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Another autumn Saturday, another 
thanks to Tommy Tuberville.
This edition: why
ACTUALLY invaded 
during WWII.
[THREAD] https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/11/tommy-tuberville-apparently-doesnt-know-what-wwii-was-about.html?utm_campaign=nym&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1
thanks to Tommy Tuberville.This edition: why
ACTUALLY invaded during WWII.[THREAD] https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/11/tommy-tuberville-apparently-doesnt-know-what-wwii-was-about.html?utm_campaign=nym&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1
Tommy's comment has a strong "Germans bombed Pearl Harbor" vibe to it.
Tommy is referring to the US invasion of Normandy in June 1944 ("Operation Overlord"). This is when 
forces opened a second front in Europe.
forces opened a second front in Europe.
Side note: This isn't the first time I've about a former football coach's comments on the Normandy invasion. https://twitter.com/ProfPaulPoast/status/1293505555970088960
about a former football coach's comments on the Normandy invasion. https://twitter.com/ProfPaulPoast/status/1293505555970088960
So, what was the Normandy invasion about?
Let's look at a map of Europe from June 1944. Everything in black was Axis dominated. For those who need a refresher, the "Axis" were Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Let's look at a map of Europe from June 1944. Everything in black was Axis dominated. For those who need a refresher, the "Axis" were Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Admittedly, that map is a bit deception. By June 1944, Italy was already a very minor player. Most of the "Axis dominated area" was "German dominated".
That includes France.
That includes France.
To be perfectly clear, when we say "German dominated" we mean "Nazi Germany".
You know Nazis. They are the ultimate "baddies"
You know Nazis. They are the ultimate "baddies"
To make sure Tommy and I are on the same page, here's a photo of Adolf Hitler sporting a Nazi party armband. He was Germany's leader at the time and truly the ultimate baddie.
In 1940, Nazi Germany had invaded and occupied 
And they nearly knocked out of the war, but the British army was able to escape at Dunkirk.
out of the war, but the British army was able to escape at Dunkirk.
Having established who the Americas were fighting, let's say a bit about the name "Nazis".
Their official name was "National Socialist German Workers' Party" (or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei).
Their official name was "National Socialist German Workers' Party" (or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei).
Okay, I could see how this *might* confuse Tommy. The word "socialist" is in their name! 
So he's right on a technicality, right? Wrong!
So he's right on a technicality, right? Wrong!
First, "socialism" itself has strong ties to France...the very France that Germany invaded.
See "Paris Commune" or perhaps watch Les Miserables
See "Paris Commune" or perhaps watch Les Miserables
Second, the phrase "National Socialist" (or Nazi) was deliberately chosen by Hitler to contrast it from "Marxist socialism".
Wait, "Marxist socialism"? That's referring to Karl Marx, right?
Wait, "Marxist socialism"? That's referring to Karl Marx, right?
Yes! He's a person who Tim Allen reminded us can be found on @Wikipedia https://twitter.com/ofctimallen/status/1327362470868971520
But he's also the intellectual source for Communism, which he viewed as an expansion/extension of socialism (see, the "Communist Manifesto") https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Communist_Manifesto/Lsm4g0a9hVQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Communist+Manifesto&printsec=frontcover
More importantly, Communism was the claimed ideology of the the USSR (though the USSR also uses the word "socialist" in its name)
You see Hitler HATED Communism (and Russia more generally).
He wasn't shy about this point. His book, Mein Kampf, lays it out. https://www.google.com/books/edition/My_Struggle/px_joAEACAAJ?hl=en
He wasn't shy about this point. His book, Mein Kampf, lays it out. https://www.google.com/books/edition/My_Struggle/px_joAEACAAJ?hl=en
He wrote: "In 1913 and 1914 I expressed my opinion for the first time in various circles, some of which are now members of the National Socialist Movement, that the problem of how the future of the German nation can be secured is the problem of how Marxism can be exterminated."
And he viewed Russian land as vital for the future of Germany (see "Lebensraum"): "We stop the endless German movement to the south and west, and turn our gaze toward the land in the east....we can primarily have in mind only Russia and her vassal border states."
So Tommy definitely doesn't want to mix the Nazi's with the Communists!
Indeed, by 1944, the US and USSR (i.e. Communists) were allies...
Indeed, by 1944, the US and USSR (i.e. Communists) were allies...
... and the point of opening a "second front" in the West was to help out the USSR (who were fighting on the "first front" in the East).
By the way, the Eastern front had started after Germany invaded Russia in 1941 (via Operation Barbarossa). Yes, Hitler REALLY hated Communists!
The goal of the two fronts was for the two sides to eventually meet in the middle.
That eventually happened! Baddies defeated!
We'll set aside how this then set the stage for the Cold War 
In short, Tommy, the US (and your father, who we should indeed thank!) invade France in 1944 to defeat Nazis: they were the ultimate baddies and, despite their name, they didn't care much for socialism or communism.
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