Bloody Sunrise
“This day shall be marked down as the inevitable culmination of unjustifiable fascist aggression. Now, in an hour such as this, no quarter can be given. I can only hope that what gains the enemy have already achieved have not caused the balance of power to swing irreversibly against us. The only option available to us is to resist with every ounce of strength in our bodies and our spirit. If we can weather the fierce storm of barbarism that will all too soon be thrown upon ourselves and the French, then the scales will tip in our favour, and this great alliance of all nations can sweep onward to victory.”
-- Churchill speaking in the House of Commons directly after war was declared.
“Our nation has been taken by surprise. Our people never expected that despicable aggression would propel us into another great conflict. We had hoped, along with our allies that the territorial claims of the Axis powers could be contained, that their appetite for power could be satiated. Only with the eye of hindsight can we see what a mistake we have made. For their crimes, not just against the American people, or our allies, but also their own, innocent citizens, they must be brought to justice, their wrongdoings punished.”
-- Roosevelt addressing Congress after hearing that war had been declared.
“We have been reasonable, to the limits of reasonableness. We have been willing to let these snakes fatten and strengthen under our noses, all in the interests of peace. After France lost the flower of her young men in the Great War, we had hoped that the Germans, Austrians and Hungarians would feel the same way, too. We see now how short a memory their people possess. My countrymen, we have been catapulted into a war once again. All we can do is fight, and win.”
-- Lebrun, speaking to the French people in his office.
“The day has dawned, and what has been done cannot be undone. The ‘Allies’ have brought upon themselves a war, of which we did not desire. Our Hungarian friends, simply exacting righteous revenge for the great injustices performed on them in a controlled manner, seeking to administer the Turkish lands with all calm and without bloodshed, have been repeatedly denounced as ‘expansionist’ by the Great Empires of the West. Even as Eastern Europe stands proud, unified and strong, the tottering democracies crow to one another and plot vicious schemes to derail us and our brothers. These inhuman acts have led us to war. They have brought upon themselves their final fate, and it is a fate which they deserve completely. Let them cower before the might of our united countries. To war!”
-- Hitler, at a public rally.
“Centuries ago, Rome ruled over the Mediterranean. With a wise hand, the Caesars oversaw the greatest period in our grand history. The people were happy and prosperous, our armies unmatched across France and Africa, and our temples glorious. I tell you now that those days will be witnessed again in the days and months to come! The time has passed for long debate over what may have caused this conflict, what remains, is to win victory, and restore past glories to our nation!”
-- Mussolini, at a military parade in Milan.
“So, let this dark business begin again, let the bloody sunrise pour sanguine light across the world once more. Come, there is work to do.”
-- Horthy, to his cabinet.
“This day shall be marked down as the inevitable culmination of unjustifiable fascist aggression. Now, in an hour such as this, no quarter can be given. I can only hope that what gains the enemy have already achieved have not caused the balance of power to swing irreversibly against us. The only option available to us is to resist with every ounce of strength in our bodies and our spirit. If we can weather the fierce storm of barbarism that will all too soon be thrown upon ourselves and the French, then the scales will tip in our favour, and this great alliance of all nations can sweep onward to victory.”
-- Churchill speaking in the House of Commons directly after war was declared.
“Our nation has been taken by surprise. Our people never expected that despicable aggression would propel us into another great conflict. We had hoped, along with our allies that the territorial claims of the Axis powers could be contained, that their appetite for power could be satiated. Only with the eye of hindsight can we see what a mistake we have made. For their crimes, not just against the American people, or our allies, but also their own, innocent citizens, they must be brought to justice, their wrongdoings punished.”
-- Roosevelt addressing Congress after hearing that war had been declared.
“We have been reasonable, to the limits of reasonableness. We have been willing to let these snakes fatten and strengthen under our noses, all in the interests of peace. After France lost the flower of her young men in the Great War, we had hoped that the Germans, Austrians and Hungarians would feel the same way, too. We see now how short a memory their people possess. My countrymen, we have been catapulted into a war once again. All we can do is fight, and win.”
-- Lebrun, speaking to the French people in his office.
“The day has dawned, and what has been done cannot be undone. The ‘Allies’ have brought upon themselves a war, of which we did not desire. Our Hungarian friends, simply exacting righteous revenge for the great injustices performed on them in a controlled manner, seeking to administer the Turkish lands with all calm and without bloodshed, have been repeatedly denounced as ‘expansionist’ by the Great Empires of the West. Even as Eastern Europe stands proud, unified and strong, the tottering democracies crow to one another and plot vicious schemes to derail us and our brothers. These inhuman acts have led us to war. They have brought upon themselves their final fate, and it is a fate which they deserve completely. Let them cower before the might of our united countries. To war!”
-- Hitler, at a public rally.
“Centuries ago, Rome ruled over the Mediterranean. With a wise hand, the Caesars oversaw the greatest period in our grand history. The people were happy and prosperous, our armies unmatched across France and Africa, and our temples glorious. I tell you now that those days will be witnessed again in the days and months to come! The time has passed for long debate over what may have caused this conflict, what remains, is to win victory, and restore past glories to our nation!”
-- Mussolini, at a military parade in Milan.
“So, let this dark business begin again, let the bloody sunrise pour sanguine light across the world once more. Come, there is work to do.”
-- Horthy, to his cabinet.