Re: memories.e18

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Greetings to all:

As one of the "lurkers" on this forum, I eagerly await responses
to Mr. Zvonko Springer's fine piece of history.  It puts the Second World
War into perspective.  Every sentence is packed with meaning and could be
used as a basis for furthur investigation.  For example, he speaks of
"circumstances" in the 1920s and 1930s.  You might discover that one
of the cirmcunstances was excessive reparations demanded of a defeated
and broken people after the First World War.  Mr. Springer speaks
of lack of "farsightedness."  I have read that certain Western
"leaders" thought they might be able to "use" Hitler to help restore
order in Germany, where living and economic conditions were awful.
Is it surprising that such lack of farsightedness provided an
ideal opportunity for someone who promised people renewed self-respect?
As we see, the result was the incredible slaughter of millions.

You could compare the treatment of the defeated German people after WWI
with the way the United States treated Western Europe after WWII.
We had something called the Marshall Plan whereby the people of the USA
gave aid and dollars to help rebuild Western Europe.
The Marshall Plan is nearly forgotten now, but it helped the people
of Europe.

As Mr. Zvonko Springer indicated, you might want to read some more
history books.  As I indicated previously on this forum, I like
one by John Keegan which starts by assessing the causes of the
First World War, which many say led to the Second World War.
Or were they really two parts of the same war?

I was born a few years later than Zvonko Springer and I, too,
wrote some memoirs of my half of the "Long Weekend" and the
war.  ("The Long Weekend" is the name of a book by a man named
Graves about life in Britain between the wars.  The implication
of course, is WWI and WWII were parts of the same war.)

My memory is that people were too busy during the first half of
the 20th century to worry much about "feelings."  Our principal
business as children was to get educated: learn a little English
grammer, math, composition, history, etc.  We had plenty of good
times, too.  We didn't get much of the fine history that you read
in Zvonko Springer's note, unfortunatley.  I do remember a story
book I had (maybe in the 4th grade) about life in Europe.  People
would disappear.  You would go to school and one of your classmates
would be missing.  It turned out the child's house was empty.  So
we knew something was going on.  I was too young for military
service and my dad was too old, but we moved from one region to
another because my dad had an opportunity to do "war" work.

I enjoyed Mr. Zvonko Springer's message immensely.  I hope it
leads to more questions from members of this listserv.  I am
NOT trying to speak for Mr. Zvonko Springer.  I am NOT trying
to "put words in HIS mouth."  I am merely tossing in MY "two
cents worth."  If anyone cares to challenge my facts or opinions
regarding causes and effects of the war, you are more than welcome.

All my very best,
Don Giddings
U.S.A.

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