Prof. Boerner's Explorations

Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary:

When Hitler and his Nazi “machine” invaded Poland with its “blitzkrieg” tactics in 1939, England and France declared war with Germany due to their mutual defense treaty with Poland. When the Nazi war machine was directed westward against the low countries and France, which fell quickly to the superior military forces of the Germans. That left England standing alone in western Europe against the Nazis.

As most countries during the inter-war and Great Depression years, maintenance of military preparedness had suffered. In addition, most planes were still biplanes and guns & artillery had not been maintained; England saw themselves as a naval power and focused on their battleships. Thus, infantry tactics and matériel left the English ill-prepared to confront the Germans and their Italian and Japanese allies. When Japan took over British colonies in Asia, England lost access to the resources to become prepared.

The resources were not just for the war matériel but for the food and other supplies necessary for everyday survival. The convoy system helped to deliver both types of supplies to that singular island standing alone against the Nazi empire on continent Europe. While the RAF defended the cities against the bombing raids during 1940 Battle of Britain, the convoys were being attacked by Germany’s U-Boat “Wolfpacks” during the Battle of the Atlantic.

If it had not been for the large fleet of Liberty Ships participating in the convoys, the delivery of lend-lease supplies may not have been delivered. W. Averell Harriman was appointed by FDR as the US Lend-Lease administrator in London for the duration of the war. The supplies not only enabled the successes in North Africa and Europe, the also provided aid to the Russian ally on the eastern front.

So let’s get into our exploration of the details of the Lend-Lease program…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

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Quotations Related to W. AVERELL HARRIMAN:

“The Russians often took advantage of Lend-Lease.”
— W. Averell Harriman

“The war changed everybody’s attitude. We became international almost overnight.”
— W. Averell Harriman

“There’s a myth that Roosevelt gave Stalin Eastern Europe. I was with Roosevelt every day at Yalta.”
— W. Averell Harriman

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Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary

In 2009, we ran a series of articles for Pearl Harbor Day (December 7th) related to the surprise attack on our Pacific fleet at anchor in the bay at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii. The Japanese launches nearly four hundred planes from four aircraft carriers the lay to the north of the island. This raid caught the American troops by surprise; both ships at anchor and airfields/airplanes were damages, destroyed, or sunk. Only our aircraft carriers, which were out at sea, were spared. These carriers and their planes became the core of our retaliation against the Japanese forces in the next four years.

So let’s get started on this sacred journey of exploration and remembrance…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2010 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

[ 2384 Words ]

Quotations Related to PEARL HARBOR

“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt, President

“America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.”
— George W. Bush

“From the unprovoked attack at Pearl Harbor grew a steadfast resolve that has made America a defender of freedom around the world, and our mission continues as our men and women in uniform serve at home and in distant lands”
— White House News Release

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