Introduction
American flag is raised after WWII victory
During World War II, defeat of Germany was the Allies mission. America, Britain, and the other fifteen allied powers fought for years and years trying to defeat to corrupt Germans and their five fellow Axis powers. World War II was a gruesome nationwide war that killed many innocent citizens along with many soldiers from both the Axis and Allied side. American economy during the time was not prepared for a full out war as they were in a peace time economy. After six years and a day of war America and the allied powers finally succeeded into weakening Germany and the Axis powers to the inevitable surrender. It was not an easy war on either end but by using strategy and power the Allies stopped the Axis power before they spread their ideas beyond Europe.
American & the Allies Power
American Attacker Plane
During World War II it is known that the United States was one of the most powerful nations. America during the time had the largest industrial economy in the world and was able to mass produce weapons and war equipment for soldiers fighting abroad. FDR’s New Deal seriously helped pre-war America and its economy. America was a “can do” kind of country and had a lot of engineering skill along with entrepreneurial skill. America back at home definitely helped fighters and war efforts abroad. America had a massive air power during World War one which helped lead to their victory. By using air attacks Roosevelt saw that American casualties were reduced vastly. American air forces continued to attack the Axis; mainly Germany and Japan, with strategic air bombing. These attacks seriously hurt the enemies economic and militaristic standing towards the end of the war. These raids killed hundreds of thousands of people in Germany and Japan. Not only was America using air raids but so was there fellow allies, Britain. In 1943 the two countries joined up to create a bomber force which would surpass any military strategy Germany or Japan had at the time. America’s strong economy, strong industry, and their use of air attacks on Germany and Japan along with Britain was what cumulatively led to the Allies victory in September of 1946.
The above video is footage of American bombings on enemies throughout Europe. Many believe that American won this war mostly because of their air raid tactic. Air raids were safe for Americans and knocked out large amounts of enemy soldiers.
The Allies Great Bombing Campaigns; the Key to Victory.
United States Strategic Bombing Survey
One of the major reasons the allies had achieved victory by the end of the war was due to the bombing-campaign they used on Nazi occupied Europe. This bombing campaign crippled the German economy, and also reduced the amount of planes the Nazi army could manufacture. The Allies were able to disrupt German resource collection through their bombing campaigns, and by doing this they effectively put a limit on the amount of planes that Nazi Germany could create. Through the direct destruction, interception, and annihilation of energy supplies on a large scale, the Allies were able to destroy the German war industry. So, while Germany struggled to manufacture planes in the battlefields of Europe, the Allies had a comparably limitless supply of war machines thanks to the vast resources of the United States, which was completely untouched by the war. This bombing campaign also forced German bombers to withdraw from the distant front lines in order to fall back and defend their mother land. The majority of the Nazi air force was stationed in Germany, in order to defend from bombing campaigns, which left the front lines stripped of their much needed bomber and fighter planes. The bombing campaign against the Nazi forces also destroyed troop morale, while raising Allie troop moral. It stressed Nazi leadership, and ultimately forced them to think of radical counter plans in order to recover from the bombings, most of which failed and ultimately hurt the Nazi's even more. Not only did these campaigns hurt the leadership and troop morale, but it produced mass social disruption among the German people. By lat 1944 8 million people living in German had fled from cities to safer villages and townships. Bombing was the key difference between the Allies and the Germans in World War II, and ultimately led to the downfall of Nazi Germany. The bombings raised Allie morale, while lowering Nazi morale, disrupted the Nazi economy, and helped mow an easier path for the less experienced Allie troops on the Nazi airplane stripped front lines.
CHECK OUT! This article on the ten deadliest air bombings of WWII http://tinyurl.com/d3m43yy
CHECK OUT! This article on the ten deadliest air bombings of WWII http://tinyurl.com/d3m43yy
The video above is a recording is of US Air Force sergeant Jack westerly flying on his first mission over Italy. This is an example of one air attack, this one on a chemical plant. Enemy forces fire at American forces while Americans dropped bombs on the target. This tactic is fairly dangerous because of the enemy fight back but when successful they get the job done quickly and effectively.
Conclusion
"Stars and Stripes"- Nazi Surrender
Once committed to the war, the allies committed themselves to achieving total victory on two fronts. Victory over Italy and Nazi Germany in Europe and victory over Japanese in the Pacific. The turning point in the Pacific didn't come until June 1943, when American airplanes crippled the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway. In Europe, it took even longer for the Allies to open up a proper second front against Nazi Germany. The battle for Stalingrad pushed Germany out of Russia and forced them back to central Europe.
Victory came in Europe in May 1945 and in Asia three months later. Worldwide, an estimated 70 million people lost their lives, the majority of them innocent civilians which included 6 million Jews who were murdered by the German Government. The idea to drop the atomic bomb killed millions of civilians living in Japan. Hitler came close to world domination and if it was not for the brave soliders who put their lives on the line, the Allies would not have won the war. World War II will be forever known as the most destructive human conflict of all time.
Here is a NY Times article describing the last days of WWII and Germanys surrender and also connecting it to today!
DISCUSSION QUESTION
After researching and reading about the end of WWII and how the Allies won, do you believe that America and the Allies had an unfair advantage against the Axis power as they attacked from the air opposed to the ground? Explain. If the Allies never attacked from the air would there have been a different outcome to WWII? Explain.
Works Cited
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/how_the_allies_won_01.shtml>.
"History of World War II." History of World War II. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://ehistory.osu.edu/wwii/>.
"World War II (1939-45)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/648813/World-War-II>.
"World War II." About.com 20th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/World_War_II.htm>.
"World War II." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii>.
(press photos for link to site)
Victory came in Europe in May 1945 and in Asia three months later. Worldwide, an estimated 70 million people lost their lives, the majority of them innocent civilians which included 6 million Jews who were murdered by the German Government. The idea to drop the atomic bomb killed millions of civilians living in Japan. Hitler came close to world domination and if it was not for the brave soliders who put their lives on the line, the Allies would not have won the war. World War II will be forever known as the most destructive human conflict of all time.
Here is a NY Times article describing the last days of WWII and Germanys surrender and also connecting it to today!
DISCUSSION QUESTION
After researching and reading about the end of WWII and how the Allies won, do you believe that America and the Allies had an unfair advantage against the Axis power as they attacked from the air opposed to the ground? Explain. If the Allies never attacked from the air would there have been a different outcome to WWII? Explain.
Works Cited
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/how_the_allies_won_01.shtml>.
"History of World War II." History of World War II. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://ehistory.osu.edu/wwii/>.
"World War II (1939-45)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/648813/World-War-II>.
"World War II." About.com 20th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/World_War_II.htm>.
"World War II." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii>.
(press photos for link to site)