Argumentative Essay on World War 2
The United States Operations in the European Theater began in January of 1942 and lasted throughout the duration of World War ll. Although the war was fought between 1939 and 1945, the United States was not officially involved in conflict until after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, in December of 1941. The United States proceedings in the European Theater were beneficial to the final victor of the war. However in order to discuss their proceedings in European territories, it is important to understand the formal definition of a theater of war. According to the text (1) a theater of war is defined as the entire land, sea, and air area that is or may become involved directly in war operations. More specifically, the European Theater, was headquartered in London and maintained a large bulk of the Allied combat in World War II.
The United States contributed war effort, war supplies, and nutrients. The events that occurred to produce the United States Operations in the European Theater began with Franklin Roosevelt’s desire to make America “the great arsenal of democracy” by producing war goods for their Allies. Next the Japanese attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, which further intensified Roosevelt’s hunger to join the war. Then Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declared war on the U.S.
leading to the United States officially entering the war. The United States operations in the European Theater resulted in the Allied powers defeating the Axis powers. Since Hitler, the head of the Nazis, knew that the Allied powers were making advancements toward victory, he committed suicide. As a result of this, the Nazi’s lost their courage and surrendered to the power of the European Theater. The two reasons the United States began operations in the European Theater both happened in December of 1941.
The official World War ll archive (2) states that the sole reasons for the United States entering the war were the attack at Pearl Harbor and Germany’s betrayal of the United States. With Japan, Germany, and Italy against them, FDR knew the importance of entering the war and aiding the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. The event that occurred to achieve victory in the European Theater included the battle at Stalingrad. This battle was the turning point of World War ll in the European Theater. Although this battle initially did not look very promising for the Allies, the Soviets pulled off a win. With the victory of the Soviet Union, the pathway to France was opened making it easier for the United States and Great Britain to make their way through and grant them liberation from Germany.
This headway for the Allied powers weakened the Axis powers’ developments eventually leading to their destruction. As a result of France being liberated, they allied with the big three. Therefore, the Allied forces grew in strength and the Axis forces headed in a downward spiral. Consequently the German’s conceded on May 8th, 1945. This is known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day. One of the main operations the United States had in the European Theater was the exporting of goods, especially food.
The military book on World War ll (3) explains that the main contribution the United States made to European war effort was the distribution of goods. Under the “Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938” the United States Congress intended to ensure safe food that was to be exported. The United States successfully safeguarded access of all goods during the duration of the war. The event that lead to the United States ensuring safe food for the European Theater began with the outbreak of mad cow disease in Europe. The outbreak in Europe lead to a major population decrease and weak and sickly people left of the survivors. In order for the United States to ensure an Allied win, they had to ensure that the forces in Europe were strong and ready to fight.
In order to ensure the forces were combat ready, the United States had to ensure that the source of nourishment being provided to the European Theater was safe. The United States’ proceedings with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in the European Theater resulted in a stronger Allied army. Therefore the countries in Europe that were allied with the United States were granted safe food resulting in a stronger army, while other countries had weaker armies due to their contaminated products. Although there were still many casualties in the European Theater, more of them were due to actual combat versus death by food contamination. According to my research and reflection, all of my sources correctly define the events and actions that were presented by the assignment. Therefore, this is my defense of my selection.
According to my studies, the United States always had involvements in the European Theater but they were not officially involved until early 1942. President Roosevelt always intended for the United States to be involved in the war effort, however, Congress would not allow for the country to enter the war. Congress’ original plan for America was to remain neutral during World War ll. On December 29th, 1940, Franklin Roosevelt issued a radio broadcast where he stated if Congress would not allow the country to directly participate in the war, America would be “the great arsenal of democracy” and issue war goods, including food, to countries that were under Germany’s attack. Almost a year later, on December 7th, 1941 the United States was attacked at the Hawaiian military base at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. After this attack, FDR stated named this day as “a date which will live in infamy” because it marked the beginning of official U.
S. operations in the European Theater. Four days later on December 11th, 1941, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declared war on the United States. This was the last straw in America attempting to remain neutral, and they entered the war on the side of the Soviet Union and Great Britain. This formed what is still known as “The Grand Alliance” or “The Big Three” of Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin.
Their plan was always to go after Germany, then address their problems with Japan. Stationed in Washington D.C., General George C. Marshall ensured many wins for the United States during World War ll. In the beginning of the war, Dwight D.
Eisenhower was appointed as the General of the United States operations in the European Theater. In January of 1944, he was appointed as the General of all operations in the European Theater and he relocated to London. Under his command, General George Patton and General Omar Bradley helped to aide Europeans during this time of war. The first official invasion the United States had involvement in happened on November 8th, 1942. This was Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa.
The United States took part in multiple invasions including: the Normandy Campaign, the Northern France Campaign, the Southern France Campaign, and the Central Europe Campaign. The success of the United States operations in the European Theater would not be known without the involvement of minority groups. Although the country was extremely racist and segregated, the military had diverse regiments that fought for the same rights as everyone else. The 92nd Infantry Division was composed ofmostly African Americans. The 88th Infantry Division was composed of Mexican Americans. The 442nd Infantry Regiment Division was composed of the direct descendants of Japanese immigrants.
On June 6th, 1944 the European Theater entered Operation Overlord in the Cross-Channel Attack. In August of the same year, the Allies liberated Paris from Germany, by creating a decoy army, in the largest land to sea invasion of the war. This Operation is known as D-Day. On December 16th, 1944, Germany put a bulge in the American Army in what is known as the Battle of the Bulge. This was an attempt to stump the Allies.
Although this affected their army, they had a new determination to destroy the Axis powers. As the war days began to draw a close, on April 12th, 1945, FDR passed away making Harry S. Truman the new president of the United States. A few weeks later, on April 30th, 1945, as the Allies began to progress on the Nazi’s, Hitler committed suicide. This put an end to the Nazi’s advancements because they were without a leader. On May 7th, 1945, the Axis powers surrendered on what is known as VE Day.
This granted Victory in Europe. This began to draw a closing to the United States operations in the European Theater. The only thing left to do was to determine the fate of the Axis powers. President Truman took part in this at the Yalta Conference and Potsdam Summit. The ultimate goal of both was to make the enemy suffer. Although the United States operations in the European Theater were brutal, just like the rest of the war, there were also some good outcomes from all of this.
The United States entry into the war officially ended the Great Depression with the production of war goods and exportation of consumer goods. The war also brought a new wave for women. There was a rise in birth rate, and women started to live healthier and more independently. Women shattered all stereotypes of their capabilities. Although another negative outcome of the war was the invention of nuclear weapons, the world also gainedantibiotics. There was also a change in meteorology and climate change.
The positive outcomes of the United States operations in the European Theater are just as important as the negative outcomes. This history shapes what the United States is today, and the country is still dealing with the repercussions in 2016.
