The Battle at Stalingrad

The Battle at Stalingrad was a turning point in World War II in the western front of the European theater. The unexpected success of the Soviet Red Army gave uplift to the Allied Forces. On April 5, 1942, Hitler ordered an offence at Stalingrad, Russia. If the Germans were successful at capturing the city, then the Russians would be cut off from oil supply. Thus, allowing the Germans to further conquer Europe and into Asia. A brilliant plan called Operation Uranus was devised. The Red Army led by General Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov, secretly mobilized one million troops, 1,350 aircraft, 14,000 heavy guns, and 979 tanks to attack German flanks that were protected by weak Axis powers. The Russians were able to surround the Germans and eventually lead to the victory for the Red Army. The Battle at Stalingrad was arguable the bloodiest battle in human history. The combined casualties of the battle totaled more than 1.5 million people. The confidence that came from the Battle at Stalingrad helped lead to a massive Allied counter attack in Europe. Hitler was unable to cut off Russian oil supplies, and lost the propaganda that would have came from taking "Stalin"grad; after the Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin. The Battle of Stalingrad was a defiant victory by the Red Army.

Propaganda of WWII in America

Propaganda was used by the American government throughout World War II in order to persuade people on the home front to get involved with the war in Europe and Asia. One example of this is the picture to the left. Literally, a Nazi soldiers foot is stomping on a church that is found here in America. The enemies boot in this picture is a symbol of the Nazi's as a whole, and them taking over America. The crushed church is a symbol of loss religious freedom. Altogether, this poster is trying to tell its viewers that if Germany takes over, freedoms will be lost, especially religious freedom. The audience of the propaganda poster is geared more towards people of strong faith in America. It is intended to get these faithful people into uniform and "fight to prevent this". "This" meaning the freedom that America is blessed with. The poster is a legitimate statement and very persuasive, just like many other posters in America during WWII. Propaganda was a successful tactic by the government and the home front found good reasons to stay strong and fight the war.

Top Five Factors Leading to World War II

1. Treaty of Versailles

When the treaty was called, Woodrow Wilson had a desire "peace without victory". He did not want to punish Germany for the First World War, in fear that doing so could lead to another war. France and Britain had something else in mind. The cost WWI was put on Germany, and the reparations would put Germany into a great economic hardship. The hardship led to the people of Germany to feel vulnerable and in need of a new government. This is why the Nazi Party was able to take control in the 1930's so quickly and swiftly.

2. America's Isolationism

America's isolationism all started with Woodrow Wilson and not joining the League of Nations back at the end of World War I. With the League of Nations without America and Woodrow Wilson’s guidance and beliefs, it is unable to prevent the European countries from starting conflicts again, which was its main purpose. All the while America is becoming a neutral power in the world, totalitarianism is rising in countries like Italy, USSR, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Italy is experiencing a revolution. Italy invades Ethiopia. Germany takes over the Rhineland. Europe is lost with the isolationism of the democracy that America withholds inside their government.

3. Nazi Germany Remilitarizes

On March 23, 1933 the Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, came into power in Germany by passing the Enabling Acts. Two years later, with internal affairs under steady control, Hitler ordered the remilitarization of Germany by increasing soldiers in Luftwaffe (air force), and in the infantry. This violated the Treaty of Versailles, signed after WWI. Further violating the treaty, Hitler ordered the Rhineland to be militarized, which is the land in between France and Germany. This of course worried France, causing them to remilitarize in self defense. Thus, the ripple effect of remilitarization in Europe occurred. The region was bound for another war.

4. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Act

This “non-aggression” diplomatic way of handling an alliance with Russia allowed Germany to stall on the backstabbing of Russia. Germany made an alliance with Russia to not declare war on each other, which relieved the western front for Hitler and his troops. The Germany military could now completely focus their fight on the eastern front and advancing on the countries to the east. This led to the quick invasion of Poland, France, and others, with all of the firepower in one place. If Russia was occupying the western front, then perhaps the invasions to the east would not have been so severe and the war might have not begun. Unfortunately for Russia, the Nazi’s gained the east and had nothing left to do but invade the west. The Russians would be turned on by the Germans.

5. Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia

In 1938, with the new alliance with Austria, Germany was beginning to feel its ability to execute its plan. The Nazi power moved into Czechoslovakia under peaceful terms, at first. The new radical government took control of Sudetenland, which was a German speaking area of Czechoslovakia. This caused many countries of Europe to become tense, countries like France. This also led to the remilitarization of some European countries, not wanting an invasion of this sort to occur to them. In September 1938, the Munich Conference was called, where Germany made the argument that they were done capturing land. Eventually, Hitler would take the rest of Czechoslovakia, lying about the discussions at the Munich Conference. This set the tone of the Germany’s and that they would not let diplomatic means get in the way of Hitler’s master plan.

Rationing During The Great War

At the start of The Great War, or World War I, the economy of America was a market economy. Citizens relished on the trades between foreign countries after the Civil War. In April, 1917 Congress declared America's involvement in war, and the nation was not prepared on the home front. The United States military grew to an astounding four million troops. Who was going to feed these troops? How were the factories going to receive the resources needed to produce their weapons? In order for the military to be successful in The Great War thousands of miles from home, they would need the support and voluntary rationing in order to provide for the soldiers. A way that this was executed was through the Food Administration, under Herbert Hoover. The federal government was able to successful get the American citizens to buy into lowering their resources in order to pass them on to the soldiers. Hoover spurned ration cards in favor of voluntary “Meatless Tuesdays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays,” suing posters, billboards, and other media to whip up a patriotic spirit which encouraged people to voluntarily sacrifice some of their own goods for the war. Other campaigns included,“heatless Mondays,” “lightless nights,” and “gasless Sundays” in accordance with the Fuel Administration. This led to great deal of left over resources. Some citizens, in the pursuit of helping the home front, placed gardens where they could grow crops for the soldiers, usually on street corners or in the open spaces, called "Victory Gardens." During this time of assistance, farmers were able to increase their production by one forth. The soldiers of not only America were fed, but other Allied Forces used the resources provided. By the end of the war, an Allied victory was capable due to the successful American home front.

America And Their Decision To Fight In WWI

America had just become a united nation again, a few decades ago, with the Union's win in the Civil War. The reconstruction of the nation was had just calmed down when Franz Ferdinand is murdered on June 28, 1914. America needed something that could once and for all united the people of the nation for a common cause, and set aside the hardships of the Civil War. Germany was being ignorant at this time and it seemed as if the country was purposely causing havoc. The nation known as Deutschland had invaded a neutral Belgium in order to make their attacks on France, killing innocent civilians of the nation. Along with this injustice march through Belgium, 170 tons of chlorine gas was dumped at the Battle of Ypres. Blimp-like Zeppelins were put in place to raid cities like London, once again killing innocent civilians. War is an unjust cause but has boundaries and laws. Germany, along with its allies, was breaking the injustices of war, and this must call for action. When American merchant ships with civilians are being suddenly attacked by German U-Boats and when Germany threatens America with the alliance of Mexico to retake their land lost that we gained during the Mexican-American War, the government can not just sit on its heels and allow this to happen. As a major nation of this world, America must protect other nations from the overpowering and unjust countries who will try at any cost to receive what they desire. This is why the United States should join the efforts of World War I and put an end to the radical European countries.