During World War II, the US played an absolute vital role in Europe. Earlier in the war, the US had continued with its isolationism, but after the bombing of Pearl Harbour by the Japanese, America had entered the war on the side of the Allies. By the end of the Second World War, many countries were growing out of their economic depressions.
Before WWII, the American’s stance on being an isolationist country was always swaying back and forth. When the war first began, the country was divided between remaining isolated and joining the Allies. However, German warships were constantly attacking American ships that were carrying products to Europe. With this constant warfare by Germany and with the bombing done by the Japanese in Pearl Harbour, the US joined the war efforts on the side of the Allies.
The war was broken up into two sides: The Axis Powers; consisting of Germany, Italy, and Japan; and the Allies; compromised of France, England, America, Russia, and China. The Axis alliance came together in 1936 when Germany signed treaties with Italy and Japan. All three quickly rose to dominance within Europe, but mainly Germany with its leader, Adolf Hitler. They were quick to invade neighboring countries to increase their empires. The Allies were formed after many of the Axis countries were threatening invasion and they were also concerned with their growth to power. By 1941, the United States of America, the British Commonwealth, and the Soviet Union became known as “The Big Three” and held leadership of the Allies. Both parties had countries entering and leaving the alliances throughout the war. Many countries in Europe, between the beginning of the war in 1939 and the end in 1945, had joined one side or the other at one point. There were, however, a select few that were able to maintain their neutral status.
The Term Paper on To what extent did the events of 1945-1946 turn war-time allies into Cold War enemies?
... allies into Cold War enemies? During the Second World War, the United States and Russia had been allied in order to defeat Nazi Germany. ... the fact that the USA was a capitalist country and the Soviet Union was a communist ... and ideas back and forth into the Eastern Europe. In Churchill’s eyes, this was not democratic, ... June 1941, the Russians were on the same side as Britain and France in the fight ...
WWII came to an end after Germany was forced to surrender to the Western Allies on May 7th and to the Soviet Union on May 8th of 1945. Although, Japan was able to hold their ground for another few months after its allied surrendered until the US dropped atomic bombs on the islands of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August. Without the involvement of the US, the Allies would have been short thousands of troops that were necessary for securing borders against the approaching Axis. America was not only responsible for massive amounts of equipment used in the war but also the money made from numerous war bonds to fund the effort.
Needless to say, The United States of America played a key role in the Second World War against the Axis Powers. Between their additional troops, money, and push for support, Europe was able to defeat Nazi Germany and its allies as well as help bring numerous s countries out of their previous debt.
