Listen to the special weekend edition with Victor Davis Hanson and co-host Sami Winc, featuring the year 1943 of World War II and Allied progress in the middle segment. They also discuss the Government Accountability Office’s effort to stop Trump, the Democrat staffers’ reasons for covering up Biden, Putin’s mind, Scott Pelley’s speech to graduates, North Korea’s nuclear capability, and Musk’s critique of the Big Beautiful Bill.
Adrienne,
As you may be aware this past 27th January marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. May we never forget what happened there.
Adrienne,
Have you read Dr. Hanson’s book The Second World Wars? Allowing the British to escape at Dunkirk, bombing cities rather than airfields and radar installations during the Battle of Britain, Invading the Soviet Union, and declaring war on the U.S. on 11th December 1941 were all catastrophic unforced errors that ultimately led to Germany’s defeat. Germany also failed to develop a long range four engine bomber and an aircraft carrier. Victor points out that the Allies were able to share equipment and expertise much better than the Axis powers. For example, the P-51 Mustang used a Rolls Royce Merlin engine and with drop tanks was capable of escorting Allied bombers to Germany.
According to the Holocaust Encyclopaedia (encyclopaedia.ushmm.org) “By 1945, most European Jews – 2 out of 3 – had been killed.” Most of these people were from Eastern Europe. Poland’s loss is the most significant: “In 1933, Poland had the largest Jewish population in Europe, numbering over three million. By 1950, the Jewish population in Poland was reduced to about 45,000.”
The diversion of resources used to carry out the Final Solution must have had some impact on Germany’s war effort. But I tend to think the real reasons for Germany’s defeat were Hitler’s arrogance and stupidity.
“Allies Win in 1943 and Revolutionaries Pursue Trump” is fascinating. But do you not agree that another factor in Germany’s defeat was the time, resources, manpower spent on gathering and murdering the Jews of Europe? It’s not popular knowledge among Jews today, but German Jews fought loyally for Germany in World War I and, I think, would have done the same if it was not for Hitler’s (with the cooperation of a lot of Germans, and the tacit complicity of many, many Europeans) determination to exterminate the Jews of Europe.
And as you wrapped up your lecture, I would have appreciated a mention, (iff the subject, I admit), that as late as 1944, there were millions of East European Jews who were not living comfortably, but who were alive and in their own homes.
And I hope your sinuses feel better, although in Spring, I’m afraid the pollens must be flying. I’m sorry.