Microsoft Close Combat Germany and Italy Declare War on the United States, Omar Nelson Bradley

134Close Combat

188 American aircraft are destroyed. But not all goes as the Japanese planned. By coincidence, the U.S. Navy’s three aircraft carriers are not in port and escape destruction. And contrary to orders, the massive fuel oil storage tanks at Pearl Harbor are not destroyed. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who planned the Pearl Harbor attack, estimates that it will set the Americans back only six months; he states that Japan cannot win an all-out war with the U.S. The Japanese gamble that the war in Europe will distract the Americans from focusing their war effort against Japan. Consequently, Japan can conquer the territory it needs to supply raw materials for war production, then present the U.S. and Britain with a ring of steel so formidable that they will sue for peace. On December 8, 1941 the United States and Britain declare war on Japan.

Germany and Italy Declare War on the United States

In support of their Axis ally Japan, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States on December 11. This is one of the biggest mistakes Germany makes during the war. Until this time, the outcome of the war in Europe is still very much in doubt. Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease program has kept the Allies in the war, but now the full weight of America’s industrial power will be brought to bear. More importantly, the American armed forces will add fresh troops to the battle-thinned ranks of the Allied armies. However, the United States faces a dilemma how to fight a war on two fronts.

	Omar Nelson Bradley	of the U.S. II Corps in North Africa. After the
	(1893-1981). Although	invasion of Sicily he was promoted to the rank
	Bradley was not flamboyant	of lieutenant general.
	or showy, he was a master	In 1944 Bradley was named senior commander
	of infantry tactics;
		of U.S. ground troops for the invasion of
	Eisenhower called Bradley
		Europe. He commanded the U.S. First Army
“the greatest battle-line commander I have met
		during the Normandy Campaign, then led the
in this war.”
		U.S. Twelfth Army Group for the remainder of
Bradley was a West Point classmate of Dwight		the war. His coolness even in crises like the
Eisenhower; both graduated in 1915, and		Battle of the Bulge won the confidence of his
neither saw action in World War I. By 1941		superiors, and his willingness to share danger
Bradley was a brigadier general in charge of		and discomfort with his men earned him their
the U.S. Army Infantry School, and became a		respect; war correspondent Ernie Pyle called
major general in 1942. In 1943 under		Bradley “the G.I. General.”
Eisenhower he succeeded Patton in command