This chain of reasoning makes any minor event into a major, if not the major, factor of the war. It's clear that Enigma would have been decoded. The Poles had just done it extremely early on (prior to Hitler's rise) so others didn't have to.
Based on this logic, we could prove that France played a decisive role in the war, or even Yugoslavia - by overthrowing the pro-Nazi clique it forced a German invasion in April 1941 that delayed Barbarossa by one month, the one month that might have been crucial to the Soviet Union's survival.
In reality, did Yugoslavia play a decisive role in the war? No. It didn't. Hitler didn't have to invade Yugoslavia before attacking the Soviets. There is little evidence that Yugoslavia would have allowed British soldiers into its territory. Did Yugoslavia play a significant role in the war, by defecting from the Axis and then by the partisan resistance that tied down entire German divisions? Certainly.
Based on this logic, we could prove that France played a decisive role in the war, or even Yugoslavia - by overthrowing the pro-Nazi clique it forced a German invasion in April 1941 that delayed Barbarossa by one month, the one month that might have been crucial to the Soviet Union's survival.
In reality, did Yugoslavia play a decisive role in the war? No. It didn't. Hitler didn't have to invade Yugoslavia before attacking the Soviets. There is little evidence that Yugoslavia would have allowed British soldiers into its territory. Did Yugoslavia play a significant role in the war, by defecting from the Axis and then by the partisan resistance that tied down entire German divisions? Certainly.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
This message last edited by Tom on 06/04/2011 at 07:04:40 PM
The myth of Polish cavalry charging tanks
- 06/04/2011 09:31:09 AM
1328 Views
I find this slightly sad.
- 06/04/2011 10:23:08 AM
734 Views
Yeah, I know it's BS, but it's one of my favorrite weapons to use against Poles who harass me
- 06/04/2011 02:04:06 PM
1495 Views
are you often harrassed by Poles? *NM*
- 06/04/2011 02:14:18 PM
293 Views
Many people don't appreciate what Germany has suffered at the hands of Poland. 
- 06/04/2011 03:00:56 PM
683 Views
- 06/04/2011 03:00:56 PM
683 Views
yes but I still wonder about the modering gangs of Poles who are harrassing people 
- 06/04/2011 04:51:58 PM
593 Views
- 06/04/2011 04:51:58 PM
593 Views
I am!
- 06/04/2011 07:19:16 PM
680 Views
There is something scewy going on with my PC and it keeps reloading pages
- 06/04/2011 08:46:08 PM
556 Views
"A decisive role"? What is Ben Macintyre smoking? And there's something wrong with the picture.
- 06/04/2011 03:01:00 PM
787 Views
He makes a fair point
- 06/04/2011 03:46:14 PM
585 Views
In all fairness, no he doesn't.
- 06/04/2011 07:02:56 PM
725 Views
I don't agree - you are relying on speculation
- 06/04/2011 07:19:19 PM
695 Views
No, YOU are relying on speculation
- 06/04/2011 11:13:10 PM
1221 Views
I think you are a bit old to get away with the "No you are" line of argument
- 07/04/2011 11:16:50 AM
621 Views
- 07/04/2011 11:16:50 AM
621 Views
Churchill saying "we won the war" is already a fantasy world.
- 07/04/2011 03:35:14 PM
647 Views
You think the allies lost? Erm... okay....
- 07/04/2011 04:41:49 PM
691 Views
I didn't say the Allies lost. I said the UK didn't really "win".
- 07/04/2011 05:31:10 PM
570 Views
You said Churchill was living in a fantasy land for saying we won, I believe?
- 08/04/2011 10:56:51 AM
707 Views
they still charged on a machine gun wielding infantry battalion ...
- 07/04/2011 02:06:02 AM
607 Views
They may have had better luck against the tanks
- 07/04/2011 03:38:40 AM
566 Views
Actually, no. The PzKpfw I didn't have a cannon, but rather a machine gun on the turret.
- 07/04/2011 04:58:20 AM
544 Views
My 8th grade history teacher was Polish and she embellished the myth.
- 07/04/2011 05:43:10 PM
565 Views