Interesting, Amazing or Unknown Facts of WW2

**spidge** · 11-11-2007, 05:24 AM

The youngest US serviceman was 12 year old Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded in combat and given a Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. (His benefits were later restored by act of Congress).

When the US Army landed in North Africa, among the equipment brought ashore were 3 complete Coca Cola bottling plants.

The first German serviceman killed in the war was killed by the Japanese (China, 1937)

The first American serviceman killed was killed by the Russians (Finland 1940).

It is believed that the highest ranking American killed in WW2 was Lt. Gen. Lesley McNair, killed by the US Army Air Corps. This is incorrect as General Simon Bolivar Buckner (Killed Okinawa) was a four star General, McNair was three star.

Following a massive naval bombardment 35,000 US and Canadian troops stormed ashore at Kiska, 32 troops (28 Americans and 4 Canadian) were killed in the fire fight and over 50 wounded. It would have been worse if there had been Japanese on the island. This was all by friendly fire.

**Heidi** · 03-14-2009, 04:45 AM

Here's more intersing facts about ww2.

*The only nation that Germany declare war on was the USA.
*A number of air crewmen died of farts.(ascending to 20,000 ft,in an un-pressurized aircraft causes intestinal gas to expand 300%) I don't know how true that one is.
*84 German Generals were executed by Hitler.

**Heidi** · 03-14-2009, 06:53 AM

Hi Spidge.

The second one about *The first American was killed in action during ww2 in finland 1940* Did not America jion the war in 1942? How can an American be killed in 1940?
Unlest the American was aan volenteer for the Allies? I am not sure.

**war hawk** · 03-15-2009, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Heidi

Hi Spidge.

The second one about *The first American was killed in action during ww2 in finland 1940* Did not America jion the war in 1942? How can an American be killed in 1940?
Unlest the American was aan volenteer for the Allies? I am not sure.

Japan sank our battleships at "Pearl Harbor", then we declared war on Japan in 1941, and then Germany declared war on us.P.S Yes a few americans volenteered for the allies before we joined in.

**Antipodean Andy** · 03-15-2009, 08:56 PM

December 9, 1941 was the official declaration of war on Japan by the US.

**Heidi** · 03-15-2009, 09:11 PM

Another interesting fact!

Hitler had an nepthew in the American army.

**war hawk** · 03-15-2009, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Antipodean Andy

December 9, 1941 was the official declaration of war on Japan by the US.

**spidge** · 03-16-2009, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Heidi

Hi Spidge.

The second one about *The first American was killed in action during ww2 in finland 1940*

Did not America join the war in 1942? How can an American be killed in 1940?
Unless the American was aan volunteer for the Allies? I am not sure.

A number of Americans were also killed in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Germany and Italy declared war on the US on the 11th of December 1941

Britain declared war on Japan on December 8th 1941

One hour after Japanese bombers struck at Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941, Prime Minister John Curtin of Australia declared that "from one hour ago, Australia has been at war with the Japanese Empire."
War was formally declared at 11:15 A.M., December 9, Australian time (8:15 P.M., December 8, American E.S.T.).
Announcing Australia's recognition that a state of war existed, Prime Minister Curtin said at 7:30 A.M., American E.S.T., December 8:
The Australian Government and its representatives abroad have struggled hard to prevent a breakdown of this kind. We did not want war in the Pacific. The Australian Government has repeatedly made it clear, as have the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the Netherlands East Indies, that if war came to the Pacific it would be of Japan's making. Japan has now made war.
The hands of the democracies are clean. The discussions and negotiations between Japan and the democracies were no mere bandying of words on the democracies' part. Since last February it has been the aim of the democracies to keep the peace in the Pacific. The best brains of the democracies were brought to bear for this end. It is on record that the President of the United States and Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, and the British and Dominions Governments worked untiringly and unceasingly. Yet when the President of the United States decided to communicate direct with the Japanese Emperor in support of an appeal for Imperial intervention on the side of peace, the war government of Japan struck. That war government, bent on aggression, and lusting for power, and acting in the fashion of its Axis partners, anticipated the undoubted weight of the President's message and shattered the century-old friendship of the two countries.
For the first time in the history of the Pacific, armed conflict stalks abroad. No other country than Japan desired war in the Pacific. The responsibility for this actual resort to war is therefore upon Japan.... Australia goes to its battle stations in defense of its very way of living.