[bearoutwest]

I’m not trying to rewrite history, here. There’s the generally accepted convention that WW2 covered the period Sep 1939 to August (or September) 1945. That’s fine as a reference marker.

The point I was trying to point out is that it does depend on your perspective. In terms of defending your country or lifestyle, then different nationalities probably consider different timelines:
(For example, and this is my conjecture for the purpose of discussion),
Poland Sep 1939 – May 1945
USSR Jun 1941 – Aug 1945
USA Dec 1941 – Aug 1945
China Jul 1937 – Aug 1945

The original question in this thread was really about the first US citizen killed during the Pearl Harbor raid and termed “First American citizens killed in WW2”. This would nominate Dec 1941 as the start of WW2 for the Americans – in the OP’s terminology – but would not include the US citizen’s killed in China, Spain, in the Athenia (or in the two USN destroyers sunk by U-Boats prior to Dec 1941). It would exclude the US citizens (either as part of the Eagle Squadrons or in the RCAF) killed in action or in operational flying for the RAF. It would also exclude the one (or two) members of the AVG killed in operational flying/training prior to Dec 1941.

I’m merely raising the question whether a broader consideration of WW2 is appropriate based along lines of continual warfare between the combatants. Chinese, Russian and Japanese forces were in action in 1937 (with the Russians supplying aircraft and aircrews). The level of fighting in China at the time (and at Nomanhan in 1939), was as extensive in terms of territory covered and casualties as anything in Poland or the Western Front up until May 1940. These three combatants were still actively engaged in hostilities at the end – Aug/Sep 1945.


You are, of course, free to disagree. I'm not looking for a definitive answer. Just raising food for thought.


Regards, ...geoff