tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post1206232805124027575..comments2024-01-07T09:36:51.796-08:00Comments on Chess, Comics, Crosswords, Books, Music, Cinema: Prashant C. Trikannadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-59765301488609458452012-06-04T09:16:44.324-07:002012-06-04T09:16:44.324-07:00P.S. I'm wondering if the Fifth Column activit...P.S. I'm wondering if the Fifth Column activity in this country had much to do with our avoidance of the obvious truth of Germany's early and ever more deadly aggression against Jews.<br /><br />Concentration camps were being built right and left and everyone knew about them. I'm wondering if in those early days, the American government chose to look the other way because of - perhaps - Fifth Column pressure from within?Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-71667979153873141292012-06-04T09:11:39.997-07:002012-06-04T09:11:39.997-07:00I've never read this, Prashant, but it does so...I've never read this, Prashant, but it does sound grandiose in scope. <br /><br />I'm thinking that the truth was fantastic enough NOT to need any embellishment.<br /><br />I recently read THE LONG NIGHT - William L. Shirer and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Steve Wick which put me behind the scenes in the early days of Nazi ascendancy as journalist Wm. L. Shirer was on the scene to report what was going on as best he could. (Broadcasting and even the sending of print stores was kind of primitive in those days) He was actually living in Berlin at one point so was on hand until 1940 when he fled the country. He then broadcast from London, with Edward R. Morrow.<br /><br />An interesting book though not as good as I thought it would be.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-91007230915669924982012-05-18T11:00:05.095-07:002012-05-18T11:00:05.095-07:00Thanks, Sergio, equally so for your keen observati...Thanks, Sergio, equally so for your keen observations. I agree there were a lot of fascist groups in Britain and the United States (as there might still be) at the time of WWII and while Hitler's propaganda network might have made substantial inroads into both the countries, I doubt it had the kind of impact the dictator hoped for. I think it fell far short of his expectations in so far as pulling the two countries towards fascism was concerned.<br /><br />On the second point, Hitler, I feel, did miscalculate America's decision to go to war with Germany. Though, I should have mentioned that the US officially declared war on both Germany and Japan around the same time, in December 1941. My understanding is that America's first real conflict with Japan in the Pacific war theatre came only in mid-1942, several months after the attack on Pearl Harbour. This was because US warships of the Pacific Fleet were out at sea when Japan struck.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-31211667042248741502012-05-18T10:50:02.258-07:002012-05-18T10:50:02.258-07:00Charles, I have heard and read about the Fifth Col...Charles, I have heard and read about the Fifth Column and it would be really interesting to find out what it did and how widespread it was. Nazi Germany is, indeed, a very fascinating historical period both within and outside the context of world War II.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-23147218968407248102012-05-18T09:35:56.379-07:002012-05-18T09:35:56.379-07:00Really interesting choice Prashant. Temperamentall...Really interesting choice Prashant. Temperamentally I am probably less sceptical about some of the assertions than you I suspect. There were a lot of fascist groups (still are in fact) at the time so a lot of this is not that hard to believe. You make one slightly curious point near the end: <br /><br />"Hitler’s miscalculation over America’s decision to enter the war against Germany, rather than take on Japan after Pearl Harbour ... "<br /><br />That makes it sound like the US didn't have a War in the Pacific - did I missread it?Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)http://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169151311037688512.post-36851986144832730542012-05-18T07:53:31.100-07:002012-05-18T07:53:31.100-07:00I know there was a pretty strong fifth column in t...I know there was a pretty strong fifth column in the US. This sounds interesting. I've always been fascinated with Nazi Germany. An interesting historical period.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com