position to enforce anything. Instead of reparations, we kept the BAOR over their supporting the German economy, instead of billing the Germans for the occupation and defence of Germany against the Soviets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 We weren't in a position either Obs, Only the Americans were and hence the Plan was American. America was the only real winner in WW2, the UK was bankrupt and the Empire was at an end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 You mean that, with our "special relationship", we weren't in a position to "influence" the Yanks?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 They influenced us, they didn't want the empire to go on, and guess what happened, we were not in a position to do anything, the Americans made money out of the War. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 Yes, it was called "lend - lease", and we've just finished paying for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 So you were wrong to bring up war reparations, but you did succeed in getting off subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Nope, imo war reparations should have been paid; you'll notice that both Germany and Japan were in the world economic premier league by the 60s, so could well afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 A lot of historians blame WW2 on the war reparations the Germans endured after WW1, because things were so bad in Germany it let the extremists get in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Correct, but the secret is in, not killing the goose that's laying the golden eggs - an annual skim off the top of their GDP and payment for the privilege of being defended by NATO and the BAOR, would have been easily affordable. As for the possibility of the UK pursuing a more aggressive negotiating stance at the '45 Potsdam Conference, rather than assuming the position of US poodle; it would have been quite possible for the UK to have played off the Yanks against the Russian, to get a better deal. Stalin wanted to execute 100,000 German Officers, a low number by his standards, as he had executed more of his own Officer Corps in the '36 purge; so I think he would have voted for reparation as compensation for such retribution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 The War in the west would have been un winnable without the Americans, they new this, we new this and they treated us as the junior partner, that is t. Your hindsight post is just plain speculation and crap speculation at that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Der der der dum der der der der http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22554314'>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22554314 There is no "dum" in the middle; I would have thought another "Der" would have been better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 The Yanks couldn't do anything without Stalin's agreement - sorry to burst your bubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Not bursting my bubble, if you had read properly I said the West. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 You two lads still at it! , sign off and go and have a pint together, you'll get much more satisfaction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 You two lads still at it! , sign off and go and have a pint together, you'll get much more satisfaction! I bet Kije only drinks carrot juice or elderflower wine!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 I think the memorial is a splendid albeit belated sign of our appreciation of an important section of our wartime armed forces. I don't see the point of the topic being besmirched by the endless ping pong from the usual suspects. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 I think the memorial is a splendid albeit belated sign of our appreciation of an important section of our wartime armed forces. I don't see the point of the topic being besmirched by the endless ping pong from the usual suspects. I agree entirely eagle, my comments were not aimed at the topic subject, merely to point to the futility of the constant bickering over points that basically have nothing to do with the brave and heroic sacrafices that these young airmen made to ensure the freedom of future generations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 18, 2013 Report Share Posted May 18, 2013 Actually Alg, comparisons between the so-called victors and the so-called vanquished, are extremely relevant. Many of our ex-servicemen have struggled on meagre pensions, which were lower than their German counterparts (incl ex-SS personel). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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