Page 93 - NS-2 Textbook

86 MARITIME HISTORY

Arctic Ocean

North Sea

Atlantic Ocean

"

The European theater, World War 11.

vasion of the Soviet Union, forcing it to join forces with for war and to gear up American military industrial pro-
the Allies. Over the next four years fighting along the duction to wartime levels.
eastern front in the Soviet Union would be some of the The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7
bloodiest the world had ever known. Altogether there December 1941 stunned the American people and galva-
would be over 25 million Soviet casualties and 5 million nized them into action. America was now ready to go to
German casualties. war. Three days after the Japanese attack, Germany and
Despite these events taking place in Europe, the ma- Italy joined Japan in declaring war on the United States.
jority of Americans wanted no part in the European con- The second of two world wars had come to America.
flict. President Franklin Roosevelt, however, reelected for A reorganization of Navy commands followed the
a third term in 1940, felt differently. As mentioned in the Pearl Harbor attack and declarations of war. Admiral
last chaptel~ he took many measures to prepare America Ernest J. King became commander in chief of the U.S.