The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won

In his new book The Second World Wars, Victor Davis Hanson offers a stunning reinterpretation of history's deadliest conflict. One of the nation’s leading historians and commentators, Hanson draws on 3,000 years of military history to place this interconnected global war in context. Please join us for a spirited discussion of this seminal history.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to our channel: cs.is/2dCfTve
CSIS is the world's #1 defense and national security think tank. Visit www.csis.org to find more of our work as we bring bipartisan solutions to the world's greatest challenges.
Check out the rest of our videos here: cs.is/2dolqpj
Follow CSIS on Twitter: / csis
On Facebook: / csis.org
And on Instagram: / csis

[@jona826]

6:30 "Please welcome me in joining Victor Davis Hanson" lol

[@howardrandall5478]

VDH begins at 6:37

[@pvtcit9711]

Please welcome me in joining

[@jimdandy9671]

If you're going to post a VDH clip Boost the Volume!

[@BertDog1964]

Thats What I Said... CRANK IT UP 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@docudan1874]

Lololol Look Oki8lii

[@doctorwoohoo1152]

I've seen Dr. Hanson cover this subject in multiple talks, and every talk has some new information and/or insight, that I had not come across before. Just brilliant.

[@JohnSmith-qz1br]

Fake news

[@arthurdebacker9918]

@@JohnSmith-qz1br no We

[@arthurdebacker9918]

We can stop

[@philipm06]

Nice of young Vic to remember Great Britain.

[@albertrusso1836]

Yyyyyyyyyyyyyytttytrtw555555550

[@ajalvarez3111]

He’s pretty good in all of his WW2 talks and books about giving the UK their deserved accolades.

[@suaxeonlinethenao351]

@@ajalvarez3111 mimmkkkiokmilkmmk

[@suaxeonlinethenao351]

@@ajalvarez3111 kkikiki

[@jon123xyz]

awesome analysis - thanks!

[@miloslavdoubrava1396]

Sir, Greetings ftom Czechia. Thank you

[@megadethmofo2001]

The way goes through historical events and dates completely from memory, with NO notes is truly amazing.

[@brucescotland5750]

Ooooooooooooooooooooo o youwant it or something different from ok on 💩 oooooooooooooooooooœooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo9ooooooooooo9ooo99oooooooo99ooooooooo9oo9oooooo9999999999999ooo9999ooooooooo9o9oo999oooooooooooooo9o9oooooooooo

[@brucescotland5750]

Poo on lol o

[@brucescotland5750]

9ooooooooooooo

[@brucescotland5750]

Ooo

[@brucescotland5750]

Ooo

[@teddinardo8944]

thank you great man, great book, wow. this was 5 years ago i missed this one I followed his more recent interviews, but this is still great

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

It is amazing how quickly and succinctly he sums up the Second World War.

[@jean-claudeahn9631]

Some very relevant analyse and a begin of a more objective approach.

[@synon9m]

Aggressors have contempt for stronger people that seem to be afraid to use their power.

[@immaculatesquid]

This explains the hatred many islamic nations have for us even aside from Israel.

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

I took the Hillsdale course. It was fantastic!

[@MJSmithGroup]

6:40 VDH starts

[@rayward3630]

I really enjoy and have learned allot from Dr. Hansen. I may not have similar political views with him, but he does an excellent job of educating us history buffs about how war has played such significant role in world history and how different leaders have perceived wars, implemented them and the mistakes and some of the brilliance of some leaders of countries and leaders of militaries. He often gives a different perspective than we may have been taught or had learned by our own study and listening to other experts.

[@immaculatesquid]

In a way VDH is much like many americans from the founding to the end of the 19th century, a classical scholar, farmer, who has a well developed thesis about the world supported by facts, and sound philosophy and values with which to judge the strength of those facts.

[@4OHz]

he really does need to stay in his lane when it comes to his political views, I tried to take his on-line course regarding citizenship offered through Hillsdale College. I tried to put aside the source because of his scholarship but once into it the images he uses and his little comments here and there was enough for me to seek knowledge elsewhere

[@charw2009]

@@4OHz Specifically, what are you referring to? What are the affectations or little comments as you say? Can you recall?

[@johni4213]

So, I come away thinking War is Good! Thx for the info!

[@lindencamelback2305]

Funny, probably one of life's great unrealized benefits.

[@wimzrxsf]

Victor is brilliant

[@mccastro6339]

What's so brilliant? He makes a lot of mistakes in WW2 history. You probably knows nothing, thats why you find him brilliant.

[@bibhutisaha4648]

Tq a lots our heartiest ..Sir🌹🌹🌹🙏🙏

[@44bosnagirl]

thanks

[@shashidharshettar3846]

Good Facts & Truth Held Academic Summary.

[@chrisbarker8303]

Trsf

[@j-man764]

I like how we casually forget about the Seven Years War as being the actual first global conflict between global powers.

[@paulrevere2379]

That's a bit of a stretch

[@kbuckendorf4287]

@@paulrevere2379 It's not a stretch at all. The conflict was fought as far afield as India and North American territories. Additionally, the Napoleonic Wars have many of those same attributes, with war being fought in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and all throughout Europe.

[@CuriousGeorgio59]

@@kbuckendorf4287 95% or more of the napoleonic wars were fought in Europe, not much of a global war if you ask me. The politics and powers involved were also European dominated. The First World War introduced Australia to global warfare at Gallipoli, along with many other countries in Africa and elsewhere. But the Second World War is the clear global engagement, especially when you look at the Japanese militarism build up to Pearl Harbor, United States and European powers trying to block Japan from becoming a world power, etc.

[@kbuckendorf4287]

@@CuriousGeorgio59 You could make that same argument about the First World War. Where the troops fight from is less definitive than where they actually fight. The majority of combat action is fought on either side of Germany with some peripheral actions elsewhere. I agree that Second World War is far more definitive as a global conflict than all others prior to. I disagree that it was fought to prevent Japan from being a world power. Japan did not have the strength in resources nor people to be anything other than a regional power.

[@CuriousGeorgio59]

@@kbuckendorf4287 I didn’t say it was fought to prevent Japan from becoming a world power, I’m saying that by 1940 there had been enough interactions between different powers around the world that a major alliance of a dominant European land power and a country like japan be possible and significant within a war. I use Japan as an example because they had repeatedly been slighted by the Europeans and Americans since they were victims of racism and the Anglo-Sphere attempting to squash any threat to their dominance.

[@icu8128]

Deterrence consist of 2 components. Demonstrable superior strength in the common triad of military, economic and diplomatic assets and allowing any potential adversary knowing this fact. The national "WILL" to employ those means to vanquish any adversary or bend them to your desired outcome.

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

The first thing I learned when I took my first military history course was that a country needed to know how powerful it was and make sure other countries knew this also. This is deterrence. They then pointed out how the Battle of Midway showed the U.S. how powerful we truly were, which we hadn't known.

[@stellarossaCPCU]

"please welcome me in joining" lol

[@hey_joe7069]

6:35

[@isfk]

I owe you 6 minutes of my life.

[@jamescoffey4238]

Thanks

[@josephmorris4347]

so freaking true, CSIS ALWAYYYYYYYS DOES THIS, i always go forward 20 minutes and go backwards...… STOP SCIS LEARN HOW TO YOU TUBE

[@davidsabillon5182]

I wish it was like Netflix with a skip intro button.

[@WaydeRobson]

Whenever I watch a VDH video, I keep hitting L until I see his face on-screen.

[@robzilla730]

In a perfect world, Dr H would be National Security Advisor.

[@stevenvassalli2408]

I accidentally listened to his talk about the air war of WW2. I've sinced listened to all of them. His take on the Axis never building a 4 engine bomber I'd never thought of. I've read so many books & watched many documentaries yet this simple fact wasn't ever mentioned. What really impressive was his take of how many unarmed civilians were murdered by the Japanese & Germans.Knowing this helps when an idiot says, "If American would apologize and pay restitution for dropping the A-Bomb theywould no longer feel guilty. " My response, "As soon as you do the very same with China for murdering unarmed Chinese civilians be thankful General Curtis LaMay didn't fire bomb your whole country into ash...idiot!"

[@stevestroh2267]

This guy could say the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor, and I would almost believe him. So smart.

[@lancesurgeon7614]

steve stroh He would just be agreeing with Senator Blutarsky. LOL!!!

[@alanandrews4726]

LOL

[@alan30189]

That was John Belushi, in “Animal House,” and you believed him. 😂🤣😉

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

I'm surprised he hasn't!

[@arthurobrien7424]

My copy was in the mail today \o/

[@paulrevere2379]

It's easier to grow back missing teeth lost on account of neglect than it is to recover freedoms lost on account of neglecting to teach future generations the cost of those freedoms.

[@bibhutisaha4648]

And welcome .. further ..🌹🌹

[@otonyo1994]

great

[@shanechristopher5395]

The guy who introduced VDH talked way to long. He also bored the hell out of me.

[@grantgengel3578]

Correct

[@leejacobus5305]

Shane Christopher 6 1/2 min !!!

[@vercingetorix444]

He also said "Please welcome me in joining Victor Davis Hanson"

[@bigdog517]

It was totally fine

[@Digmen1]

Dr Hansen is great. He really gets to to heart of things and gives a great analysis. Eg I'd never thougt of the US airfroce mobing Japan even more after the fall of Okinawa. It was always about the cost of a US invasion. As he said the Japanese fleet and merchant fleet was gone. They could have been starved and bombed into oblivion.

[@johnfleming3289]

A greeat talk from a great man.

[@78tag]

I have no use for the people that ask questions at the end just to show how much they know while asking their question.

[@tolyamochin4066]

Во время лекции, вопросы могут возникнуть в любой момент и это вполне нормально. И если профессор по истории не может или не хочет на них отвечать, то значит он занимает чужое место!

[@petergarrone8242]

While the British commonwealth declared war on Germany to when Poland was attacked, so also did the French. They had a much worse war.

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

It was the empire, not the commonwealth back then, tmk

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

The French declared war mainly as a result of British pressure. They weren't real keen on the idea.

[@denvan3143]

Twice now VDH has been introduced with the words “Please welcome me in joining Victor, David Hanson.” You are welcome and it is always a pleasure to join victor David Hansen .

[@jimparker7778]

letters S and D are directly adjacent on the typewriter keyboard. Spellcheck won't catch it either.

[@billdemudd6697]

Bloody hell,i thought this was a csi vid

[@christopherfiorentino6552]

6:40 intro

[@danielihorov]

Tranks you for good judegement. what we do it is beyong of uderstanting.

[@danielihorov]

Voi vorbi îm limba română. Ce se întâmplă la nivel înalt de decizie în R. Moldova e rodul, dacă putem numi așa, a unui fact de rejecție a unei atitudini cancerigene. Știu că Maia e reticentă. Doar spuneți

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Just skip through the first 6:30.

[@curlybobz]

Anyone know of a German translation of this book.

[@Komnenos1234]

Please welcome me in joining...

[@johni4213]

Stick to basketball, Greek!

[@sharonbeck-seals5853]

John i what a nasty way to respond

[@YahooMurray]

Go to 6:35

[@brucenadeau2172]

the british armored deck fleet carriers had less plane then on medium carriers they would been a drain on support ships to get a useful combat force the australian and new zealand cruisers and destroyer did a great help in south pacific without american planes for their carriers the british fleet would have been more of a millstone then an aid

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

They did badly damage the BB Bismarck with a very lucky shot from a Swordfish torpedo plane that struck and jamed her rudder. This led directly to catching and sinking the German ship.

[@mikestevenson2303]

Egnima helped?

[@martha7170]

Beware... Every time that I try to save VDH to my account, it won't let me.

[@farmersplumber]

Try VDHanson TMS channel. The channel that I did watch must have got hijacked by some college kids

[@johnburns4017]

At Singapore the Japanese had ran out of ammunition. They went to the negotiating table ready to surrender. They realised the British were ready to surrender as well then bluffed at the table and won the bluff. Nevertheless the British should have defeated the Japanese if they had tanks. At the time of fighting in Malaya, the British were sending tanks to the USSR. Diverting just one of those convoys would have made the difference.

[@sichere]

HMS PoW and HMS Repulse were sacrificed with no air cover from HMS Indomitable. The Japanese destroyed the majority of the 48 Hawker Hurricanes air defense of Singapore in Sumatra on the ground and destroyed most of the Allied aircraft in northern Malaya with help from Captain Patrick Stanley Vaughan Heenan a captain in the British Indian Army who was convicted of treason, after found spying for Japan. Without air cover and the shore batteries unable to face inland Singapore was an easy target coming under constant air raids When the Japanese cut the water supply to the province it's fate was sealed. Also a total disregard for the enemy led to Poor Planning and Preparation which resulted in a Piss Poor Performance. The Fall of Singapore is one of the darkest and depressing defeats ever of the British Empire and it marked the end of the notion that the British were Invincible and many Empire troops and Singapore citizens needlessly suffered.

[@johnnyang2472]

Must be a joke. They left us to Japanese Imperial army to save their own neck

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

The Brits had lost the main water source for the colony and were done for regardless of the Japanese ammunition stocks.

[@johnburns4017]

@@karlheinzvonkroemann2217 The Japanese would have exhausted their ammunition very quickly. They were just about done.

[@bastianchannel3361]

Ok, very good. Don't forget to subcribe again!

[@johnfranklin1955]

VDH speaks 6:38

[@dixierebel8422]

Did not France, as well, declare war on Germany due to the invasion of Poland?

[@theoraclerules5056]

DIXIE REBEL: Yes also on the 03/Sept/1939, the same as the Britain, followed by Canada 🇨🇦 the next week & shortly after that Australia 🇦🇺, New Zealand 🇳🇿, & South Africa 🇿🇦.

[@johni4213]

@@theoraclerules5056 these are all part of the British commonwealth. We had no choice! As Canadians we are England's Bitches! We still have the Skank on our money! Sad!!!

[@chodkowski01]

They had to. Germany violated the Versailles treaty. Germany’s Invasion of Poland cost the Germans the loss of 8 million soldiers and civilians along with German cities being totally annihilated. The Germans paid for invading Poland.

[@theoraclerules5056]

John i :What the most important point to remember here in this situation & relationship in those days, was that Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders et al in general, actually considered themselves to be all British first & foremost, before they identified themselves as Canadians, Australians etc... Remember, since the ‘Statute of Westminster’ in 1931, proclaimed that they (The Commonwealth’s Self-Governing Dominions) had all equal status as the Mother-Country, Britain & they were all recognized as being of such on par by all the subsequent UK Governments ever since! That then is to say, Canada 🇨🇦 actually had the choice to follow Britain in to war or not! As a self-governing Dominion just like Australia 🇦🇺, New Zealand 🇳🇿 & South Africa 🇿🇦 at that time, the Canadian Government & its People or the vast majority of them, then chose to throw their lot in beside Britain at the time (For what they astutely judged to be a fair, just & correct course of policy to follow!) & also declare war on Germany then later Italy & also Japan! Canada like the other aforementioned Dominions of the British Empire & Commonwealth was an independent, sovereign nation & was perfectly free to remain neutral & stay out of the war, or even after commencing hostilities, were otherwise entitled to also withdraw their troops & support of participating in fighting at anytime. An example of this was Eamon DeValera’s, Irish Free State, whose Government chose to remain neutral for its (WW2) entire duration! In fact, even today WW2 or even the Second World War is not a term referred to it as such there in Ireland, where it was known as ‘The Emergency Period’ in official circles of the Dublin Government of those days!

[@remainuntam0]

Thanks for clarity and sanity.

[@zippymax1]

Ugh...so tired of the endless intros. VDH is a god. We all all know it. Just chant "VDH is a God" and get on with it.

[@willempotgieter6045]

Haha agreed

[@DanielGraybeal1961]

max boot?

[@mu99ins]

@56:40 ~ Most of the people sent by Britain were from the colonies, 100,000 from Africa and most of the rest from India.

[@4OHz]

48:35 Although somewhat flawed logic the same could be said for emergency medicine; nowhere else have American emergency room benefited but from what front line doctors have tried on the front lines

[@jeffreygibney435]

Fast forward to 06:33....

[@catsaresocute650]

Yeah, but a reason noboday is talking about "Lebensraum" is that from my perspective at least is that land in the sense of teritory is a tool and not in intself in any way imprortant, when you belive in capitalism insted of shrinking markets you no longer have any particular need for it.

[@catsaresocute650]

Idk the person liking this reminded me that others can actually see what I ramble

[@steadyjumper3547]

VDH is the GOAT

[@garyteague4480]

Well someone hit Detroit

[@scottytiger2634]

VicHanson is dope!

[@janeeire2439]

26:30

[@judywolfford3143]

One of the most brilliant and insightful men since Homer .Our government leaders need to heed his words

[@mccastro6339]

You need to study "real history" . This guy commit immense mistakes, and you find him brilliant?. What is so brilliant about? Lies?

[@brucenadeau2172]

the japanese had twin engine bomber that out ranged the b 17

[@paulrevere2379]

The Japanese had many aircraft that outranged and outperformed their opposition from the outset and for a significant stretch of time thereafter. Their operational strategy to use this superiority to win the battles in the Pacific. It didn't work out that way. So much for theory. Proverbial realities often work out quite different than any expert predictions.

[@raymondmichael3077]

AFAIK, Hitler invaded Russia because his doctor told him he only had 4 or 5 years to live.

[@dukedematteo1995]

Nazi Germany vs Soviet Union with no Allied assistance, without the Germans needing occupation forces in the West, etc would have been interesting. Still think the Soviets had the better odds.

[@Jay-bf8yp]

Canada also went to war not because it was attacked, but purely to support an ally. They didn't declare wat until a week after Britain, but that's just splitting hairs.

[@johni4213]

Canada was under British rule at the time. I dont think we really had a choice at the time! We still have the Queen on our money! We're a Herd of Sheep!

[@rayward3630]

Canada is so underrated in their role and sacrifices in the war. No country fought more bravely, we're willing to take on so many near suicidal missions and are not mentioned nearly enough when WWII or WWI are discussed. Canada played a major role in speeding up the end of WWI.

[@Jay-bf8yp]

@@johni4213 I disagree. Canada was still very British during the interwar period and as a result, entering the war was very popular (outside of Quebec). Acknowledging and responding to deep cultural and family ties is not interchangeable with "sheep" mentality. Reducing the agency of the brave men (and the nation by extension) who fought is a disservice to their memory and sacrifice.

[@Jay-bf8yp]

@@rayward3630 Southern Italy and the Netherlands both owe Canadians a debt of gratitude. I recall a group of Dutch students giving me a hard time while studying overseas, grilling me about what Canada has given to the world. My response was that if it wasn't for people like my grandfather, they'd be chatting to each other in a more pure form of German than the Dutch they were using.

[@thelumpenproletariat6393]

@@Jay-bf8yp its a nice thing to say but you're incorrect. They'd be chatting in Russian.

[@wilsonluytan212]

Professor, modern military technology and military tactics have changed. No missile and satellites were available in WW-2. Dwelling in the history of WW-2 will keep you job as a professor on history but it is not relevant in the tactics / thinkings of modern warfare. You may just as well talk about Hannibal and the Peloponesian Wars.

[@dukedematteo1995]

Keep in mind most military thinkers at the time, American, British etc all thought the Germans would defeat the Soviets and the Soviet system would collapse. In hindsight, Barbarossa is thought of as a foolish strategic blunder. At the time, it wasn't seen that way. So it was less of a blunder than people say.

[@timnray99]

if you do not know David Hanson you will be rewarded with a conversation gravid with cognitive acuity

[@daveboon5992]

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@cathyreddy6297]

😊. Accept rejoice in acceptance! Ships to reinstate to Christ in stand! Rejoice in our equipment in the last in rejoice!

[@modo203]

Average Household Income in Hawaii is $113k, 13% of which make over $200k a year. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about that island or its privileged people.

[@johnburns4017]

The Japanese may have thought the US would not retaliate after Pearl Harbor. But also what made them attack was that they thought the USSR was about to be defeated. The Japanese kept a near one million strong army against the Soviets, the Kwangtung army. The German victory over the Soviets would mean the Japanese can release the Kwangtung army. Unfortunately for the Japanese they were three weeks too early in attacking the British, Dutch and Americans. If they had waited they would have seen the Soviets counter-attack at Moscow, meaning the Germans would not win. They then would not have attacked the British, Dutch and Americans. The last thing they wanted was to fight the two largest economies in the world alone, and that was the situation they found themselves in. They were banking on linking up with the Germans, which was now not going to happen.

[@johnburns4017]

@Kamryn Kant The Japanese had been given a drubbing by the Soviets in 1939. They were not prepared to engage them again.

[@johnburns4017]

@Kamryn Kant The British told Stalin that the Germans were to invade, via Enigma interceptions, offering Stalin British troops before the invasion. He refused.

[@johnburns4017]

@Kamryn Kant The Brits were attempting to get arms to the Finns in the 1939/40 winter war. The British also sent an army to Russia to aid the White Army. But the British wanting to send troops as a deterrent, while at war with Germany, is a whole new scenario. Where had Stalin been _betrayed?_

[@tvgerbil1984]

By the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Japanese had already reached an agreement with the Soviets called the Japanese-Soviet Non-aggression Pact for eight long months. The agreement led to the withdrawal of Soviet support in both materials and men to the Chinese who were fighting the Japanese. It also released Japanese units under the Kwangtung army to expand Japan's war deep into Central and Southern China. It was these units in Southern China which formed the core elements in the Japanese attacks on the British. So what happened in the Battle of Moscow was unlikely to have any bearing on Japan's attack on the British, Dutch and the Americans. The Soviets only entered the war against Japan after two atomic bombs were dropped. By that time, the Kwangtung army was a mere shadow of its former self.

[@johnburns4017]

@@tvgerbil1984 You did not get it. The Japanese thought that the USSR was to fall. This would enable a Japanese link up with the Germans. This link up was looking highly unlikely with Japan facing the two largest economies in the world, who both had large militaries, and the capability of expanding massively in production and manpower. The Soviet counter-attack at Moscow, with 40% of the tanks supplied by the British, was with a _battering ram._ Not a fluke. The Germans would not win anytime soon, if at all. Most analysts at the time knew the German gamble had failed. Even the Japanese would have concluded so. So, Japan is spread too thinly fighting two massive powers, with no assistance from anyone - not what they thought would happen. Boy were they in trouble.

[@johnburns4017]

7,000 books in _print,_ not new books per year.

[@louthurston8088]

The US would not have invaded Japan? Maybe so, but the USSR would have. At the time of Hiroshima, they had already massed 90 divisions on the eastern front. What a disaster if they added Japan to their booty of eastern Europe and continental North East Asia.

[@immaculatesquid]

Imperial Japan was much like America, in the sense that, any army that invaded them could expect to have ordinary civillains killing their soldiers, on top of having to fight the actual military. Obviously the soviets were no strangers to just letting millions of people die in the blind pursuit of victory, but there was a limit to that. I don't know what that number was and I'm not gonna make it up, nor do I know how many people Japan had to defend their homeland, but I do know that eventually the resources would outweight the effort to an extreme that Stalin would not fight it.

[@goodyeoman4534]

The surrender of Singapore still embarrasses the shit out of me. Everlasting shame because of a few cowardly generals. No excuse for it, whatsoever.

[@alequee]

United States invasion of Grenada. The queen was very happy

[@thebeanymac]

Why _did_ Hitler invade Poland, and remove a buffer between the USSR and Germany?

[@dinorino2]

@The Beany Mac ... because the German invasion into the USSR was just a matter of time.

[@BasementEngineer]

A very good question indeed. Judging by the winner's history shouted from the rooftops, well the mass media anyways, the Germans marched into peace loving Poland for no reason at all. Fact is Poland had a very chauvinistic attitude against Germany, with Polish newspapers, government controlled as it was a military junta, shouting about invading Germany and moving the Polish border to Berlin. Add to that numerous border excursions by the Poles with the murder of German civilians and border guards. And, the one thing Hitler would not stand for, and the British and Americans would not help him with, was the stopping of wholesale murder of German expatriates that wound up in Polish hands after the realignment post WWI borders pursuant to the Versailles Treaty, which wasn't really a treaty but a diktat. The records located in a library in New York City has the number of German expatriates murdered by the poles at 35,000. A little digging on the 'net will disclose the veracity of my statements.

[@brucenadeau2172]

@@BasementEngineer the so called polish border attacks wore by the germans

[@insideoutsideupsidedown2218]

What happened in 1941 that changed everything? Operation Barbarossa.

[@rusoviettovarich9221]

His knowledge is encyclopedic and he isn't a bit condescending i.e. he gives an engaging lecture that is understandable by most. One item that he and so many make per Hitler's invasion of Russia is why it was wrong. There is a book 'The Chief Culprit' by Suvorov (former GRU operative) he too has an encyclopedic mind. Suvorov focus is Stalin. Stalin was a brilliant evil man - he had no allusions about Spain (1936-39) his goal was to suck the French and UK on to the Republican side and the Italians and Germans to back the Nationalists and create an isolated conflict that could spread across the continent. The UK were no fools. Hanson made no mention of Molotov's visit to Berlin in November 1940 and his incredibly long list of territorial demands by the Soviets. That visit with Hitler was what tilted him to move to invade Russia. Prior to 22nd June 1941, the amount of personnel and equipment that was arrayed on the Soviet of the German/Russia border was immense. Hanson cites the Russians delay in advancing into Poland until 17th Sept 1939 - that was intentional. By having the Germans invade first the blame for starting the war would be solely the Germans.

[@rusoviettovarich9221]

@Charles McCarron No sir - now you're wading into waters that aren't credible. Sudetenland, Austria were one thing but to swallow Moravia/Bohemia after pledging they (Germany) would not do so was why UK/France stood up post Munich. The crowning greed was the dismemberment of Poland for the 4th time. Biggest mistake, as both Clemenceau and Pershing said, was the failure in 1918 to press on the war and not agree to the armistice. They didn't make that same mistake in 1945 - complete defeat and occupation of Germany. If they had done that in 1918-1919 the Germans would have thought twice about demanding their 'lands' back.

[@rusoviettovarich9221]

@Charles McCarronThe talks took place over 3 days 11th - 13th November. Hitler was present at the first two days of mtgs with Molotov et. al.. Molotov made a hard press re. Finland which prompted Hitler to reject outright any Russian move on Finland because Hitler didn't want a renewed war in the Baltic per Sweden. He also was especially concerned about Russian interests per Bulgaria and Turkey. You're thinking of the next day (13th November) when Molotov met Ribbentrop alone and the RAF bombing. The visit to Finland has nothing to do with what I stated.

[@rusoviettovarich9221]

​@Charles McCarron- you have no idea of German plans for a post-war Europe in 1918 - again the mistake was in not driving al the way to Berlin in 1918-1919 and forcibly making the so called 'stab in the back' a moot point. My maternal grandfather fought for the AEF and lost all hearing in his left ear and over 70 % in his right ear during the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne. He never filed a disability claim and was glad he served. BTW you sound an awful lot like Pat Buchanan

[@rusoviettovarich9221]

@Charles McCarron Ok

[@gregorywade1559]

Spoiler alert: 1,000,000 Americans are maimed and murdered replacing Hitler with Stalin

[@BaronVonHobgoblin]

A Tour de Force of Magical Thinking. If a military isn't allowed to be "Operational" than what's the point of even having a military! Can any miliary exist for some other purpose other than conducting operations as directed by its government? As a former infantryman I am deeply irritated by historians like Victor Davis Hanson. His lack of standing in or with any of the institutions of which he so often writes about leads his many lectures in much less useful directions. Hansen owns a "lazy" habit of attributing operational outcomes to either biographical facts or outright hearsay. Does it really matter what some Japanese or German Admiral or General said? Aren't words, in general cheap, and often misleading - especially in Axis nations in World War Two!? Aren't these Flag officers' actions, and therefore the actions of their subordinates the matter at hand? Are we actually talking about something other than the military apparatus itself? Hansen in the choice of "dialogue" between the historical participants pressures the listener with his ideological counterfactual - which is never articulated in a sensible way. Why does he wish to hide this in his lecture? Why does it take an audience question to prompt what might otherwise be the Thesis? I reject Hanson's nonsense counterfactual "Strategic Existential War". I mean I, as a former soldier, can't make this stuff up! the phrase is as meaningless as the way the words are arranged. Sure, the facts Hanson draws upon exist, but no one is interested in those facts just sitting on the table like a parched succulent. There was nothing "existential" about what happened and any attempt to label real actions of the past or present or future as "existential" is just an ideological play on words, "if only". I would not use the word "existential" to describe this lecture or the facts within, the appropriate word to describe this lecture is "random". As a civilian Hanson lacks a motive purpose to synthesize the facts he lists. Does no one else find his answer to the question "What is military history" a sluggish non-answer. None of this lecture suggests that he understands any of the terms his non-answer deploys. Why talk about all that military technology and those operations if in the end all you care about is "deterrence and peace"? I cannot accept that answer as anything more than dismissive hand waving. Who, perchance, needs all that operational stuff anyway? You can't make this up! Here is another civilian military historian who genuinely thinks that the military is somehow magical! In Hanson's own little world of military history, the actual military isn't operational. Dr. Hanson if you don't want to study military operations then at least do us all a favor and do a proper study of the actual government policy that creates the necessity for these military operations rather than implying though gossip and hearsay that the military itself is the cause of the government's problems! Your own totemic ideology prevents you from properly understanding the relevant subject matter! Orders always go top to bottom and never bottom to top!

[@cathyreddy6297]

The battles are already won! God resists the stand!

[@cathyreddy6297]

❤😂😊

[@paulmcclung9383]

6+ minute intro.

[@keithplymale2374]

If Germany and Italy had not declared against the USA then IMHO Japan goes down a year earlier and the Iron Curtain is either on the Rhine or the Channel.

[@arpitakodagu9854]

How do we know that Western Europe wouldn't have banded together to fight off the Soviets?

[@keithplymale2374]

The western European powers were all exhausted by VE day. Before that Britain had to disband one infantry division to keep the rest going. The USA was focused on finishing the Pacific war and 'bring the boys home' and starting the live the Depression and War had delayed. The USSR was as exhausted and the most productive part of the country to rebuild.

[@thevillaaston7811]

But what evidence is there that Russia would have continued the war after Germany's defeat?

[@chriseversole3529]

Japan 1941 - America don’t wanna fight Japan 1945 - *say sike right now*

[@benjaminwillitts7381]

talking sensesa in the wilderness. Pray for v

[@hectorgarcia6098]

seaplicoelataquealaspalasi

[@johnstevenson1709]

The second world war wasn't the first global conflict that hardly needs saying does it?

[@johnstevenson1709]

Does the author just mean it was the first global conflict just n which the us was the most important actor?

[@johnstevenson1709]

Ps the speaker mentioned how few carriers the usn had after Guadalcanal but didn't mention USS robin

[@johnstevenson1709]

Was the usn better than the rn at shore bombardment seeds a question that needs lots of testing

[@coachjmiii5228]

27 million dead on the Eastern Front. Wow

[@scratch57]

It takes 6 1/2 minutes to get to the person you came to hear speak.

[@hectorgarcia6098]

aaesosasesefueronemsertadosenuka

[@hectorgarcia6098]

perodebidoalasfayascolateraslesmentalmentenoseuso

[@winstonross4956]

Tt. Tt

[@margaretbarton7413]

P

[@hectorgarcia6098]

ciayiyabimocara

[@hectorgarcia6098]

sobrebibietesvenixc

[@ianharvey8025]

The Napoleonic and great war were the first global conflicts.. wwII was the third

[@futuoinvictus7669]

Actually the first global conflict, in a strictly terminological sense was the 80 years war.

[@ardmrad9278]

Warmongers

[@hectorgarcia6098]

ytienenqueaserasesatusijos