Reasons to keep fighting, words are powerful.

[LoLLarN]

Words are very powerful and can keep soldiers fighting even when they face a larger force of enemies or simply close to surrendering.

I myself would keep fighting even if I felt tired.. even if the supplies were low if the right words were said at the right time.

The 12th army of the reich in 1945 kept fighting for the words of one man, at least so we are told. The 12th army understood that soldiers are meant to protect the people of their nation.. this is why I would fight on in their position.

"Comrades, you've got to go in once more," Wenck said. "It's not about Berlin any more, it's not about the Reich any more." Their task was to save people from the fighting and the Russians. [...] Wenck's leadership struck a powerful chord, even if the reactions varied between those who believed in a humanitarian operation and those keener to surrender to the Western allies instead of the Russians.

— Antony Beevor

Information taken from Wikipedia about Walther Wench.

Is there any quotes that would keep you from surrendering in a war from during the second world war? And if so please post it underneath and tell us why it makes you feel the way you do.

 

[Adonnus]

"There is no land on the other side of the Volga." A common saying to Soviet soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad. To me, if I was a soldier there, it would send that instant message: this is the end of the nation, for me, and we will have to die on this side of the river. More than a feeling of patriotism I think it inspires some sort of heroic fatalism. That spirit which evidently motivated the whole Soviet army during this time.

 

[Lifthrasil]

Sorry for critisizing your thread, I'm sure you wrote this in understandable excitement after reading about things like 12th army. I made a kinda similar thread ones where I asked for a "last stand" feature to be included in HOI4.

But then I realised:
While I enjoy the feeling of being a noble person sacrificing my life for some greater thing, as much as any other one here, I think it's a bit overconfident to assume that the words of some dude would convince me to do that if things get serious. Anyone who has not experienced lethal combat first hand is in no position to actually what he would do in this situation.

The sacrifice and hard choices made by men like the ones from 12th army is not imaginable for anyone in our comfortable society, except maybe those with combat experience. Don't assume you would "just fight on" despite the cold, the fear, the pain, the tiredness those men experienced. The western societies became soft and lazy (myself included), I doubt most of us would have it in us to do what they did.

 

[LoLLarN]

Sorry for critisizing your thread, I'm sure you wrote this in understandable excitement after reading about things like 12th army. I made a kinda similar thread ones where I asked for a "last stand" feature to be included in HOI4.

But then I realised:
While I enjoy the feeling of being a noble person sacrificing my life for some greater thing, as much as any other one here, I think it's a bit overconfident to assume that the words of some dude would convince me to do that if things get serious. Anyone who has not experienced lethal combat first hand is in no position to actually what he would do in this situation.

The sacrifice and hard choices made by men like the ones from 12th army is not imaginable for anyone in our comfortable society, except maybe those with combat experience. Don't assume you would "just fight on" despite the cold, the fear, the pain, the tiredness those men experienced. The western societies became soft and lazy (myself included), I doubt most of us would have it in us to do what they did.

I have had this thread in my mind many times while reading up on things and I simply felt to post it here, I do not deny that you have a lot of valid points though I am more than certain some of us would keep fighting no matter what we have gone through. The point of this thread was to see which speaches would make you keep fighting to the end and not how much softer we have become with time.

 

[Lifthrasil]

The point of this thread was to see which speaches would make you keep fighting to the end and not how much softer we have become with time.

As I see it, this thread is more a "what speech do you find particurlarly badass or cool"-collection.
And there I would add:
Churchills "fight on the beaches", though he sounds rather emotionless and drunk while saying it.

A speech itself will not make anybody fight, there needs to be a real value behind your sacrifice (saving civilians, your family, comrades ect). I don't know if I would keep fighting, I hope I would, but I don't know now, and I hope I will never have to find out. Just as you (presumably) don't know what you would do, my friend ;-)

 

[Bennyy]

"Lol don't worry its only Poland" - Adolf Hitler 1939

 

[Lifthrasil]

Also a good speech that would keep me fighting - by commissar Vasili Tschuikow: "You see this gun, comrade? If you try to surrender to the fascists, I'm going to shoot you with it".
Undeniable logic! Great rethorical talent, this Tschuikow guy!

 

[kviiri]

"Lol don't worry its only Poland" - Adolf Hitler 1939

And on related, although opposite tone, "Why die for Danzig?"

 

[teamgene]

speeches might get you to the battlefield, but won't keep you there.

 

[kviiri]

speeches might get you to the battlefield, but won't keep you there.

Or might keep you there a bit longer than you planned for. Like for all eternity...

 

[Earl Uhtred]

As I see it, this thread is more a "what speech do you find particurlarly badass or cool"-collection.
And there I would add:
Churchills "fight on the beaches", though he sounds rather emotionless and drunk while saying it.

Also, he keeps saying 'we' where he should say 'you'.

 

[Duke of Awesome]

There's really nothing anyone could say that would get me to fight for a "nation."

 

[jalapen0]

"Lol don't worry its only Poland" - Adolf Hitler 1939

"Lol don't worry, it's only France" - Adolf Hitler 1940

 

[Lifthrasil]

Also, he keeps saying 'we' where he should say 'you'.

Honesty really won't get you very far in times of war. It's the same with Charles de Gaulle. He was admired and called a hero for his "bravery" of staying in London and rallying up poor french people over the radio to go kill poor german people and risk their and their families lives in the process.
He did a necessary job to strengthen the resistance, don't get me wrong, but I fail to see the heroism in him staying WAY clear of the frontline...

 

[Aries666]

Honesty really won't get you very far in times of war. It's the same with Charles de Gaulle. He was admired and called a hero for his "bravery" of staying in London and rallying up poor french people over the radio to go kill poor german people and risk their and their families lives in the process.
He did a necessary job to strengthen the resistance, don't get me wrong, but I fail to see the heroism in him staying WAY clear of the frontline...

If all your top leaders where on the frontline, you wouldn't have very many of them left after a short while.

 

[panzerzombie]

If all your top leaders where on the frontline, you wouldn't have very many of them left after a short while.

Which would either shorten most wars or prevent them in the first place

 

[Orlunu]

Which would either shorten most wars or prevent them in the first place

By making you lose them...

 

[tommylotto]

Nuts

 

[Denkt]

There is some national focuses that give extra manpower and some doctrines have choices which give more manpower.

 

[Alexoren]

"Lol don't worry, it's only France" - Adolf Hitler 1940

"Lol don't worry, it's only Soviet Russia" - Adolf Hitler 1941