Could the Allies Have Won WWII Without the United States? (Essay Example)

The Allies would not have been successful without the help of the United States. The American Homefront was essential to helping the allies with production of materials. The United States contributed to the European war effort, and The United States provided support through production and ground troops. The United States was key in ending the War with Japan, who was one of the most determined countries a part of the Axis Powers.

The American Homefront was important to supporting and building up the allies on the war front.  According to the document, “How Much of What Goods Have We Sent to Which Allies?” We asserted ourselves as an unofficial ally through the Lend-Lease program, where we supplied the Allies with a little over $50 Billion in supplies overseas. We didn’t expect, or receive, much back. A little over half of the value of goods sent overseas went to the United Kingdom. The Lend-Lease program felicitated cooperation with the British through the Tizard Mission where we shared supplies and information. The United States’ large production needs were met by War Towns. In the document “War Towns” we learn of life inside these war towns by looking at Mobile, Alabama. People came from all over, and all backgrounds to grab jobs created by the war effort. Car manufacturers switched production to focus on creating materials needed for the war such as planes, tanks, and other military vehicles.  America’s mass production can be attributed to advances made during the industrial age. The number of manufactured materials is given in the document “By the Numbers: Wartime Production.”  The United States produced  about 6,000 more tanks than the USSR, and about 37,000 more tanks than Britain. By the end of the war, the United States was producing more than any of the other countries. America was able to convince people to join the effort by taking up jobs involved in the war through propaganda campaigns and posters. In document C, you can see the tactics used by the United States to persuade people. Some tactics that are used are, fear, shame, patriotism, and band wagoning. These posters promote such ideas as scrapping spare metal and rubber, rationing foods, carpooling in car clubs to preserve gas, and for women to join the workforce. All these factors are what lead America to become a world superpower post-war and prove that the American Homefront was important to the war front. 

The United States contributed to the Allies’ victory in Europe in many ways. During World War II Germany was able to contend with Britain in production. “Source E: Why Hitler’s Grand-Plan during the Second World War Collapsed,” describes how the US was able to pour resources into Allied countries through programs such as Lend-Lease. Towards the end of the war, The United States was able to out-compete Germany in war production. “Source F: World War II Deaths by Countries,” shows that the United States suffered millions of less deaths than the Axis countries such as Japan, the Soviet Union, and Germany. One of the most well-known military operations the United States participated in during the war was D-Day. “Source G: D-Day” describes the amount of human life that lost at Omaha Beach. Hundreds of paratroopers were shot out of the sky almost instantaneously, making it one of the more gruesome battles of the war. “Source H: Competing National Memories of World War II” makes the argument that the United States’ role in winning the war has been exaggerated. There is no doubt that America’s production during the war outpaced most countries but the United States’ contributions to battles during the war was significantly less. The Soviet Union lost more soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad than the United States lost during the entire war. America’s war production was their leading contribution to the Allies’ victory in Europe; however, America did provide support with troops on the war front.

The United States was key in helping the allies win the war against Japan. Japan knew that becoming entangled in a war with the United States would be devastating and drawn out. In Source I, Army Chief of Staff, Sugiyama said, “A war with Great Britain and the United States will be long… it is very difficult to predict the termination of a war, and it would be almost impossible to expect the surrender of the United Sates.” “Source J: The Pacific Anatomy of War,” explains the ideology of the Japanese army. The Japanese did not believe in surrender and would not stop fighting until death. Every country, including the United States, were integral to the defeat of Japan. The document, “Source K: Images Detailing the Pacific Theater of WWII,” describes the battles between the United States and Japan. At Okinawa, 100,000 Japanese troops and upwards of 150,000 citizens were killed. In comparison, the United States only suffered 12,510 casualties. Source L details how the atomic bomb helped end the war with Japan. In Harry Tuman’s speech he writes, “Behind this air attack will follow sea and land forces in such number that and power as they have not yet seen and with the fighting skill of which they are already well aware.” The United States was able to heavily pressure Japan enough to the point of their surrender. Finally, Source M shows how Japan suffered hundreds of thousands of more casualties than the United States. The losses of the Japanese greatly outweigh the number of Americans lost. Through military power, The United States contributed to ending Japanese aggression in WWII.

The United States provided essential support to the Allies by out producing many of the European countries and Axis Powers. The United States also provided support during battles such as D-Day. The United States was also an integral part of defeating Japan and forcing their surrender. These reasons show that the Allies could not have won WWII without the help of the United States.