WW II

The United States played a significant role in World War II1. Here are some key points about the United States’ involvement in World War II:

• The United States is generally considered to have entered the conflict with the December 7, 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan.

• The United States exited the war with the September 2, 1945 surrender of Japan.

• During the first two years of World War II, the US maintained formal neutrality.

• The US supplied Britain, the Soviet Union, and China with war materiel through the Lend-Lease Act signed into law on March 11, 1941.

• The US military was deployed to replace the British forces stationed in Iceland.

• During the war, some 16,112,566 Americans served in the United States Armed Forces, with 291,557 killed and 671,278 wounded.

• There were also 130,201 American prisoners of war, of whom 116,129 returned home after the war.

• The defeat of the Nazis was the US’s official highest priority per its agreement with Britain.

• Admiral King put Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, based in Hawaii, in charge of the Pacific War against Japan.

• The Imperial Japanese Navy had the advantage, taking the Philippines as well as British and Dutch possessions, and threatening Australia but in June 1942, its main carriers were sunk during the Battle of Midway, and the Americans seized the initiative.

This period of American history had a profound impact on the nation and continues to influence it today.