History Not Written In Textbooks: How the US Made Mistakes in Starting WWII

When it comes to the history of World War II, textbooks often focus on the major players and key events, painting a simplified picture of the conflict. However, the reality is far more complex and includes the mistakes made by various countries, including the United States. In this article, we delve into the lesser-known aspects of US involvement in the war, exploring the decisions and actions that ultimately led to its fateful entry.

The Rise of Isolationism

In the years leading up to WWII, the United States adopted an isolationist stance, primarily focused on domestic affairs and reluctant to become entangled in European conflicts. This approach was heavily influenced by the aftermath of World War I, where the devastation and loss of life left many Americans disillusioned with international affairs.

Under the leadership of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the US strove to maintain neutrality and avoid foreign entanglements. The 1935 Neutrality Act, followed by subsequent revisions, limited the country's involvement in external conflicts. However, this isolationist approach had unintended consequences and failed to address the rising aggression of fascist regimes.

Series: History not Written in Textbooks (1) How the US Made Mistakes in Starting WWII and Forming the Post-WWII World

by Koji Aiba(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5696 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	90 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Lessons from the Rise of Fascism

As fascist powers such as Germany, Italy, and Japan began flexing their muscles and expanding their territories, it became evident that the US needed to reassess its isolationist stance. However, despite mounting evidence of potential threats to world peace, the US remained hesitant in taking action.

Part of the problem lay in the American public's wariness of international intervention. The memories of World War I were still fresh, and the Great Depression had left the country grappling with economic challenges. These factors, combined with an aversion to war, made it difficult for political leaders to garner support for proactive measures.

The Mistake of Appeasement

One of the gravest mistakes made by the US and other Western powers was the policy of appeasement towards aggressive fascist regimes. In an attempt to avoid conflict, leaders such as Britain's Neville Chamberlain pursued a policy of appeasement, hoping that by giving in to certain demands, peace could be maintained.

This approach proved futile, as it only emboldened the aggressors and allowed them to further their expansionist goals without facing serious consequences. The failure of appeasement became strikingly apparent when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, leading to the outbreak of war in Europe.

Pearl Harbor and the US Entry into WWII

Despite the mounting global tensions, the United States remained committed to its policy of neutrality. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, changed everything. The surprise military strike by the Japanese Imperial Navy devastated the US Pacific Fleet and resulted in the loss of numerous American lives.

While several factors contributed to the attack, including strained diplomatic relations and trade disputes between the United States and Japan, the incident was largely a result of the US underestimating the intentions and capabilities of the Japanese military.

Aftermath and Reflection

The attack on Pearl Harbor forced the United States to abandon its neutrality and enter World War II. It served as a wake-up call, revealing the vulnerabilities and mistakes made in the previous years. The US had to rapidly mobilize its military, increase production, and form alliances with other Allied powers to combat the Axis aggression.

In hindsight, it becomes clear that the US, alongside other Western powers, made critical mistakes in assessing the rising threat of fascism and failed to adequately respond. The consequences of these errors were felt not only by the US but by the entire world.

The history of World War II stretches far beyond the pages of textbooks. It involves complex narratives of mistakes, misjudgments, and missed opportunities. The United States, with its policy of isolationism and the failure of appeasement, played a role in the outbreak of the war, ultimately culminating in the tragic events of Pearl Harbor.

Recognizing and studying these lesser-known aspects of history is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the war and its implications. By learning from the mistakes of the past, we can strive for a more peaceful future.

Series: History not Written in Textbooks (1) How the US Made Mistakes in Starting WWII and Forming the Post-WWII World

by Koji Aiba(Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5696 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	90 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Series: History not Written in Textbooks (1) How the US Made Mistakes in Starting the WWII and Forming the Post-WWII World This book is now under campaign. The time and dates under Tokyo time are: Saturdays, 5/28, 6/18, 7/9, 7/30, 8/13 (irregular,) starting at 17:00 until next Sunday at 16:00. The title of this series might be rather queer. However, there is a reason. This book is the first book of this series. The author of this series tends to believe that “True things are not necessarily known to many people and will never appear in textbooks, if they break some taboos.” If one can get rid of preconceptions and truly look into the history, one might notice that what Japan after WWII has accepted as “the true history,” which is also what most nations consider to be “true,” might be very biased, because it was needed to make sure that the Japanese would not fight against the allied nations again. The US was so afraid of Japan to revenge, therefore it had to brainwash the Japanese not to retaliate again. The US used all measure to make this happen. The US controlled media such as newspapers, magazines and radio; censored letters, telegrams and telephones; and confiscated several thousand books in Japan. The US also punished Japanese war criminals as they wanted. These acts were against the Potsdam Declaration that allowed freedom of speech for the defeated country, and fundamentally changed the later thinking of the Japanese. Judge Pal from India, who was a judge at the Tokyo War Crime Trial Court (The International Military Tribunal for Far East,) accused this court as being a political show, and concluded that based on international law, all defendants including all class A war criminals not guilty. However, Judge Pal’s and other countries’ minority opinions were kept secret by this court, and no one was aware of the fact in Japan under occupation, and also the facts were not disclosed to the world. It is questionable if one says Japan was 100 bad and the US was 100% good in WWII. If you see the facts in detail, this becomes more and more questionable. The historical facts seem to say that the US President, FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) was trying to force Japan to fight against the allied nations. In the US, ex-President Hoover, and Republican Statesman, Hamilton Fisch later tried to accuse FDR regarding his malicious intentions betraying the Americans. FDR was accused of making the world separated into block economies by imposing a very high tariff and making Japan almost unable to survive, so that Japan would have to start a war. FDR also stopped Germany to head East towards USSR, but made Germany fight with the western European countries. In addition, FDR gave the USSR enormous amount of armaments to help the communist Russia win the war. If the past history does not make sense, it is necessary to check the facts again and review what really had happened. Many unimaginable facts have been revealed after the USSR has collapsed and its many secret files have become open. Also, after the end of the cold war, what many Soviet spies in the US communicated to the USSR were made public. However, efforts to explain the history using newly identified facts are called “revisionism,” which means that “The true history is now being rewritten by bad revisionists who want to distort the proven history.” The author of this series is not a professional historian, but a professor at a Japanese business school. The approach used in this book is not based on academic methodologies. He is a consultant, so he uses his experience as a consultant who can research facts for clients and give necessary recommendations. Within the three books in this series, this first book defines the basis. This book makes the readers understand that what is “known” about WWII may not be true, so that the readers would be able to better understand China in the second book, and Korea and Taiwan in the third book.