[anonlinc77]

This is not true. War materially changes the lives of the people before and after regardless of whether or not their language in customs are noticeably affected in the short term. Would you rather be a West German in 1938 or 1960? What about if you were Jewish?

I think the Jews in France in 1939 would have wished their government put up a better fight and had better generals who actually used the radio.

Also, the statement that France was on the German side is not true. The Germans conquered most of France in the first part of the war and installed a puppet regime that was loyal to them. This does not mean France was on the side of Germany, it means the Vichy puppet regime was.

You clearly know a decent amount about history, yet your analysis is so starkly wrong it appears you have an agenda.

[jongjong]

My agenda is; I'm not going to war for any country because it's pointless. I think it's governments who have an agenda.

According to Claude, Petain was installed after France's defeat; that's true, but Vichy France was already considered collaborationist with Nazi Germany at the time. Many public figures were pro-nazi such as Coco Chanel.

It's kind of insane actually that seemingly many of the big companies which supported the Nazis are still in business and actually grew and became synonymous with luxury after the war; Chanel, Hugo Boss, Mercedes Benz...

You'd think it would be bad for reputation; but reputation is the bread and butter of these companies today!

What better way to illustrate just how wrong the masses are when it comes to war? Clearly what we were taught is wrong! It doesn't align with economic reality!

Doesn't this corroborate my point that who wins the war doesn't matter?

[anonlinc77]

No, this does not corroborate your point at all.

Do you not believe the holocaust happened?

I seriously can't comprehend how anybody can say that the outcome of WWII didn't matter. For some wars, especially European wars before Napoleon, this is true. For WWII, I think there's a case to be made that no war in history has been more influential.

Your metric for what constitutes change is flawed. You can't say just because companies still exist and people still speak German that WWII doesn't matter. Seriously, take as step back and look at Germany before and after the war at all points. It's a completely different country that has fostered a people with completely different values.

Do you think Angela Merkel would have allowed so many refugees in if WWII never happened?