you should check this out too:
http://www.brownbagfilms.com/downloads/DingDong.mov
this will tell ya the REAL history of Ireland
(it will take a minute to load but its worth it i think)
Friday, 6 June 2008
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
1916 Rising,
Hey this is very relevant to eventing we've done!
In order to pass
YOU MUST CHECK THIS OUT!
http://langerland.com/content/view/78/59/
In order to pass
YOU MUST CHECK THIS OUT!
http://langerland.com/content/view/78/59/
Friday, 11 April 2008
James Connolly (1868 - 1916)
SOREVOLUTIONARY.CIALIST AND IRISHJames Connolly the socialist and Irish revolutionary was born in June 1868. For a man so linked to Irish history, Connolly was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. The area he lived in was nicknamed ‘Little Ireland’ and was one of the city’s slum areas. His parents were originally from County Monaghan and their life in Edinburgh was hard. Connolly’s mother, Mary, died early as a result of the deprivation they faced. He had two brothers and no sisters.
James Connelly attended St. Patrick’s primary school until the age of ten when he left to become a printer’s devil, a bakery hand and a factory worker. The next big step in Connolly’s life was enlisting in the British army, in order to do that he lied about his age and falsified his name. Whilst in the army Connolly served in Ireland mainly around cork.
Here he witnessed how the Irish were treated not just by the army but also by the landlords who owned the land there. It was at this time that Connolly developed a hatred of landlords. It was also in the army he learned about Economics, History, Politics and Socialism. James became very interested in socialism and politics in general and after touring Scotland and America and Canada for his socialist party he came back to Ireland and became leader of the Independent Labour Party. James also set up the Workers republic union in1 1913 for workers rights.
In February 1915, "The Worker’s Republic" was banned by the authorities in Dublin Castle. In the same year, James Connolly was appointed acting General Secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. By now, Connolly had become very militant. He paraded units of the Irish Citizens Army in Dublin and such displays alarmed those who had left the Irish Volunteers and gone to the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). They felt that such displays would attract the attention of the authorities which they did not welcome as they were making plans towards a rebellion. In an effort to bring on board Connolly and to tame his more wild displays of militancy, the IRB took him into their confidence. Connolly was told about the planned rebellion for Easter 1916. After this, Connolly took an active part in the preparations and he was appointed Military Commander of the Republican Forces in Dublin, which encompassed the Irish Citizens Army.
When the rebellion started on Monday 24th April, James Connolly was one of the seven signatories to the Proclamation. Connolly was in charge of the General Post Office during the rebellion, which had been used for the H.Q. of the rising. During the fight, Connolly was hit by shrapnel, resulting in a smashed ankle, despite this he still fought to the best of his ability.
Connolly was the last of the fifteenth rebels to be executed, the killing of an injured man resulted in the population in an outrages state and James Connolly’s status as a patriotic martyr was immediately secured.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Joseph Mary Plunkett (1887 – 1916)
Early life:
Joseph Mary Plunkett was born in November 1887; he lived with his mother and father at 42 Upper Mount Street, Dublin. When he was young he became very ill with tuberculosis in 1911, so he spent part of his youth in the warmer climates of the Mediterranean and North Africa in the hope that it would help improve his health. He was educated at the Catholic University School, and later at Belvedere College.
Before the rising:
Throughout his life, Joseph Plunkett took an active interest in Irish heritage and the Irish language; he became friends with Thomas MacDonagh. The two were both poets with an interest in theater, both were early members of the Irish Volunteers. In August 1915, he was appointed to the military council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Plunkett was one of the original members of the IRB Military Committee that was and it responsible for planning the rising.
1916 rising:
Shortly before the rising Plunkett was hospitalized following a turn for the worse in his health. He had an operation on his neck glands days before Easter. This left him very weak and he had to struggle out of bed to take in the rising. Still bandaged and weak, he took his place in the General Post Office with several other leaders such as Patrick Pearse and Tom Clarke; although he took part this health prevented him from being terribly active. He was a signatory to the proclamation of the provisional government of the Irish republic.
Aftermath of the rising:
Following the surrender Plunkett was taken to Kilmainham gaol, where he was court-martialled and sentenced to death. Long before the rising in 1915 Plunkett fell in love with an artist and nationalist Grace Gifford and got engaged in December that year. The couple had planned to marry on Easter Sunday but was put off by the rising, which was due to begin the next day.
Day of execution:
On the 3rd of May 1916 just hours before his execution, he married Grace Gifford by candlelight in Kilmainham chapel, which was attended by two armed soldiers. At two o'clock the following morning Grace was given just ten minutes to be with her husband in his cell. Soon after Joseph Mary Plunkett was executed by firing squad.
Joseph Mary Plunkett was born in November 1887; he lived with his mother and father at 42 Upper Mount Street, Dublin. When he was young he became very ill with tuberculosis in 1911, so he spent part of his youth in the warmer climates of the Mediterranean and North Africa in the hope that it would help improve his health. He was educated at the Catholic University School, and later at Belvedere College.
Before the rising:
Throughout his life, Joseph Plunkett took an active interest in Irish heritage and the Irish language; he became friends with Thomas MacDonagh. The two were both poets with an interest in theater, both were early members of the Irish Volunteers. In August 1915, he was appointed to the military council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Plunkett was one of the original members of the IRB Military Committee that was and it responsible for planning the rising.
1916 rising:
Shortly before the rising Plunkett was hospitalized following a turn for the worse in his health. He had an operation on his neck glands days before Easter. This left him very weak and he had to struggle out of bed to take in the rising. Still bandaged and weak, he took his place in the General Post Office with several other leaders such as Patrick Pearse and Tom Clarke; although he took part this health prevented him from being terribly active. He was a signatory to the proclamation of the provisional government of the Irish republic.
Aftermath of the rising:
Following the surrender Plunkett was taken to Kilmainham gaol, where he was court-martialled and sentenced to death. Long before the rising in 1915 Plunkett fell in love with an artist and nationalist Grace Gifford and got engaged in December that year. The couple had planned to marry on Easter Sunday but was put off by the rising, which was due to begin the next day.
Day of execution:
On the 3rd of May 1916 just hours before his execution, he married Grace Gifford by candlelight in Kilmainham chapel, which was attended by two armed soldiers. At two o'clock the following morning Grace was given just ten minutes to be with her husband in his cell. Soon after Joseph Mary Plunkett was executed by firing squad.
Tomas Mac Donagh
Thomas Mac Donagh was a relative late comer in relation to the other signatories. In 1915 the IRB established a Military committee to discreetly deal in acts of war and piece, MacDonagh however, was not inducted until April 1916. Why the long wait? And what exactly was his purpose there?
He was a man of many talents, mostly in the field of arts and literature, he published many works in The Irish Review and co-edited the publication several times before it was disbanded in 1914. Mac Donagh was a lover of the Irish language, he did not necessarily have a great love of the Gaelic League, but set up a Branch in Kilkenny. His ultimate desire was to be a painter, going to Paris, where baguettes were prefered over the buscuit, to pursue his dream. Unfortunately he just did not have the talent and returned to Ireland with his mind firmly set on literary endeavours.
A strong hint towards his nationalism came with the production of his only full length play entitled When the Dawn is Come. In this he envisaged Ireland setting out for its final battle against the dominant English Army. The road to his induction into the events of 1916 officially came about in 1908 when he took a job in St Enda, along with Patrick Pearse he helped establish the bilingual ethos of the facility and became entangled in Pearses beliefs.
Although he was no orator, Marxist, felon, polemicist or Extreme nationalist like the other signatories, he did have a keen interest in military strategist and a desire to give up his own life for the well being of Ireland. He was present at the landing of guns from Erskine Childer's yacht at Howth and used his wit to help a group of Volunteers escape the gaze of H.V. Harrel, the Assistant Commissionart of Police. And through his organisation of the Volunteer parade accompanying the body of Jereniah O'Donocan to Glasnevin cemetery he proved himself more the worthy of trust.
Mac Donagh was responsible for writing up the proclamation that YOU GUYS all signed (thus establishing him as the coolest signatory among you muppets) and on Easter week he was to take a group of Volunteers and hold the Jacob's Biscuit factory, this important stratigic move left tens of British commanders without any treat to dip into their tea, thus rendering them useless in the field of urban combat. (well at least until the Helga took a detour down the liffey)
On the 30th of April order of surrender from Pearse finally reached Mac Donagh in the Jacobs Factory where his volunteers had made many strategic advances, discovering that without any milk or water based condiments cream crackers were utterly useless. He officially gave up, relinquishing arms to the British in the wake of many liberties residents .
After His court Martial and death sentence he wrote, "I, Thomas MacDonagh, having now heard my sentence of the court martial held on me today, declare that in all my acts - all the acts for which I have been arraigned - I have been actuated by one move only, the love of ny country."
On the 2nd of May he was killed, his preferred biscuit at the time was the Bourbon Cream.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Padraic Mac Piarais(1879-1916)
Padraigh Pearse was born in 1879. When attending school he received encouragement from two Christian brothers, which led to the flourish of his academic career. One of the most influential of Pearse’s academic subjects was Irish Pearse had a passion for the Irish language which was prominent throughout his life. Pearse was a modernizer and put aside his prejudices, to experience the works of such revolutionary writers as W. B. Yeats, even though these were written in English.
Pearse joined the Gaelic League at 16; he took every opportunity to improve his public specking and writing, in English and Irish. From 1903-1909 Pearse was the editor of the leagues newspaper “An Claidheamh Soluis” which when translated means, Sword of light. In this paper Pearse criticised political, educational and religious issues amongst many others.
In 1908 Pearse founded St. Enda’s boy’s school; here he spread his ideologies, views on Gaelic Ireland and Irish culture. In 1910 he made a radical decision to move St.Enda’s to the country, resulting in the transforming of St.Enda’s into a boarding school. This led to sever financial restraints on Pearse, and subsequently the development of Pearse’s fascination with martyrdom. In 1912 Pearse publically called for support in his home rule bill, (threatened revolt if not considered) Pearse was described as ‘a dangerous man; he has the vertigo of self-sacrifice’ by Dudley Edwards. After calling for public support Pearse joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). The IRB seen Pearse as a strategic, passionate, highly persuasive political propagandist, he produced political pamphlets justifying the military uprising, and also played a part in the writing of the proclamation declaring the Irish republic. Pearse was also designated commander-general and president of provisional republic. During the rising of 1916 Connolly and Pearse were both positioned in the G.P.O. , Pearse’s role was not so much as to lead the rebels but more so to produce morale boosting propaganda. On 29 April 1916 Pearse surrendered to prevent further deaths (250 uninvolved citizens killed). This was influential as Pearse had formed a fascination prior to the rebellion with martyrdom this now gave Pearse the chance to become a martyr himself. He was executed on the 3 may 1916 by firing squad in Kilmainham gaol. Pearse is remembered as a hero for his self sacrifice for the Irish republic.
Pearse joined the Gaelic League at 16; he took every opportunity to improve his public specking and writing, in English and Irish. From 1903-1909 Pearse was the editor of the leagues newspaper “An Claidheamh Soluis” which when translated means, Sword of light. In this paper Pearse criticised political, educational and religious issues amongst many others.
In 1908 Pearse founded St. Enda’s boy’s school; here he spread his ideologies, views on Gaelic Ireland and Irish culture. In 1910 he made a radical decision to move St.Enda’s to the country, resulting in the transforming of St.Enda’s into a boarding school. This led to sever financial restraints on Pearse, and subsequently the development of Pearse’s fascination with martyrdom. In 1912 Pearse publically called for support in his home rule bill, (threatened revolt if not considered) Pearse was described as ‘a dangerous man; he has the vertigo of self-sacrifice’ by Dudley Edwards. After calling for public support Pearse joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). The IRB seen Pearse as a strategic, passionate, highly persuasive political propagandist, he produced political pamphlets justifying the military uprising, and also played a part in the writing of the proclamation declaring the Irish republic. Pearse was also designated commander-general and president of provisional republic. During the rising of 1916 Connolly and Pearse were both positioned in the G.P.O. , Pearse’s role was not so much as to lead the rebels but more so to produce morale boosting propaganda. On 29 April 1916 Pearse surrendered to prevent further deaths (250 uninvolved citizens killed). This was influential as Pearse had formed a fascination prior to the rebellion with martyrdom this now gave Pearse the chance to become a martyr himself. He was executed on the 3 may 1916 by firing squad in Kilmainham gaol. Pearse is remembered as a hero for his self sacrifice for the Irish republic.
Eamonn Ceannt
Early life,
He was born on September 21, 1881, in Ballymoe, County Galway. He was the son of James Kent an officer from the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). At the age of ten his family moved to Dublin. He attended the Christian Brothers School on North Richmond Street. At school he was known as one of the most brilliant students. He proceeded to University College, Dublin. After leaving university he worked for Dublin Corporation in the rates department and then the city treasury office.
Devoted nationalist,
Ceannt was a committed Irish nationalist and this belief manifested itself in a number of ways. In 1900 he joined the Gaelic League, becoming a proficient Irish speaker and he even changed his name from Edward Kent to Eamonn Ceannt. Adopting this Gaelic form of his name showed his early sign of nationalism.
Rise to become a leader,
His political career began with Sinn Fein, which he joined in 1908. He showed early signs of a leader and this led him to be enrolled in the Irish Republican Brotherhood, being sworn in by Sean MacDiarmada, and subsequently became a member of its supreme council. He then enlisted in the Irish Volunteers in 1913, and as director of communications on the headquarters staff was one of its key figures. His devotion and enthusiasm elevated him up the ranks. He played a leading role in the Howth gun running in the following summer.
1916 Rising,
By 1915 he was firmly committed to revolutionary nationalism. He was one of the few members of the small secret military council which planned the Easter rising of 1916. He was one of the seven signatories of the 'Proclamation of the provisional government of the Irish republic', and during the rising was in command of the 4th battalion, which occupied the South Dublin Union which the nationalist Cathal Brugha was second in command. After his surrender in the Easter Rising he was applauded for his efforts. A newspaper report of Ceannt's surrender noted that he was "noble, almost magnificent. Even the officers and soldiers in command of the captured rebels looked on in wonder". On 8 May 1916 he was executed by a firing squad in Kilmainham gaol, Dublin, for his role in the rising; he was buried in Arbour Hill cemetery, Dublin.
He was born on September 21, 1881, in Ballymoe, County Galway. He was the son of James Kent an officer from the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). At the age of ten his family moved to Dublin. He attended the Christian Brothers School on North Richmond Street. At school he was known as one of the most brilliant students. He proceeded to University College, Dublin. After leaving university he worked for Dublin Corporation in the rates department and then the city treasury office.
Devoted nationalist,
Ceannt was a committed Irish nationalist and this belief manifested itself in a number of ways. In 1900 he joined the Gaelic League, becoming a proficient Irish speaker and he even changed his name from Edward Kent to Eamonn Ceannt. Adopting this Gaelic form of his name showed his early sign of nationalism.
Rise to become a leader,
His political career began with Sinn Fein, which he joined in 1908. He showed early signs of a leader and this led him to be enrolled in the Irish Republican Brotherhood, being sworn in by Sean MacDiarmada, and subsequently became a member of its supreme council. He then enlisted in the Irish Volunteers in 1913, and as director of communications on the headquarters staff was one of its key figures. His devotion and enthusiasm elevated him up the ranks. He played a leading role in the Howth gun running in the following summer.
1916 Rising,
By 1915 he was firmly committed to revolutionary nationalism. He was one of the few members of the small secret military council which planned the Easter rising of 1916. He was one of the seven signatories of the 'Proclamation of the provisional government of the Irish republic', and during the rising was in command of the 4th battalion, which occupied the South Dublin Union which the nationalist Cathal Brugha was second in command. After his surrender in the Easter Rising he was applauded for his efforts. A newspaper report of Ceannt's surrender noted that he was "noble, almost magnificent. Even the officers and soldiers in command of the captured rebels looked on in wonder". On 8 May 1916 he was executed by a firing squad in Kilmainham gaol, Dublin, for his role in the rising; he was buried in Arbour Hill cemetery, Dublin.
Edward Darrell Figgis an Irish writer, Sinn Fein activist and independent politician said that
"He went into insurrection looking for victory because the thought of defeat chafed his intractable spirit. He spoke with cold contempt of Padraic Pearse's slow and moving eloquence as 'green flaggery'. He would have none of it"
Thomas James Clarke
Thomas Clarke was born in 1858 to a catholic mother and a father who was a member of the church of Ireland and a British soldier. When his father retired, the Clarke’s family moved to Duncannon, co. Tyrone. The sectarian tension that was taking place in that area combined with the desire to go against his father’s values probably influenced Clarke’s early fenianist ideas.
He later immigrated to America, where he joined Clann Na gael. In 1884 he was sentenced to prison by the British court for possessing explosives in London. When he was released, he returned to America where he worked for the nationalist journalist John Devoy. Clarke then became the assistant editor of the newspaper: the Gaelic American.
Clarke returned to Ireland just as the IRB were reforming. He helped found the organization's newspaper, Irish Freedom, and helped of Patrick Pearse to achieve promiminince as a nationalist. He was Elected as a member of both the supreme and military councils of the IRB. A nationalist to the end, he was one of the only members of the council who did not want to postpone the rising after the German guns were intercepted, nor did he want to surrender during the rising. Clarke was the first signatory on the proclamation of the Irish republic, and after the rebellion, He was one of the first three rebels to be executed in Kilmainham gaol. he was shot on 3 May 1916.
He later immigrated to America, where he joined Clann Na gael. In 1884 he was sentenced to prison by the British court for possessing explosives in London. When he was released, he returned to America where he worked for the nationalist journalist John Devoy. Clarke then became the assistant editor of the newspaper: the Gaelic American.
Clarke returned to Ireland just as the IRB were reforming. He helped found the organization's newspaper, Irish Freedom, and helped of Patrick Pearse to achieve promiminince as a nationalist. He was Elected as a member of both the supreme and military councils of the IRB. A nationalist to the end, he was one of the only members of the council who did not want to postpone the rising after the German guns were intercepted, nor did he want to surrender during the rising. Clarke was the first signatory on the proclamation of the Irish republic, and after the rebellion, He was one of the first three rebels to be executed in Kilmainham gaol. he was shot on 3 May 1916.
Friday, 1 February 2008
Lord Clare "John Fitzgibbon I"
Lord Clare “John Fitzgibbon I”
John Fitzgibbon, the first earl of Clare was born in Donnybrook, Dublin in 1748. He was also the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His father was also John Fitzgibbon and was an MP for Newcastle, co Dublin. His mother was Elinor Grove, daughter of John Groove of Ballyhimock, co Cork. He had three brothers, who tragically all died young and he had three sisters who all survived into adulthood to go on and married well into some wealthy families.
All of Fitzgibbons early family were Catholics and his enemies were said to have taunted him of this fact as they were said to have lost mass fortunes as result of not going against or betray their faith to attain there land, one case of this is when his uncle lost a state worth over £100.000 which in to days money would be millions. Perhaps this is where his hatred of Catholics stems from.
John Fitzgibbon was well educated and started in Trinity College on the 6 June 1763, as a Commoner and received his B.A. in 1766. In the same year he was in rolled in Christ Church Oxford, but was not incorporated until June 1769. He proceeded with his MA on May 9 of 1770 as was common for Irish barristers practising law. In 1772 he was admitted into the Kings Inn in Dublin, this meant that he could legally practice law. He was particularly interest in property law or torts law as we know today.
Fitzgibbon first came onto the political seen in 1778, as an elected member for Trinity College in the Irish parliament. In his first parliament speech he displayed some qualities and acquirements that shaped his future current career, “these being savage indignation against prejudice injustice and more savage demands for punishments”. He firstly was in oppission for the catholic relief bill in 1778. This was in keeping with his loyalty towards Britain.
Fitzgibbon had an excellent résumé which included attorney general, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, a barrister not to mention he was an earl and indeed the list goes on. He taught that Wolf Tone should have been hanged for his part in the rebellion and was discussed by the decision to give him respite.
When taking about John Fitzgibbon one has to touch on the “act of union” of which he played a huge role in. He was often accuse of starting off the rebellion in 17 98 just so the act of union would seam like the only option that Britain had. But in reality the rebellion was a huge Burdon to him and in fact he tried his utmost to prevent it with no success.
Fitzgibbon took on the role or was given the role of chief propagandist for the act of union and in his most famous speech in the Irish parliament to his peers (10 February 1800 he said “only the union could compel the protestants to abandon political fantasy and assume their true responsibilities, taming the civilians, the barbarians Catholics, by living on there estates and implementing some much needed improvements”. This was one of the most famous speeches of the union debates and still today, historians rein act it.
In the end John Fitzgibbon died suddenly on 28 January 1802 at his home in Dublin not long after the union was set up. And although it is not possible to give a definite diagnosis for his death it is believed that he died from cirrhosis. He was survived by his wife Lady Clare of limerick. . John Fitzgibbon was said to be very hansom, with devilishly hansom greyish eyes, it is said that even when age and alcohol took it toile on him, he still looked his best.
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
The Act of Union Debate
For this assignment everyone should post 200 words on their Union figure explaining who they were, what side they were on in the Union debate and why, anything significant they did during the Union period, and what happened to them after (briefly).
You are free to comment on other figures.
You are free to comment on other figures.
The Act of Union Debate
For this assignment everyone should post 200 words on their Union figure explaining (briefly) who they were, what side they were on in the Union and why, what they did during the Union, and what happened to them afterwards (briefly).
You are free to comment on other figures.
You are free to comment on other figures.
Friday, 25 January 2008
Hitler Blogg (sorry!!!)
Through his time in power Hitler was responsible for the murder of six million Jews; he annexed most of mainland Europe, crippling world powers like France and Britain on the continent and ushered the world into the age of modern warfare forever. But what was it that brought a man of little significance from a town of no prominence to become one of the most infamous people in World History?
Adolf Hitler was Born in Braunau am Inn, an Austrian town near the boarder of Germany in 1889. His childhood was comfortable as his father was a civil servant and his mother a housewife. Even before his birth the Hitler name was tainted with a history of family incest and three prior sibling deaths. He went on to attend Art College despite his father’s wishes to move into the civil service. He was not a successful student and ended up painting postcards on the street of Vienna.
In 1913 Hitler left Austria for Munich, when War broke out he joined the German army rather than the Austrian army to which he was conscripted. Hitler fought for the duration of the war and was awarded two iron crosses; however there has been a lot of speculation as to why he only ever rose as far as the rank of corporal. From Hitler’s position the war seemed to be leaning in favour of the Germans as there were no troops on German soil, So when the arrival of the Armistice was a great blow to both the Pride of the Germany and Hitler himself.
The war was something that gave Hitler and identity, so when it was over he had no desire other than to carry on in the only vocation that seemed to suit him. He became a police spy, it was at this point that be became involved with the National Socialist Party. Hitler obviously had a great natural flare for politics, from this point he went on to swing the party to the right and eventually lead to the peak of German politics.
In 1923 the Nazi party lead the Putsch Bavaria; they wished to reinstate the Bavarian Monarch. This was a failure, the judges involved were conservative, and as this was a conservative crime they went easy on Hitler, the Nazi party was dissolved and he was given a meagre nine month jail sentence. It was here that Hitler wrote Mien Kamf, which formed the basis of future Nazism. Hitler was reinvigorated on release, with a new set of ideals and confidence in his abilities he went about reforming the Nazi Party.
The Nazi ascent to power is interesting in that it could have very nearly not happened. Many of the occurrences that lead to Nazi domination of the Reichstag were outside the party’s control. However, its pragmatic leader was quick to capitalise on these events. The German people were used to one single autonomous leader; the Weimar government was indecisive and wore on the patience of many citizens, especially conservatives. The Wall Street cash was the final nail in the coffin for the Weimar Government, Germany was in decline, the current order seemed useless and the only party that didn’t have anything to do with Germanys disintegration was the Nazi Party, this gave them leverage over their opponents.
In the general elections preceding the Crash the Nazis, a small party won 18% of the vote. Hitler dominated the party and his ideals lead it, they would soon have absolute power and mass support. Germany as a nation used to one strong and decisive leader, an indecisive republic was not going to suffice, and so they eventually grew to embrace Hitler as a single autonomous leader. He moved up the ladder of German politics swiftly and surely, going from party leader, to vice chancellor, to chancellor and eventually to Fuhrer. This last hurtle was passed after the Reichstag was burned down, the Nazis blamed the Communists, instilling fear in the public before offering the Nazi way as a solution to their problems.
As Hitler had become more prominent in German politics he began to look at certain aspects of the Nazi Party as an embarrassment, namely the SA. The SA had acted as his private army since the early days of the Nazi party, the official German Army, or the Reichsphere hated the SA and saw them as nothing but hooligans. Hitler used this tension to his advantage by setting the two upon each other. This event was known as the “Night of the Long Knives”, in which Hitler gave the German army leeway in order to kill prominent figures in the SA, forcibly disbanding it. The Nazi party was purged and the Army was appeased and now supported Hitler, so when the Chancellor died in 1934 Hitler took up the role merging his current role to become Fuhrer. This was only possible with the supported by the Army.
After he came to power he set about breaking the sanctions imposed on Germany at the treaty of Versailles after The Great War. He used a carrot stick method, presenting a progressive Germany by accepting disarmament deals but all the time taking risks like gradual remilitarisation, the reoccupying of the Rhineland the taking of Czeckslovakia and eventually the Anschluss, when Germany Merged with Austria. The move that eventually bought about war was the invasion of Poland and lead to the second world war. France soon fell and all of continental Europe was under the Nazi banner.
In 1941 Hitler set his sights on the Soviet Union in the biggest invasion of all time, his goal was Lebensraum, the occupations of western Russia by the Germans as a superior race ruling over the Slav people. Invaded Russia in June 1941, while the Soviets were still in the process of arming, this ultimately lead to his defeat. After Achieving many initial victories it was soon apparent that Russia wasn’t as easily won, the land itself was far too big, the German troops under equipped and the climate overbearing. The Nazi war machine was being pushed back on all fronts and by July 1945 Berlin was being levelled by allied bombs. He died in a bunker with his associates arguing over who would be next in line to lead the “great” German empire.
One of the most prominent issues of Hitler’s time in power was his anti-Semitism, this started while working as an underpaid artist in Vienna and was carried with him throughout his life. He saw the Jews as an evil to be utterly destroyed. In Mein Kamf is goal was to move the Jews to Madagascar after completing annexing and cleansing mainland Europe. This idea was never put into practise and instead the Fuhrer opted for mass murder. Four million Jews are said to have been killed. Hitler also targeted disabled people, the homeless and homosexuals.
Hitler is said to be the biggest destroyer in history, not only did he destroy what he despised, but in the end he obliterated what was dear to him. Old Germany and Prussia were gone, his country was carved up and split between allied powers. He brought on the modernisation of western powers and made both Russia and America the most powerful countries in the world. He was politically and socially ambitious, making Germany a world power at the expense of other “lesser” nations, but ultimately allowing it to crumble.
Adolf Hitler was Born in Braunau am Inn, an Austrian town near the boarder of Germany in 1889. His childhood was comfortable as his father was a civil servant and his mother a housewife. Even before his birth the Hitler name was tainted with a history of family incest and three prior sibling deaths. He went on to attend Art College despite his father’s wishes to move into the civil service. He was not a successful student and ended up painting postcards on the street of Vienna.
In 1913 Hitler left Austria for Munich, when War broke out he joined the German army rather than the Austrian army to which he was conscripted. Hitler fought for the duration of the war and was awarded two iron crosses; however there has been a lot of speculation as to why he only ever rose as far as the rank of corporal. From Hitler’s position the war seemed to be leaning in favour of the Germans as there were no troops on German soil, So when the arrival of the Armistice was a great blow to both the Pride of the Germany and Hitler himself.
The war was something that gave Hitler and identity, so when it was over he had no desire other than to carry on in the only vocation that seemed to suit him. He became a police spy, it was at this point that be became involved with the National Socialist Party. Hitler obviously had a great natural flare for politics, from this point he went on to swing the party to the right and eventually lead to the peak of German politics.
In 1923 the Nazi party lead the Putsch Bavaria; they wished to reinstate the Bavarian Monarch. This was a failure, the judges involved were conservative, and as this was a conservative crime they went easy on Hitler, the Nazi party was dissolved and he was given a meagre nine month jail sentence. It was here that Hitler wrote Mien Kamf, which formed the basis of future Nazism. Hitler was reinvigorated on release, with a new set of ideals and confidence in his abilities he went about reforming the Nazi Party.
The Nazi ascent to power is interesting in that it could have very nearly not happened. Many of the occurrences that lead to Nazi domination of the Reichstag were outside the party’s control. However, its pragmatic leader was quick to capitalise on these events. The German people were used to one single autonomous leader; the Weimar government was indecisive and wore on the patience of many citizens, especially conservatives. The Wall Street cash was the final nail in the coffin for the Weimar Government, Germany was in decline, the current order seemed useless and the only party that didn’t have anything to do with Germanys disintegration was the Nazi Party, this gave them leverage over their opponents.
In the general elections preceding the Crash the Nazis, a small party won 18% of the vote. Hitler dominated the party and his ideals lead it, they would soon have absolute power and mass support. Germany as a nation used to one strong and decisive leader, an indecisive republic was not going to suffice, and so they eventually grew to embrace Hitler as a single autonomous leader. He moved up the ladder of German politics swiftly and surely, going from party leader, to vice chancellor, to chancellor and eventually to Fuhrer. This last hurtle was passed after the Reichstag was burned down, the Nazis blamed the Communists, instilling fear in the public before offering the Nazi way as a solution to their problems.
As Hitler had become more prominent in German politics he began to look at certain aspects of the Nazi Party as an embarrassment, namely the SA. The SA had acted as his private army since the early days of the Nazi party, the official German Army, or the Reichsphere hated the SA and saw them as nothing but hooligans. Hitler used this tension to his advantage by setting the two upon each other. This event was known as the “Night of the Long Knives”, in which Hitler gave the German army leeway in order to kill prominent figures in the SA, forcibly disbanding it. The Nazi party was purged and the Army was appeased and now supported Hitler, so when the Chancellor died in 1934 Hitler took up the role merging his current role to become Fuhrer. This was only possible with the supported by the Army.
After he came to power he set about breaking the sanctions imposed on Germany at the treaty of Versailles after The Great War. He used a carrot stick method, presenting a progressive Germany by accepting disarmament deals but all the time taking risks like gradual remilitarisation, the reoccupying of the Rhineland the taking of Czeckslovakia and eventually the Anschluss, when Germany Merged with Austria. The move that eventually bought about war was the invasion of Poland and lead to the second world war. France soon fell and all of continental Europe was under the Nazi banner.
In 1941 Hitler set his sights on the Soviet Union in the biggest invasion of all time, his goal was Lebensraum, the occupations of western Russia by the Germans as a superior race ruling over the Slav people. Invaded Russia in June 1941, while the Soviets were still in the process of arming, this ultimately lead to his defeat. After Achieving many initial victories it was soon apparent that Russia wasn’t as easily won, the land itself was far too big, the German troops under equipped and the climate overbearing. The Nazi war machine was being pushed back on all fronts and by July 1945 Berlin was being levelled by allied bombs. He died in a bunker with his associates arguing over who would be next in line to lead the “great” German empire.
One of the most prominent issues of Hitler’s time in power was his anti-Semitism, this started while working as an underpaid artist in Vienna and was carried with him throughout his life. He saw the Jews as an evil to be utterly destroyed. In Mein Kamf is goal was to move the Jews to Madagascar after completing annexing and cleansing mainland Europe. This idea was never put into practise and instead the Fuhrer opted for mass murder. Four million Jews are said to have been killed. Hitler also targeted disabled people, the homeless and homosexuals.
Hitler is said to be the biggest destroyer in history, not only did he destroy what he despised, but in the end he obliterated what was dear to him. Old Germany and Prussia were gone, his country was carved up and split between allied powers. He brought on the modernisation of western powers and made both Russia and America the most powerful countries in the world. He was politically and socially ambitious, making Germany a world power at the expense of other “lesser” nations, but ultimately allowing it to crumble.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
STALIN A HERO OR A DEVIL
My country is Soviet Union and its leader during the second world war was Joseph Stalin.
Early life; he was born in 1879 and he came from an extremely poor background. His mother was a peasant and his father a cobbler. As you all probably don't know his real name is Iosif Vissarionovich Djugashvili he was Jewish and his name was a typical Jew name. It was in prison were he adopted the name Stalin which it's translated as "man of steel" (he must of being a big bully)
STALIN DURING WW2
Although Russia was brought into the war on 22 June 1941 Stalin knew Hitler’s greed would eventually send him knocking on Russia door because Hitler absolutely despised communism. So Stalin bought himself time by signing an agreement with Hitler. It was called the “German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact”. Joseph Stalin believed that Hitler wouldn’t invade the Soviet Union until France and Brittan had been taken. He knew that if Hitler didn’t try to attack him in the summer of 1941 they would have no choice but to wait until next year because everyone new it was unethical to invade Russia during its infamous winters.
Eventually the German armies attacked the Soviet Union and brought them into the war in the 22 June 1941 known as 'Operation Barbarossa' Stalin, had suffered a brief nervous collapse but he came through it and personally took command of the Soviet armed forces. With the help of a small defense committee, he made all major military, political, and diplomatic decisions throughout the war. He pursued victory with increasing skill, determination, and courage, by standing his ground when Hitler's armies stood at the foot of Moscow, ordering a fantastic shifting of industrial plants from European Russia to the east, arranging for lend-lease from the Western powers, selecting more and more first-rate military commanders.
Stalin ordered those who fought in the battle at Stalingrad not to giv an inch to the Germans and he was very much the leader of his nation throughout ww2. The heroics of the people of Leningrad besieged by the Germans between September 1941 and January 1944 was recognised by many people as a feat of huge heroism. For the duration of the siege the city's leaders had to make their own decisions as they were frequently cut off from Moscow and could not follow orders from Moscow. Such an independent spirit was not tolerated by Stalin and after the war, those city leaders of Leningrad during the war were dealt with by Stalin in what was effectively a second purge of those he did not trust. Like there was nothing that the leaders in Leningrad could do it was a no win situation. On one hand if they surrendered Stalin would of probably killed them and on the other hand they fought bravely and made there own decision and he still killed them. This says a lot about Stalin as both a leader and a person.
Take into account that some of Stalin success over the Germans was through some miscalculations of Hitler . This brings me to one of my biggest arguments. I previously argued with one individual that if Hitler left his attack on Russia another year he would of being more successful. The more research I done and with the help of Dr. Laffan My opinion changed. Although Hitler wanted to attack Russia in early march of 1941 'operation ‘Barbarossa' went ahead on the 22 of June 1941 my point is that if Hitler attacked 3-4 months earlier say late February early march it would have gave him that extra margin of time to take control of Russia because by the time the winter kicked in it would have been little too late for Stalin and this could of changed the result of the Second World War (o k Addy) ha ha
After America was brought into the war there were meetings held with the leaders of Russia, Britain and America the leaders was Stalin, Winston Churchill and F.D Roosevelt. They were referred to as the ‘Big Three’. it has now been said that it was at these conferences that the origins of the Cold War were sown. Especially as Stalin had not been invited to the meeting at Casablanca. This made Stalin suspicions as to what the others were planning and there relationship fell apart.
Also worth mentioning about Stalin is even tough he industrialized the ‘Union of Soviet Socialist Republics’ and forcibly collectivised Russia’s agriculture he also brought terror to the Russians. By his mass executions, mock trials, purges, the jailing and secret torture that ravaged the Soviet Union during the three decades of Stalin’s era and the most sickening of all the ‘gulag’ for those who don’t know what the gulag is
Anne Applebaum, a journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has written extensively about communism and the development of civil society Eastern Europe and the USSR Russia explains the Gulag as
“It was the branch of the State Security that operated the penal system of forced labour camps and associated detention and transit camps and prisons. While these camps housed criminals of all types, the Gulag system has become primarily known as a place for political prisoners and as a mechanism for repressing political opposition to the Soviet state. Though it imprisoned millions”
18 million people passed through the Gulag further millions being deported and exiled to remote areas of the Soviet Union. This Stalin fella was a monster cruel and black hearted like Hitler. at least Hitler treated his own people with respect. At the end of Stalins life he became very paranoid and start killing everyone he taught was out to get him. it was probably his conscience attacking him .
Early life; he was born in 1879 and he came from an extremely poor background. His mother was a peasant and his father a cobbler. As you all probably don't know his real name is Iosif Vissarionovich Djugashvili he was Jewish and his name was a typical Jew name. It was in prison were he adopted the name Stalin which it's translated as "man of steel" (he must of being a big bully)
STALIN DURING WW2
Although Russia was brought into the war on 22 June 1941 Stalin knew Hitler’s greed would eventually send him knocking on Russia door because Hitler absolutely despised communism. So Stalin bought himself time by signing an agreement with Hitler. It was called the “German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact”. Joseph Stalin believed that Hitler wouldn’t invade the Soviet Union until France and Brittan had been taken. He knew that if Hitler didn’t try to attack him in the summer of 1941 they would have no choice but to wait until next year because everyone new it was unethical to invade Russia during its infamous winters.
Eventually the German armies attacked the Soviet Union and brought them into the war in the 22 June 1941 known as 'Operation Barbarossa' Stalin, had suffered a brief nervous collapse but he came through it and personally took command of the Soviet armed forces. With the help of a small defense committee, he made all major military, political, and diplomatic decisions throughout the war. He pursued victory with increasing skill, determination, and courage, by standing his ground when Hitler's armies stood at the foot of Moscow, ordering a fantastic shifting of industrial plants from European Russia to the east, arranging for lend-lease from the Western powers, selecting more and more first-rate military commanders.
Stalin ordered those who fought in the battle at Stalingrad not to giv an inch to the Germans and he was very much the leader of his nation throughout ww2. The heroics of the people of Leningrad besieged by the Germans between September 1941 and January 1944 was recognised by many people as a feat of huge heroism. For the duration of the siege the city's leaders had to make their own decisions as they were frequently cut off from Moscow and could not follow orders from Moscow. Such an independent spirit was not tolerated by Stalin and after the war, those city leaders of Leningrad during the war were dealt with by Stalin in what was effectively a second purge of those he did not trust. Like there was nothing that the leaders in Leningrad could do it was a no win situation. On one hand if they surrendered Stalin would of probably killed them and on the other hand they fought bravely and made there own decision and he still killed them. This says a lot about Stalin as both a leader and a person.
Take into account that some of Stalin success over the Germans was through some miscalculations of Hitler . This brings me to one of my biggest arguments. I previously argued with one individual that if Hitler left his attack on Russia another year he would of being more successful. The more research I done and with the help of Dr. Laffan My opinion changed. Although Hitler wanted to attack Russia in early march of 1941 'operation ‘Barbarossa' went ahead on the 22 of June 1941 my point is that if Hitler attacked 3-4 months earlier say late February early march it would have gave him that extra margin of time to take control of Russia because by the time the winter kicked in it would have been little too late for Stalin and this could of changed the result of the Second World War (o k Addy) ha ha
After America was brought into the war there were meetings held with the leaders of Russia, Britain and America the leaders was Stalin, Winston Churchill and F.D Roosevelt. They were referred to as the ‘Big Three’. it has now been said that it was at these conferences that the origins of the Cold War were sown. Especially as Stalin had not been invited to the meeting at Casablanca. This made Stalin suspicions as to what the others were planning and there relationship fell apart.
Also worth mentioning about Stalin is even tough he industrialized the ‘Union of Soviet Socialist Republics’ and forcibly collectivised Russia’s agriculture he also brought terror to the Russians. By his mass executions, mock trials, purges, the jailing and secret torture that ravaged the Soviet Union during the three decades of Stalin’s era and the most sickening of all the ‘gulag’ for those who don’t know what the gulag is
Anne Applebaum, a journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has written extensively about communism and the development of civil society Eastern Europe and the USSR Russia explains the Gulag as
“It was the branch of the State Security that operated the penal system of forced labour camps and associated detention and transit camps and prisons. While these camps housed criminals of all types, the Gulag system has become primarily known as a place for political prisoners and as a mechanism for repressing political opposition to the Soviet state. Though it imprisoned millions”
18 million people passed through the Gulag further millions being deported and exiled to remote areas of the Soviet Union. This Stalin fella was a monster cruel and black hearted like Hitler. at least Hitler treated his own people with respect. At the end of Stalins life he became very paranoid and start killing everyone he taught was out to get him. it was probably his conscience attacking him .
HE WAS A DEVIL
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Mussolini as leader of Italy during WWII
During WWII Mussolini was the leader of Italy. During his time as leader Mussolini had great ambitions to expand Italy’s world presence, and he was very aggressive in trying to do so. Before the official beginning of WWII in Sept 1939 Mussolini had already sent his forces to capture Albania and Ethiopia and because of this the British and French Leaders began to see him a threat.
Like Hitler, Mussolini served in the First World War as a young man and dreamed of military glory in a Second War to come. He entered Italy into the War in 1940; and at this time it looked as though Germany would win it and England would either negotiate or eventually be defeated by an invasion and at the time he thought the war would be limited. He hoped to do the minimum amount of work in the war and get his place at the negotiating table. Some of the reasons Mussolini entered the war were he wanted to add some colonies to his country. Most major countries had colonized Africa and other land during the 19th Century. Mussolini had declared the Mediterranean Sea as “Italy's sea”.
Mussolini joined forces with Italy as he knew that his military was not prepared for a major war and his armed forces were inadequate; also the Italian economy was weak and inefficient from the start. The Italian people were not to sure about going into the war so Mussolini influenced their decision by telling them that they can have all the land they want if they fight, employment, food and pride in their nation, combined with an economy that would be stable and growing and by telling them that there was no way they could lose the war.
After many years of fighting in North Africa against the British, the Italian people became dissatisfied with the leadership and Mussolini's popularity declined and in 1943 there was a popular uprising against Mussolini. German leaders had wisely predicted that there would be a turn of events and moved quickly and efficiently to disarm the Italian armed forces before they could be used by the new Italian government to attack Germany. In one of the most brilliant commando attacks of the war German units even raided the complex where Mussolini was being help captive and freed him. Mussolini was the dictator of Italy until 1943.
Near the end of the war in 1945 he was captured again by Italian partisans who murdered him and his mistress and then strung their mutilated bodies upside down in a north Italian town called plaza.
Like Hitler, Mussolini served in the First World War as a young man and dreamed of military glory in a Second War to come. He entered Italy into the War in 1940; and at this time it looked as though Germany would win it and England would either negotiate or eventually be defeated by an invasion and at the time he thought the war would be limited. He hoped to do the minimum amount of work in the war and get his place at the negotiating table. Some of the reasons Mussolini entered the war were he wanted to add some colonies to his country. Most major countries had colonized Africa and other land during the 19th Century. Mussolini had declared the Mediterranean Sea as “Italy's sea”.
Mussolini joined forces with Italy as he knew that his military was not prepared for a major war and his armed forces were inadequate; also the Italian economy was weak and inefficient from the start. The Italian people were not to sure about going into the war so Mussolini influenced their decision by telling them that they can have all the land they want if they fight, employment, food and pride in their nation, combined with an economy that would be stable and growing and by telling them that there was no way they could lose the war.
After many years of fighting in North Africa against the British, the Italian people became dissatisfied with the leadership and Mussolini's popularity declined and in 1943 there was a popular uprising against Mussolini. German leaders had wisely predicted that there would be a turn of events and moved quickly and efficiently to disarm the Italian armed forces before they could be used by the new Italian government to attack Germany. In one of the most brilliant commando attacks of the war German units even raided the complex where Mussolini was being help captive and freed him. Mussolini was the dictator of Italy until 1943.
Near the end of the war in 1945 he was captured again by Italian partisans who murdered him and his mistress and then strung their mutilated bodies upside down in a north Italian town called plaza.
Mussolini as leader of Italy during WWII
During WWII Mussolini was the leader of Italy. During his time as leader he had great ambitions to expand Italy’s world presence, and he was very aggressive in trying to do so. Before the official beginning of WWII in Sept 1939 Mussolini had already sent his forces to capture Albania and Ethiopia and because of this the British and French Leaders began to see him a threat.
Like Hitler, Mussolini served in the First World War as a young man and dreamed of military glory in a Second War to come. He entered Italy into the War in 1940; and at this time it looked as though Germany would win it and England would either negotiate or eventually be defeated by an invasion and at the time he thought the war would be limited. He hoped to do the minimum amount of work in the war and get his place at the negotiating table. Some of the reasons Mussolini entered the war were he wanted to add some colonies to his country. Most major countries had colonized Africa and other land during the 19Th Century. Mussolini had declared the Mediterranean Sea as “Italy's sea”.
Mussolini joined forces with Germany as he knew that his military was not prepared for a major war and his armed forces were inadequate; also the Italian economy was weak and inefficient from the start. The Italian people were not to sure about going into the war so Mussolini influenced their decision by telling them that they can have all the land they want if they fight, employment, food and gain pride for their nation, combined with an economy that would be stable and growing and by telling them that there was no way they could lose the war.
After many years of fighting in North Africa against the British, the Italian people became dissatisfied with the leadership and Mussolini's popularity declined and in 1943 there was a popular uprising against Mussolini. German leaders had wisely predicted that there would be a turn of events and moved quickly and efficiently to disarm the Italian armed forces before they could be used by the new Italian government to attack Germany. In one of the most brilliant commando attacks of the war German units even raided the complex where Mussolini was being help captive and freed him. Mussolini was the dictator of Italy until 1943.
Near the end of the war in 1945 he was captured again by Italian partisans who murdered him and his mistress and then strung their mutilated bodies upside down in a north Italian town called plaza.
Like Hitler, Mussolini served in the First World War as a young man and dreamed of military glory in a Second War to come. He entered Italy into the War in 1940; and at this time it looked as though Germany would win it and England would either negotiate or eventually be defeated by an invasion and at the time he thought the war would be limited. He hoped to do the minimum amount of work in the war and get his place at the negotiating table. Some of the reasons Mussolini entered the war were he wanted to add some colonies to his country. Most major countries had colonized Africa and other land during the 19Th Century. Mussolini had declared the Mediterranean Sea as “Italy's sea”.
Mussolini joined forces with Germany as he knew that his military was not prepared for a major war and his armed forces were inadequate; also the Italian economy was weak and inefficient from the start. The Italian people were not to sure about going into the war so Mussolini influenced their decision by telling them that they can have all the land they want if they fight, employment, food and gain pride for their nation, combined with an economy that would be stable and growing and by telling them that there was no way they could lose the war.
After many years of fighting in North Africa against the British, the Italian people became dissatisfied with the leadership and Mussolini's popularity declined and in 1943 there was a popular uprising against Mussolini. German leaders had wisely predicted that there would be a turn of events and moved quickly and efficiently to disarm the Italian armed forces before they could be used by the new Italian government to attack Germany. In one of the most brilliant commando attacks of the war German units even raided the complex where Mussolini was being help captive and freed him. Mussolini was the dictator of Italy until 1943.
Near the end of the war in 1945 he was captured again by Italian partisans who murdered him and his mistress and then strung their mutilated bodies upside down in a north Italian town called plaza.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Causes of the Second World War (WWII)
Causes of the Second World War.
After world one in 1918 the world leaders involved got together and decided a treaty in Versailles, France. This became known as The Versailles Treaty, in this treaty it set out some strict rules which the offending countries had to adhere to, this treaty mostly affected Germany which the world felt was responsible for the first world war. The sanctions imposed on them were that firstly they had to pay for damages caused to affected countries, all military forces including naval forces and armed forces had too be disbanded and never get as big as they were and that as part of the compensation they had to give some of their land up, for example the Rhine land which France took over. In conclusion too this Germany was forced to take full responsibility for world war one.
In 1933 the German people voted for a leader named Adolf Hitler, into power. Hitler believed that Germany was hard done by, and that the treaty of versailles was unfair towards Germany and that nobody had the right to take their land and tell them what armed forces to have or indeed not to have. Hitler led a political party in Germany called the National Socialists or Nazis. Hitler promised to make his country great again and quickly began to build up the armed forces and to seize land from other countries. The first thing Hitler done was rebuild his army, although this was against the terms set out in the treaty of versailles this did not stop Hitler and he continued to build up his military. Then in 1938 German forces invaded and captured the Rhine land from France, calming back what they believed was theirs, when this happened the world took a deep breath, particularly France as the Rhine land was given to them as part of the compensation of WWI, when the world’s leaders met up in France and talked to Hitler. Naval chamberlain, the British prime minister at that time agreed to appease Hitler and allow him to reclaim the land, (this was a big mistake according to many historians as this was said to be the burning match to the hay stack, this was the stepping stone Hitler needed to be on his way of making Germany the super power of the world.)
The conditions of this was that Germany stop rebuilding their army and take no more land. However Hitler failed to do this and shortly before 5am on Friday 1st September, 1939, German forces stormed the Polish frontier. Tanks and motorized troops raced into the country over ground, supported by Stuka dive bombers overhead. A total of 1.25 million Germans soldiers swept into Poland. This caused Britain and France to declare war on Germany on the 3rd of September 1939, before doing so Britain gave Germany the ultimatum to withdraw from Poland, they did not comply and consequently we see the start of world war II, Charles de Gaulle was Colonel of France at the time of world war two, however due to the destruction of world war one and the shire economic state of France it did not take long for the country to be captured by German forces in fact it only took a matter of weeks.
The German First Panzer Army used Gaullist tactics against France, and sent the country down, and de Gaulle managed to flee to Britain, where he started and commanded the Free French Movement, which earned him the death penalty in Occupied France. He fought with the allies during this time, commanding the French to victory. They were created on June 18, 1940, and Winston Churchill was quoted as saying "De Gaulle carried with him, in that small airplane, the honor of France" when de Gaulle arrived in England. France was split into too groups the resistance and the pro German, the reason why there was pro German groups was that some people beloved that after the recession of WWI Germany would be able to give stability to France.
France was occupied by the Germans until 1944. June 6 of that year was D-Day. A massive Allied force invaded the beaches of Normandy.
Through the summer and fall, the Allies pushed eastward through France towards Germany. In August, Allied troops also landed in the South of France.
Through the summer and fall, the Allies pushed eastward through France towards Germany. In August, Allied troops also landed in the South of France.
By the end of the war, about 350,000 French soldiers had been killed, and almost a half million French civilians had died.
If it had not of been for the spirit of the French resistance then the D-day invasion would not have been a success, also the strategic location of France which had helped it be captured in the first place acted at the perfect spot to invade main land Europe by the allies and fight the German army and ultimately win the war.
Viv LES FRANCE