The World War II Discussion Group, headed by local teacher and historian Brian Altobello, meets the first Thursday of every month to discuss the events of the 1930s and 1940s. Free and open to the public; registration is not required.

Mr. Altobello will lead a group discussion on some of the following topics submitted by meeting attendees, dealing with WWII strategy or controversy:

• Should the US have declared war on Germany before Pearl?
• Would the US have gone to war had Japan attacked British and Dutch possessions instead of Hawaii, the Philippines, Guam, etc?
• Did MacArthur escape punishment for his unexplained delay to protect his air fleet in the Philippines?
• Was it correct to split the road to Tokyo between MacArthur and Nimitz?
• Was Peliliu a mistake?
• Was the turning point in the European Theater the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Britain, D-Day, or Stalin's decision to remain in Moscow?
• Was the unconditional surrender position re the Axis powers a good idea or a bad one?
• The Allies in 1942 and 1943 undertook operations in the Mediterranean instead of invading Northern France. Should they have launched the D Day operations against Northern France in 42 instead of Operation Torch in Northern Africa? Should they have landed in Northern France instead of Sicily and Salerno in 1943?
• What was Jewish immigration policy before the war, and what might have been done during the war to subdue the camps?