Operation Torch, D-Day, and Battle of the Bulge

It is very intriguing when someone who is related has personal experiences with major events such as World War II. My Great-Great Uncle Angelo was one of those ‘special’ people. I thought it would be very interesting to learn more about his involvement during such a tragic time in our world. He was in deployed to five places . Some major battles he was in were the Battle of the Bulge and Omaha Beach and I researched those because I did not know much about what happened.

In 1936 Germany marched into Rhineland and became one of the first leading events of the start of WWII in Europe (Document 1). While these similar attacks went on throughout Europe, the U.S seemed to remain “neutral”; politically this was correct, however while Germany, Japan, and Italy adjoined in becoming the axis powers, the U.S had been clandestinely aiding the united kingdom and other allies prior to the U.S officially entering into the war in 1941. This was known as the lend lease act which was established by FDR in 1940. FDR felt the need to aid the allies in supplies, yet we were still not

November 1943, the US Congress debates America’s involvement with Europe. They received numerous reports about mass murdering of Jews, but they did not have any evidence. On November 4th, 1943 a German newspaper wrote "Its actually true that the Jews have, so to speak, disappeared from Europe...” Although at the time this seamed odd, America had their hands full a year later. On December 7th 1941, Japan declared war on the United States with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This act was only significant due to it being the first attack by a foreign nation on American soil since the American Revolution. The bombing of Pearl Harbor, as well as Japans alliance with Germany and Italy, left the United States government no choice but to declare war on Japan and the Axis powers.

The U.S is mainly a neutral country but if something happens they are not afraid to fight back. After the Japanese bombings on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7,1941 the U.S began to take part in the war. WW11 was the deadliest war in the history of the world and it was also the most significant. 12 countries participated in WW11 including America. Because of the amount of casualties and history the war has it is easy to say that is was the most important war the U.S has ever been involved in. America’s involvement is also one of the reason the war was ended because we had so much power. Things could have been much different in this world if America did not partake in the war.

Pearl Harbor is the name given to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Japanese against the Americans on December 7th, 1941. Although there was growing tension between the United States and Japan dew to sanctions and frozen assets put on Japan, the attack was still a surprise for the world. 2400 Americans were killed in the attack, along with many ships and nearly two-hundred airplanes.1 The attack united the American people and under Franklin Roosevelt 's leadership, America declared war on Japan, with a unanimous vote in the senate and 388 to 1 vote in the house, with the lone dissenter being an avid pacifist. Soon after, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States and the United States declared war on the Axis powers in turn. America had finally joined the Second World War. When Roosevelt gave his speech that war was being declared, most of the country was behind him. There were fears that

Imagine the world if the United States didn’t enter the second World War.  The United States was able to control the Germans, so they weren’t able to take over all of Europe; a whole continent to themselves.  The United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7th, 1944, because the United States cut off oil shipments to Japan so they would come to bargain.  Instead of bargaining, the Japanese came to Pearl Harbor and proved that it was a mistake to cut off the oil supply.  Another reason the United States joined the war was the Germans were sinking United States’ ships while taking supplies to England.  They were even using unrestricted submarine warfare even though they promised not to do so in years prior.

It can be argued that Roosevelt and the so-called internationalists claimed that a program of aid to Great Britain and other countries fighting against Germany would make actual USA participation in the war unnecessary. The debate on how involved the USA should become in the war deeply divided the country. However, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, in 1941, it was inevitable that both the American isolationists and the internationalist wanted revenge, and so the USA joined the

Soon after the invasions were ending and Germany and the rest of the axis powers were starting to battle, America was trying its best to stay as far away from war as it could get. Japan had other plans though, on December 7th, 1941. The first US blood was sheded in WWII. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the first fighting on American soil since the Civil War. Thousands of Americans were killed that day, trying to defend themselves against the japanese suprise attack. Not long after the attack ended America declared war on Japan. Three days later the rest of the Tripartide act delared war on the US.

On December 7, 1941, a horrific day. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The U.S. took action and joined World War II. The President addressed the nation in a calm manner. The U.S. took action and joined the war after everything that happened.

On September 5, at its outset, the United States declared and maintained its policy of neutrality in the Second World War. Following ongoing atrocities committed by the Axis powers, however, President Franklin D. Roosevelt felt compelled to limit their strength by freezing their U.S. assets and restricting trade of certain goods. Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Congress unanimously declared war on Japan. Days later, the rest of the Axis powers, including Nazi Germany, Italy, and their smaller European partners, declared war on us, placing the U.S. firmly at the center of the conflict and giving us a pivotal role in ending it. It was a war that irreversibly changed the course of history, changing our nation as a whole in the process; our involvement in World War II forced us to transform our approach to world affairs and foreign relations.

With such events occurring quickly in such a small time period, the second World War came as a massive shock. Yet again, Americans called for isolationism and neutrality as they believed America should focus on ending the Great Depression, not worrying about and dealing with the international issues of other nations and peoples. By analyzing Document 5, it is clear that many Americans still believe in isolationism during the Great Depression. Bennett Champ Clark states in his Defense of the First Neutrality Act that “the desire to keep the United States from becoming involved in any war between foreign nations seems practically unanimous among the rank and file of American citizens.” Americans influenced the US foreign policy yet again as the First Neutrality Act was passed in 1935. By analyzing Document 6, it is clear that President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the choices he made were still influenced by isolationist sentiment as he states in his Quarantine Speech that “it is my determination to adopt every practicable measure to avoid involvement in war.” However, it is clear in President Roosevelt's speech that he knew that entering the war was inevitable as he states that the “peace of the world and the welfare and security of every nation, including our own is today being threatened by that very thing (war).” Although the United States tried its best to not enter the second World War for many years, it could not avoided by the end of 1941. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. The federal government’s response to this attack can be analyzed in Document 7, President Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address to the Congress of the United States. In response to the attack, Roosevelt calls for Congress to “declare . . . a state of war has existed between the United States and the

December 16, 1944 marks the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. This Battle took place on what is know as the Western Front. This battle will forever be known as one of the biggest battles to be fought during WWII. This battle would prove to be a costly battle for both sides. Both sides will see a tremendous loss of life and equipment.

During the Second World War the government of the United States was adamant about remaining neutral and not getting involved unless absolutely necessary. If the United States had entered the war earlier, they would have faced the risk of being invaded by countries already in the war. An invasion, or any more time spent in war than necessary could have led to more American casualties. The United States was supplying other countries with weapons during the war. Not only was it necessary, it was imperative for the United States to enter WWII. It would have been impossible for the United States to remain neutral while still protecting their citizens.

Bodies flailing, ripped apart by machine guns. German Panzers destroying everything in their path. A blood soaked forest; the Ardennes. The Battle of the Bulge began on December 16, 1944. It was a hard fought allied victory that pitted American, British, Australian, and South African forces against the battle hardened Panzer and SS German divisions. In the heat of the battle, the American 101st division was surrounded by German forces at Bastogne. When asked to surrender, General Anthony McAuliffe only replied with one word; “Nuts!”. The 106th division was almost annihilated. This was a gallant allied victory, showing the force of the American soldiers. However, it came with great cost. Influenced by the beginning of the war and how the war turned against the Nazi’s, the Battle of the Bulge was a bloody battle, in which German defeat lead to their surrender soon after, proving to be an extremely significant event in WWII.

Nearing the end of World War II and after the successful D-Day invasion by Allied Forces, Adolf Hitler would personally plan a counteroffensive he believed would turn the tied of the war in his favor and prevent his unconditional surrender. Historically known as the Battle of the Bulge, the Ardennes Counteroffensive, from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945, would showcase the power of a full-scale German offensive while highlighting the ingenuity and heart of the United States Army as they encountered a seemingly undefeatable foe.