· If the bill had not been passed, it might have caused Britain to fall, leaving America to face the diabolical dictators alone.
· The US was not sending troops, only arms, and therefore was not directly involved in the fighting.
Conclusion: While I feel that the Lend Lease Act was not a direct declaration of war, considering the fact that it was passed for our own good and safety, I can see why the opposing forces would feel that it was meant to be one. To them, all we were doing was helping out their enemies, and America was supposed to have remained neutral. We did not directly get involved in the war, but indirectly we did. I can see and understand why the US later ended up fighting in WWII.
#3. Explain why the two great turning points in WW II before Pearl Harbor were the fall of France and the invasion of Russia:
Hitler slowly demolished Europe, starting with Denmark and Norway, and then taking out France. The Fall of France shocked the world. It was the greatest example of the power of Germany’s strategy, Blitzkrieg.
Slowly, Europe was being crippled. The Fall of France marked the beginning of the end, including the end of the ‘phony war’.
The British military was the only think that stood between Hitler and the death of Germany. France, being one of the strongest, if not the stronger, of the allied powers, was dead.
France surrendered to Germany on June 22, 1940, leading to the establishment of the Vichy France puppet government in the unoccupied part of France.
Exactly one year later, Hitler launched his attack out of no where on the Soviet Union. This was the uppercut planned by Hitler while signing the Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939.
This seemed like a great thing to the democratic world; the two opposing governments battling it out. Hitler figured he could crush his ‘ally,’ seize the oil and other resources of Russia, and then have a free path to take other Britain, leaving Europe in his hands.
America immediately hopped on the opportunity to win Russia’s trust, and Roosevelt extended the lend-lease there way along with $1 billion. He felt the USSR was essential for the defense of the United States.
The Atlantic Charter was held in the middle of Russia’s near-defeat. It strengthened the alliance between Britain and the United States, and was endorsed by Russia. As a result of “neutral” America conferring with belligerent Britain on common policies, critics made the point: the nation was in fact no longer neutral.
4. What was the Grand Strategy of the US and its allies after Pearl Harbor, and why was it adopted? Explain fully.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, On December 8th, 1941, FDR went to congress and made his big speech -- "Declaration Of War" was made. The senate and house were for it.
On December 11th, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the US. We now needed a plan.
Out strategy was first and foremost to get Hitler first. We would go about this by stopping him from getting to the oil fields in the Middle East by putting his advancing army to a halt in North Africa.
On Nov 8th, 1942, "Operation Torch" went into practice.
-North African Invasion under the command of General Eisenhower with US troops moving west.
-At the same time England is in Egypt moving east, led by Field Marshall Montgomery.
-While Germany is in North Africa, led by Marshall Rommel (aka "Desert Fox")
**This was the first turning point in the war**
The first battle was known as "El Alameain", which was basically England and the US stopping Germany's advancement.
May 14, 1943: Germany surrenders 250,000 troops in North Africa.
In the following September, the US invaded Italy.
-"Operation Husky" (invasion of sicily, led by Eisenhower & Montgomery) & "Operation Avalanche" (invasion of italy, led by General Clark)
Next, in January, US invades Italy a 2nd time at "Anzio."
Next, in June, "Operation Overlord" (Aka D-DAY) took place.
-Largest Naval/Military assault of all time.
-The night before D-day was known as "Operation Night Drop", where Gliders came in.
-1 Mil. troops crossed into France, by September, there were 2 mil. troops.
Finally, in on Sep. 12, 1944, US enters Germany.
-Dec 16-26: "Battle of the Bulge"
-Germans last counter offensive of the war
-Bastone was the key city in the battle
The Germans tried to trick the US by sending the American-Germans to pose as US soldiers, haha. -US General Patten stopped the Germans in Bastone.
***May 1st, 1945: Hitler's death is reported.***
These plans were adopted with the onset of the attack of pearl harbor and the declaration of war on us by Italy and Germany. Japan hurt us and FDR took action with his speech in congress--everyone agreed that Germany should not be the only ones who participate in fighting, killing everyone who got in the way, therefore they adopted the concept that they needed to take and get rid of Hitler before he could do anything to hurt the U.S...The Battle of Pearl Harbor affected the US in a large way (they hurt us), and nobody knew what else he had up his sleeve. We knew that Hitler's war machine needed oils found in the Middle East. If we stopped him from getting their, his war machine would fall apart.
Essay # 5 What were the great turning points for the US and the allies in WWII?
As a result of the Axis powers, the allies were suffering constant defeat and being taking over by the dictators and their war machines. The first major turning point in favor of the allies was when:
Germany Attacks USSR- Germany attacks Russia breaking the Russo- German non aggression act. RUSSIA JOINS ALLIESand serves as a major combatant against Germany.
US entry into WWII- the allies were growing weak. They did not have enough strength to battle the powers of Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia. US entry into WWII served as a major confidence booster and opened the door to many future turning points.
US entered the war as a result of:
The Panay incident- USS Panay was attached while in China protecting its American citizens. Under the China open Door and nine power pact the US was aloud to be doing this. The Japanese felt differently and attached us, killing Americans.
German U-boats sink the Greere, Kearny , Robin Moore and Reuben James
Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor and this serves as the final straw for the US. WE Declare war.
**Battle of El Alamein in Egypt- During the north African invasion, England and the US joined together to stop Germans advancement and put them on the defense.
**Battle of Stalingrad- turing point of war between Germany and USSR- soviet union is now on the offense against germany.
D-Day/ Normandy invasion- The Normandy invasion was largest naval military assault of all time. In less than a month one million troops had broken the line and crossed into France.
Battle of the Bulge- The battle of the Bulge was Germanys last counter offensive attack of the war. Germans had the allies completely surrounded at BASTONE and asked the US if they wanted to surrender. We refused and luckily General Patent and his men arrived, stopping the Germans.
War in the Pacific
General Doolittle proves its possible- During the mission 30 seconds over Tokyo (which was a completely volunteer operation) The USS Hornet sailed from Hawaii to the Japanese controlled Pacific and proved that Japan was no longer invincible. This was major battle because it proved that it was possible for the allies to defeat Japan.
Battle of coral Sea- The battle of the Coral Sea was the first naval battle where ships never fought each other. The battle ended in a draw foreshadowing our future success.
**Battle of Midway- was a major turning point when we found out which island Japan was planning on attaching. Interpreting the word WATER we were able to defend Midway and defeat JAPAN. This was the US first major victory over Japan. Afterwards we took back a series of islands *Guadalcanal, Gilbert islands, Marshall Islands, Bikini, Guam, and Marianna Islands.
Battle of Leyte Gulf- this battle broke the back of Japanese navy
US Drops first atomic bomb on Hiroshima
US drops second bomb on Nagasaki leading to Japans final surrender
6. Argue both sides of the proposition that one of America?s most costly blunders was to perfect and drop the atomic bomb and come to a conclusion.
Atomic Bomb=good
- ultimately ended the war in Japan when dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- saved the lives of others by stopping the war
Atomic Bomb=blunder
- caused many casualties
- made land unlivable for some time after it was dropped
- others could perfect and use it against us because they know its possible
- neither we nor the Japanese have apologized for anything we did during war
and this has caused bad blood between us
CONCLUSIONS:
1. This was a blunder because many were killed and their families were left to suffer. Many were displaced and soon the perfection of this weapon could lead to it use against us.
2. This was not a blunder because it ended the war and saved many others by ending the war altogether.
Essay #7
Handicaps:
Ÿ 3,000 American casualties
Ÿ Many aircraft destroyed
Ÿ Battleship fleet virtually wiped out when all 8 of the craft were sunk or otherwise immobilized
Ÿ Numerous small vessels were damaged/destroyed
Ÿ Weakened American pacific fleet
Ÿ Came perilously close to losing was before it could begin to throw its full weight onto the scale
Ÿ America was now confronted in retooling itself for all out war protection
Overcome:
Ÿ To keep Japan from expanding = embargos
Ÿ Wanted to direct main strength to Japan but would send enough pro Japan from digging to deeply in pacific
Ÿ Massive military orders, $100 billion in 1942 had war protection Board pour forth an avalanche of weapons: 40billion bullets, 300,000 aircraft, 76,000 ships, 86,000 tanks and 2.6million machine guns.
Ÿ Conscription law also helped where it was American peacetime draft, where training each year was 1.2 mil troops and 80,000 reserves.
8. Was the Yalta Conference a betrayal? Argue both sides of the proposition and come to a conclusion.
The Yalta Conference was the second meeting of the big three, Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill. The British wanted to maintain their empire, the Soviets wanted more land to straighten their conquests, and the Americans wanted the USSR to join the war against Japan and for them (USSR) to join the United Nations.
Betrayal-
- Stalin wanted to expand his territory he made it clear that he wanted to keep territory on the eastern portion of Poland and Poland was to expand on its western side into Germany. He also promised free elections in Poland. However, he had no intentions of keeping his promise of free elections and the elections held resulted in the official transformation of Poland into a socialist state and the election was most likely fixed.
- Roosevelt had no problems convincing Stalin to enter the war against Japan. Stalin joined not because he wanted to help Roosevelt, but because he wanted to expand his territory and gain more influence in East Asia. Russia lost some land, including Manchuria, to Japan in the Russo-Japanese war and thought this was their chance to get it back.
- The USSR did join the Untied Nations, but it caused Yalta to be considered a “sellout.” It encouraged the USSR to expand their influence into Japan and Asia and Stalin violated its terms and formed to Soviet bloc. Also, they joined under the secret condition of a voting formula with veto power for permanent members in the Security Council.... this gave the Soviets even more control in world affairs.
-********most important*******...... probably the only important thing........
The big three decided that all original governments would be restored to the invaded countries and that all civilians would be repatriated. Democracies would be established, all territories would hold free elections, and order would be restored in Europe. However, after the war the USSR got half of the Sakhalin Islands and the Kuriles, half of East Prussia, and Konigsberg Germany. Also, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia would remain members of the USSR. The nationalists and anti-communists regarded the Yalta conference as the ‘Western Betrayal’ because despite the efforts of the Allied powers to create democracy in Europe, they allowed smaller countries to be controlled of made into socialist satellites by Russia. Many believe that these concessions led to the cold war.
Not a Betrayal-
- Many people believe that the freedom of a few small nations was sacrificed solely for peace and stability in Europe and not Stalin’s greed. Stalin stated that he wanted Poland for security because throughout history Poland has been the corridor through which the enemy passed into Russia. Aside from the few small countries controlled be USSR, many were liberated from Nazism and Fascism and got to create democratic institutions of their own choice.
Conclusion-
-I think that the Yalta conference was a betrayal on Stalin’s part. He was only concerned with expanding his territory and not with peace in Europe. I also think that he used his size and power to get Churchill and Roosevelt to agree to things they wouldn’t normally do. Stalin lied to get a hold of Poland and he managed to keep a few small nations for himself despite the ally’s efforts to create democracy in Europe.
BONUS QUESTION
Did F.D.R. know about that attacks that were going to occur in Pearl Harbor before they happened?
Yes b/c:
1. The United States government broke Japan's code and we knew that a Japanese fleet had left northern Japan.
2. The only U.S. ship that wasn't destroyed was our aircraft carriers. U.S. government had told them not to go to port and Japan had known they were supposed to be there on December 7th.
3. We had radar stations. The government had hired inexperienced people. They were working the weekend of the 7th. When they saw a fleet they thought it was the planes from San Francisco and didn't tell anyone.
4. The government also ordered them to put the planes wing tip to wig tip instead of spread out. This made it easier for Japan to take the planes out.
No b/c:
1. F.D.R. was one of America's favorite presidents. Why would any president in their right mind put their country and their people in danger? If this were all true FDR would be risking everything.
