The Dictatorial Leader of Germany in World War II

Adolf Hitler, the dictatorial leader of Germany in World War II, made many tragic mistakes that cost Germany the war and prevented them from gaining Lebensraum. Throughout the course of the war, Hitler made many decisions that ultimately did not benefit the country as a whole, like invading Russia. The Germans were easily defeated in Russia due to Blitzkrieg being delayed five weeks because Hitler decided to aid his friend Mussolini, prime minister of Italy, in Greece. This resulted in Germany's ultimate defeat by the Red Army in the Soviet Union on December 1, 1941, at the southern end of the eastern front, even though Hitler had promised a quick victory over the Red Army.

Not fully acknowledging the extent of the Red Army's victory, Hitler and his generals saw their defeat merely as a temporary halt in German offensive operations.

Japan, not wanting the United States Pacific Fleet to interfere with their planned military actions in Southeast Asia over territories of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. I believe Hitler did not make the correct decision by following up with an attack on the United States immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Hitler knew that the United States would need several years to rebuild its military forces and presumed that an attack on the United States would succeed. He should not have declared war on the United States since he misjudged the United States actions; the United States and Allied powers had more supplies/resources than the Germans/Axis Powers; and, now, the United States could bypass isolation laws.

Hitler launched an attack on the United States on December 11, 1941, just four days after the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor, which resulted in the death of over 2,000 men and the destruction of almost 200 U.S. aircraft. At this time, the United States army had a meager 460,000 military personnel compared to the millions of soldiers at Germany's disposal. Hitler correctly deduced that the United States would need time to replenish its troops. Despite the failure of Operation Barbarossa to capture Moscow due to greater resistance than the Germans had anticipated and harsh weather conditions, Hitler believed that his soldiers could endure the setback until spring. Hitler assumed that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would prevent the United States from aiding Britain in repelling the Germans in Europe. The United States helped their ally, the Soviet Union, by sending resources and supplies to ensure their victory over Germany. Hitler's decision to declare war on the United States ultimately cost him the chance of achieving Lebensraum and global domination.

Known as a man who trusted no one but himself, Hitler allowed this belief to guide his decision to attack the United States just four days after the Pearl Harbor incident. He falsely assumed that the Japanese would assist in the war against the Soviets; however, they did not, which resulted in the Germans' failure to take control of Moscow. Hitler believed that the United States would be too preoccupied with Japan in the Pacific to deal with the battles occurring on the European front. Instead, as U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Roosevelt "directed nearly 90 percent of America’s military resources" toward defeating Hitler and Germany, rather than Japan, according to Herwig. Despite referring to the United States as a "mongreloid nation," Hitler secretly feared their formidable forces. According to the Tripartite Pact, Germany was not obligated to declare war on America but merely to support Japan if they were attacked.
A German official, Minister von Ribbentrop, understood this and tried to stall for time, but Hitler did not approve and declared war. Instead, Hitler chose to "reverse his policy and join Japan" because he valued them as an ally (Trefousse). Hitler should not have declared war on the United States at this time. The United States, during World War II, was known as a powerhouse for its immense amount of military supplies and resources. This is one of the reasons why Germany wanted to delay America joining the war as long as possible. They did this so that they could produce more military weapons, tanks, guns, etc., to try to defeat the United States, even though Hitler declared war early as he believed war with the United States was inevitable. Hindenburg stated, “We fully expect war with America and have made all preparations for it,” showing that they were ready to fight with America (Herwig). The United States was part of the Allied powers with the Soviet Union and provided many resources to them through their Lend-Lease Act. This allowed the United States to essentially exchange weapons and resources with the Soviets. The Lend-Lease Act effectively gave Russia the planes, tanks, weapons, etc., they needed in order to stop Germany from taking over Moscow and changing the course of the war. This provided nearly “20% of the total number of armored vehicles” that Russia had in the war (Kretaner). Even more importantly, the “USA alone provided the Russians with 501,660 tactical wheeled and tracked vehicles” which helped the Soviets slow the Germans progress (Kretaner). Overall, the Allied powers now had more tanks, aircraft, and supplies due to Hitler declaring war on the United States. This ultimately cost him the opportunity of taking over Moscow and gaining his needed Lebensraum for Germany.
After the Great Depression and the tragic losses during World War I, the United States public desired isolationism. This meant they advocated for “non-entanglement” in international politics, especially regarding European and Asian conflicts. During this period of isolationism, the United States did not participate in the troubling events in Europe. When President Roosevelt took office, he felt the United States needed “to participate more actively in international affairs,” despite public opinion to the contrary. During the Nazi rise, Roosevelt felt an even stronger need to intervene, but Congress “pushed through a series of Neutrality Acts” to prevent American ships and citizens from being involved in the conflict.

Only in 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, did the majority of the American public feel the need to join the war on the side of the Allied Powers and stop Hitler. Even strong isolationist supporters Charles Lindbergh and Herbert Hoover changed their opinion after Pearl Harbor was bombed, opting to support the war effort. Hitler’s decision to declare war against America came after they decided to assist the Allied Powers, which helped the Soviet Union defeat Germany.

Moreover, America was able to bypass all the laws they had previously implemented to support their allies; this was a contributing factor to Germany’s loss in the war. Cheap analysis would posit that Hitler should have waited longer to declare war on America or not have declared at all. Adolf Hitler made many mistakes throughout the course of the war, but the decision to declare war on the United States may have been his most costly. This impetuous decision hindered him from taking over the Russian capital, Moscow, and from gaining the living space that he so desperately wanted for the Germans.

Hitler was misguided in his decision to attack the United States, mistakenly believing that this action would encourage the Japanese to assist them in defeating the Russians, which did not happen. Additionally, Hitler surmised that the Americans would orient their troops towards the Pacific in response to the Japanese bombings on Pearl Harbor. Instead, they dispatched nearly 90 percent of their troops on the European front, where it was least expected.

Moreover, the United States, and the Allied Powers more generally, had more supplies/resources than the Germans and the Axis Powers, and were therefore able to defeat them through a variety of measures. Through the lend-lease act, the Americans provided the Russians with necessary resources, helping them thwart the Germans' attempt to take over Moscow and potentially changing the outcome of the war. Hitler’s decision to declare war on America after they intervened in the war significantly contributed to why Hitler and Germany failed to win the war.

Furthermore, America's intervention allowed them to offer crucial aid to the Allied Powers, more specifically, the Soviet Union, which consequently prevented Germany from taking control of Moscow. Despite his belief in the inevitability of a war with America, Hitler should not have declared war when he did. Ultimately, Hitler's decision to declare war on the United States immediately after the Pearl Harbor bombings cost him the war and global domination.

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