why do a lot of americans make out that they won ww11 alone?

Question

i think its cos most americans believe the films they make where they are the heros in everything,and are even told it in history at school,it was us brits that broke the back of the war,cos remember-Charles Lindbergh Warns America Not To Enter WW2 On April 23, 1941,and then On December 7, 1941 at 6:00 A.M., while Americans were still sleeping,the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. and then america decided to help.there are old ww2 vets here that say "bahh,yanks came in at the last minoute and then bragged they won the war"

Answer 1

Aye I agree with you ..The only reason we asked the USA to help was that we were skint at the time and needed supplies etc they were only too happy to jump in and take the glory not that there is any glory in war. Unfortunately the cost to us british was high at the time and we are still paying now for their help, by having their bases here in the UK

Answer 2

Perhaps for the same reason that a lot of Europeans like to "make out" that the presence of millions of American soldiers and the turning of the whole of North America into one gigantic munitions and equipment factory for 4 years didn't help in the least, that they had Hitler and the Japanese just where they wanted them and it's only coincidence that when America entered the war western Europe was occupied by Nazis or else struggling not to be, and that after America joined the tide turned.

But, nobody who has more than 21 functioning neurons or has read a book not written by a Fox News commentator or Ann Coulter thinks that America singlehandedly won WW2 or that American involvement in WW2 didn't end it a lot faster than it would have ended otherwise. That's why they call it the second WORLD war- it involved more than a hundred nations.

Answer 3

Most Americans have no idea that 75% of Germany's armed forces were committed to the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union, and that 70% or so of the casualties suffered by the Germans occurred on this front. America was certainly the driving force in the Pacific, but lets not forget the contribution of the Anzacs, particularly in new Guinea, or the Brits and their colonial troops in the China-India-burma theatre.
I think the reason most American's believe THEY won the war alone is that they came out the most ahead, economically and politically, and with the atom bomb, some would say militarly as well. Germany and Japan were utterly crushed, Europe was in ruins, the Soviets had the largest conventional army but had lost 25 million people and most of their western industry. So I think it was really the fact that the US came out a superpower, in combination with wartime propoganda.

Answer 4

Most Americans know that it wasn't either the US or Britain that primarily won WWII. It was the Russians that destroyed the German army.

(And, incidentally, something the Russians won't admit even today - they couldn't have stayed in the war without American supplies, food, fuel, and equipment, conveyed mostly by ship. In particular, without the 600,000 American 2 1/2 ton trucks, the Red Army would have had a terrible time sustaining an advance across the largely railroadless plains of Central Europe. And even if they had managed to produce the trucks, they couldn't have fueled them, or their tanks, or fed their army, on what Russia was producing.)

But, even beside that, I'd like to point out a few things. First, while it's certainly true that Britain was staunch in the face of German aggression, standing alone against Hitler for a time before the US and USSR were brought in to the war, it's also true that Britain would have lost the Battle of the Atlantic without American warships, aircraft and merchant shipping. Britain then would have been forced to choose between slowly starving to death, and suing for peace. It's also true that even after the Anglo powers invaded France, together, the US fielded the bulk of the army, and when Mongomery pushed to have his Eighth Army lead the charge against German field forces, they were unable to make much progress alone and had to call on their American friends to accomplish anything.

Britain was staunch in defense, but it's at least as wrong to think that she was the primary victor over Germany as it would be to say the same of America.

Not sure why Lindbergh's comments mean much, though. Roosevelt and Congress were taking steps to enter the war on Britain's side long before Pearl Harbor, including greatly increasing weapons production and increasing the size of the military, and shipping destroyers and war supplies to Britain. He was probably counting on Germany's attacking US shipping to Britain to provide a casus belli, just as it had 22 years before. Pearl Harbor precipitated our entry, and made it politically much easier, but it would almost certainly have happened soon anyway, against Germany. Whether we would ever have gone to war against Japan, without Pearl Harbor, is more problematic.

Answer 5

I do agree it became an allied attempt and that i think of we would have taken 5 extra years with out the Russians. The French have been Nazi fans. Too undesirable we screwed over Vietnam and gave them to France to start a 30 year conflict. As for the British, they in no way gave up and and that they held their own usa. yet you're able to agree that the push for the duration of Europe from France and up Italy became extra often than not US. What broke Germany became 2 fronts and a couple of years of bombing very nearly each and every little thing interior the country. The air raids are what won the conflict. i understand 1st viscount montgomery of alamein had the northern path for the duration of Europe and that there have been SS troops up there, however the land conflict became a mopping up. the Bombers won the conflict. As for Japan, that became ninety 9% US victory. factor word: defeating the Italians ? thats no longer something to crow approximately mate. As for what's being taught in US colleges; it incredibly is in all probability some thing like this - the U. S. tried to take over the worldwide and the U. S. is in charge for all of the discomfort and suffering led to by using the conflict. We bombed and nuked civilians into submission and the great pink military of Russia is the only element that stopped united statesa. from taking on the worldwide and enslaving it with capitalism. (that's what's being taught in our colleges immediately) So, in case you heard some human beings asserting we won the conflict, thats a extreme-high quality swap. pay attention, the subsequent time you go with our help, we would be too susceptible and spineless that may assist you.

Answer 6

i have come across the same type of people when i play on my xbox 360.
without a dout the americans done us a huge favour during the second great war - but at a price the food and munitions didnt come for free we have only just payed for it all in the last two years.
its also worth a mention that 150000 brave arericans died in the war but over 40,000,000 brave europieans died mostly russian and german.also are english tecnology like radar stoped the luftwaffe in its tracks and dont forget the cracking of the enigma code done by the british not the yankees.sometimes i wonder what the world would be like if the british empire didnt have to fight two world wars and bankrupt itself.you wouldnt have all these taliban running around .

Answer 7

A lot of Americans want to feel proud of their past historical accomplishments - and sometimes blow their accomplishments out of proportion. While they did contribute greatly to both World Wars -they certainly did not win the First World War, or the Second World War alone.

Yes, the American film entertainment industry profits from telling tales to its viewers - myth (or propaganda) set in a historical context - and the viewers walk away with some feeling of pride about the "American Way of Life."

I think pride in one's own accomplishements is fine - as long as it is not at the expense of others who also made their contributions too.

Answer 8

On behalf of all Brits that actually know a damn thing about history I feel I must apologize on behalf of my ill informed countryman. Without American involvement during WWII Hitler would have won. He would have finished off western Europe and then turned the full weight of his forces against Russia. Also let us not forget, that it was American supplies of food, ammunition, tanks etc, that allowed us, the Brits, to stay in the fight so long. I am not a fan of current American foreign policy. I trust neither their politicians or my own, so I have no overwhelming urge to ingratiate myself with the good ol' U S of A. I however do not let my personal feelings get in the way of historical fact; WITHOUT THEM, THE WORLD, NOT JUST OUR TINY ISLAND, WOULD HAVE LOST. Who cares what movies say? Their purpose is to entertain not teach.

Answer 9

No one won the second world war!
Everyone lost, look at the misery, destruction & loss it produced.
It's a shame the media, primarily the film industry glorify the true horror.
They still do it today, across the world.

Answer 10

I don't know if they do really but if this is the case, it is because they're not properly informed. Perhaps too, some people believe films too much. Films are rarely accurate when it comes to factual events.