[MoMo]

Sorry MoMo, I beg to differ.

The cracking of ENIGMA undoubtedly played a vital role in the Allied war effort but it was by no means the 'silver bullet' due inter alia to the vagaries of what is known as the 'fog of war'. Also, like all leaders, Churchill was by no means perfect but he was a gifted leader, orator and statesman, without which there is a good chance you would now be speaking German with a Scottish accent

Cardinal.

Hi Cardinal, I agree that Churchill was less than perfect. I also agree that he was the boy for the job. But there is not a chance in hell that the Germans would have beaten us. On the other hand, there is not a chance in hell that we would have beaten them by ourselves ( the British Empire, that is )

What I don't believe is that without Churchill we could not have created the platform for victory with our allies. Also, alone we would have fought Hilter to a stalemate, even without a Churchill. Churchill seemed to be the best man for the job, at the time. He was well distanced from the appeasers.

However, as Thomas Gray thought, there are many potential leaders who were never called upon and who now lie sleeping in quiet country churchyards.

As Jim points out, there were many aristos whose files are missing from the National Archives, and who sink beneath the notion of Nationality. Those rats, like most of the Nazi branch of the Mittford clan, would have sold out the British People in exchange for the sop of maintaining their " position in society ".

That Norman blooded trash aside, most British People did not think for one second that they would be beaten, and anyone who tried to peddle defeat would have been lynched!

Someone would have stepped forward to concentrate the National effort. Perhaps someone with less pretentions than Churchill, but defeat or surrender was not an option. The ordinary peoples of this country had no intention whatsoever of giving in to Hitler and his crew. They had no intention of giving up anything to anybody. That's the way they were brought up.

[MoMo]

BTW : I can speak German with a German accent and French with a French accent, more by dint of mimicry than labour!

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by MoMo

BTW : I can speak German with a German accent and French with a French accent, more by dint of mimicry than labour!

That's relatively simple MoMo, I challenge you to speak German with a French accent or even better yet, try French with a German accent ...

[bsmith13]

Originally Posted by MoMo

BTW : I can speak German with a German accent and French with a French accent, more by dint of mimicry than labour!

I was told by Germans that I speak german with an English accent. Apparently, it is unheard of for an American to know another language.

[Shawn 507]

I knew a German that spoke American with an Alabama accent. Freaked me out when he asked for a dip of Copenhagen.
- Shawn

[swoop]

Sticky situation all around Skunky. Having marines mired in syurpy substances while still beaching for an attack. As the old song goes 'Sticktoittivity never hurt anyone' except those stuck on Aunt Jemima.

[jim]

Originally Posted by bsmith13

I was told by Germans that I speak german with an English accent. Apparently, it is unheard of for an American to know another language.

Accents are funny, I was told by my German pals that when I try to speak German my Yorkshire accent makes me sound Bavarian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


BTW the British can be the most bloody minded people in the world. (stubborn).
Lord Halifax was muted to be the leader in waiting if Churchill had fallen. Had that come to pass then I would sound like a Bavarian for certain.
Halifax was used as a mouthpiece for the Aristos many times. (the Royal family wanted Halifax as PM they didnt like Churchill at all).

[mikeb1958]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

I knew a German that spoke American with an Alabama accent. Freaked me out when he asked for a dip of Copenhagen.
- Shawn

I knew a Alabamian that spoke Ebonics with a German accent. He freaked me about when he asked for a RC cola and a moonpie.

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by mikeb1958

I knew a Alabamian that spoke Ebonics with a German accent. He freaked me about when he asked for a RC cola and a moonpie.

Ah but mine is a true story. I ran into this joker while at a Patrol Course in Weingarten Germany. He was an exchange student in Alabama and picked up the habbit of dipping Copenhagen. Thats almost as bad as going to a Chinese resturant in Germany where they all speak German. Made you feel like you were in a bad B-rated movie.
- Shawn

[MoMo]

Here's a spooky one :

most young europeans speak english with an American accent while the older generation tend to sound a little more English.

Also, youger europeans tend to speak idiomatic American.

Too many McDonalds and Hollywood movies!