Explain why despite the early accomplishments of the Axis the Allies won in WWII?

Answer 1

The decision to carry on simultanious attacks on the eastern and western fronts taxed the German supply lines beyond their means. They were not able to properly support their troops.

When the United States joined the war effort in Europe, we were finally able to openly supply large amounts of munitions, equipment and personnel, further diminishing the ability of Germany to produce and transport supplies to their troops.

Germany was also unprepared for the weather they encountered, and the ferocity of the Soviet people, on the eastern front.

Answer 2

First, look through all of the answers and discard the ones that say "because the USA is the best" as that isn't really relevant to the question and at the time it was just wrong. US troops were, as a rule, both under-equipped and under-trained relative to the Axis powers units. There are many factors that led to the Allied victory but, for simplicity sake, we will address only a few of the major ones.

One step on the road to ruin for the Axis powers was the Japanese Army's plan to attack Pearl Harbor. That's right - the Japanese Army - not the navy. The Navy Admirals, led by Yamamoto, knew this was a horrible idea. This precipitated the US entering the War before Hitler had fully pacified Europe (especially Great Britain) and before the AXIS forces could consolidate their gains in North Africa.

What the Allies had when the US entered the fray was an economic and industrial power base that was unlike anything else in the world. The industrial centers of Europe (on both sides) were all active military targets that were repeatedly bombed. The largest industrial base in the world belonged to the US and it could not be attacked directly by the Axis forces. While the Germans held the edge in terms of technological innovations they simply could not match the production output of Detroit. Consider the German tanks versus the American tanks. The Germans had better armor, better fire control, more speed and more maneuverability. What they did not have was gas and numbers - the two things that America had in abundance. We simply made more tanks then the German Panzers could kill. The same thing holds true with the seas. At the beginning of the war the German U-boats were crippling the resupply effort. Not so much due to actual material losses but due to fear. There did not seem to be an effective way to counter the German's "assassin boats." Then the US went into major production of anti-submarine vessels and weaponry that very rapidly put the threat of the German U-boats to rest.

The next major mistake of the Germans was the invasion of Russia before the war in the west had been fully decided. Russia is a huge front to open up at a point when the German coffers were already starting to feel the strain. The Russian winter certainly didn't help matters but the reality was that the Germans did not have the manpower to consolidate their gains on the eastern front anyway. Their only hope, and it was a weak one at that, was to strike and take the Russian capitol and then withdraw leaving the suddenly Stalin-less Russian government in chaos and out of the fight until the power vacuum could be filled.

Out in the Pacific, the Japanese were faced with a very similar problem. If they intended to maintain their production to pursue the advances on mainland Asia (which was the whole point of going to war in the first place), they needed raw materials. Raw materials that their little island nation simply didn't have. They had to take over much of the South Pacific just to hope to have a chance to meet the needed oil and materials requirements. But all that ocean needed to be guarded and the Japanese just didn't have the manpower or the resources to repel a determined assault on their little "Fortress Pacific." Even without the Atomic Bomb, Japan was doomed to fail. The invasion of Japan was planned and prepared, the training of the troops had already begun, it was only a matter of time before the first Marines would have hit the beaches. The Allied commanders knew that a land invasion of Japan would be a meat grinder. They knew that the Japanese would fight to nearly the last man but the Allied troops were prepared to do it if Fat Man and Little Boy turned out to be duds.

So, in both cases it is not a matter of morality, righteousness, or manifest destiny that led the Allies to victory over the Axis. It came down to numbers and economics. Yes, there were great commanders involved but there were great commanders on both sides. Yes, the Allied boys were very brave but so were their opponents. It was not courage but cash flow that did more to win the war then any other factor.

Answer 3

While the question is hypothetical - lets face it, Hitler HAD to go to war with the USSR but I'm not so sure Germany would of won World War II. Let us not forget that Germany never was able to gain air superiority over England and the best German pilots were in the Battle of Britain. While more manufacturing resources could of been used toward England, Germany still have to get the man and machinery on the English soil. Not sure it would of been as easy as one would think. I do think the result in North Africa could of been much different. Had the Germans been able to use more men and material in that region, they would of been tough to stop. That would also of had an effect on the people of England, because if the Suez Canal wasn't open - much of the wartime needs from Asia and the Middle East would of been closed. Lastly, the US probably would of been involved in the war much earlier then December 1941. I just don't think FDR would of let England just evaporate - which is how the Germans would of beat the English. Simply starve the English people and armed forces to death. Eventually though, the Soviets and Germans would of gone to war. The oil reserves and natural resources in Eastern Europe and Asia Minor were just to sweet a target for the Germans.

Answer 4

The same reason the North (USA) won the Civil War against the South.

Even though, the South had more victories in the beginning and had better commanders, the North overwhelm them with Resources and Man Power.

On the other hand WWII - German did not discovered the Nuclear Bomb - Must be God's will.

Answer 5

Germany had allied itself with Austria Hungary, which repeatedly needed help during the war. The United States brought in a fresh supply of soldiers to the Allies, helping the battle turn.

Germany was also stupid enough to attack Russia during winter, and got most of it's army destroyed.

The United States had the Atomic Bomb, nuked Japan twice, ended the war.

Answer 6

Perhaps the single biggest reason is the allies became Masters at cutting off vital supplies desperately needed by the axis powers.

The Nazi's too were efficient at this, however it was their submarines that were the most effective.

It's too bad the Bush administration can't learn from history, especially about the supply thing.

Answer 7

Hiltler decided to open the second fromt, against Russia on the East. He over extended his forces,and supply line. He would not let his men retreat, lost most of his experienced men there, from then on, it was all down hill.
Also, His natural resources were very liminted and he could not replace not only his men, but his war machine.

Answer 8

Two main reasons:
1. They went after the United States, which was the world's largest economic power and proceeded to retaliate very effectively.
2. They went after Russia, which had the world's largest army, not to mention weather conditions the germans couldn't cope with.

Answer 9

the axis powers were led by power hungry, fascists with mental issues. for example Hitler was actually an Austrian who grew up in an abusive home were he was overlooked and underestimated as a child. and he attacked Russia that had been his ally previously and that really screwed him over. also the lord was on the side of the allies.

Answer 10

First of all Hitler was a nut. Spread his forces to much.
Attacked some countries thinking a victory will come. Take the bombings of Britain. Instead of a surrender it made them want to kick that guy twice as hard.

It was mostly US, nationalism for ones country, and again US.
=-)