samneanderthal
Active member
Roosevelt's military advisors (Marshall, King, etc,) concurred that Japan should be assigned priority since it had forced America into the war and Germany was already fighting the USSR and Britain. Japan had a very small industry and population, compared to Germany and was fighting China and Britzin.
It made a lot more sense to concentrate the American might on Japan in order to defeat it and then concentrate on Italy and then Germany, than for America to fight simultaneously on two large fronts.
Even the huge USSR refused to fight on two fronts along its borders, why should America fight across two great oceans siultaneously.
Moreover, if America dealt with Japan, Britain could concentrate all its forces on Germany and Italy and have the safety of its former and present colonies ensured.
Nevertheless, Roosevelt decided to assign priority to Germany, swayed in great part by Churchill. Moreover, to his generals and admirals dismay, throughout 42 and most of 43 Roosevelt allowed Britain to determine priorities and policies for the western allies in Europe and Africa. Worse of all, Roosevelt fell for Stalin's threat of a separate peace if he did not receive a lot of fuel, equipment, etc, and if the western allies did not open a second front. This threat or rather bluff by Stalin was completely unfounded, since Stalin knew that Hitler wanted the USSR and would not settle for a partial peace. So Stalin had to fight or die.
Furthermore, Roosevelt assigned priority in production and deliveries (airplanes, ships, tanks, etc,) to Britain, then to the US forces in Europe, then to Stalin and finally to the Pacific theater. This put an enormous burden on the American economy and prolonged the war at least a year.
Finally, Roosevelt closed a lot of diplomatic doors by stating early in the war that the US would not settle for anything less than unconditional surrender, thus prolonging the war.
Had Roosevelt assigned military priority to the Pacific, production and delivery priority to the US forces in the Pacific, then to Britain and then to Stalin and limited L-L to 10 Billion dollars for Britain and 6 billion for the USSR, Japan would have collapsed rapidly and all the personnel and equipment in the Pacific could have been used against Germany, rapidly destroying the LW and ensuring a swift victory in Germany.
It made a lot more sense to concentrate the American might on Japan in order to defeat it and then concentrate on Italy and then Germany, than for America to fight simultaneously on two large fronts.
Even the huge USSR refused to fight on two fronts along its borders, why should America fight across two great oceans siultaneously.
Moreover, if America dealt with Japan, Britain could concentrate all its forces on Germany and Italy and have the safety of its former and present colonies ensured.
Nevertheless, Roosevelt decided to assign priority to Germany, swayed in great part by Churchill. Moreover, to his generals and admirals dismay, throughout 42 and most of 43 Roosevelt allowed Britain to determine priorities and policies for the western allies in Europe and Africa. Worse of all, Roosevelt fell for Stalin's threat of a separate peace if he did not receive a lot of fuel, equipment, etc, and if the western allies did not open a second front. This threat or rather bluff by Stalin was completely unfounded, since Stalin knew that Hitler wanted the USSR and would not settle for a partial peace. So Stalin had to fight or die.
Furthermore, Roosevelt assigned priority in production and deliveries (airplanes, ships, tanks, etc,) to Britain, then to the US forces in Europe, then to Stalin and finally to the Pacific theater. This put an enormous burden on the American economy and prolonged the war at least a year.
Finally, Roosevelt closed a lot of diplomatic doors by stating early in the war that the US would not settle for anything less than unconditional surrender, thus prolonging the war.
Had Roosevelt assigned military priority to the Pacific, production and delivery priority to the US forces in the Pacific, then to Britain and then to Stalin and limited L-L to 10 Billion dollars for Britain and 6 billion for the USSR, Japan would have collapsed rapidly and all the personnel and equipment in the Pacific could have been used against Germany, rapidly destroying the LW and ensuring a swift victory in Germany.