Lord Balfe
Main Page: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
We are trying to involve all nations appropriately. One of the clearest indications of how we work with those countries that were previously our enemies is shown in the steadfast allyship particularly of Germany in relation to conflict in Europe.
Lord Balfe (Con)
My Lords, I remind the Minister that many people from other countries came to help in Britain. My father came from Ireland to serve and help to defeat Hitler, and there were many people from Poland, of course, and from all over the place, including the huge contribution from the Indian army and the African armies, not to mention Canada, which joined us from the start. Not wishing to be sour about it, I think it is worth remembering that the United States did not declare war on Germany; Germany declared war on the United States. Roosevelt declared war only on Japan.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
It is really important when we have these commemorations not to drag over some of the old issues and enmities but to move forward. In previous answers, I have completely recognised the role of Commonwealth soldiers across the military, as well as those from other nations, and we will make sure that all nations are involved appropriately.