Are We *ever* Going To Get Over Wwii ?

[jake-the-peg]

Yet another commemoration - this time 70 years of the Atlantic campaign

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22434753

Given that WWII lasted about 5 years by the time you've commemorated a VE day anniversary it seems time to start celebrating anothe anniversary of the start of the War!

I hear the cries of 'ingrate' already and patriotic chests puffing up like pidgeons - but WWI was just as formative to those who fought in it and I don't recall continual commemorations of that from my childhood.

Why are we so obsessed with WWII and are we ever going to get over it?

[jno]

I think they will die out as the participants do. Who commemorates Trafalgar?

As to why WW2 specifically, I suppose it's because it was the last gasp of the British Empire. That too could be left to the history books in another 50 years or so

[VHG]

We don't "celebrate" the Boer War any more, because all the people involved in it are dead, and we have had others wars since.

But the Boer war was a big deal at the time, look at this photo here of one company returning from the war, and look at the huge crowds coming out to see them.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Company_C_returns_from_Boer_War.jpg

[ludwig]

Clearly you'll never get over it jake. It seems to upset you alot.

I think the special thing about ww2 is that the consequences of an allied loss would have been more horrific than any other conflict in living memory including ww1. Imagine how many more people would have been murdered if the Nazis had won. It really doesn't bear thinking about, and that's what makes it special - in my opinion.

[TOMMO333]

If WWII hadn't intervened, we would probably have continued to commemorate WWI, as we still do so with Armistice Day.

[jackthehat]

Things that occurred within *living memory* tend to get commemorated.

[VHG]

p.s. That photo was from Canada, but I have seen other similar pictures in London, but cant find them on the web.

I have an old book from the 1930s full of historic photographs, and one of them shows the streets of London once the Boer war finished, and the streets were PACKED with people celebrating.

The Boer war was a big deal then, but something most people are hardly aware of nowadays.

[woofgang]

I think the living memory thing is important. We are losing those who were there and its important to make them feel that we value their contribution while they are still here.

[barney4444]

Well said Jake. the latest nonsense is recovering the wreck of a dornier aircraft from the bottom off the English channel.

[tonyav]

That's a great photo, VHG.

[jno]

I think Tommo's correct: there would have been more WW1 celebrations in my youth, but they were overtaken by WW2 ones.

My history's shaky but I think (a) the end of the Boer War was celebrated because there were times when Britain had looked like losing; and (b) people were as fearful of Napoleon as they were of Hitler, thinking they'd all be guillotined.

[woofgang]

why is it nonsense? isn't it being done privately?....yes heritage lottery fund is paying.

[barney4444]

It just seems to me that if there is money available surely this project needs to be at the bottom of the list..

[jackthehat]

What would you have suggested they did with the money?
Build a hospital?

[Sqad]

Just guessing Jake, but you were not born at the start of WW2, never lived in the bombings by the Luftwaffe. The Nazis were occupying Europe country by country and the stories of atrocities permeated into the UK across the channel.

The UK was next for the efficient and ruthless German army and we were ill prepared for war.

Many people who lived through that period are still alive and are willing to show their appropriation Britain's Fighting forces who kept at bay the eager enemy.

Seems pretty straightforward to me Jake...... ......but don't worry the likes of me will be dead in a decade and then you will have your way.

[Haggisdj]

jno - you may want to Google The Boer War mate.

[Sqad]

"appreciation" ^^^

[tonyav]

Well said sqad, I wasn't born but I do know that it was the darkest days for GB.

[aelmpvw]

//Are We *ever* Going To Get Over Wwii ?//
If we'd lost it you'd probably be too afraid to ask the question

[barney4444]

Not enough for that,but put some useful equipment in one. Seems to me that the people in suits sat around tables deciding where money gets spent are so out of touch with the problems Mr and Mrs Average are facing that it becomes quite insulting to us when they find money for this yes.. nonsense..

[Sqad]

barney....are you suggesting that Mr and Mrs Average don't wear suits?

I have seen more money go down the "plughole" in the NHS, money that came out of my N.I and taxes and it is nice to see, at times like this, people having a say in what they want to to with their hard earned cash.....yes..even resurrecting a Dornier.