After the harsh times of the Depression, the United States of America was going through a period of economic growth and security that proved to be a stark contrast to the bleakness of the Depression. The United States was in a state of industrialization that would come to define the US economy. Meanwhile in Germany, a very different period of growth was occurring. The newly formed Nazi party was sweeping the poles, leading to a unanimous take over of the German government. Led by Adolph Hitler, this new party would lead to an ethnocentric battle that would prompt an all out war across not only Europe, but the entire world; a war we know today as World War II. The United States, at first unfazed by the changes in Germany, ignored the crisis at hand, remaining neutral throughout the Invasion of Poland all the way into the Blitz. This was not to last. The US would eventual enter World War II and prove to be one of the most influential members of the alliance. But what could have caused the United States to enter such a war, a war centered in Germany, a country thousands of miles away? And most importantly, what could the United States have done to make such a large impact?
The United States did not wish to go to war with Germany. A large portion of the American population had fought in World War I and the people wanted to enjoy their new economic prosperity without the fear of war. This was to be short lived. Japan had decided to ally itself with Germany, becoming a part of the Axis. The United States had signed a series of peace treaties with Japan in the hopes of staying out of the conflict at hand, treaties which the Japanese would ignore to commence one of the most tragic events in American history, the bombing of Pearl Harbor. An attack on Pearl Harbor at that time seemed to be out of the question, they had signed the treaties and believed themselves to be in good terms with Japan. They were very wrong. On the morning of December 7, 1941, a group of 353 Japanese bombers flew their way across the pacific surprising the nearly 6,000 American soldiers residing on the base. The outcome was tragic, the attack killing over 2042 innocent Americans, and destroying most of the American Navy that had been centralized at Pearl Harbor. After the attack, it became very apparent that the United States would not be left out of the war. On December 8, 1941, President Eisenhower and the American people had come up with a decision. The United States was going to war.
As America entered the war, they quickly allied themselves with the United Kingdom and other members of the so-called Alliance. Together these countries would come to lead various battles against Hitler and the other members of the Axis. The United States, now nicknamed an “arsenal of democracy”, used its industrial fever to supply their army with ample materials such as bullets, bombs, airplanes, tanks, jeeps and other necessities of war. As well as this, hundreds of Americans signed up for the draft, providing the US army with one of the largest and most skilled armies at that time. American pilots ruled the skies and through a partnership with British air forces. The partnership that was created required American pilots to fly during the day, while British pilots would fly at night, in order to keep continuous bombing of Nazi strongholds. As well as this, the American army was particularly influential in several naval battles throughout the course of the war, such as the Battle of the Pacific, Battle of Midway, and the Battle of Coral Sea. The Americans were the most important force fighting the Japanese, who were on a conquest to take over the pacific. Although the Japanese were clearly losing, they were planning on fighting to the bitter end. This caused a problem for the Americans, who knew that an invasion of Japan would be extremely costly. This lead to the birth of the Manhattan Project, or the creation of the Atomic bomb. Once developed, two of these bombs would be dropped on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki in a terrifying array of power that would startle the Japanese’s into surrender. But American conquests did not stop there. During Operation Overlord, more commonly known as the D-day invasion, American troops were faced with the greatest challenges presented in this battle, the fight for Omaha and Utah beach. The American struggle proved to be well worth it when the invasion proved to be successful and provided the Alliance with the opportunity to free occupied territory and move in on the Germans.
Soon after the D-day invasion, the Germans were forced to surrender to the Alliance, leading to the end of World War II. With the end of the war came the importance of splitting up previously occupied territory and settling other territorial and political crises that came as a result of the German occupations. The United States played a large role in creating solutions to these issues, as well as helped offer aide to those who had lost land and other necessities as a result of the war. As well as this, the United States played a large role in the conviction of Nazi leaders, with the US having a particularly large involvement in what would later be known as the Nuremberg Trials.
There is no doubt that the United States played a very large role in the Allied victory. Through a tragic entry into the war, the United States was able to group together in order to become an incomparable force, with each and every person working together to win the war. Without American continuity, industrialization and patriotism, the war could have turned out vastly different.
The United States did not wish to go to war with Germany. A large portion of the American population had fought in World War I and the people wanted to enjoy their new economic prosperity without the fear of war. This was to be short lived. Japan had decided to ally itself with Germany, becoming a part of the Axis. The United States had signed a series of peace treaties with Japan in the hopes of staying out of the conflict at hand, treaties which the Japanese would ignore to commence one of the most tragic events in American history, the bombing of Pearl Harbor. An attack on Pearl Harbor at that time seemed to be out of the question, they had signed the treaties and believed themselves to be in good terms with Japan. They were very wrong. On the morning of December 7, 1941, a group of 353 Japanese bombers flew their way across the pacific surprising the nearly 6,000 American soldiers residing on the base. The outcome was tragic, the attack killing over 2042 innocent Americans, and destroying most of the American Navy that had been centralized at Pearl Harbor. After the attack, it became very apparent that the United States would not be left out of the war. On December 8, 1941, President Eisenhower and the American people had come up with a decision. The United States was going to war.
As America entered the war, they quickly allied themselves with the United Kingdom and other members of the so-called Alliance. Together these countries would come to lead various battles against Hitler and the other members of the Axis. The United States, now nicknamed an “arsenal of democracy”, used its industrial fever to supply their army with ample materials such as bullets, bombs, airplanes, tanks, jeeps and other necessities of war. As well as this, hundreds of Americans signed up for the draft, providing the US army with one of the largest and most skilled armies at that time. American pilots ruled the skies and through a partnership with British air forces. The partnership that was created required American pilots to fly during the day, while British pilots would fly at night, in order to keep continuous bombing of Nazi strongholds. As well as this, the American army was particularly influential in several naval battles throughout the course of the war, such as the Battle of the Pacific, Battle of Midway, and the Battle of Coral Sea. The Americans were the most important force fighting the Japanese, who were on a conquest to take over the pacific. Although the Japanese were clearly losing, they were planning on fighting to the bitter end. This caused a problem for the Americans, who knew that an invasion of Japan would be extremely costly. This lead to the birth of the Manhattan Project, or the creation of the Atomic bomb. Once developed, two of these bombs would be dropped on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki in a terrifying array of power that would startle the Japanese’s into surrender. But American conquests did not stop there. During Operation Overlord, more commonly known as the D-day invasion, American troops were faced with the greatest challenges presented in this battle, the fight for Omaha and Utah beach. The American struggle proved to be well worth it when the invasion proved to be successful and provided the Alliance with the opportunity to free occupied territory and move in on the Germans.
Soon after the D-day invasion, the Germans were forced to surrender to the Alliance, leading to the end of World War II. With the end of the war came the importance of splitting up previously occupied territory and settling other territorial and political crises that came as a result of the German occupations. The United States played a large role in creating solutions to these issues, as well as helped offer aide to those who had lost land and other necessities as a result of the war. As well as this, the United States played a large role in the conviction of Nazi leaders, with the US having a particularly large involvement in what would later be known as the Nuremberg Trials.
There is no doubt that the United States played a very large role in the Allied victory. Through a tragic entry into the war, the United States was able to group together in order to become an incomparable force, with each and every person working together to win the war. Without American continuity, industrialization and patriotism, the war could have turned out vastly different.