Why did the US have to protect England during WW2 from Germany?

Question

Didnt the US have its own battles to fight?

Answer 1

Well Britain and the USA are allies, and friends are supposed to look out for each other. It's just a shame the American government waited until Britain was on it's knees before they stepped in at the last minute to claim all the glory.

Answer 2

Yes, the same battles that we, (The Brits) were fighting. As a matter of interest, the British forces killed more Japs in Burma and New Guinea, etc. than the US did in the Pacific. If any one nation could be said to have won the war against Germany it was Russia. The Eastern front was where the German Army died. They lost 250,000 men at Stalingrad alone. The Russians took about 100,000 prisoners, and less than 5000 ever lived to see home again. The only real difference that the US made to the war in Europe was that without them the Russians would have owned all of Europe as far as the channel. Of course, the war would have dragged on much longer, and maybe Britain would have fallen to the Russki's too. If anyone could have crossed the chanel they would have with their total disregard for casualties.

Answer 3

Firstly the English do not have a Military so i'll presume you meant British. The Americans and Britain both lost approx 400,000 Military guys during WW2 In comparison the Soviet Union lost around 8-10 Million. So yes as stated the Soviet Union suffered the most and probably helped the most, but America once committed also played a huge role not only with troops but also financially. So in terms of sacrifices made and actual lives lost i would say Britain, Russia and America were the Allies top contributors which along with many other top allies such as France, Canada etc all helped the eventual victory.

Answer 4

Ah, you've only heard the Hollywood approved version of WW2, haven't you?



The US won the war single handed. The US captured the German Navy Enigma machine that allowed the Allies to read German encrypted signals.... you get the idea. Well, they couldn't have won the war without everyone else, and they didn't capture that machine, the Royal Navy did. HMS Bulldog, to be precise.



The US did not 'protect' Britain. The US helped the UK (for a price) and a few bloody brave US pilots enlisted in the RAF well before any other US troops made it over. The UK had already beaten off potential invasion, the RAF had managed to control the skies against superior numbers, and the UK was under no threat of invasion when the US started to send troops officially.



Thanks have to go to the US for it's help. But you will convince absolutely no one that the US protected us.



Rayis Back... well, mate, if you weren't such an arrogant idiot, you wouldn't have to keep making up new ID's, would you? You don't get reported for reasoned argument, but since your permanent standpoint is 'I'm right and you are all wrong' I think you get what you deserve.

Answer 5

Oh dear



First off you mean Great Britain or the UK, not England.



Secondly you didn't protect us from the Germans. The Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Channel did that and we had already been at war for two years before you joined in.



Germany declared war on you the day after Pearl Harbor as they were allies of the Japanese (every heard of the Axis powers?).



Therfore you decided that you would send the 8th bomber airforce and several army groups to the UK to work with the British to invade Europe and defeat the Germans, whilst the British would put re-inforcements into India and Burma to fight the Japanese.



What goes on in US schools these days??

Answer 6

The US didn`t protect Britain during WW2. The RAF, in 1940 effectively won the battle for air superiority thus preventing Hitler from invading. He then turned his attention to the Soviet Union and made the fatal error, thank goodness, of attacking them. From that time onwards the Nazis never again contemplated any thoughts of invasion.

As to the comments about the war in the Pacific being an "all American" show, that is largely correct, but only because Nimitz, Halsey and his fellow admirals sidelined the British and Commonwealth navies thus taking all the credit. Like it or not this is the truth.

Answer 7

The US did not protect England during the World War II!Like all other times!It took them a long time to get into the fray!Why?They were making too much money by being neutral!

They made Britain sell shares at knock down prices!Yes!America did quiet well out of Britain during World War II!

The pendulum has swung the other way now!It is America who are feeling the economic 'pinch'!

Answer 8

I will not refer to if or not the Americans "protected" England during the war. It just goes to show how terrible our education system is here in the USA.Your reading of history should tell you that is not the case.

What I want to address is the subject of the French and try to put their point of view.The French knew at the outset of WW2 that they were no match for the Germans, and dont forget that a few years previously they had the terrible first world war on their territory, with all its awful loss of life . So what was the point in putting up any sort of defence which could only result in the immense loss of life and the complete destruction of their beautiful country. What would it have achieved?. There were those French that sided with the Germans at the beginning of the war, but they soon were got rid of. Rather than make snide remarks ,we should try to imagine what it would be like if we had armies fighting here. Would we like it if our cities were destroyed for little if any purpose. The French, sensibly knew that armies come and go and what ever the result of the conflict, they would still there and their country would still be intact. Occupiers cannot stay for ever. We found that out in Vietnam and we are finding it out in Irag. Do not lose sight of the fact that the French had a very effective "underground" army, without whose help we would have found it very difficult to carry on the hostilities.The French helped the allies and kept their country intact, what is so wrong in that?



With regard to the other answers, they are so far off the mark of accuracy and are so jingoistic, that you should disregard them completely if you truly seek an answer to your question

Answer 9

It's not quite as simple as protecting England [UK]. The American public were naturally reluctant to become emrboiled in yet another European war. However, the Americans were involved from the very outset in that the US Navy were busy escorting British convoys from the US Eastern Seaboard as far East as Iceland where the Royal Navy took over the job of convoy escort. That was back in 1940 - well before Pearl Harbor or any thought of the USA joining in a war in Europe.



From September 1939 through until January 1942 the British having been forced out of France by the Germans, then stood alone. Britain and her allies fought what became known as the Battle of Britain.



Now let me introduce you to the Eagle Squadron Royal Air Force - all the pilots were Americans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z2fVNnI6ms



Don't let people fob you off with the idea that the Americans did nothing to help, they did. It's just that their government back in Washington was unable to act openly and instead had to do everything in a secret manner to aid Britain.



The Americans came up with an idea that became known as Lend Lease. No one has ever satsifactorily explained that to me, because my dad tole me that he had lost his weapon somewhere in France during the retreat to Dunkirk and he reckoned that it must have been paid for by the Americans. It's probably still out there somewhere, in a ditch, slowly rusting away. Who knows?



Following the dastardly attack upon Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy - a date which will live in infamy, the American people and their government turned their attention then to a war against Japan.



Adolf Hitler, no doubt in a flash if inspirational madness, declared war on the USA. Quite naturally this annoyed the Americans, who in turn declared war upon Germany.



Blah!



The rest is history.



But like I say, the Americans were swift to aid the UK but had to do it in a clandestine manner from the beginning but from about January 1942 the United Stars Army GIs marched down the gangplanks of their troops ships at Liverpool - and etc you know the rest.



Re the Enigma machine. The first people to grab hold of a version of this cypher wonder thing, were the Poles who got hold of on in c1938 before the outbreak of WW2. It had three cypher wheels. Unfortunately for the Poles and for some obscure reason, the Germans decided to add a 4th wheel before their dastardly and vile attack upon Poland.





The strong and often quite friendly relationship between the US and UK, goes back a very long way. But there was a time when we did this. . . .sorry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMbxZ1k9NQ

Answer 10

If the US hadn't helped the US would have lost the war. Roosevelt thankfully was intelligent enough to see that having Germany controlling all of Europe, with no landing point for a US relief force would have spelt the end for democracy world wide, as there would have been no distractions from the German nuclear project - meaning Germany would have been the one to get the bomb before the US.

Answer 11

They didn't "protect" the UK



Check your history - Germany declared war on the US at the same time as the US declared war on Japan, 8th December 1941.



Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia - Lord Louis Mounbatten.

Answer 12

Hey,

Here I got Supreme Commander 2 for free: http://bit.ly/1rlLdi0



it's a perfectly working link, no scam !

Supreme Commander offers three single-player modes with a specific and impressive background history that blends into the game play.

It's a must have game.

Answer 13

After years of "Non-Intervention" (including, verified reports of mass deportation and genocide, including many groups of people, especially Jews, and people trying desperately to leave Europe, and being prohibited entry by both Canada and US), the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour. It would have been difficult for the US to take on Japan on their own, so they joined the Allies in Europe. By this time, the British, Canadians and Australians had already racked up tens of thousands of casualties in Europe and Asia.

Answer 14

We were actually holding our own quite well but without them the war in Europe would never have been won. While we had the skills to protect ourselves we simply didn't have the technological & industrial force behind us to reconquer Europe. While I doubt that we would all be speaking German now I'm pretty certain that the world would have been a very different place if they hadn't helped us out!

Answer 15

Germany was much stronger than England. The US didn't really do all that much to protect England that they couldn't have done themselves, aside from sending supplies. The RN prevented invasion, and the U-boats would have still been defeated if later. What we did do was keep the Russians from occupying Western Europe. England could not have done that alone.



"we also took on Japan singlehandly."



Not true at all. Most of the IJA was in China fighting the Chinese. The Brits & ANZACs were in Burma and New Guinea. The Russians kicked them out of Manchuria and North Korea.



"Was educated in France"



You're welcome for that not being a Soviet-style education.

Answer 16

are you for real,you lot sat back on your asses to see which way the war was going,it was only the attack on pearl harbour that forced you to get involved,and even then your armed forces were very inferior and had to be trained by the british to learn how to fight,you also knew that if britain fell to the nazi's then you would be next and your fighting ability was almost nil and hitler would have run over the top of you,and regarding the 1st world/war you had very few soldiers on the front ,they were used for behind the lines activity not combat.

Answer 17

The battle for Britain was already won before the US decided to turn up.

The British owe no debt to the US.



You're right, the USA did have it's own battles to fight in the Pacific, which the British dutifully turned up and helped with, which is little publicized in your American history books.



The American war in Europe was based on financial gain only, showing how the government of the time had little regard for the lives of its citizens.

Answer 18

UK had lost +/- 40k men prior to the entry of USA into WW2!



Like most reasons for War, Economics!! the US was very interested in accessing the British Empire's markets for OUR mfg products after the war! As well as the natural resources available out of the Empire! The USA was "lend-leasing" much War Materiel to both England and Russia in the effort to halt the expansion of the Third Reich as they were bent on acquiring sources of OIL in south western Soviet Empire, I forget the areas name, and eventually try to grab the Middle East for themselves....

Answer 19

The US didn't protect the British. They stayed out of the war until they had been attacked and then decided it was time to help out.



Bring on the thumbs down for not thinking the US swept in and saved the day.



By the way, Zoye B Germany weren't communist XD They were fascist (right wing). And communism does not mean a dictatorship, I suggest you look up the real meaning of communism.

Answer 20

The U.S realised very early on in the war that Hitler was not a man they could do business with and sooner or later they would end up at war with him. Britain was of great importance as a starting point for the U.S army to land in Europe (D-Day).

Had Germany defeated Britain then the U.S.A would have to come up through Italy to get to France and Germany, and this would be very difficult with Italy's mountainous terrain.

The U.S.A did have it's own battles to fight against the Japenese in the Pacific, but Churchill convinced Roosevelt that Germany was the greater threat thus leading the U.S to focus it's main efforts on defeating Hitler.



Hope this helped.

Answer 21

we didn't enter the war as much to protect britain. U.S. cargo ships were being shot down by U-boats, putting pressure on us, then pearl harbor was the final straw.

Answer 22

Sorry, after reading answers from several people who were"educated in france", I had to step in. The US didn't protect England from Germany. The same as England didn't protect us against the japanese. But, we are all buddies now. Except for people "edjumicated" in france. What a bunch of fools. I imagine that france really didn't surrender, and won the whole war with one arm tied behind their backs. Like the old expression;"I got a great deal on french rifles, never fired, and only dropped once!" Beat it, froggies.

Answer 23

This type of question and others about the British and Americans and Germans and WW11 constantly crop up on this forum. Don't you think we should drop the subject - it was more than sixty years ago and only causes antagonism between those answering depending on their nationality.

It's ridiculous!

Answer 24

England was one of the closest allie of US beside you people didn't want to see britain ending up like France no offense France

Answer 25

the english chanel was what protected england and anyway you entered the well after the threat of invasion.

Answer 26

Well, not from any moral motive, that's for sure. A money motive, I feel.

Answer 27

Because people who control this country are europeans immigrants. So they had to help their own people.

Answer 28

it didn't have to,it choose to,there is a difference and your seeing it again now,1 piece of straw will break,a handful will not,

Answer 29

I didn't know that they did actually. As far as I know, they came in when it was nearly over, as per usual !

Answer 30

Sure.

Why not?

When the Highlander who never die.

Play the bagpipe.

Surely the Knight will reach out and extend a helpng hand.

Knowing Simon is in trouble.

Luke 9.25,55-56,60

What do think?

Answer 31

First off the U.S and England did not become allies until a little later on. Infact we didnt become involved in the war until 1940. The U.S was trying to stay out of foriegn affairs after WW1.



2. The U.S DID NOT have the best army back then. I believe England did or Germany did.



3. The U.S DID NOT have to protect England



4. The U.S followed a policy of CONTAINMENT, meaning they we're trying to contain communism in Germany. And If you didnt know communism is a dicatership.



5. The U.S belived in something called the Domino Theory were if one country fell to communism others will follow, and we would not have that.



Another reason why we were involved is because of The holocaust. The ONLY reason why the war ended as it did. Is because Hilter decieded to kill himself. He could have easily continued despite the fact they we're getting beat up.

Answer 32

the US did not have to protect GBR!

Answer 33

well the USA didn't really protect the British. They more or less won the war singlehandedly but the USA did assist.

Answer 34

you have much more cannon fodder old chap!

I have watched the movies as well.

Answer 35

Another fine example of the quality of history lessons in US schools.

Answer 36

They well report you right out of here These brits are the king of reporting ''I'm telling mommy on you''

Answer 37

a few reasons



1. Japan attack peral harbour, and the allies found out that german was like with japan



2. they fought together in ww1



3. hitler was a dictator, this scared america



4. american had the worlds greastest army and could quite easily take germany and japan out



5. they only really fought after japan was out



6.american is a peace keep country

Answer 38

Lets not start this again.









P.S. To give some credit to the US we did not only ASSIST in Europe we also took on Japan singlehandly.

Answer 39

Because of Treaties and uh slim if the US wasn't there you would be speaking German!