AL Daily and Butterflies and Wheels both link to this piece on the myths and truths of World War II, by Polish journalist Adam Krzeminski, so it must be good. I’m puzzled though.
The war destroyed not just countries, but the whole edifice of traditional myths that supported the identity of the European nations before it began. Meanwhile, the effort to create some new myths fell foul of the shocking reality: millions of people had been killed or murdered, there was immense material destruction, and Europe had been politically and morally degraded. In 1945 only the USSR and the USA could be triumphant without restraint. All the other nations and societies – including not just those that openly participated in the war – were deeply torn apart.
All the other nations and societies?
And then:
The only Second World War myth that can be kept intact is the American one. As the title of an American best seller puts it, it was “A Good War”.
I just have this nagging feeling at the back of my mind that there’s a country somewhere that’s been left out here.
Leave a Reply