If Hitler started raising hell in '39, why didn't America get involved until...

...nearly 1942?

 

Because the US were following a isolationary politic at that time. And because US economy had to be switched to war production - in difference to hitler, the US did go to the war well prepared.

 

The United States was involved before Pearl Harbor... look up lend-lease. In fact Roosevelt had tried on a number of occasions to get the Germans to fire upon "unguarded" merchant ships before Japan attacked us to try and change popular isolationist sentiment so he could offer more help to Great Britain The act itself wasn't passed until March of '41 but was effectively in practice as early as '39 with the passage of the neutrality act which effectively ended an arms embargo to Europe and opened the door to Helping the Allies. Once Germany overran Poland and France we gave more overt help to the British:

Through the 30's we were in the throes of the Great Depression and the folks living hand to mouth without work were not able to foresee the great productivity that would be the United State's critical addition to the war which helped turn it.

 

We gave as much material support as we could while still being neutral, Americans were not so keen on getting involved in "Europe's war" again as we had in WW1. Even after Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt knew he couldn't just ask congress to declare war on Germany since only Japan had attacked us. We went to war with Germany because on Dec. 11th Germany and Italy actually declared war on us, and we responded the next day.

 

to be more precise, your ancestors (you didnt do anything...) gave support to GB (as example fighter pilots, weapons, ordonance, fuel, etc.). there were political and practical reasons as mentioned bevore - that lead to the US joining the war directly relatively late.

 

Not just GB, the lend-lease program to the Soviet Union was vital to the war effort of the Soviets. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

 

the enemy of my enemy dies next.

 

There were some people in the US that supported Hitler. The Bush Family were ardent supporters.

 

they were neutral then all the jews started coming here... and oh... it wasn't their business. look where america is now.

 

What do you mean by this?

I love how peoples minds work.

 

I'm pretty sure she was kidding/being sarcastic.

 

odon you should know me by now

 

I find it hard to spot sarcasm at 3:30am.
Sorry.

I seem to have be on a "defend Jews" mission the last few days...far too many people being prejudiced a-holes in my world....

Forgiven? :cheers2:

 

i'm a german-american, i'm joke sometimes

:cheers2: pal

 

You don't look it.

 

I believe because a German U-Boat sunk a US ship carrying supplies to Britain. And/Or because the Axis powers were trying to win over Mexico for an attack on the US.

 

You're thinking the RMS Lusitania and the Zimmerman telegram, both WW1.

 

Becuase in late 1941 Germany declared war on the US



Of course, the US was sending supplies etc to the UK and the USSR before this, but it was after Hitlers declaration that the US actually got involved.

 

Ahhh that's right. that's right. i keep trying to remember any events that happened during the first great war, and i can't for the love of God remember any. I guess I had so little faith in my ability to remember, I thought of those two things as WWII events. Thanks for the reminder friend. That helps a lot

 

Because it didn't concern them. It was "The war in Europe", the U.S. didn't feel like it was important to intervene.