Reda Ahamout

03/08/2016

America in World War 2

World War 2 has broken out in Europe and Asia raising many

intentions around the world. As the Germans were the greatest enemies of

the rest of Europe, they allied with powerful countries that would back

them up. Yet, the Europeans were being helped by the Americans. This

made Germany and its allies aware and alert, leading to an attack that

made the Americans forced to interfere with the war.

By September 3rd, when World War 2 broke out, America was isolated

from it. By 1941, they were forced to move out from their isolation and join

the war. The Japanese had set a surprise attack on their military and

destroyed Pearl Harbor. This invasion cost America a lot of damage and

ruined all the Hawaiian military of the US Pacific Fleet were all destroyed.

In a matter of just a few hours, the Japanese invasion had damaged 18 of

the American warships, 164 of their aircrafts, and destroyed the lives of

north of 3,000 soldiers and officers. At this point, America was no more of

handling its patience towards the war, and had no other choice than to

interfere in the war. By then, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was in power

and had to react. "No matter how long it may take us to overcome this

premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will

win through to absolute victory." President Roosevelt mobilized for war and

victory on December 4th, 1941, and claimed war on the Japanese. When

the news was passed to the Germans, they allied with Japan and the

Italians and declared counterattack battle against the Americans. America

1. The National WWII Museum

2. Allen, Louis.(1969) History of the Second World War
3. Bradley, FJ. No Strategic Targets Left. Turner Publishing
4. Stohl, Michael. (1979) The Politics of Terrorism
Reda Ahamout
03/08/2016

wasnt able to defeat them alone, so they called out for the British and

Soviet Union.

By September of 1940, Americans werent well equipped and ready

for the war. They had to rise as fast as they could so they wouldnt be

defeated at surprise attacks. They had to yet mobilize and get their army

ready. President Roosevelt knew that the nation had to spend millions of

dollars to equip its army and to first get their armory. Due to their isolation

from war, when the Japanese stroked, America was calling for its citizens

to sign up for war, and had to construct barracks and military depots for

food and equipments, and military stations where they would get their

army ready and train them. America was facing these challenges of

building up a strong nation which cost them millions of dollars for it to be

done, yet it was increasing labor. America encouraged individuals to start

industries for the production of weaponry and armory. Also, many clothing

factories were being constructed for military suits. President Roosevelts

goal was to allow all Americans, men and women, to play a role in the war

for patriotism, which he called the Arsenal of Democracy.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was in power and had to react. "No

matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion,

the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute

victory." President Roosevelt mobilized for war and victory on December

4th, 1941, and claimed war on the Japanese. When the news was passed

to the Germans, they allied with Japan and the Italians and declared

1. The National WWII Museum

2. Allen, Louis.(1969) History of the Second World War
3. Bradley, FJ. No Strategic Targets Left. Turner Publishing
4. Stohl, Michael. (1979) The Politics of Terrorism
Reda Ahamout
03/08/2016

counterattack battle against the Americans. America wasnt able to defeat

them alone, so they called out for the British and Soviet Union.

By 1941, America was making a huge progress on its army. The

government was calling for men at ages starting from 18 to 64 to join and

sign up for the war. At the first few months, 2.2 million soldiers, airmen,

sailors, and marines had joined the military. The government had set them

up in specific barracks in their military camps, arranged by the mens

ages. These military camps were strict and offered a little amount of

humanity towards its soldiers, and had less rights given than they lived

with. The main purpose was to get them used to bad conditions that would

make them hate their lives, and lack mercy in their hearts, so when theyll

be at war, they will not fear shooting their enemies. The only thing that

the military officials took into consideration was the soldiers health. They

were expected to be awake at early mornings, run for 2 consecutive hours,

workout and train, then theyll be given food and shelter. Whoever was

reluctant to establish these factors, was put in a different barrack where

he would be forced to clean up for the other soldiers, and would sleep on

the floor straight. Yet, this process was to get them ready for war. They

were taught how to use a weapon and to aim, and to operate them. By

1942, 36 million men had joined the military, all prepared for war, striking

at the Japanese, Germans and the Italians.

Americans werent well equipped and ready for the war. They had to

rise as fast as they could so they wouldnt be defeated at surprise attacks.

They had to yet mobilize and get their army ready. President Roosevelt

1. The National WWII Museum

2. Allen, Louis.(1969) History of the Second World War
3. Bradley, FJ. No Strategic Targets Left. Turner Publishing
4. Stohl, Michael. (1979) The Politics of Terrorism
Reda Ahamout
03/08/2016

knew that the nation had to spend millions of dollars to equip its army and

to first get their armory. Due to their isolation from war, when the Japanese

stroked, America was calling for its citizens to sign up for war, and had to

construct barracks and military depots for food and equipments, and

military stations where they would get their army ready and train them.

America was facing these challenges of building up a strong nation which

cost them millions of dollars for it to be done, yet it was increasing labor.

America encouraged individuals to start industries for the production of

weaponry and armory. Also, many clothing factories were being

constructed for military suits. President Roosevelts goal was to allow all

Americans, men and women, to play a role in the war for patriotism, which

he called the Arsenal of Democracy.

On the other hand, Hitler was well prepared with his allies. Hitler and

Ludendorff started to increase the men in the Nazi Party. He formed a

group called the Storm Troopers and was even known as the SA. The SA

was led by Ernst Rohm and he was training them. They were using brutal

tactics; they were willing to hurt and kill anybody that stands in Hitler and

the Nazis way. They even protected their meetings from the rivals who

were the communists. Most of the unemployed, workers and thugs were

joining the SA fighting for Hitler after being inspired by his well-spoken

speeches. They were all dressed in brown uniforms with the swastika

armband. Communists were against the Nazi Party and they didnt want

Hitler to rise to power. Rohm disagreed a lot with Hitler and he decided to

1. The National WWII Museum

2. Allen, Louis.(1969) History of the Second World War
3. Bradley, FJ. No Strategic Targets Left. Turner Publishing
4. Stohl, Michael. (1979) The Politics of Terrorism
Reda Ahamout
03/08/2016

hand the leadership of the SA to Heldorf. Unfortunately, Heldorf was

kicked-out by Hitler after not doing what Hitler commanded. Franz Felix

von Pfeffer von Salomon replaced Heldorf. His goal was to increase power

for the SA by securing seats in the Reichstag. Salomon resigned because

Hitler refused to allow the SA to take part in the government. Adolf Hitler

couldnt resist it anymore so he decided that he should ask Rohm to return

and lead the SA. Fortunately, there were more men joining in but, when

Hitler found out that Rohm wanted to overthrow the Nazis and to seize

power for himself and the SA, Hitler executes him and 400 Storm Troopers.

Yet, he became powerful and showed no mercy towards his enemies.

The reason that let Germany to mobilize against the Americans and

British was because of competition. The British were known to be

competitive and also very harsh. The British conquered and ruled the

people harshly, putting strict taxes that they were forced to pay. The

colonists disapproved to this factor. They had no representative that would

speak on their behalf, and who would tell the British to change or reduce

the taxes that the colonists had to pay. They mainly had no right and no

voice, and that made them revolt against the British, and have their legal

rights that they were harmed from, because the British would simply

benefit from them and use the resources and take them to Europe,

developing a wealthy economy in their country while the others had to

suffer for survival. The British were threatened from their own people so

they allied with the French and Spanish to feel some sense of security. The

French in this case competed with the Italians by also expanding their

1. The National WWII Museum

2. Allen, Louis.(1969) History of the Second World War
3. Bradley, FJ. No Strategic Targets Left. Turner Publishing
4. Stohl, Michael. (1979) The Politics of Terrorism
Reda Ahamout
03/08/2016

military and land. The Italians were becoming powerful and were

threatening the Spanish and French causing more tension to grow.

By 1944, the Americans and their allies were having major problems.

The Soviet Union sided with Hitler and the Japanese were growing in

power. Stalin, the dictator of the Soviet Union, planned the defeat of

America with Hitler to a huge victory. The Americans were striking at the

Germans and Japanese. Theyve bombed a vast area of Japan with an

atomic bomb in the city of Hiroshima. This destroyed the entire Honshu

Island, perishing the island. Another bomb was sent on the city of

Nagasaki, and has more than 150,000 people dead. This was the last

strikes that lead to the defeat of the Japanese.

America was in the borders of losing the war. Hitler and Stalin were

destroying them to an endless defeat. America had no hope left.

Fortunately, Hitler was striking on his west side, France and British, and

had forgotten to secure his eastern front. This was because he and Stalin

have become enemies, and rejected to be allies, because Hitler was

planning on killing Stalin. At this point, Stalin entered his eastern front and

Hitler was forced to get back his army and split them to both fronts. Yet,

his plan didnt succeed and was defeated by the Americans and Russians.

America and its allies strive for victory and have defeated their greatest

enemy, after surrendering.

President Roosevelt has succeeded to making his victory. "I need not

repeat the figures. The facts speak for themselves.... These men could not

have been armed and equipped as they are had it not been for the miracle
1. The National WWII Museum
2. Allen, Louis.(1969) History of the Second World War
3. Bradley, FJ. No Strategic Targets Left. Turner Publishing
4. Stohl, Michael. (1979) The Politics of Terrorism
Reda Ahamout
03/08/2016

of production here at home. The production which has flowed from the

country to all the battlefronts of the world has been due to the efforts of

American business, American labor, and American farmers, working

together as a patriotic team." All that he was planning in the Arsenal of

Democracy has shown great success and proved that Americans are able

to be and defeat their obstacles. By 1945, war was over.

After the war, Americas economy had raised to a great amount. In

1940, the American economy reached up to $99.7 billion dollars. By the

end of 1945, its economy reached to $212 billion dollars. This has all

increased by the help and contribution that all Americans were interfering

to help the government in war. All the hard work and progress that

Americans have done, they feel proud for. Huge amounts of industries

were built and yet, were still being built after the war, to make the

American economy keep on prospering.

After the victory, Americans had pride on themselves and on their

president. They prospered and stopped at no obstacle. They were

overpowered by Hitler, but then, his ex-ally, Stalin, had let them get in to

Germany leading to Hitler surrendering and America getting its victory.1

1 World History. Holt Mc Dougal

1. The National WWII Museum

2. Allen, Louis.(1969) History of the Second World War
3. Bradley, FJ. No Strategic Targets Left. Turner Publishing
4. Stohl, Michael. (1979) The Politics of Terrorism