How America Prepared To Enter The Second World War | America's War Years: 1941

7 December 1941, the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The attack brought America into the Second World War and ultimately doomed Japan and the other Axis powers. But why did Japan feel the attack was necessary? War Stories is your one stop shop for all things military history. From Waterloo to Verdun, we'll be bringing you only the best documentaries and stories from history's most engaging and dramatic conflicts. You can find more from us on

As the Battle of the Bulge raged on into 1945, the U.S. battled stiff resistance on Leyte and Iwa Jima in the Pacific, and Americans brought the war into the Fatherland while mourning President Roosevelt, who did not live to see their final victory, signaled by the deaths of Mussolini and Hitler and the atomic bombs that defeated Japan.

On April 30th 1945 and with Soviet forces closing in, Adolf Hitler committed suicide. Soon after Germany surrendered, and the only Axis power left standing was the Japanese Empire. Rather than risk a land invasion that could cost millions of lives, the US unleashed a never before seen power on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that brought the bloodiest war in history to an end. War Stories is your one stop shop for all things military history. From Waterloo to Verdun, we'll be bringing you only the best documentaries and stories from history's most engaging and dramatic conflicts. You can find more from us on

By 1943, the battle turned against North Africa. Allied forces led an invasion of Sicily and Italy, and plans were laid to bomb Germany. The liberation of Tunisia and the defense of Stalingrad began to crack the myth of Hitler's super-race, while Allied forces fought back against the Japanese in the Aleutians and on New Guinea and Guadaloanal.

By the time the U.S. entered the war, the Nazi blitzkrieg had flattened France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Luxembourg, and the Japanese were overwhelming in the Pacific Ocean. At home in 1942, our mighty war machine roared to life.

The Civil War’s legacy still shapes America - discover the battles, choices, and lasting questions that defined freedom, democracy, and a nation’s future. Step into the pivotal moments of the Civil War’s Western Theater, from the bloody assault at Cheatham Hill to Sherman’s relentless march to the sea. This video uncovers the dramatic battles for Atlanta, the political stakes of Lincoln’s re-election against George McClellan, and the deep sacrifices made by Union and Confederate soldiers. Explore the harrowing realities faced by men and women—both Black and White—whose courage and suffering forged the path to emancipation, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. We dive into the tactics of generals like Sherman, Hood, and Grant, the critical role of Atlanta’s railroads, and the heartbreaking aftermath of battles like Kennesaw Mountain and Franklin. Hear firsthand accounts, examine the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, and see how postwar Reconstruction both advanced and challenged the promise of equality. Ultimately, this story reveals how the Civil War tested and transformed American democracy, and why its unresolved questions about freedom