AS many nations prepare to mark the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II on May 8-9, please give me space in your newspaper to show my respect for those brave soldiers and civilians everywhere who defeated Hitlerite fascism on behalf of all mankind. German Chancellor Adolf Hitler aimed to conquer many lands and impose a fascist empire.
Although it lasted less than six years, the Second World War was, according to Wikipedia, “the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million military personnel mobilised.”
“Marked by significant action against civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it was the deadliest conflict in human history, with over seventy million casualties,” says Wikipedia.
The former Soviet Union, after being attacked on Germany’s eastern front, fought back valiantly and turned the tide against the enemy at the unforgettable Battle of Stalingrad, eventually marching triumphantly all the way to Hitler’s bunker in Berlin. With about 30 million casualties and millions more wounded, the Soviets paid the highest price for victory in WW2.
Britain, which declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939, deployed about 6.5 million soldiers to various theatres of operation but lost only 244,000 men in the entire war. As Britain at that time ruled a vast empire, the English-speaking Caribbean was dragged into the conflict along with India, South Africa and other territories. Altogether, the empire provided about 3 million soldiers to reinforce British troops and lost 137,000 by war’s end.
“Out of a population of 14 million in the Caribbean colonies of the British Commonwealth, about 16,000 West Indians volunteered for service alongside the British during the Second World War,” the Memorial Gates Trust website points out. MG Trust adds that “236 Caribbean volunteers were killed or reported missing during the Second World War; 265 were wounded.” The Memorial Gates were erected in London eight years ago to honour all Commonwealth servicemen who participated in Britain’s military campaigns in the two world wars.
Guyanese also saw active duty during the war. David Granger notes that seven companies of the British Guiana Home Guard were dispatched as the B. G. Regiment to the South Caribbean Force in Trinidad, commanded by Britain. Others volunteered to serve directly in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. There were a number of Guyanese casualties.
“British Guiana and Dutch Guiana were major suppliers of high-grade bauxite to America during the war years when there was an increased demand for bauxite” to make warplanes, says historian Arlene Munro, adding that “British Guiana also contributed to the war effort by providing a haven for seamen who survived when their ships were destroyed by enemy action.”
Guyanese cannot afford to forget the collective sacrifice necessary to stave off Hitlerite fascism 65 years ago. We should pause and reflect and respect most highly all who fought and all who were consumed in the fire of that devastating global conflict.