Except for the Germans, Russians & Japanese, the casualty rate during WWII was nothing compared to WWI. For example, the UK lost 1m vs 350k; France 1.4 vs 250K. In fact, while the US lost 350k in WWII over a much longer & wider global scale, we lost 55k in less than 6 mos of fighting in WWI.
What an insulting and incorrect comment.
They don't call it the "Lost Generation" for nothing. During the first 2 years, before sentiment turned against the war, it was considered a noble undertaking to volunteer & fight. The soldiers climbing out of those trenches and getting mowed down by the tens of thousands in a single day weren't just mechanics; they were comprised of entire graduating classes from Oxbridge ie the future leaders.
The ones who survived where either (a) extremely lucky, or (b) most likely, those performing supporting roles or simply not engaged in battle.
Why are you babbling about WWI? It has nothing to do with today except that it was a prequel to WWII as far as Arab imperialism goes, which set the stage for the conflict we are in now
Whether lucky, in support roles etc does not mean they were cowards and weaklings.
You are correct in that the slaughter was terrible, it left most families with "maiden aunts", women whose fiances died and then there were not enough men to go around, especially after the Spanish Flu epidemic.
The survivors in my family, from both wars served with distinction whether in infantry and tanks in WW1 or medics and cryptologists and paras in WW2; to imply that they were some sort of weaklings or offspring thereof is not respectful.
C.S. Lewis touches on this in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy:
"Peace to them all. A worse fate awaited them than the most vindictive fag among us could have wished. Ypres and Somme ate up most of them. They were happy while their good days lasted."
Cheers!
*****Except for the Germans, Russians & Japanese, the casualty rate during WWII was nothing compared to WWI. For example, the UK lost 1m vs 350k; France 1.4 vs 250K. In fact, while the US lost 350k in WWII over a much longer & wider global scale, we lost 55k in less than 6 mos of fighting in WWI.****
Considering that the UK was not a very populous country per sq. mile to being with - losing 350K in the 2WW after losing one million in the 1stWW - approx. 20years apart - is a demographic disaster.