What would have happened if everyone stayed at home in WW2

[IsurviveonCoffeeandWinein2021]

So reading lots of different threads tonight arguing for and against lockdown. How it is not safe and the comparisons to WW2 has got me thinking?

What would have happened if at the start of national service everyone just said no? So instead of fighting they stayed home to protect everyone cause then maybe we would not get bombed? So the war was to protect our freedom and our rights. This virus vs lockdown is now very similar. Protect the NHS? Destroy your own life?

As far as I know CEV was not a thing then. National service was compulsory so how would that have worked? I understand some people got to opt out but where thought of very badly unless severely disabled.

Let's face it not one single person who entered that war or stayed behind was safe.

I wonder what happened with medics then as obviously this predates the NHS. People died. It was sad but we fought for our lives. None of that involved staying in our houses watching Netflix!

Medics, technicians all were conscripted. Where would we have been if everyone wanted to stay safe?

I don't think you understand how war works.

Indeed. I think that generation would have viewed as complete wimps and laughed in our faces. Staying in to hide from a virus? Maybe a few people shot for cowardice to make examples.

War and a virus... apples and oranges.

People failed the Medical exams. But did other essential work.

If people had stayed at home, the UK would have been like Austria... Quietly taken over.

Well if everyone stayed home here and everyone in Germany did the same then the stupid dick swinging war would have been over in days and we wouldn't have a country enslaved to jingoistic rhetoric.

The war wasn't catching.

I absolutely do understand how it works. Young men where forced to war like we are forced to stay at home?

@IsurviveonCoffeeandWinein2021

I absolutely do understand how it works. Young men where forced to war like we are forced to stay at home?

Christ. Have a think about what you've just said.

Unbelievable.

How hard is it to stay the chuff at home and listen to the wireless?

It is ironic. People on here are always shouting about how we must all channel the war spirit! Grow a backbone! Be resilient.

Not the war spirit of just getting on with things in the face of a far greater danger. And we didn’t even have an NHS to overwhelm

I think you'll find that the Allied soldiers and all essential services workers were essential workers, critical to the response to Nazi 39.

I'm glad they left the house.

Not exactly what you asked but if my grandad had stayed at home, rather than being evacuated, I wouldn't exist

A lot less people would have died from Covid back then seeing as life expectancy was a lot less anyway. Life was viewed very differently back then, infant mortality was high. They didn't live in a nanny state, they lived in survival mode.

Britain then and Britain now are as different as night and day for a start but it's hard to compare a war to a virus although we are fighting each?!

If you were called for National Service and refused you were put in jail. The Police back then had the respect of the community, now they have things thrown at their car whilst on patrol

Eighteen year olds then were flying Spitfires. Eighteen year olds now, I won't go there

I think you have had too much coffee and wine.

The Nazis would have taken over Europe, millions more innocent people would have been killed through genoside then Hitler would have made a move on the U.K.

Surely the best comparison would have been those staying home vs those who were conscripted/volunteered then? But ridiculous comparison anyway.

I understand the point you’re making Op. People fought and died in the war to protect their freedom. Today, people are giving up their freedom because they are scared of death. Aside from WW2 throughout history people have died fighting for basic rights. The thing is, I think most people really, truly believe that the rights and freedoms they have given up will be restored in full. I hope they’re right. But it’s a slippery slope.

@GCAcademic for some people staying at home is more dangerous than a war zone. You probably will not believe that but it's true.

Calling me an idiot is not helpful to the PP the reality is you would not be able to "stay safe" if it hadn't been for those scared young men doing what they thought was right for their county.

As a female I would sign up if that was what was asked but my own Pop who was POW says that's this is barbaric and he wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy.

The thing is, I think most people really, truly believe that the rights and freedoms they have given up will be restored in full. I hope they’re right. But it’s a slippery slope.

I think that may be the next fight.

Yes, on the one hand you have people dying for our freedoms, and on the other you have people desperate to give up those same freedoms out of fear of death. Quite a contrast.

I hardly know where to start with this.

Leaving aside the confusion in your head between National Service, conscription and voluntary enlisting, I’m intrigued as to how soldiers not fighting abroad would have prevented the bombing of the U.K.

But I’m just quibbling really. I find your comparison of the two situations offensive in the extreme.

I’m really sick of these all these comparisons to WW2, the pandemic isn’t remotely similar. It’s not helpful or useful to try to compare. What we need to do now, in 2021, to combat the very different threat of Covid is nothing like what what was needed in 1939 to win a war in a very different world. Let’s just concentrate on the now.

Most of them willingly did what the Government said was best for the country.

@HeddaGarbled I see your point. We are not at the stage where there is no option but to stay at home. You will be fined, vilified etc

No different to national service or conscription really if you loon at it through that lease?

Both directives from government over their decisions which directly result in people dying?

Now*