Transcript Britain Stands Alone

WW 2 History Club
“Keep the British
Isles Afloat”
“Arsenal of
Democracy”
833 Days
“All Aid Short
of War”
“Keep out of
foreign wars”
26 - Dec1 - 2012
Today’s Goal
 Introduce you to some of the less famous
individuals who were not military but had
as much influence on what eventually
happened as any general
 Interest in similar sessions in the future?
 Focus Group?
 WWII Book Club?
2
The Big Three
For most people,
“the big three” of WWII refer to
1. Churchill
2. Roosevelt
3. Stalin
But who made it happen?
3
The Few
In one of his most famous
speeches, Churchill stated:
“Never in the field of human
conflict has so much been owed by
so many to so few”
Who are “the few”?
Are you sure?
4
833 Days
1-Sep-1939:
WWII starts
8-Dec-1941:
US declares war on Japan
12-Dec-1941: Germany declares war on US
8-May-1945:
VE Day
European War lasted 2076 days
US was not a true belligerent for first 833 days
5
Britain Stands Alone
 Seeds of WWII go back decades
 European War started in Sep 1939
 Fall of Poland
 Phony War
 Fall of Norway and Denmark
 May 1940 breakout
 “The Battle of France is Over …”
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Britain Stands Alone
 “ … the Battle of Britain is about to
begin …”
 Britain is the size of Colorado
 British army was trampled by Germans
 Britain is low of food, men, arms, …
 How could Britain stand up to Hitler?
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Britain Stands Alone
 Germany is 80 million +
 Britain Empire is 500 million
 British Empire: 50 divisions
 Germany: 250 divisions (half were
crack combat divisions)
“Never before in history have so few
brought so much suffering to so many”
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US Isolationism
 Memories of WWI
 Stay out of European conflicts
 Vast majority of Americans against any
involvement (various reasons)
 FDR had to be careful
 What was his strategy?
 Why was it so important to stay out of the
war?
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Video
• Perspective on Greatness:
The Price of Peace
• 1952 Documentary Series
• Approx 30 minutes
10
What Happened?
 Why did Americans change their mind
about “the European War”
 How did the US figure out what the UK
really needed?
 How did Lend-Lease go from an idea to
action?
 How were the many differences
between the US and the UK mitigated?
11
What Happened?
 Why did FDR and Churchill wait so long
to meet?
 How could these monstrous egos get
along?
 Churchill was known for decisiveness
and quick action; FDR for vacillation
and endless delays
 How could they work cooperatively?
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What Happened?
 4 Americans changed history
 4 Americans backed Britain and
supported aide to Britain against
huge opposition
 4 Americans convinced FDR (and
the US public) that Britain would not
surrender
 4 Americans mitigated the problems
of culture and alliance
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4 Americans
1. Edward R. Murrow
2. Harry Hopkins
3. John Winant
4. W. Averell Harriman
Who were these men and how did they
change history?
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Edward R. Murrow
 Minimal training as a newspaperman
 Pioneer in radio broadcast
 Director of CBS Talks & Education in
1935
 Went to London in 1937
 Covered “the events” live: revolutionary
approach
 Anschluss
 Sudetenland, Munich, …
 Built huge following for “radio news”
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Edward R. Murrow
 World News Roundup (CBS radio)
 “This is London”
 Trusted source of news
 Close relationship with Churchill
 Offered director-general of BBC
 Closer relationship with Pamela
Churchill
For many Americans, Murrow’s broadcasts were a
trusted source of “unbiased”, up-to-the minute, news
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Edward R. Murrow
 Murrow Boys .. “The finest news staff ever
assembled”:
 Eric Sevareid
 Charles Collingwood
 Howard K. Smith
 William Shirer
 Mary Marvin Breckinridge
 Cecil Brown
 Richard C. Hottelet
 Bill Downs
 Winston Burdett
 Charles Shaw
 Ned Calmer
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Edward R Murrow &
the Power of Radio
• We tend to forget that radio was “the
media” of the 1930s and 1940s
• Everyone listened to radio
• Radio was often more powerful than
images because with radio you could
imagine … “the theater of the mind”
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Edward R Murrow &
the Power of Radio
 Let’s listen to some radio from the 1930s
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“I can hear it now” (1933 – 1945)
Trafalgar Square 24Aug’40
“Good Luck” Dec 1940
“This is London” 1942
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Harry Hopkins
 FDR’s chief advisor on many topics (2nd
most powerful man in Washington)
 Directed WPA, largest employer in the
country
 Managed the distribution of $ billions
 Friend and confidant of FDR
 Lived at the White House for 3+ years
 One of FDR’s “confidential agents” – “eyes & ears”
 More influential than the State Department
 “Now Harry, get that goddamn thing done. And Harry
would have it done in two hours”
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Harry Hopkins
 Secy of Commerce
 Special mission to UK in early 1941
to “get the facts”
 Developed exceptionally good
relationship with Churchill; impressed
by his decisiveness and quick action
 “Lord of Root of the Matter”
 Returned with a good understanding of Churchill, UK
 Convinced that UK would weather the storm
 Overall director of Lend Lease; wanted Harriman in UK
 Arranged for Placentia Bay meeting
 Visited Stalin (Jul’41); convinced FDR to include USSR in LL
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US Position on Aid
 Neutrality Act of 1935
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general embargo for 6 months
 Neutrality Act of 1936
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extended 14 months, no loans
 Neutrality Act of 1937
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no time limit; civil wars too;
modest “cash & carry” provision
 Neutrality Act of 1939
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Initially restored embargo
Later repealed Acts of 1936 and 1937:
“Cash & Carry”
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US Position on Aid
 Cash & Carry … Sep/Nov -1939
 All belligerent nations; UK preference
 War zones declared
 National Munitions Control Board
 Federal crime: Arms trading w/o license
(still in effect)
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US Position on Aid
 1940:
 Britain stands alone
 Britain running out of $
 US public in favor of “some help”
 Destroyers for Bases (US acted faster)
 17 Dec: The Garden Hose speech
 29 Dec: Arsenal of Democracy Speech
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US Aid to Allies
 1941:
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Britain truly desperate
Battle of the Atlantic
75% of US public in favor of Lend-Lease
March  Britain
April  China
October  Soviet Union
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Joseph Kennedy
 Interesting past
 US Ambassador to UK
27Jan’38 – 22Oct’40 (critical time?)
 Aligned with Chamberlain / appeasement
 Vocal about Britain falling
 Thought Germany was too strong
 Encouraged FDR to write off Britain
 Encouraged Americans to get out of UK
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The Mess
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For 175 years …
Churchill and UK tired of US “talk”
UK Belief: US was taking advantage of UK
Halifax had to tone down Churchill’s
correspondence
 Churchill: “Give us the tools …”
 FDR: not much use for JPK or State Dept
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John Winant
 Hero was Abe Lincoln
 Reserved and “awkward”; not a great speaker
 Idealist to the point of political suicide
 Worked 24/7 but not a good administrator
 Progressive Republican; 2 term governor of NH
 More progressive than FDR?
 US rep to International Labor Organization – 1935 (FDR ploy?)
 Social Security Administration Commissioner – 1935 - 1936
 Back to ILO in 1937; director of ILO by 1939
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John Winant
 Travelled extensively in Europe during run up
to war
 Well known in UK
 Appointed Ambassador to UK in Jan, 1941
 FDR need someone to clean up the mess
exacerbated by Kennedy
 UK reaction was jubilant
 “I'm very glad to be here. There is no place I'd rather be at this
time than in England.”
 “Here You Shall Not Pass”
 Close relationship with Churchill and British government,
particularly Foreign Office and Anthony Eden. Part of Churchill’s
extended family
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John Winant
 Often explained “the basics” to support
Churchill
 Embassy staff operated as a team
 “… complete confidence and respect that your
Ambassador has won from all classes of
people in England. He will become, I believe,
before he leaves, the most beloved American
who has ever been in England”
 Frustrated (as were others) with FDR’s waffling
 Did FDR not want the responsibility of an overt act?
 “What America requires is not propaganda but the facts”
 “We have all slept … we have all tried … we are now beginning …
 Every day we delay …
30
W. Averell Harriman
 Son of railroad (robber) baron
 The right schools: Groton, Yale (Skull & Bones)
 Social links with FDR but completely different
personalities
 Intensely pragmatic
 Banking, Union Pacific and other RR interests,
Shipping, horse racing interests; polo player
 Travelled extensively in Europe brokering deals
 Enjoyed meeting and befriending powerful people
 Switched from Republican to Democratic parties in 1928
 Recognized shift of power from Wall Street to Washington
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W. Averell Harriman
 On the fringes of the New Deal
 Wanted more important position on FDR’s team
 Revive American business
 Positions in NRA, Natl Industrial Recovery, Natl
Advisory Council, Office of Production Mgmt
 Not involved in early mobilization planning
 Internationalist and interventionist
 When Hopkins returned from UK (early ’41), he specifically
requested Harriman as the UK side of Lend-Lease
 FDR: “I want you to go over to London and recommend everything
that we can do, short of war, to keep the British Isles afloat.”
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W. Averell Harriman
 “Defense Expeditor”
 “The great thing about Averell was that
everything he did, he did bloody well.”
 FDR provided few specifics; OK by Harriman
 Custodian of “the relationship” Hopkins had
initiated
 US military: not much value in sending scarce equipment unless
UK had bases, men, …
 US military: are we to be a warehouse for the British or a fighting
partner?
 Key Goal: get more information to convince US military
33
W. Averell Harriman
 Felt optimistic with Hopkins in charge
 Developed relationship with Churchill on a par
with Hopkin’s … the American member
 Even closer relationship with Churchill’s
daughter-in-law, Pamela
 Quickly settled in to the job
 Excellent liaison with Winant’s office
 Coordinated the mess of special missions
 Experience with railroads and shipping
 Battle of the Atlantic
Two impatient men, an ocean apart, linking up and
working with each other to save Britain
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W. Averell Harriman
 Placentia Bay participant
 Mission to USSR (follow up to Hopkins) to
negotiate details of Lend-Lease to USSR
 Churchill’s “efficiency expert”; trip to Egypt
 Quite critical of FDR’s waffling … “I have made
my decision …”
 Better understanding of British capability (pre Barbarossa)
 Would fight to the finish
 But not capable of finishing it
 Direct American intervention would be required.
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FDR Signs Lend Lease
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Lend Lease
 Lend-Lease was a critical factor in the
eventual success of the Allies in World
War II.
 In 1943–1944, about a quarter of all British
munitions came through Lend-Lease.
 Aircraft (in particular transport aircraft)
comprised about a quarter of the
shipments to Britain, followed by food,
land vehicles and ships.
37
Lend Lease
 Even after the United States forces in Europe
and the Pacific began to reach full strength in
1943–1944, Lend-Lease continued.
 Most remaining allies were largely self-sufficient
in front line equipment (such as tanks and fighter
aircraft) by this stage, Lend-Lease logistical
supplies (including motor vehicles and railroad
equipment) were of enormous assistance.
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Lend Lease
 Much of the aid can be better understood when
considering the economic distortions caused by
the war.
 Most belligerent powers cut back severely on
production of non-essentials, concentrating on
producing weapons.
 This inevitably produced shortages of related
products needed by the military or as part of the
military-industrial complex or essential nonmilitary goods.
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Lend Lease
 The USSR was highly dependent on rail
transportation, but the war practically shut down
rail equipment production: only about 92
locomotives were produced. 2,000 locomotives
and 11,000 railcars were supplied under LendLease.
 Likewise, the Soviet air force received 18,700
aircraft, which amounted to about 14% of Soviet
aircraft production (19% for military aircraft).
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Lend Lease
 Although most Red Army tank units were
equipped with Soviet-built tanks, their logistical
support was provided by hundreds of thousands
of U.S.-made trucks.
 By 1945 nearly two-thirds of the truck strength of
the Red Army was U.S.-built. Trucks such as the
Dodge 3/4 ton and Studebaker 2½ ton, were
easily the best trucks available in their class on
either side on the Eastern Front.
 American shipments of telephone cable,
aluminum, canned rations, and clothing were
also critical.
41
Lend Lease
 Hopkins on one end and Harriman on the
other
 Two focused and impatient men
 Understood that ultimately it is the total
system that must work: war material,
support material, transportation, spare
parts, people, training,… , LOGISTICS!
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Economics
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Harriman’s Businesses
 Harriman was a true “tycoon” and had extensive business
interests (full and partial ownership)
 Banking (Brown Bros Harriman, Guaranty Trust, Union
Banking, …)
 Railroads (Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Illinois
Central,
 Shipping (Holland American, Pacific Mail, US Lines, …),
 Racing stables
 Other transportation (Wells Fargo,
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Harriman’s Businesses
 Harriman’s bank was main Wall Street connection for
German companies
 Not illegal until Hitler declared war on US and “Trading With
The Enemy” Act was passed
 In Oct ’42 several of Harriman’s companies were seized:
 Union Banking Corporation (UBC) (from Thyssen and
Brown Brothers Harriman).
 Holland-American Trading Corporation (from Harriman)
 the Seamless Steel Equipment Corporation (from
Harriman)
 Silesian-American Corporation
45
Pamela Churchill
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Originally married to Randolph (WSC’s son)
Affair with Harriman
Affair with Murrow
Affairs with …
Post WWII: affairs with major players on the continent
Widow in 1971 when she met Harriman at a party
Married Harriman two months later
Washington hostess
US ambassador to France under Clinton
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Further Reading
 “To Keep The British Isles Afloat”
 Thomas Parrish
 Focus is Hopkins and Harriman
 “Citizens of London”
 Lynn Olson
 Focus is Harriman, Murrow, Winant
 “The Murrow Boys”
 Lynn Olson
47
Questions
 Was Britain as bad off as they claimed in late
1940 and early 1941?
 What was the threat of invasion then?
 Would tools and such be enough?
 What else did Churchill really want?
 What was FDR’s real strategy?
 What impact did Murrow and his boys have?
 Did these men make history or did history make
these men?
48