Surviving World War II

[Lord Baal]

The way the poll is set, voting for Finland means voting for Hungary or Romania, two places I would not have wanted to be in 1944-45. Separate Finland out, and I vote Finland. As stated in the poll, Norway.

It says "Minor Axis ally," with Finland, Hungary and Romania being among the four different nations the OP considers as minor allies (how Hungary could be a 'minor' ally, I don't know). What, do you think he means you have to live in all four? Obviously, only one of the four "Minor Axis all[ies]" is where you'll be living personally. So you simply vote that option, then clarify which of the four you'd choose to live in when you post.

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

Findland was never occupied, and only had to make due during the Winter War of 1940, where they made a good show. I'll take Finland for the win, Alex.

 

[MilesGregarius]

It says "Minor Axis ally," with Finland, Hungary and Romania being among the four different nations the OP considers as minor allies (how Hungary could be a 'minor' ally, I don't know). What, do you think he means you have to live in all four? Obviously, only one of the four "Minor Axis all[ies]" is where you'll be living personally. So you simply vote that option, then clarify which of the four you'd choose to live in when you post.

Ah, yes, but fearing that some evil djinn would twist my words and I find myself drafted into the student defenders of Budapest in 1945, I chose Norway. Finland and Bulgaria escaped most of the devastation that the others suffered, but as a collective grouping, I can't vote for "Minor Axis ally."

 

[Renner]

Finland for sure, although at the time the people there must have been concerned what the Soviets were going to do after it became apparent Germany was GGed.

 

[steerpike_swe]

Iceland isn't listed among the options there. It also fails under the criteria listed in the OP. Of the choices, Finland is by far the best. And the question is where would you be more likely to survive WWII, not where would you be most likely to survive the Russian Civil War and its aftermath.

Please accept my apologies if the choice of Iceland caused any offence. This was not my intention at all.

I am aware that Iceland is not listed among the poll options - but it does NOT fails under the criteria listed in the OP:

My question is fairly simple; if you're the average, run of the mill citizen, where in Europe are you going to be living? From 1939 to 1945, where are you wanting to be?

Note, a poll is coming, and the only options are belligerents that were occupied, excluding the United Kingdom (it was never occupied) and Denmark (who had an incredibly easy occupation)

- Iceland is located in Europe.
- It was occupied during the war (the OP does not say the occupiers had to be Nazis or Soviets).
- Iceland was not a part of the UK.
- Iceland was actually not a part of Denmark either...
- The Kingdom of Iceland was recognised "as a fully sovereign state in a personal union with the King of Denmark." (wikipedia quote - cause I am lazy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland#Kingdom_of_Iceland_1918.E2.80.931944).

Since I think this kind of historic trivia is both fun and interesting I thought I should share it with others...

 

[LightSpectra]

- It was occupied during the war (the OP does not say the occupiers had to be Nazis or Soviets).

But that was clearly assumed since Allied-occupied countries weren't given as options.

 

[Verbose]

Iceland would still be better than Finland. Finland would be the second best choice. For me personally Finland would be problematic because of ideological issues - my family is Red and would probably already be dead, having been killed by the Whites during or after the civil war...

Nah.

The Soviets and the Finns alike prior to hostilities thought it a possibility that the Red-White division from 1918 might influence things. That there might be a sizeable contingent in Finland that might actually be positive to Sovietisation.
As it happened this group hunkered down in defence of Finland same as everyone in 1939. It was one of these things regarded as something of a miracle in Finland, how the old blood and war between the fathers apparently hadn't been carried over to the sons.

But you might well still have a horrific family history from back in 1918, though not quite of the genocidal kind.

 

[Lord Baal]

But that was clearly assumed since Allied-occupied countries weren't given as options.

Exactly. It's not like Morocco, Algeria or Iraq were listed, and all were occupied by the Allies. The OP is clearly only interested in those nations occupied by the Axis.

 

[steerpike_swe]

Nah.

The Soviets and the Finns alike prior to hostilities thought it a possibility that the Red-White division from 1918 might influence things. That there might be a sizeable contingent in Finland that might actually be positive to Sovietisation.
As it happened this group hunkered down in defence of Finland same as everyone in 1939. It was one of these things regarded as something of a miracle in Finland, how the old blood and war between the fathers apparently hadn't been carried over to the sons.

But you might well still have a horrific family history from back in 1918, though not quite of the genocidal kind.

I agree that one of the "benefits" of the Winter War was the healing/uniting of the Finnish nation. Reds & Whites fighting together against a common enemy and so on. This did however not include all Reds (and I am not talking about the Stalinist traitors). But I since this is hardly the right place to discuss this I suggest we drop this discussion... Generally speaking you are right. (writing late at night and mixing in personal & family stuff was stupid of me).

 

[steerpike_swe]

But that was clearly assumed since Allied-occupied countries weren't given as options.

I am pretty sure the countries in the list below were occupied by the Allies & the Soviets - but please correct me if I am wrong...

Germany
Italy
Occupied Eastern Europe (Baltics, Poland)
Balkans (Yugoslavia, Albania)
Minor Axis ally (Bulgaria, Finland (Petsamo and Hangö by the Soviets), Hungary, Romania)
Czechoslavakia

 

[Lord Baal]

I am pretty sure the countries in the list below were occupied by the Allies & the Soviets - but please correct me if I am wrong...

Germany
Italy
Occupied Eastern Europe (Baltics, Poland)
Balkans (Yugoslavia, Albania)
Minor Axis ally (Bulgaria, Finland (Petsamo and Hangö by the Soviets), Hungary, Romania)
Czechoslavakia

Liberated != occupied.

You could certainly say that the Baltics were occupied by the USSR, and claim that Poland and Finland were partially occupied by it, though considering the fact that the Polish territory in particular was already disputed pre-war, one could argue that those areas were also 'liberated' by the Soviets (not an argument I agree with, but it can be made). To say that Finland, which lost almost no territory of importance, was "occupied" by the Soviets is laughable; the Finns actually occupied more Soviet territory during the Continuation War than the Soviets ended up occupying in their country, even if one includes the territories taken in the Winter War. Yugoslavia was never occupied by an Allied nation. I do not believe that Albania was either.

But this is beside the point. Obviously, those Axis powers who were defeated - Germany, Italy, Hungary and Romania - were occupied by the Allies to some extent. But Bulgaria didn't even join the Axis until late on and its occupation by the Soviets was fairly friendly, due largely to the fact that the Bulgarians never wanted to fight the USSR, and the Soviets knew it. Italy switched sides, and the North was actually occupied by Germany in response. All the nations listed were either Axis nations or occupied by them; none were Allied nations which were unoccupied by the Axis. It's pretty damn obvious what the OP was going for.

 

[steerpike_swe]

Liberated != occupied.

You could certainly say that the Baltics were occupied by the USSR, and claim that Poland and Finland were partially occupied by it, though considering the fact that the Polish territory in particular was already disputed pre-war, one could argue that those areas were also 'liberated' by the Soviets (not an argument I agree with, but it can be made). To say that Finland, which lost almost no territory of importance, was "occupied" by the Soviets is laughable; the Finns actually occupied more Soviet territory during the Continuation War than the Soviets ended up occupying in their country, even if one includes the territories taken in the Winter War. Yugoslavia was never occupied by an Allied nation. I do not believe that Albania was either.

But this is beside the point. Obviously, those Axis powers who were defeated - Germany, Italy, Hungary and Romania - were occupied by the Allies to some extent. But Bulgaria didn't even join the Axis until late on and its occupation by the Soviets was fairly friendly, due largely to the fact that the Bulgarians never wanted to fight the USSR, and the Soviets knew it. Italy switched sides, and the North was actually occupied by Germany in response. All the nations listed were either Axis nations or occupied by them; none were Allied nations which were unoccupied by the Axis. It's pretty damn obvious what the OP was going for.

I am not disputing this or trying to pick a fight... I am very sorry if I by mistake have offended you or anybody else.

The only reason I am still posting on this subject is a sincere wish to try to fix and explain any misunderstandings.

The way I understood the OP was that it was about any country involved in and occupied in the war and which of all these unfortunate countries that would have been the least bad place to live during WW2. Obviously we interpreted the OP in different ways.

 

[smallfish]

I imagine you might have a decent chance in the Third Reich if you signed up as a volunteer or something. Well, of course, the chances of you actually surviving the front might be a tad lower...

 

[NedimNapoleon]

Yugoslavia, if I lived were I live now, its was a rural region, isolated, but I probably would've been press ganged into the Partisans or joined the Waffen SS like some of the local people.

 

[Louis XXIV]

It amazes me that so few people are picking Finland. Even you'd be safe there, Masada. The Nazis had absolutely zero influence over Finland, right up to the point that the Finns turned on them in 1944. Even then, it was basically a fighting retreat on the part of the Germans, who were trying to evacuate to Norway without leaving any of their supplies behind.

Did Finland have conscription? I'd rather not risk having to face the Red Army either.

 

[Verbose]

Did Finland have conscription? I'd rather not risk having to face the Red Army either.

It certainly did. The OP insistance on "as a civilian" should take care of that. Let's assume you have a heart condition or something, rendering you unfit for service.

 

[Gen.Mannerheim]

Findland was never occupied, and only had to make due during the Winter War of 1940, where they made a good show. I'll take Finland for the win, Alex.

Well a true Finn would say that there is still parts of Finland that is still under the thumb of the oppressor right now. But anyway, the whole Lapland war that took place in late 44-early 45 was this cool episode where Finland was on one hand complying with the Moscow treaty and demobilizing and on the other trying to force out the former allies out and prevent the occupation of the vital transit region. This is a really cool episode that needs to be talked about more.

Also, living in Bulgaria would obviously the the country of choice during the war.

 

[holy king]

some small town in salzburg, as a woman farmer.

sulf sustainable and not fit for serving i might not even know there's a world war going on.
plus, i get the americans as occupiers later on.

 

[Masada]

You can marry up in the world.

 

[jtb1127]

Norway isn't too bad and neither is Finland. Who voted for Germany or East Europe?