US and Germany's WWII Collision Course

The US and Germany Were on a Collision Course

On September 4, 1941, the USS Greer, an American destroyer, exchanged fire with a German U-boat off the coast of Iceland, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations. Historian Gerhard Weinberg notes that this incident was not an isolated event, but rather part of a larger pattern of increasing hostility. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., President Franklin D. Roosevelt was weighing his options, considering a more aggressive stance against Nazi Germany.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the United States entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and that prior to this event, the country was largely isolationist and uninvolved in the conflict. The standard story goes that the US was focused on domestic issues and avoided getting entangled in European affairs, with the exception of providing economic aid to the United Kingdom through the Lend-Lease Act. However, this narrative oversimplifies the complex and nuanced situation that existed in the months leading up to Pearl Harbor.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as William L. Langer and S. Everett Gleason have documented the increasing tensions between the US and Germany in the years 1940 and 1941. On June 10, 1940, Italy declared war on France and the United Kingdom, drawing the US deeper into the conflict. The US began to provide military aid to the UK, which Germany saw as a direct threat to its war efforts. The US Navy was already engaging in undeclared warfare against German U-boats in the Atlantic, with the US providing escorts for British convoys as early as September 1940. According to historian Robert Dallek, Roosevelt was actively seeking ways to support the UK and counter German aggression, including the transfer of American destroyers to the British Navy in exchange for bases in the Caribbean. On April 10, 1941, the US occupied Greenland, further solidifying its presence in the North Atlantic and setting the stage for a potential confrontation with Germany. As the US and Germany continued to clash, the possibility of a direct military conflict between the two nations grew increasingly likely, with some historians arguing that it was only a matter of time before the US found itself at war with Germany, regardless of the events at Pearl Harbor.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Charles Beard and Harry Elmer Barnes actively worked to downplay the significance of the US-Germany conflict before Pearl Harbor, which contributed to the story's suppression. The US government, particularly the Office of War Information, also played a role in shaping the narrative of America's entry into World War II, focusing on the Japanese attack as the primary catalyst. A concrete reason for this omission is that the US government sought to avoid drawing attention to the country's prior knowledge of German aggression, which could have led to accusations of inaction or complicity. Specifically, the government's decision to prioritize the Pacific Theater over the European one led to a lack of documentation and discussion about the US-Germany conflict, effectively burying this part of history.

The Ripple Effect

The US-Germany conflict before Pearl Harbor had significant consequences, including the strengthening of the US Navy and the implementation of the Lend-Lease Act. This act allowed the US to supply arms and materials to its allies, which in turn affected the outcome of the war. A specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the US Naval Base in Iceland, which was established during this period and remains a strategic location for the US military to this day. The conflict also led to increased tensions between the US and Germany, ultimately contributing to the US's formal declaration of war against Germany following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Line That Says It All

The US was already engaged in an undeclared war with Germany in the Atlantic when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, drawing the country into a global conflict that would last for years.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the lead-up to the US entry into World War II.