Dread Lord Rimesume wrote:
**** Germany declared war on the US, not the other way around. They did it on their own accord and were not forced to do it by any means.
And now we're right back around the circle again...
The existence of a state of war is irrelevant. We were *also* at a state of war with Iraq. The point is that Germany had no plans, nor had taken any actions towards an attack/invasion of US soil, yet we chose to push forward with a plan to engage them militarily. So saying that Iraq had not done so either does not invalidate our choice to engage *them* militarily either.
See how that works?
Quote:
So you're telling me **** Germany declared war on the US for fucks and fun? The **** regime while bastards by every sense of the word, however they weren't stupid. They wouldn't have declared war on the US if they didn't actually plan to do anything about it.
History disagrees with you. Perhaps you should learn it first?
Here's the letter delivered by the German Ambassador to the US at the time:
Quote:
MR. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES:
The Government of the United States having violated in the most flagrant manner and in ever increasing measure all rules of neutrality in favor of the adversaries of Germany and having continually been guilty of the most severe provocations toward Germany ever since the outbreak of the European war, provoked by the British declaration of war against Germany on September 3, 1939, has finally resorted to open military acts of aggression.
On September 11, 1941, the President of the United States publicly declared that he had ordered the American Navy and Air Force to shoot on sight at any German war vessel. In his speech of October 27, 1941, he once more expressly affirmed that this order was in force. Acting under this order, vessels of the American Navy, since early September 1941, have systematically attacked German naval forces. Thus, American destroyers, as for instance the Greer, the Kearney and the Reuben James, have opened fire on German sub-marines according to plan. The Secretary of the American Navy, Mr. Knox, himself confirmed that-American destroyers attacked German submarines.
Furthermore, the naval forces of the United States, under order of their Government and contrary to international law have treated and seized German merchant vessels on the high seas as enemy ships.
The German Government therefore establishes the following facts:
Although Germany on her part has strictly adhered to the rules of international law in her relations with the United States during every period of the present war, the Government of the United States from initial violations of neutrality has finally proceeded to open acts of war against Germany. The Government of the United States has thereby virtually created a state of war.
The German Government, consequently, discontinues diplomatic relations with the United States of America and declares that under these circumstances brought about by President Roosevelt Germany too, as from today, considers herself as being in a state of war with the United States of America.
Accept, Mr. Charge d'Affaires, the expression of my high consideration.
December 11, 1941.
RIBBENTROP.
The Government of the United States having violated in the most flagrant manner and in ever increasing measure all rules of neutrality in favor of the adversaries of Germany and having continually been guilty of the most severe provocations toward Germany ever since the outbreak of the European war, provoked by the British declaration of war against Germany on September 3, 1939, has finally resorted to open military acts of aggression.
On September 11, 1941, the President of the United States publicly declared that he had ordered the American Navy and Air Force to shoot on sight at any German war vessel. In his speech of October 27, 1941, he once more expressly affirmed that this order was in force. Acting under this order, vessels of the American Navy, since early September 1941, have systematically attacked German naval forces. Thus, American destroyers, as for instance the Greer, the Kearney and the Reuben James, have opened fire on German sub-marines according to plan. The Secretary of the American Navy, Mr. Knox, himself confirmed that-American destroyers attacked German submarines.
Furthermore, the naval forces of the United States, under order of their Government and contrary to international law have treated and seized German merchant vessels on the high seas as enemy ships.
The German Government therefore establishes the following facts:
Although Germany on her part has strictly adhered to the rules of international law in her relations with the United States during every period of the present war, the Government of the United States from initial violations of neutrality has finally proceeded to open acts of war against Germany. The Government of the United States has thereby virtually created a state of war.
The German Government, consequently, discontinues diplomatic relations with the United States of America and declares that under these circumstances brought about by President Roosevelt Germany too, as from today, considers herself as being in a state of war with the United States of America.
Accept, Mr. Charge d'Affaires, the expression of my high consideration.
December 11, 1941.
RIBBENTROP.
Not exactly a "we're going to crush you like a bug" message, is it? There's no indication of any desire for war, and certainly no indication of a desire or intent to attack the US itself. In fact, the Germans considered the US's actions to be a de-facto declaration of war already and were simply formalizing the matter (and state as much in the letter).
So yeah. It's quite possible that they "declared war", but had no intention on ever actually attacking the US itself, but only acting against US forces interfering in an existing conflict. As far as any historian I've read can tell, the only thing the intended to do about it was fight against US intervention, not actually attack the US itself.
But hey! Why learn about history when you can just make it up, I suppose...
