Richard Overy in 1995 published his novel titled Why the Allies Won; Overy is a professor of modern history at King’s College in London and has published numerous works on World War II. Why the Allies Won is inclusive to Overy’s in depth study of why the allies won World War II, when it seemed that the axis powers were ahead until 1942-1943. Overy begins by clearly laying out the basic information as to why the allies did win. He discusses three major elements of World War II in terms of where the battles were: in the sea, in the air, and on the ground. By doing this he is clearly illustrates the allies’ rough situation upon entering the war, and how they were able to improve their performance both militarily and economically and come out of World War II victorious.

Overy discusses, in great detail, the war at sea. He goes into depth discussing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which ultimately cause the United States to enter the war. He talks about the intelligence of the allies and how they were eventually able to break the code of submarine warfare tactics which allowed them to defeat the German U-boats. The code-breaking and radar technology allowed their anti-submarine warfare tactics to become technologically superior alongside the United States Navy; both of which led to the demise of the German U-boat threat and the Japanese Navy.

The war in the air, as portrayed by Overy, consisted of more ineffectiveness, than actual effectiveness. Overy illustrates how the American bombing offensive had cause disruptions in Germany’s economy and actually diverted Germany’s resources to Reich. However, Overy also illustrates the importance of the American bombers along with the new radar technology, when dealing with the Japanese Navy and locating submarines. In one aspect, Overy does not seem to give the air force enough credit, but then in other areas he illustrates the importance of the aircraft with the bombings. For example, he talks of the Soviet air force and how their skill and confidence was aided in the allies winning the war; however, he compares that to the Germans and Japanese who were more militarized at the beginning of the war. In the way Overy compares the nations, he clearly illustrates that the allies had to learn how to fight in war; while the axis powers were already prepared for war.

The difference between the allies and the axis powers military skills, according to Overy, aided in the allies’ victory. The axis powers were prepared for war, while the allies had to learn war. The allies being pulled into the war, especially Britain and America were not as prepared but could then use more modern technology to create better equipment. This element is obviously important in answering the question of why the allies won and Overy does not ignore its importance. The technological advances and quality was illustrated numerous times when dealing with aircraft, bombers, submarines, tanks, and radars. He also illustrated how Germany was also working to improve their technology. In return, Germany developed too many weapons that were not as effective as their old, while at the same time, the Soviets continued working on making fewer new models of weapons but mass-producing their old weapons. As Overy also points out, this is an economic downfall to Germany as they are spending money trying to create something new, that in return fails, the Soviet Union spend their money producing the same equipment and not losing money in the long run.

The weapons proved vital for on the ground warfare. The axis while having better trained soldiers, focused on placing their combat troops in the front and not many in the rear. The allies placed more emphasis on using their troops for supply purposes which allowed them to continue warfare without break unlike the axis troops which were constantly running out of supplies and getting bombarded by the axis while waiting for supplies. Overy illustrates in precise detail the statistics of the allied resources in comparison to the axis resources and in return he portrays the obvious superior allied supply forces. The axis powers were lacking in shipping, tanks, aircraft, oil, steel, ordnance and ammunition as well as man power. All of these, the allied troops had plenty; they relied on obtaining their steel from American and was able to extract twice as much oil as the axis powers. The axis powers had oil; however, Overy points out that they did not have the drilling equipment to obtain the oil. The oil that Germany had and was able to extract was watered down by the time it reached the battle fields, which decreased its octane levels. Germany was unable to successfully extract and transport the high octane oil that, in particular, was vital for their aircrafts.

For the war on the ground the Soviet military force had been nearly defeated in 1941, after the near defeat, Stalin placed strict guidelines on the troops about desertion as well as surrender. Stalin told all troops that any soldier of any stature who muttered surrender or deserted the troops was to be shot down. The soviet military troops were quick to learn from their mistakes in 1941, and Overy points out how they organized themselves better and quickly became an overwhelming ground force that held massive defeats at Stalingrad and Kursk. Overy also points out that with the, now highly skilled, Soviet military and the inexperienced American troops working together axis illusion of victory would quickly fade.

Overy illustrates key elements in all the tactics made by the prominent military figures. Overy dedicates an entire chapter discussing not only the well-known military figures such as Churchill, Stalin, and Hitler, but he also points out key figures that are typically looked over and not often appreciated. Little known figures such as Alexander Novikove, who was the architect of the Red air force, and Alexei Antonov who became the chief of staff after 1943 is portrayed by Overy as being important to the allies winning World War II, but often ignored by other historians.

Overy examines six different settings in answering the question of why the allies won. He begins by discussing the navy powers and used the Coral Sea and midway, and the Battle of the Atlantic to illustrate the allied Navy powers. He used Stalingrad and Kursk to portray air warfare tactics. Finally, he used the strategic bombing offensives and Normandy to portray the technological and leadership aspects of allied victory.

One element that Overy also includes in a separate chapter is that of morality and the moral aspects of war. This is an element that is important to World War II and the allies’ victory over the axis powers. In this chapter Overy includes the atomic bomb and nuclear warfare that was used at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the super bomb was effective in winning the wars the result of the atomic bomb was much more horrific than anyone anticipated. While there were originally three atomic bombs only two hit their target and left massive destruction and devastation after the realization of the atomic bomb it was a morality issues and decided that nuclear warfare would never occur again. When dealing with warfare Overy points out that civilian lives are commonly lost to the best of soldiers abilities, but to the extent of nuclear weapons, morally and ethically it was wrong.

Also in dealing with morality, Overy explains the Japanese warfare tactics with suicide bombers and people willing to give their lives knowing it would be lost, in comparison, with the allied troops who were willing to fight to the death. The difference between fighting in war with the intent to fight to the death verses fighting to die brought about another great point in not only warfare but the different nationalities and cultures that were involved in the World War II.

Why the Allies Won is a novel that would be a great addition to any historians library or simply for a World War II enthusiast. This book provides great insight on World War II and an in depth look at the allied verse axis powers. Throughout Overy’s book a reader is pummeled with historical statistics and data that make the book perfect for research. In addition to research the book is overall an easy read, and both accurate and reliable facts. The book is a quick read and can provide much insight into intricate details often overlooked about World War II, as well as makes readers question and wonder what would have happened had the axis actually been victorious instead of the allies. One downfall that I discovered in the book was that it took some getting into. Like any great literary work the beginning can often seem dry and loose the interest of readers, for me it began slowly but by the time one reaches beyond the first chapter the book is one that is difficult to put down. The range and use of blending both allied and axis information into each page keeps the readers in tuned to a chronological aspect, although the book is not in chronological order from cover to cover, and helps the readers realize how things played out. I found it to be fascinating how Overy includes a cultural historians point of view in the book with the included chapter about the morals of war and the different moralities concerned with each nation, how those morals differed yet the soldiers were all present to win the war. 

In conclusion, Overy allows readers to thoroughly understand the outcome of World War II by illustrating elements such as: technological quality, combat prowess, organization and leadership, and even comments of fighting a moral war in order to express why the allies won World War II.  Overy presents these thematic elements in a way that can easily be understood by readers, without omitting facts and statistics. Overy does not allow for any misconceptions when one finishes his book. From military leaders to battle plans, Overy covers the entire course of World War II, in order to answer the ultimate question that many people ask: how did the allies win the war after the axis powers were so far ahead.  

Then, an officer of the U.S. Army aviator has a crazy idea, the bombers flew from aircraft carriers in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to strike back to the mainland of Japan.

Officer named Lt. Col. James Harold “Jimmy” Doolittle, and that later proved successful attack was named Offensive Doolittle (Doolittle Raid). Popular in the world, attacks portrayed in the movie Pearl Harbor (2001) filmed director Michael Bay and starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale.

Last weekend, the veteran actors such attacks are still alive back on the desperate mission. Of the 80 airmen involved in the mission of the attack, the remaining three are still living, namely Edward Saylor, Thomas Griffin, and David Thatcher.

Three World War II veteran who is now 90-year-old on Saturday (05.05.2012), gathered at the museum ship USS Hornet, the ship with the same name as the ship where they had planes taking off in Alameda, near San Francisco, California, USA.

Doolittle granddaughter, Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, two former officers in the aircraft carrier USS Hornet is the original, as well as a Chinese military officer who in his youth had saved U.S. pilots in the Doolittle attack attended the celebration of 70 years of the attack.

Saylor told how the whole crew was forced to attack Doolittle took off from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) is narrow in the rain and high winds as well as at a point farther from Japan than originally planned on 18 April 1942.

Their mission this time is flying planes B-25 Mitchell bombers across the Pacific, dropping bombs in major cities of Japan, and then landed at any place they considered safe. Their mission is a mission in one direction because of their fuel tank capacity is only enough to take them to Japan and surrounding areas.

“Some team members thought they would survive the mission, but the chances are very small,” said Saylor. According to him, none of the 80 pilots and crew members who participated in a mission it never took off from aircraft carrier before. At that time, U.S. carriers are designed simply to bring combat ships are small, not a bomber B-25 class.

The mission was finally able to reach Japan and dropped their bombs. Although only minor damage in Japan, the attack was successful in increasing the moral struggle of the American people as well as undermine the confidence of Japan.

However, all should be paid handsomely. Three crew members were killed when attackers try to land their plane in mainland China. Eight other crew captured Japanese soldiers, three of them were later executed, and another died of illness in prison.

Griffin still remembers when his plane ran out of fuel after running bombing missions in Japan. He and his friends immediately put on a parachute and jumped from the plane.

“I’m out of my plane with a quick jump. After that, I traveled a long and foreign to the soil surface below me,” said Griffin who then stuck in a tree and waited in a state depends on the land until sunrise.

Japanese soldiers were also killed when the villagers in China are caught helping the U.S. aviators who landed near the village and help them escape.

One young Chinese boy who was helping U.S. soldiers are Lieutenant Colonel Chu Chen, an active officer in the armed forces of China, who also attended the memorial ceremony in Oakland last week.

Suddenly, sirens wailed. Japanese torpedo planes screeched over the fleet. In a surprise attack that lasted less than two hours, about 360 Japanese aircraft pounded five battleships into useless hulks. Japanese submarines also attacked. The attacks severely damaged 13 other vessels and destroyed 188 U.S. airplanes.

The Japanese attack came as a complete surprise. People who lived in Honolulu thought at first that the smoke and noise came from make-believe war games. But when the smoke cleared, 2,280 Americans were dead, and nearly 1,200 wounded.

December 7 marked Japan’s entry into World War II on the side of Germany and Italy. On December 8, the United States declared that a state of war had existed with Japan since the attack: “Remember Pearl Harbor” became a slogan during World War II.

Aircraft carriers became really important when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The airplanes that carried the bombs came from Japanese aircraft carriers. This very successful attack almost wrecked the United States Navy stationed in the Pacific.

During three great naval battles between June and October, 1944, planes from U.S. aircraft carriers destroyed almost all of the Japanese carrier fleet. U.S. carriers had assured an allied victory in the Pacific during World War II.

Official language: Japanese

Land area: 145,920 sq mi/377,922 sq km

Population:  127,662,000

Dominant religion: Shintoism and Buddhism

Capital: Tokyo

Current leader:  Prime Minister Naoto Kan

Japan is an island country in Far East Asia. It consists of four main islands – Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku – and about 3,600 smaller islands. Honshu is the most populous of the four islands. Tokyo, the nation’s capital city, is located on Honshu. Japan is the world’s tenth most populous country and one of the most densely-populated

 Japan is one of most homogenous countries in the world. Approximately 98 percent of the population is Japanese. Koreans, many of them descendants of forced laborers brought over when Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula, make up about 1 percent of the population. The remaining 1 percent are most Asians from other countries, mainly China, Thailand and Vietnam but also a significant number of expatriate workers from the United States and Europe.

 About 95 percent of all Japanese practice either Shintoism or Buddhism or both religions simultaneously. Christians make up about 2 percent while the rest practice other religions.

 Japan is one of the world’s leading industrial and economic superpowers. It leads the world electronics manufacturing and is second only to the United States in automobile manufacturing. It is also the world’s biggest rice exporter.

 Japan spent over 200 years isolated from the rest of the world until it was persuaded by Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1854 to open its ports for trade with the U.S. Quality of life improved greatly for the population but it also let to thirst for greater influence in the world and expansion. In 1895, it attacked China and gained possession of Taiwan. A war with Russia in 1905 gave it possession of a few islands further up north. In 1910 it annexed the Korean Peninsula. In 1931, it attacked China again, this time taking the northern Chinese province of Manchuria. In 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China and quickly brought nearly all of coastal China under its rule.

 During World War II, after crippling the U.S. Pacific fleet in an attack on Pearl Harbor, it overran all U.S., British, French and Dutch possessions in the Pacific Ocean and by early 1942, had nearly the entire western Pacific under its control. But devastation waited. The Allies quickly turned back the Japanese fortunes and, after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered.

 The country quickly rose from the ashes of its devastation, rebuilding its shattered infrastructure and in less than 20 years it was experiencing rapid economic growth. By the mid-1990’s however, economic growth came to a near halt.

The Japanese bombing of the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II. The Navy was most active in the Pacific Ocean. Naval troops called “Seabees” rapidly built bases and air strips on conquered islands.

U.S. submarines kept supplies from reaching Japan by destroying Japanese trading vessels. U.S. aircraft carriers moved swiftly from one place to another, defeating the Japanese with their combined strength of sea and air power.

The United States, however, had moved its Pacific fleet closer to Japan – to a base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The U.S. fleet was the only real threat to Japan. Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto insisted that a war with the United States had to begin with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Early on December 7, 1941, Japanese planes roared over the Pearl Harbor base. The attack was a complete surprise to the United States, but it failed to destroy the entire U,S, fleet, the repair yards, or the fuel depots. On December 8, President Franklin Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.

Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States in support of Japan. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz took command of U.S. naval operations in the Pacific. General Douglas MacArthur became the Pacific army commander.

Since human beings have intelligence, they have been in the need of expression.  Therefore, we have developed many kinds of art movements to satisfy our creativity, and movies are the most modern and also the most popular.  Anyway, the quality of movies has been decreasing  dramatically.  First of all, stereotyping has taken a very important role to get success in the promotion and releasing of a movie.  Another point is the low quality of some actors in performing a character; now is very common that some actors are good only for some characters.  A last observation could be that most of the creators of movies take old stories to make new versions, or they only take a popular event to develop a story; such as “Titanic” or “Pearl Harbor”.

 Stereotyping has taken a very powerful role in the cinematographic stage.  For example, a hero has to have some very specific characteristics to perform a protagonist character.  Similarly, the female star is required to be a certain way to capture the public attention.  Therefore, the public gets a specific conception of beauty with people like Brad Pitt or Jennifer Lopez. More over, the antagonist must also have more or less the same characteristics of the leading characters.  Stereotyping is not only in the characters. While we are watching a movie we realize that places have a traditional look too.  Therefore, USA is depicted as technology and Mexico or the rest of Latin America, on the other hand, are represented like very remote places.  Furthermore, movies that show countries like Colombia or Bolivia, degrade them involving them only with drug production or extremely crime.

 Since stereotyping has taken place, bad actors have come with it.  It is not a coincidence that we still see the same people in Hollywood movies.  Stereotyping is easily done because we are used to accepting only a certain people.  Also directors do not want to take the risk of trying something new.  Obviously there are good actors, but anyway the movie world has been filled up with mediocrity.  First of all, they always look for people with certain characteristics besides acting ability.  Also, they classify people according their look, so some of them are okay to be a protagonist, but the rest only to be extras.  For example, Leonardo Dicaprio performs very badly in Titanic.  He behaves like a guy of the United States in the 90’s that is very far from the character of an English man during the years of the Titanic.

 The problem in Hollywood movies begins with the screenplay for a movie.  Writers have limited their creativity in a specific and repetitive model of movie.  Even people who are not movie fans realize that in many of the movies, director develop a story like a routine for every single movie.  We can realize of this absence of creativity when we have seen “Rocky” in five different editions; some of us could say that it is a kind of mini-series.  Another example is the 101 dolnations, that after the success in cartoons it has been made into a movie.   But the worst thing is when we see movies where they are not movies, but actually big musical repertories.  This was the case with “Space Girls”, or the current Rock Star.  Actually, rock star was funny but it did not make any sense.

 Hollywood has been producing a lot of movies with bad quality because of their coward-ness in trying new things.  It is true that most of the people are satisfied seeing their favorite artists on the screen.  But there are some viewers who are looking for good art, and obviously they realize the carelessness that the directors have with the stories for movies.  Also, stereotyping has limited the options for many actors with all the conditions to perform leading characters.  However, I still hope that someday I will watch the reality of life on movies, and not a made up world of artificial beauty created to wash our brains with superficiality.

December 7, 2011: December 7th… Let’s see. No, it doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas or shopping.

70 years ago, in 1941, America came under terrorist attack. That time the enemy was Japan. That time the goal was to weaken America’s fleet or our ability to strike back. It had quite the opposite effect.

World War II had been raging for 2 years before America entered the war. There is much discussion and controversy surrounding America’s entry into the conflict.

Sadly we easily forget the men, women, and children who die in these conflicts, just as easily as we forget the date. 60 years from now will Americans remember 9-11?

These words should still ring out clear, “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.” A different conflict. A different time. Yet the meaning of these words, by Abraham Lincoln, is as true today as the day he spoke them.

It is for us, the living to remember that they died, why they died, and not let their deaths and suffering be for nothing.

Brought to you by: Another break from the poetry
Sources: YouTube, itnnews

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families for whom this day is deeply personal — the spouses, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters who have known seven decades without a loved one but who have kept their legacy alive for future generations.”

The rest of the president’s statement:

“We salute the veterans and survivors of Pearl Harbor who inspire us still. Despite overwhelming odds, they fought back heroically, inspiring our nation and putting us on the path to victory. They are members of that Greatest Generation who overcame the Depression, crossed oceans and stormed the beaches to defeat fascism, and turned adversaries into our closest allies.

When the guns fell silent, they came home, went to school on the G.I. Bill, and built the largest middle class in history and the strongest economy in the world. They remind us that no challenge is too great when Americans stand as one. All of us owe these men and women a profound debt of gratitude for the freedoms and standard of living we enjoy today.

On this National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we also reaffirm our commitment to carrying on their work – - to keeping the country we love strong, free and prosperous. And as today’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to an end and we welcome home our 9/11 Generation, we resolve to always take care of our troops, veterans and military families as well as they’ve taken care of us. On this solemn anniversary, there can be no higher tribute to the Americans who served and sacrificed seventy years ago today.”