wwII+quotes

KBM "We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations." On June 4th, 1940, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during WWII, presented this statement to Parliament and it lingered throughout the course of the war. Winston Churchill is recognized by his common use and famous picture depicting him holding up two fingers (now recognized as the peace sign) to symbolize victory of WWII. Both the quote and picture demonstrate Churchill's eyes set on winning the war and his knowledge of how it should properly be executed through head-on opposition rather than the gut instinct of Europe to flee Hitler and take shelter in other countries, which proved little success as Hitler's troops continued to march forward, conquering even more land and gaining more strength. Meeting the Nazis with strong opposition to the fight-or-flight response, he knew, would prove more successful than the latter. This statement was said in Britain to Parlaiment in a pre-war atmosphere in attempt to stop an error before it began. It was a general prelude to what Churchill anticipated in the war and his attempt to firmly state the direction that the Allies should not head toward. This brings up the general tendency to attempt to avoid war but, had the war been avoided, Hitler would have potentially gained even more ground in the European nations and would have lead to the downfall of the Allies in WWII. Churchill had good intent and good ability to be able to look ahead and spot trouble before it could even begin, thus it was produced pre-war. This statement demostrates, not only Churchill's, but Britain's ability to seek out the correct path and stay on track throughout the war and, whether or not Parliament already had this plan of action in mind, it either was a winning proposal or summed up Britain's intended plan of action. MDS - This isn't a quote, but the other pages all have broken links and won't open. America and its allies in the second World War are often portrayed as heroes, fighting a �people�s war�, as Howard Zinn describes it in __A People�s History of the United States__, to protect the rights and liberty of the peoples of the world. The propaganda of the time certainly demonstrated this, as in the short news reel entitled �The U.S. Enters the War� released on December 8th, 1941, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was presented as a sudden, shocking, and incredibly immoral act, just as Hitler�s actions of racial persecution and militaristic, aggressive warfare were portrayed as a detriment to global society, a threat to liberty and democracy for which the United States was valiantly fighting. Yet in truth, we must look back from a more omniscient standpoint and realize that the United States did not enter the war to fight for justice. They were in fact perfectly content to allow the militaristic sentiment in Europe and Japan brew while they stood neutral until they were personally affected by Japan�s attack on Pearl Harbor. Perhaps, as some may argue, it was best and necessary that the war be portrayed as a moral battle to the American people to encourage wartime support, and perhaps it in time came to be a so-called �people�s war�, a fight against Fascism, but the government�s standpoint was one of hypocrisy. The attitude of the American government towards the war and its practice of defiling Hitler and his totalitarian regime were hypocritical, looking at America�s track record of practicing imperialism and racial prejudice itself. America criticized Hitler�s racial prejudice, yet many blacks in America likely felt themselves in the same situation � while not genocide, most of America turned a blind eye to the blatant segregation and violent events such as lynchings that occurred often at the time. And while America claimed to be fighting for an end to Fascism and the expansion of democracy in the world, they had consistently subjugated nations in the Philippines and Latin America under the same pretense, yet took advantage of their power to create military bases and governments to run the countries they �rescued� from the domination of European powers. While America may have done the right thing by entering the war and eventually ending Hitler�s horrific totalitarianism, their purposes were not all they seemed to be. JT- "Democracy alone, of all forms of government, enlists the full force of men's enlightened will...It is the most humane, the most advanced, and, in the end, the most unconquerable of all forms of human society. The democratic aspiration is no mere recent phase of human history...We...would rather die on our feet than live on our knees." � //Franklin D. Roosevelt// in his Third Inauguration Speech, January 20, 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt�s message delivered in his Third Inauguration Speech embodied what American�s were clinging to as they stood facing a Second World War. As they realized the mass oppression that Europe was holding on its shoulders, Americans were afraid of what could happen to the U.S. as it faced such strong, communist and dictatorial enemies. Roosevelt knew that America needed to be rallied to the cause, and the number one way of doing so was emphasizing the valor of being a Democracy. His statement that �We would rather die on our feet than live on our knees� shows how loyal and brave he expected all Americans to be. While the U.S. had seen repeated military victories, after the First World War, many believed that it would be the last war like it, and were therefore shaken by the thought of another and had been happy to stay out of it for the most part. Still, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, it was clear that the U.S. could no longer just act as a supplier, but had to take up arms. Democratic government, for all its inflaming arguments and bitter disputes, was still viewed as the best form of government, and Roosevelt reminded his people of this by calling it �unconquerable.� After the Great Depression had rocked the U.S., many had felt some doubt in their leaders and confused about the strengths of parts of a Democracy that they had heard were not issues in the Soviet Union, but listening to Roosevelt and the news reports on the horrors that were befalling people in Europe gave Americans the extra initiative to stand proudly by their President�s proud words. . MRL -
 * Winston Churchill** - To Parliament - 4th June 1940

I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve. - Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, 1941. Admiral Isoroku Yamamota is reported to have said this quote upon hearing the success of the Pearl Harbor attack. Perhaps one the most pertinent quotes of the era, Yamamoto successfully predicted the rising power of the United States. Some historians believe the success of the US during World War II was a primary reason why the country emerged as a superpower after the War. This is accounted by the fact that Europe was physically and morally weakened after the War, while the United States was economically flourishing. This quote is significant also because it reveals the dynamics within the Japanese military. For instance, the majority of Japanese military leaders were fanatical warhawks, who were willing to do anything to reach their objective of expanding the borders of Japan and creating a Pacific Empire. This is best represented by the quote from historian Henry Folgek, "The Japanese commanders did not consider defeat; there was only victory, or death." Although the majority lived by this creed, a small number, like Yamamoto, contrasted this fanaticism and took a more reasonable and rational approach to Japan's objectives, though their voices were squelched by the deafening zealotry. As the War progressed the United States deemed it necessary to attack Japan with atomic bombs in order to elicit its surrender, further supporting the notion that Japan would not stop until it was literally in ruin. This determination or stubbornness contrasts that of Nazi, to a certain extent. While people like Yamamoto went unheard within Japan, German dissenters of Hitler's command were more active. In particular, the attempt to assassinate Hitler, planned by some leading Nazi officers, shows that at least somewhat significant portion of the Nazi leadership were far more rational than the Japanese leadership, since they would rather kill the Fuhrer than follow his ill-fated plans.

AJJ- "We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way-everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want. ... The fourth is freedom from fear." - FDR January 6, 1941 During the buildup to the United States’ involvement in World War Two, Franklin Delano Roosevelt acted as an extremely pro-democratic and anti-fascist leader. Though the U.S. was not officially in the war yet, Roosevelt condemned the actions of Hitler and the other fascist leaders. This quote spoke against the actions of the fascists which took away essential freedoms that FDR thought that everyone in the world should have. This quote was from a message to congress in which he had an extremely large audience not only addressing the entire congress, but the many Americans listening and supporting his at home. These freedoms that FDR stated were not only anti-fascist remarks, but remarks speaking to the greatness of the United States and that its citizens are able to have these freedoms unlike the fascists in other parts of the world. FDR is also famous for other quotes in which he spoke of his love of democracy and proved to be a growing supporter of preserving it as he realized the growing power of the fascist nations. Eventually, the U.S. would take action against the nations which Roosevelt was condemning, proving that there was a buildup of anti-fascist sentiments not only from the fearful people of the United States but from the president himself.

AVG – “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

This quote was spoken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As aggressive, undemocratic governments throughout the world (specifically Germany, Italy, and Japan) began expanding, Roosevelt had urged that they should be contained and supported a “quarantine” against Japan. Roosevelt offered aid to nations battling aggression because he believed that democracies should be defended, but he had previously wanted to stop “short of war” in his actions.

This quote was from FDR’s speech to Congress on December 8, 1941 asking them for a declaration of war with Japan. On December 7, Japan had launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, killing almost 2500 Americans and sinking five battleships. Tensions between the US and Japan had grown due to Japan’s aggressive expansion and a US embargo on exports to Japan, but the two nations were previously at peace. However, Roosevelt argued that the direct attack on the United States meant that peace was no longer possible.

FDR aimed this quote at the U.S. Congress, which according to the Constitution has the power to declare war. However, Roosevelt also wanted to convince the American people that war with Japan was necessary. Isolationists in America had previously wanted America to remain neutral in World War II, which had already begun in Europe. Because the United States was directly attacked, however, the vast majority of Americans would have supported Roosevelt’s calls for war. Some nationalists might even have criticized Roosevelt for his conciliatory stance toward Japan before its attack on Pearl Harbor.

FDR wanted to demonstrate that Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor was a deliberate and devastating attack on the United States. In the rest of his speech, Roosevelt emphasizes the coordination of Japanese attacks throughout the Pacific and Japanese deception by ostensibly pursuing peace to make Americans fearful of Japan and disgusted with their belligerence. As a result of Japan’s attack, Roosevelt argued that war was necessary to halt Japan’s expansion and to defend the United States.

Congress agreed with Roosevelt and approved his declaration of war with only one dissenting vote. The declaration of war brought the United States into World War II on December 8, and Germany and Italy (Japan’s allies) declared war on the U.S. three days later. Although the United States and Britain agreed to defeat Germany before Japan, they did triumph over Japan and disarmed the nation to prevent a repeat of the tragedy at Pearl Harbor.

J.R.C.- "As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable." -Albert Einstein

This quote was made by Albert Einstein in his book titled, "Out of My Later Years". Einstein was a theoretical physicist who escaped from Nazi Germany in 1933. Upon arriving to the United States, Einstein became a citizen, and resided in American society, ultimately continuing his studies. During Einstein's life, he witnessed both World War One and Two, which further promoted the thought portrayed in this quote. Einstein concieved the thought that as long as nations contained any sense of power, war would be inevitable. On the eve of World War 2, he helped alert President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that Germany might have been developing an atomic weapon, forcing Roosevelt to expedite nuclear research. The research, coined as the Manhattan Project, resulted in the US becoming the only coutry during the war which possessed nuclear weapons. The technology behind the nuclear bomb epitomized this quote. In a race to acquire the advanced technology behind this devastating weapon, hostile intentions increased, ultimately forcing the war to evolve.

CJD-

 “The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians.”

 On August 9, 1945, President Harry S. Truman made a public statement about the atomic bomb dropping on Hiroshima three days prior. This quote is an example of the horrors that World War II caused throughout the world by a number of nations. Many more civilians were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki than military personnel, making the act closer to a war crime than battle effort. Americans at the time were looking to end the war, so they did not oppose the use of nuclear weapons on Japan. Innocent lives were lost when most of the major powers in World War II viciously attacked cities. In addition, part of the cause for Allied forces to enter the war was the Holocaust and Hitler’s aggressive occupation of civilian areas. While stopping the Axis offensive, Great Britain and the United States used questionable military strategies. The bombing of Dresden in 1945 is another instance of the Allied forces brutally destroying an already-weakened opponent to ensure surrender. Harry Truman sought to get the US out of World War II, but he was not truthful when he claimed to avoid killing civilians. The second World War was different from the first in that it did not limit combat to areas outside cities. Many innocent people were killed during the conflict, but this was often declared a necessity due to the risk that nations such as the US felt from Hitler and the Japanese. Truman also justified the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, saying that Japan had started the war when they bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Remaining the only instance of nuclear weapon use as a method of attack, the Hiroshima bombing serves as an ugly example of drastic action following years of bloody conflict. Civilian casualties have grown to cause much controversy within America, and people who support war often protest the killing of an enemy’s general population. Unfortunately, the atomic bombs decimated Japan and forced them to surrender, making it seem like a suitable avenue to achieve victory for both the US and every other country bearing deadly weapons of mass destruction.  1/30 checked

RIL: "The people of Europe who are defending themselves do not ask us to do their fighting. They ask us for the implements of war, the planes, the tanks, the guns, the freighters, which will enable them to fight for their liberty and our security. Emphatically we must get these weapons to them in sufficient volume and quickly enough, so that we and our children will be saved the agony and suffering of war which others have had to endure." - Franklin D. Roosevelt President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this in his “Arsenal of Democracy” speech which was broadcast nationwide over the radio as one of his fireside chats December 29, 1940. Franklin D. Roosevelt was a powerful president who was popular with the American people. He supported the United States’ entry into the war, and he also wanted to be able to help the Allies fight against Hitler because he recognized the threat Hitler posed to the United States. Since he delivered his message over the radio as one of his fireside chats, his speech was more accessible to Americans and many of them originally encountered this message through this initial national radio broadcast. This statement addressed the plight of those at war in Europe and also how the United States should help the Allies without actually entering the war; it advocated that the United States should supply the Allies with military weapons and machinery to not only protect and free them but to protect the United States as well. During this time, there were a significant amount of isolationists who did not want to involve the United States in war but Franklin D. Roosevelt felt that the United States should help the Allies. He referenced specific weapons and supplies that America should send to the Allies to help Americans understand what he was proposing; he also referenced liberty which had been an important value in America since its creation. This statement was meant for the American people, which was why he used simplistic and emphatic diction so that they all could understand his reasoning and argument. While the intended audience did include all Americans, a specific group of Americans could have been affected more than the rest of his audience: the isolationists. His speech affected them in particular since this statement went against their views. This statement was meant to show them his reasoning and to help them understand his conclusion which was that America must help the Allies through supplying them with the means to fight against the Axis Powers to not only help the Allies but to protect America as well. It was meant to persuade them to follow his argument. Some isolationists may have been persuaded but others may not have and they may have continued to oppose Franklin D. Roosevelt and the United States’ involvement in World War Two. Many Americans were most likely persuaded by his argument. He said this to persuade Americans to agree with his decision to help the Allies which was why his words call for action. He said this at this time because the Allies were suffering dearly during the fight and needed support. The political need addressed by this quote was that Franklin D. Roosevelt needed Americans’ support in helping the Allies. His words argue that the United States should help the Allies by supplying them with weapons and machinery without actually entering World War Two. In a way, it conveys that when another country suffers, the United States should support them; but moreover that the United States should help countries to protect itself. The main point of this statement was that the Allies need the United States’ help and that helping them protects America and does not necessarily mean that the United States’ needs to enter the war on their behalf to help them. This was important in that it marked the beginning of the fall of isolationism. The political implications of the speech were that America was supportive of the Allies. This speech could have lead to the Lend-Lease program which started in March 1941.

SW- <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt;">"I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen 200 limping, exhausted men come out of line—the survivors of a regiment of 1,000 that went forward 48 hours before. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war."

“I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs. I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed. I have seen two hundred limping exhausted men come out of line-the survivors of a regiment of one thousand that went forward forty-eight hours before. I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war” was said by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his famous “I hate war” speech in Chautauqua in 1939. This speech was given to the American people and said in a very careful way. Roosevelt repeatedly stated that he did not support the war and that he did not like war. On the other hand he also states that the rest of the world needs the help of the United States and that the U.S. cannot stay out of the war. In this way he is saying that he does not want the United States to go to war but that it is inevitable. He says that no matter how hard they try to stay neutral and keep peace, in some way they are going to wind up having to join the war. It is better to willingly enter the war and help the allies before it is too late. The isolationists resist going to war and FDR does not want to fight either. He had fought in World War I and he knows about war. He knows how horrible it is and that going to war is not an adventure. He does not want the people to think that going to war will make you a hero and that it is fun. He knows that the reality is that they will eventually have to go to war and he does not want the people going to war disillusioned. Roosevelt also knows that it will affect everyone, not just the men fighting in the war. It will affect the mothers, fathers, wives, and children. But the people in Europe are suffering more than America is, so he U.S needs to help the Europeans in order for the whole world to be stable again. FDR gave this speech during a controversial time. There were still many isolationist that did not support going to war, but FDR’s quote was said craftily as to not anger the isolationists but still inform them of the need to go to war. This quote showed that FDR did not want to go to war as much as the people did not want to go to war, but FDR was taking this huge step so he wanted the rest of his country to take that step with him. This speech eventually allowed the United States to go into World War II.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11.5pt; margin: auto 0in;">KEO- <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11.5pt; margin: auto 0in;">"Nothing would please me better than if they would give me three months and then attack here." <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11.5pt; margin: auto 0in;">-General Douglas MacArthur <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 11.5pt; margin: auto 0in;">General Douglas MacArthur, who was named the Supreme Allied Commander of the South-West Pacific, said this on December 5th, 1941 in reference to US defense of the Philippines against the Japanese. FDR had reversed TR’s policy of intervention in Latin American affairs by deciding to grant the country its independence, and Japanese aggression in the area made him more anxious to release US hold of the country. US release of the Philippines would open the door for Japanese control in the Pacific so Macarthur was put in charge of preparing an army to fight for the country’s independence. By this time, failure to settle disagreements between the US and Japan revealed that war was inevitable and the US began taking action to build up armed forces in the Pacific. They had previously only planned on training the Philippine army, but now US policy was to directly defend the Philippines. The US tried to buy time to fortify the Philippines because they thought it would be the first place Japan would attack. Macarthur was able to pull together a formidable army and the arrival of the B-17 in many air force bases added to his confidence. This quote demonstrated just how confident Macarthur was that he could counter any Japanese assault. The confidence in his words showed just how fast reinforcements, aircraft, and tanks were pouring in from the US to strengthen MacArthur’s forces. MacArthur’s quote was meant to be a response to the alerts sent out from Washington saying the Japanese were about to attack. He wanted to ensure everyone there was no cause for alarm because he thought he built up his defense enough to defeat the Japanese. MacArthur said these famous words two days before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, which took the US by surprise. Therefore, this quote is significant in that it demonstrated America’s misinterpretation of Japanese intentions, the blunder which played a major role in driving the US into World War II. It also revealed the extent to which the US underestimated Japanese military might. Macarthur was confident in US abilities to defend the Philippines, but his army was quickly pulverized by the Japanese in the time following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The US did not fully realize just how cunning and powerful the Japanese could be in the Pacific.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">VB(Edited: forgot name) - If the British Fleet were lost or captured, the Atlantic might be dominated by Germany, a power hostile to our way of life, controlling in that event most of the ships and shipbuilding facilities of Europe. ** -Wendell Willkie **

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This quote was given by presidential nominee Wendell Willkie in the summer of 1941. Willkie never held political office, however he was well known for running against FDR in the 1940 Presidential election. Willkie was an established isolationist, who believed that the United States should not enter the conflict in Europe as it would endanger the sovereignty of the United States. After losing the election, Willkie embarked to Europe and the Middle East as Roosevelt’s personal representative. His experiences while traveling resulted in an alteration of his political beliefs. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A statement given by Willkie identifies that he is talking to members of a legislative body. It was given before the United States entered World War II. Willkie was one of the most respected isolationists, however in his speech he urges unlimited aid to Great Britain, due to the possibilities that could occur if Britain fell. The analogy used by Willkie is done to invoke a sense of urgency and fear so that relief and aid will be sent to Great Britain immediately. At this time, Britain’s fleet was one of the strongest in the world, therefore the idea that one of the most powerful navy’s subduing to Germany at this time was frightful. When listeners heard this statement they probably developed feelings to help and aid the afflicted in Europe. Willkie originally isolationists’ beliefs help to make his plea convincing to all. President Roosevelt had carefully chosen Willkie as his envoy to Europe because as the former Presidential nominee for the Republican Party, if Willkie were to change his attitude then it could be conveyed to all opposition that the United States was going to inevitably fight in the war. Willkie’s experiences with the German tactic Blitzkrieg while in Great Britain was most likely a major determining factor in his shift in belief. Willkie had adopted Roosevelt’s idea that either the war was going to be fought by Americans in the United States or in Europe, and that it was more favorable to fight in Europe. Willkie places emphasis on making the ship building factories because this conveyed that the German fleet could potentially become stronger than the navy of the United States. This statement delivered by Willkie was a personal opportunity to spread awareness of the growing threat in Europe. Willkie continued to support his newly internationalist ideas until his death in 1944.

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