Everything You Learned About World War Two Is Wrong
<p>“At times of crisis,” <a href="https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-winston-churchill/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Winston S. Churchill</a> said, “myths have historical importance.”</p>
<p>The former British Prime Minister was correct in saying that <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61285833" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">myths inspired soldiers</a> to be courageous during World War Two — despite the overwhelming odds of death. However, some myths have been passed down from one generation to the next for decades.</p>
<p>Here are several lies about World War Two that many people still believe:</p>
<h1>Most American Soldiers Were Eager To Fight Nazis</h1>
<p>This lie was taught to me in high school.</p>
<p>A pervasive myth infiltrated history books and led people to believe that everyone always wanted to kill Nazis from the outset of <a href="https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/military-service-and-draft-post-world-war-ii" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">World War Two</a>. And while fighting for one’s country is admirable, most <a href="https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/military-service-and-draft-post-world-war-ii" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">American soldiers</a> were drafted into the military based on necessity (rather than patriotism).</p>
<p>“88% of Americans in 1940 opposed the idea of declaring war against the Axis powers in Europe,” per <a href="https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/great-debate#:~:text=In%20January%20of%20that%20year,war%20to%20help%20the%20British." rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">The National World War Two Museum</a>. “As late as June, only 35% of Americans believed their government should risk war to help the British.”</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/everything-you-learned-about-world-war-two-is-wrong-2b127c9f7205"><strong>Learn More</strong></a></p>