On Our Way: U.S.A. 1939-1942
- Episode aired Dec 12, 1973
- 52m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
440
YOUR RATING
The opposition to the United States' entry into the war, Lend Lease, U-boat attacks on Atlantic convoys and American responses, mobilization of America after Pearl Harbor, loss of the Philip... Read allThe opposition to the United States' entry into the war, Lend Lease, U-boat attacks on Atlantic convoys and American responses, mobilization of America after Pearl Harbor, loss of the Philippines, Doolittle Raid, Midway and Guadalcanal.The opposition to the United States' entry into the war, Lend Lease, U-boat attacks on Atlantic convoys and American responses, mobilization of America after Pearl Harbor, loss of the Philippines, Doolittle Raid, Midway and Guadalcanal.
Photos
John Kenneth Galbraith
- Self - Roosevelt Administration
- (as J. K. Galbraith)
James Doolittle
- Self - B-25 Raid on Japan
- (as General James Doolittle)
J. Lawton Collins
- Self - Commanding General, 25th Infantry Division at Guadalcanal
- (as General Lawton Collins)
Sewell Avery
- Self - Businessman
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Winston Churchill
- Self - P.M. of the U.K.
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRichard Tregaskis died on August 15, 1973, almost four months before this episode was broadcast.
Featured review
The Yanks are coming
As hard as it may seem to believe, America has been at war for 93 percent of its existence. This episode of World at War explains how even though this might be the case, the United States was initially reluctant to get involved in the carnage of World War II. By 1939, america was climbing out of the Depression, but the second world war had started. Nine out of ten americans were firmly opposed to getting sucked into yet another European centric bloodbath, as the memories of ww1 were still in many people's minds. However, the country also had its share of those wanting to assist countries hostile to Hitler while still remaining officially neutral. Many heeded the words of George Washington when he said the US should avoid all foreign entanglements. 1940 was an election year, and President Roosevelt's main concern around this time was getting himself a third term. FDR's rival during this election was a lawyer from Indiana named Wendell Willkie. While no isolationist, Willkie promised not to send any american soldiers to die in any european wars if he was given the presidency, which made him popular among many voters. Public figures and icons such as Charles Lindbergh also tried to argue against a war with Hitler. Although Willkie tried his best, FDR is eventually reelected. In the following months, Nazi Germany doesn't seem to respect america's neutral stance anymore and begins attacking merchant ships supplying the UK with weapons and vehicles as part of Roosevelt's Lend Lease act. FDR said america was providing its allies with the means to resist Hitler, but failed to realize this made the US a valid target to Axis forces. In June, September, and October 1941, three incidents occur in which german submarines attack american merchant ships, and Roosevelt uses these incidents to push a repeal of the Neutrality Act through Congress. Despite constant pressure from Churchill, FDR refuses to fully throw his country into the war. It's clear that it is going to take something much more dire in order to get americans in the mood for a fight. In December 1941, the event came. After the Japanese Empire makes a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR has no choice but to declare war on them. Still, he makes no mention of fighting the nazis, convinced the european war should be left to europeans. Unfortunately, Hitler decided for him. While nazi germany was technically at war with america now, the latter focuses all its efforts on the Pacific for the time being. 1942 began badly for the Allies, as american and Filipino forces were overrun in Manila and eventually forced to surrender at Bataan after being abandoned by General MacArthur. The japanese forces made the starving americans walk in the blazing sun to prison camps over 100 miles away, all while being beaten and deprived of water. More men would die on the march than in the actual fighting for bataan. Meanwhile at home, american celebrities like James Cagney and Frank Sinatra tell the public about war bonds and the importance of rationing, as crucial materials now need to be conserved as much as possible. The one thing people couldn't seem to conserve effectively was gasoline. Citizens of japanese ancestry were also forced into camps and regarded as potential spies, even if they were born in the US. Later in 1942, america finally begins to turn the tide against japan at the battle of Midway. Because US code breakers had deciphered the japanese code, american aircraft carriers were able to tell exactly where the enemy would strike and react accordingly. The battle was very one sided and effectively put an end to japan's territorial expansion. The same four carriers responsible for attacking pearl harbor 6 months earlier were reduced to flaming wrecks. America presses their advantage by attacking Guadalcanal, a tropical island in the Solomons, in their first amphibious assault of the war. Finally, Roosevelt decides to send american forces steaming towards North Africa in order to partake in Operation Torch, fighting against Hitler's Afrika Korps. Just like all the other installments of this classic show, On Our Way is perfect in almost every way. We see how for a country called the united states, the US was notably divided on how best to approach the war in europe. Some organizations in the country supported nazis, others supported Churchill and wanted to see democracy prevail, and others openly disregarded both of these things. It's sad to realize that america entering world war 2 was basically unavoidable. FDR did his best to not get involved, even after american lives were lost after german submarine attacks, but japan pushed him over the edge. It was nothing but bad news for america during the first few months of their involvement, but the famous Doolittle Raid changed this and showed japan that they weren't beyond the reach of american bombers. World at War typically involves songs from the time period in its episodes, and the ones shown here have to be among my favorites. The scene showing men leaving for war as When Johnny Comes Marching Home plays is especially moving. Also shown is Churchill speaking in Washington DC at the podium where FDR would stand. As soon as Hawaii was attacked, Winston knew his country was saved. Overall, this is yet another flawless episode of World at War and really shows what great narration and historical footage can do when they're put together.
helpful•30
- nickenchuggets
- Mar 19, 2023
Details
- Runtime52 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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