Patriotism is a hell of a drug. None of our countries were fighting fascism, exactly. That generations governments were trying to maintain their power, and it was a close fought battle both times. It was stopping the squareheads, krauts, bohunks and nips taking over then. It's not like our governments don't do fascist shit anytime they feel like, and can get away with it, but it is more that you think the governments over there, then, weren't also riding that same line of how far they can push it.