A Pillar To Post
Friday 8th May, 2020. 75 years on from a day which marked a defiant victory in Europe. Today we pay homage to those who went before us, and those whom still walk amongst us.
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| (image courtesy of Border Counties Advertizer) |
"Sheeeareeer"
(Sorry, I couldn't resist...)
Joking aside though...let us also remember the valiant efforts of those at home and on foreign lands and seas, who provided the backbone for Britain (and Europe) and enabled us the freedoms that we now share.
Today's "Pillar To Post" serves as a welcome reminder as to where we'd be if it wasn't for the selfless bravery, dedication and sacrifice of those such as Captain Tom Moore (pictured above) and those with whom he served.
Today's "Pillar To Post" serves as a welcome reminder as to where we'd be if it wasn't for the selfless bravery, dedication and sacrifice of those such as Captain Tom Moore (pictured above) and those with whom he served.
Possibly a bit crass and arguably distasteful - but I'm not here to sugar-coat the truth, this is exactly where:
From 1941 to 1945, approximately two-thirds of the European, Jewish population, (that's around 6 million Jews), were taken from their mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers and sisters and slaughtered at concentration camps such as the one pictured above. This excludes an additional 5million people who were also deemed "life unworthy of life" such as Slavs, homosexuals and Jehovah witnesses.
11 million human beings, stripped of their valuables, stripped of their homes and even stripped of their identity, then thrown in pens (where you wouldn't even keep animals!) where they'd live until such a point that they'd be executed in gas chambers.
So, in the aftermath of WW1, and following the "Treaty of Versailles" which heavily sanctioned Germany as a nation, the "Nazi" party slowly ascended to the forefront of German politics.
The Nazi's came to the conclusion that all German speaking nations should unite in one country and attempt to achieve "Autarky" (the idea that Germany should be economically self-sufficient). An idea which in isolation isn't of particular concern, and is arguably admirable.
Furthermore, they developed the belief that society should not be democratic, but should instead be overseen by a Fuhrer. Step forward the charismatic and influential arsewipe in Adolf Hitler.
Despite joining the party in 1919, it wasn't until around 1929 that Hitler and the Nazi party would gain any form of electoral success. In 1923, Hitler would attempt to launch a revolution against the Weimar government known as the Munich Putsch, which was badly organised and resulted in his arrest. A turning point for the future of the party. Arrested and imprisoned for 5 years and trialled with high treason for betraying his country, the next time Hitler would publicly speak would be in 1927. By such time, the twat had completed "Mein Kampf" ("My Struggle") - a propaganda book that set out Nazi beliefs. His ideas became well known, with millions of Germans reading the booklet. Meanwhile, the realisation that revolutionary force wasn't the answer sunk in. Hitler reorganised the party to enable it to challenge by democratic means, allowing it to take part in elections.
Furthermore, they developed the belief that society should not be democratic, but should instead be overseen by a Fuhrer. Step forward the charismatic and influential arsewipe in Adolf Hitler.
Despite joining the party in 1919, it wasn't until around 1929 that Hitler and the Nazi party would gain any form of electoral success. In 1923, Hitler would attempt to launch a revolution against the Weimar government known as the Munich Putsch, which was badly organised and resulted in his arrest. A turning point for the future of the party. Arrested and imprisoned for 5 years and trialled with high treason for betraying his country, the next time Hitler would publicly speak would be in 1927. By such time, the twat had completed "Mein Kampf" ("My Struggle") - a propaganda book that set out Nazi beliefs. His ideas became well known, with millions of Germans reading the booklet. Meanwhile, the realisation that revolutionary force wasn't the answer sunk in. Hitler reorganised the party to enable it to challenge by democratic means, allowing it to take part in elections.
In 1929, the Wall Street Crash in the United States saw unemployment intensify across the world, with Germany being hit particularly hard, causing their economy to enter a depression. And so, the window of opportunity opened to both extreme-communist parties on the left (of the spectrum), and the Nazi's on the extreme-right (amongst others).
With the promise of farmers being given their land, pensions improving and state owned utilities, the new-look Germany would seek to care for Germans better than anyone else, immigration would be halted and laws would be specifically designed for foreigners within the land. The Nazi party grew in popularity and strength, as did its private army - the Sturmabteilung (Storm Troopers), which by 1932 had approximately 400,000 members and swelled to an estimated 2,000,000 by the time Hitler came to power in 1933. Similarly, in the Reichstag, seats had been increased by 218 between 1928 and 1932, growing from 12 to 230.
Using untried and untested methods, the highly intelligent Josef Goebbels had helped launch a propaganda campaign, consisting of posters, speeches and rallies designed to capture the enthusiasm of a disgruntled nation. This became the vehicle for Hitlers popularity. With Adolf at the head as chief prick, and various levels of hierarchy put into place beneath him, an ideology and belief system were slowly put into place. A belief system that infested the minds of the people and would provide structure to a party hell-bent on achieving phenomenally fucked-up feats.
Such power can often pollute the mind, and pollute it did, and so came the birth of a revolutionary philosophy that was about to change the world forever. The people were sold a story of a saviour. A man who'd rescue a nation. And so people placed their hope and trust in the Fuhrer. The worlds largest cult was born.
The Nazi party scare-mongered the population by citing that both Communists and Jews posed a significant threat to their German ways. This would prevent them from the ability to have "lebensraum" (living space) which a Nazi Germany would expand into, both territorially (?) and otherwise. This then resulted in Social Darwinism and the idea that the Aryan race were superior. Jews were considered nothing but subhuman.
The Nazi party scare-mongered the population by citing that both Communists and Jews posed a significant threat to their German ways. This would prevent them from the ability to have "lebensraum" (living space) which a Nazi Germany would expand into, both territorially (?) and otherwise. This then resulted in Social Darwinism and the idea that the Aryan race were superior. Jews were considered nothing but subhuman.
By January 1933, Von Papen - the chancellor, had resigned. Hindenburg, the then-president, turned to Hitler in the belief he could get him to do what he wanted 😣, and there we go - the Nazi's were now in power.
You're probably sat reading thinking "why are you telling me aal this"?! and probably for one of two reasons:
1) Yi aalready kna the crack
2) Yi just wanna get pissed, sing "Sweet Caroline" and celebrate by faalin inti yi barbecue
Alreet - I get it. It's a bit heavy for a bank holiday Friday. So here wu gan, I'll hit fast forward a bit:
1939 - The Nazi party invade neighbouring Poland on September the first, triggering the European phase of WW2.
1940 - With Poland all but defeated and Hitler and the Nazi's looking at new windows of opportunity, they decide to launch attacks to the West. Next - targeting Belgium and the Netherlands before progressing into parts of France.
With both France and Britain behind in preparations, the Nazi's were capable of advancing and strengthening their position throughout Western Europe.
However, by August the battle of Britain begins and Churchill takes charge. The Luftwaffe launches attacks on our air defences and attempts to drive our warships from the Channel. They bomb our civilians to cut off the support network of our military forces, yet find themselves defeated in this altercation by the October. The subsequent German invasion was postponed.
1941 - Hitler was always weary of the communists and fancied his chances against the Soviet Union, and with the Blitz continuing in British cities, Hitler took the decision to spread his forces to the East, as well as the West, sending nearly 3.6million German troops to launch a surprise attack in Operation Barbarossa. Imagine the terror that such a force could rain.
That same year, whilst the allies took Tobruk in North Africa, the Japanese increased their involvement with an attempt to destroy the American, Pacific fleet at the battle of Pearl Harbor. 300 American aircraft and 2 American battleships were destroyed and the Japanese claimed an operational/tactical success, but were later found to have made a strategical failure.
In attacking the warships, but not the strategic assets, this allowed the Americans the chance to regroup and rebuild, especially utilising war ships that hadn't been identified as present at Pearl Harbor.
The war was about to take a monumental shift.
1942 and Nazi Germany suffered setbacks at Stalingrad an in El Alamein, whilst Singapore falls at the hands of the Japanese, and some 25,000 prisoners were taken hostage.
In the Pacific, the Japanese targeted Midway Island and got caught between achieving two goals, resulting in them achieving none, and the US intelligence and naval capacity over ran them to claim victory. The Pacific was now in the hands of the allies.
1943 - An allied victory in North Africa enables the invasion of Italy to be launched and Germany takes over the battle there as Italy surrenders. Meanwhile the Nazi's surrender at Stalingrad - marking the first major Axis defeat in Europe. British and Indian forces are spread further afield, beginning the fight against Japanese forces in Burma.
1944 - The beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler, thank Christ! June 6th marks D-Day and the Allied invasion of France. A naval offensive on the West coast of continental Europe - the greatest naval force ever to be seen. Operation Overlord ends 'well' with allied forces breaking through German defences. Yet, estimates of approximately 10,000 allied soldiers were lost that day, making it one of the most catastrophic victories in history.
Meanwhile, in the East the Soviet forces gather pace and begin their counter-offensive, as Paris is liberated in the August and returned back to Allied rule.
1945 - The last year of the war in Europe and concentration camps such as Auschwitz are liberated.
The Russians reach Berlin and terrified of the repercussions, Hitler offs himself. It's a shame the dickhead didn't do it 20 years prior. May 7th 1945, and Nazi Germany finally surrenders.
Thus we have VE (Victory in Europe) day on the 8th. Approximately 85million deaths later.
In a desperate attempt to contextualise that - that's everyone who went to a full St James' Park for PL fixtures...for 86 years.
Now ask yourself "why?!"
How can anyone do that to another innocent man, woman or worst of all, child?!
In life it is often best to forgive and forget - but not here. This can not be forgiven and will not be forgotten.
However, fast forward to present time, and we arrive at a somewhat united Europe. I work with Germans, some of which are decent, some of which aren't, but they're just the same as any other nationality or race. In fact, they're probably more like us than a lot of us would care to acknowledge. My girlfriend is Italian and we've now been together for 7 years (to the day - oioi - that's ganna cost a tenner! 😂) and her family fought against Mussolini for partisan forces in Italy.
I never thought I'd see the day that I aligned more with a Frenchman in Giovanni, than I do with some of the bell ends from the Toon, but hey ho, that's part of the tapestry of life - and it makes for a better place. Now lets have a torchon ham and pease pudding baguette with a bottle of chien. 🐶
The point being that we should all be able to live together and treat one another with one fundamental thing, respect. Correctly, the war is now bound to the history books and serves as a chapter in mankind as a lesson to learn from, and not to repeat. Together we must progress.
Today marks a day of commemoration primarily, reflection secondarily and thirdly, celebration. We should all rejoice and be thankful for Tuesday 8th May, 1945. For this was the day when 'Good' truly snatched the world from the jaws of destruction and overcame the wrath of 'Evil'.
Finally...
A slightly more sentimental touch: Every year (where possible), I travel to Portland (near Weymouth) on the supposedly-sunny-South coast. Travelling with me Da and previously with me Granda too, we make the 393 mile trip every 12th of June. We head to the usual hotels where we meet up with other friends and families of those lost on board HMS Boadicea during the second world war and have a few beers and some bait.
The 13th marks the day which she (Boadicea) was struck and ultimately sank, and so, suited and booted, we lay wreaths at a local cemetery to commemorate the tragic loss of life for these young men. Not least, Able Seaman Thomas Heron
In "Part 2" of "Victories in Europe" (coming soon) I aim to explore some of the values and behaviours displayed throughout WW2 and apply them to present day. But for now - I'd like to use this moment to reflect in what could have been, and share a piece that I originally wrote back in 2012 at the age of 23.
I originally shared this over a glass of whisky with one of my best mates (and father) and one of his, in me Granda Tom, who sadly passed away late last year. A moment that I hold very dear to me:
I originally shared this over a glass of whisky with one of my best mates (and father) and one of his, in me Granda Tom, who sadly passed away late last year. A moment that I hold very dear to me:
Quo Fata Vacant - whither the fates call,
No matter how big, no matter how small.
By land, by air, but to the date by sea,
Without you, I wouldn't be me.
Unfortunately, you didn't know me, my name's Chris,
I bet you never thought we'd meet like this.
You defended us well, with a spirit so strong,
For that you'll be remembered, as long as time may go on.
Fortune favours the brave, and for us you were that,
You defeated the Nazi's in an astounding act.
Fighting to be free, with hope and with glory,
Without people like you, life would be a different story.
Son, Father, Grandfather- We're all saddened to say
"For our tomorrow you gave your today."
But enough of the tears, and the things that have passed,
Here's to you, and the Union Jack on Boadicea's mast.
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