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
1227 Views
I find this slightly sad.
- 06/04/2011 10:23:08 AM
651 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
1405 Views
are you often harrassed by Poles? *NM*
- 06/04/2011 02:14:18 PM
261 Views
Many people don't appreciate what Germany has suffered at the hands of Poland. 
- 06/04/2011 03:00:56 PM
587 Views
- 06/04/2011 03:00:56 PM
587 Views
yes but I still wonder about the modering gangs of Poles who are harrassing people 
- 06/04/2011 04:51:58 PM
494 Views
- 06/04/2011 04:51:58 PM
494 Views
I am!
- 06/04/2011 07:19:16 PM
594 Views
There is something scewy going on with my PC and it keeps reloading pages
- 06/04/2011 08:46:08 PM
455 Views
"A decisive role"? What is Ben Macintyre smoking? And there's something wrong with the picture.
- 06/04/2011 03:01:00 PM
698 Views
He makes a fair point
- 06/04/2011 03:46:14 PM
523 Views
In all fairness, no he doesn't.
- 06/04/2011 07:02:56 PM
633 Views
I don't agree - you are relying on speculation
- 06/04/2011 07:19:19 PM
590 Views
No, YOU are relying on speculation
- 06/04/2011 11:13:10 PM
1134 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
529 Views
- 07/04/2011 11:16:50 AM
529 Views
Churchill saying "we won the war" is already a fantasy world.
- 07/04/2011 03:35:14 PM
550 Views
You think the allies lost? Erm... okay....
- 07/04/2011 04:41:49 PM
612 Views
I didn't say the Allies lost. I said the UK didn't really "win".
- 07/04/2011 05:31:10 PM
476 Views
You said Churchill was living in a fantasy land for saying we won, I believe?
- 08/04/2011 10:56:51 AM
605 Views
they still charged on a machine gun wielding infantry battalion ...
- 07/04/2011 02:06:02 AM
525 Views
They may have had better luck against the tanks
- 07/04/2011 03:38:40 AM
483 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
461 Views
My 8th grade history teacher was Polish and she embellished the myth.
- 07/04/2011 05:43:10 PM
511 Views