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Yesterday, when I got to work, I found this magazine on my desk. One of my co-workers, knowing my interests, left it for me after finding it while cleaning house.
Reading such a magazine is looking at history through their eyes - not knowing what the future is to be. Between these pages Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are hailed as heroes by the world and you are treated to an amazing display of American might as you are shown how the pilots of the Army Air Corp are taught to fly.
Take a close look at the head gear on this student pilot. Those are not speaker wires to a radio - they are speaking tubes whereby the instructor could tell the student what to do by yelling into a funnel like speaking tube. It was a one way conversation and the instructor sat in the front seat. The aircraft they flew was the Stearman biplane.
The war in Europe had not yet started and the world was still at peace.
V.
Reading such a magazine is looking at history through their eyes - not knowing what the future is to be. Between these pages Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin are hailed as heroes by the world and you are treated to an amazing display of American might as you are shown how the pilots of the Army Air Corp are taught to fly.
Take a close look at the head gear on this student pilot. Those are not speaker wires to a radio - they are speaking tubes whereby the instructor could tell the student what to do by yelling into a funnel like speaking tube. It was a one way conversation and the instructor sat in the front seat. The aircraft they flew was the Stearman biplane.
The war in Europe had not yet started and the world was still at peace.
V.
Category All / All
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In eight months time the war that was already being waged in far off China, would ignite Europe.
America, believing the wide oceans to her east and west would protect her from being pulled into another war, showed the world (and her nervous citizens) her military preparedness with propagandist images on magazine covers. A picture of a few rows of fighter aircraft would have probably been more reassuring than a lone pilot in a trainer aircraft.
In fact, the size of the US military at this time was about the same size as that of Romania; a dwarf-sized number of people (less than 100,000) in uniform armed with armaments & munitions left over from the “Great War”. No wonder that the Axis dictators thought the world was going to be their play pen.
Magazines from back then really are wonderful “time machines” allowing us to view how the people back then saw the world around them, rightly or wrongly as events eventually proved out.
America, believing the wide oceans to her east and west would protect her from being pulled into another war, showed the world (and her nervous citizens) her military preparedness with propagandist images on magazine covers. A picture of a few rows of fighter aircraft would have probably been more reassuring than a lone pilot in a trainer aircraft.
In fact, the size of the US military at this time was about the same size as that of Romania; a dwarf-sized number of people (less than 100,000) in uniform armed with armaments & munitions left over from the “Great War”. No wonder that the Axis dictators thought the world was going to be their play pen.
Magazines from back then really are wonderful “time machines” allowing us to view how the people back then saw the world around them, rightly or wrongly as events eventually proved out.
Oh my goodness but there was so much more to it than even that. This article did show a gre4at base and lots and lots of airmen being trained so your propaganda remarks are most likely correct. There was a huge pacifist movement called America First and it's spokesman was none other than Lucky Lindbergh. He'd made a tour of Germany and the Germans actually let him fly the ME-109. He came back and flat told the States - Stay out of it, they'll eat us alive.
V.
V.
There was an honest antipathy among Americans in the late 30’s for getting involved in “another European war”. Americans had fought and died in the Great War in a “crusade” that supposedly was to “End All Wars”, but the civil war in Spain, the conquest of Ethiopia, the endless war in China and naked aggression in Indo-China, the world looked like it was spiraling down to another great war.
At the same time the concept of war in the skies and from the skies seemed like something horrible from the pulp science fiction magazines of the day (something like intercontinental missiles and the “Star Wars“ missile defense is today).
Mass magazine publishers of the 30’s were only too willing to show that America was well up on the new weaponry -- which while it may have been false advertising (or propaganda) was still “feel-good” press that made folks feel secure and want to buy their magazines. Lindbergh was right, the US and most of the world was totally unprepared for massed air bombings, as the bombings of Warsaw, Rotterdam, London and Pearl Harbor would demonstrate in less than two years of this magazine issue..
At the same time the concept of war in the skies and from the skies seemed like something horrible from the pulp science fiction magazines of the day (something like intercontinental missiles and the “Star Wars“ missile defense is today).
Mass magazine publishers of the 30’s were only too willing to show that America was well up on the new weaponry -- which while it may have been false advertising (or propaganda) was still “feel-good” press that made folks feel secure and want to buy their magazines. Lindbergh was right, the US and most of the world was totally unprepared for massed air bombings, as the bombings of Warsaw, Rotterdam, London and Pearl Harbor would demonstrate in less than two years of this magazine issue..
*nods in agreement* Istanbul looked like a pretty safe place to relocate to in 1939.
As it proved out, Turkey, like Sweden, proved to be a “successful” neutral -- nobody invaded them. However if the Reich had defeated Russia, that might have changed. I believe that while Turkey had some iron ore deposits, it more importantly was a natural “highway” from the Balkans to the Middle East. It may have been Clauswitz who said that ‘In war neutrality is always replaced by military necessity’.
Being German yourself, you probably would not have had a difficult time in either case in Istanbul.
As it proved out, Turkey, like Sweden, proved to be a “successful” neutral -- nobody invaded them. However if the Reich had defeated Russia, that might have changed. I believe that while Turkey had some iron ore deposits, it more importantly was a natural “highway” from the Balkans to the Middle East. It may have been Clauswitz who said that ‘In war neutrality is always replaced by military necessity’.
Being German yourself, you probably would not have had a difficult time in either case in Istanbul.
In 1914 there was cheering in the streets of Berlin and Vienna when war was declared.
There was no cheering in the streets of Berlin in 1939 when the Chancellor announced to the Reichstag that Germany was going to “defend” itself against "Polish aggression". Most Germans did not want war and expected a last minute diplomatic solution like the Munich Agreement to settle the Danzig Corridor Problem, but it was too late.
There was no cheering in the streets of Berlin in 1939 when the Chancellor announced to the Reichstag that Germany was going to “defend” itself against "Polish aggression". Most Germans did not want war and expected a last minute diplomatic solution like the Munich Agreement to settle the Danzig Corridor Problem, but it was too late.
Hitler’s Nazi Germany killed non-Germans outside the borders of the Reich while Stalin confined his gulags, massed starvations and executions to his own people inside Russia. The Fuehrer was therefore a threat to everyone outside Germany while Stalin was a threat only to peoples inside Russia -- a “domestic issue“ that could be overlooked by countries looking for allies.
This reminds me of the "Popular Science" and "Popular Mechanics" magazines my dad has collected from the late 50's and early 60's. Even hobby based magazines like them could give you an idea of the overall feeling of the time - mostly from the ads.
Hooray for thoughtful co-workers, too. I'm glad to know you work with folks who keep you in their thoughts.
Hooray for thoughtful co-workers, too. I'm glad to know you work with folks who keep you in their thoughts.
You'll appreciate this. Inspiring and tragic at the same time. I was following progress of project as it it happened. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u4YBwjQTds
At that point they were heroes. They were bringing their countries out of a deep and very dark depression.
President Putin of Russia recently gave a three minute speech to the Duma (I believe that is the name of their Parliament) on immigrants - basically he said, we don't need them they need us - they must speak Russian and if they want Surah Law then they can go back where they came from.
He got a five minute standing ovation.
To my ears, that sounds a lot like the speeches another person made in the past.
V.
President Putin of Russia recently gave a three minute speech to the Duma (I believe that is the name of their Parliament) on immigrants - basically he said, we don't need them they need us - they must speak Russian and if they want Surah Law then they can go back where they came from.
He got a five minute standing ovation.
To my ears, that sounds a lot like the speeches another person made in the past.
V.
that is a fair assessment - and I would use the same assessment for the United States in terms of immigration. People used to come here and try to fit in - now they come and expect the social norm to change in their favor.
In my life time, I can truthfully say I have worked with many different ethnicities and as individuals we all got along quite nicely. It's when you have groups of people that the social norms begin to clash.
One of the reasons that the European countries pre-WWI had such huge armies was the fact that their borders were just lines in the dirt. England and the USA let their army dwindle because of the 'water' separation that allowed them an easy defense.
Germany too (and here in lies the danger) was largely pacifist. Over 80 % of her population did not want war, and this was one of the reasons the rest of Europe relaxed their guard. One woman reported that unlike WWI which was full of flags and nationalism, the invasion of Poland happened and the common person was not even aware of it until after the fact.
Oh my - I have wandered haven't I?
V.
In my life time, I can truthfully say I have worked with many different ethnicities and as individuals we all got along quite nicely. It's when you have groups of people that the social norms begin to clash.
One of the reasons that the European countries pre-WWI had such huge armies was the fact that their borders were just lines in the dirt. England and the USA let their army dwindle because of the 'water' separation that allowed them an easy defense.
Germany too (and here in lies the danger) was largely pacifist. Over 80 % of her population did not want war, and this was one of the reasons the rest of Europe relaxed their guard. One woman reported that unlike WWI which was full of flags and nationalism, the invasion of Poland happened and the common person was not even aware of it until after the fact.
Oh my - I have wandered haven't I?
V.
No, you have not “wandered” since the reason for the way the world is today can only be found by looking back over History.
Russia was invaded and conquered by the Mongols by 1247. The invaders ruled Russia for over two centuries.
In 1812, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia. Even though his Grande Armee reached Moscow, he was not as successful as the Mongols were and was expelled less than a year later.
During WWI, the Central Powers forces invaded and held large portions of Russian-claimed Poland and the Ukraine. At the end of the war, following the fall of the Romanov dynasty, Russia was invaded by Allied forces in August 1918 (U.S. troops were sent to Siberia and to Archangel in northern Russia) in a British plan to crush the Russian Revolution and restore the czar.
Twenty-three years later the Axis-Germans launched a massive three-million-man invasion of Russia that narrowly missed conquering the country.
On the other side, Germany was cursed with being in the middle of the Europe East-West “highway”. The Romans attempted to conquer Germania, but Legate Publius Quinctilius Varus messed that possibility up when his three legions were annihilated in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Leading up to the fall of the Roman Empire, various barbarian tribes ripped through Germany on their way west and south. In the Middle Ages and during the later Hundred Years War various German princes, nobles and foreigners waged wars both defensive and aggressive on German soil. Then there were the wars of Prussia’s Fredrick the Great and the occupation of Germany by Napoleon.
In both countries, there is a justifiable centuries-long tradition against “outsiders”.
American and Canadian attitudes today towards “invasion by immigration” are generally benign -- since the majority of Americans and Canadians are descendants of immigrants themselves. However, one might want to consider the attitude of Native Americans whose lands were overrun and conquered by “invading” white Europeans that eventually became the United States and Canada.
Russia was invaded and conquered by the Mongols by 1247. The invaders ruled Russia for over two centuries.
In 1812, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Russia. Even though his Grande Armee reached Moscow, he was not as successful as the Mongols were and was expelled less than a year later.
During WWI, the Central Powers forces invaded and held large portions of Russian-claimed Poland and the Ukraine. At the end of the war, following the fall of the Romanov dynasty, Russia was invaded by Allied forces in August 1918 (U.S. troops were sent to Siberia and to Archangel in northern Russia) in a British plan to crush the Russian Revolution and restore the czar.
Twenty-three years later the Axis-Germans launched a massive three-million-man invasion of Russia that narrowly missed conquering the country.
On the other side, Germany was cursed with being in the middle of the Europe East-West “highway”. The Romans attempted to conquer Germania, but Legate Publius Quinctilius Varus messed that possibility up when his three legions were annihilated in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Leading up to the fall of the Roman Empire, various barbarian tribes ripped through Germany on their way west and south. In the Middle Ages and during the later Hundred Years War various German princes, nobles and foreigners waged wars both defensive and aggressive on German soil. Then there were the wars of Prussia’s Fredrick the Great and the occupation of Germany by Napoleon.
In both countries, there is a justifiable centuries-long tradition against “outsiders”.
American and Canadian attitudes today towards “invasion by immigration” are generally benign -- since the majority of Americans and Canadians are descendants of immigrants themselves. However, one might want to consider the attitude of Native Americans whose lands were overrun and conquered by “invading” white Europeans that eventually became the United States and Canada.
I've seen some copies of "Flight" magazine -- a British weekly news magazine primarily about aviation in the United Kingdom & Commonwealth - but also with some world reporting. The ads (mostly by aircraft & aircraft-parts companies) were interesting. By 1937 it was clear from the ads that the government was ramping-up production of military aircraft, preparing for future air-wars.
The USA was developing new aircraft for expected air-warfare by the mid-1930s. The Army & Navy just didn't order a large number at that time. The USA didn't start the large production of war materials as early as the Europeans and Japanese, but the USA military & industry were doing the design and preparation for our own start. We are taught about December 1941, but our industrial & military preparation for war was visible by the time the 2nd world war stared in Europe in September 1939. The military and many in government expected the USA to be involved in the new world war.
The USA was developing new aircraft for expected air-warfare by the mid-1930s. The Army & Navy just didn't order a large number at that time. The USA didn't start the large production of war materials as early as the Europeans and Japanese, but the USA military & industry were doing the design and preparation for our own start. We are taught about December 1941, but our industrial & military preparation for war was visible by the time the 2nd world war stared in Europe in September 1939. The military and many in government expected the USA to be involved in the new world war.
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