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To: fortheDeclaration
Had the French and British stood up to Hitler at the start, war could have been avoided.

The French, perhaps - they had a large army and a lot of capability. The British did not. Hitler would not have paid any attention to a threat from the British, because they didn't have the ability to enforce a threat.

Remember the British Expeditionary Force only started building in 1938. Even when war began in September 1939, only about 200,000 men were available.

By the time Poland occured, Hitler didn't believe that the allies would declare war.

Correct. Because he was assuming they were still too weak to do so. But they were significantly stronger by then than they had been previously.

Chamberlain didn't buy time, he put Britain in a weaker position by allowing Germany to grow confident and divide up a powerful Czech nation.

Under Chamberlain, the Royal Navy built five battleships and five aircraft carriers, the size of the army was increased. The Royal Air Force was considerably modernised. If you think he left Britain in a weaker position, I think your definitions are skewed.

25 posted on 09/04/2011 4:57:51 AM PDT by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: naturalman1975

“Remember the British Expeditionary Force only started building in 1938.”

The United States sent Britton emergency shipments of previously un-issued Civil War era Spencer rifles. The Spencer was the first military repeating rifle with a .50 cal, short range magazine in the stock which I believe held 10 rounds.


29 posted on 09/04/2011 5:52:35 AM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: naturalman1975
Britain did begin rearming, but only because Germany threw out the Treaty of Versailles and began rearming at even a greater rate.

When the war began, the Allies were in a weaker State because Germany has annexed both Austria and Czechoslovakia, which had a fine army.

Why the attempt to rescue Chamberlain from the infamy he so justly deserves?

39 posted on 09/04/2011 4:59:21 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (When the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Pr.29:2))
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