Category Archives: War

The Double V Campaign: The struggle for racial equality in the US Armed Forces in the Second World War

Posted on November 17, 2016 by odeboyz

The festering sore that was American segregation became a burning issue after Hitler’s declaration of war (11th December 1941). The world’s worse racist state declared war on a country which enshrined segregation. America’s non-white soldiers were officially second class citizens. … Continue reading →

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Sound advice from a father during the Warsaw Uprising 1944*

Posted on September 13, 2016 by odeboyz

The Warsaw Uprising museum has numerous videos with survivors recounting their experiences. One video shows a man telling the story of how, when he was fifteen years old, he asked his parents if he could join the uprising. First he … Continue reading →

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The Best and Worst of Times

Posted on August 29, 2016 by odeboyz

We’d tumble down grass field slopes With friends, in high pitched yells of “Geronimo” Laughs from the belly as Bert boshed the cow-pat His hand to his elbow smattered in cow-poo. That day was just one in that short summer … Continue reading →

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General de Gaulle’s war aims, 1941

Posted on August 2, 2016 by odeboyz

“Do you think I am interested in England’s winning the war? I am not- I am interested only in France’s victory,” de Gaulle said provocatively (to General Spears his British liaison officer.) James Barr A Line in the Sand p235 … Continue reading →

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Naval Intelligence*: the Royal Navy, 1940

Posted on July 19, 2016 by odeboyz

At the end of the campaign, the Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleet complained that “it is most galling that the enemy should know just where our ships…always are, whereas we generally learn where his major forces are when they sink … Continue reading →

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The Somme, 1916

Posted on July 5, 2016 by odeboyz

It wasn’t too bad once you got used to the noise, the flies and rats playing in No Man’s Land The rotting bodies always put off new soldiers who didn’t know how to keep their stomachs down Quite a few … Continue reading →

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Harry S Truman: War Criminal

Posted on June 9, 2016 by odeboyz

The American bombing of Tokyo (March 1945) and Hiroshima (August 1945) were war crimes (see addendum) promoted by President Truman. Both raids were criminal because the slaughter of civilians was intentional. Civilian deaths occur during bombing raids. They are unavoidable … Continue reading →

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The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact 1939: Bismarck’s Final Triumph

Posted on April 15, 2016 by odeboyz

The most audacious diplomatic pact of the twentieth century was between Nazi Germany and the USSR: the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (23rd Aug 1939). It was audacious but stood in the tradition of German foreign policy established by Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck’s … Continue reading →

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The Fatal Flaws in Operation Barbarossa 1941

Posted on March 31, 2016 by odeboyz

“With Russia* smashed, Britain’s last hope would be shattered….. If we start in May 1941, we would have five months to finish the job.”** Adolf Hitler 31st July 1940 The German High Command ought to have opposed Hitler’s cherished ambition … Continue reading →

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Religious fanaticism and the normality of ISIS (aka Daesh)

Posted on February 19, 2016 by odeboyz

Religious fanaticism takes many forms sharing one thing: malevolence. War, theatrical brutality and a desire for religious conformity are part and parcel of religious fanaticism. ISIS is simply another example of the gruesome reality of intolerant certainty attempting to enforce … Continue reading →

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