A quick glance at the 10 most destructive battles in human history tells a clear story. 9 of those 10 deadliest in human history happen to have been fought by only 2 nations against each other in a period of barely 4 years. Not surprisingly the nations were Germany and Russia and the years 1941-45. The two nations were tied in on an apocalyptic battle fighting on racial, religious and most crucially ideological fronts. Germans and Russians fought for every inch of their soil and the battles had no feel-good heroism, it was true barbarism.
Britain was the other major European power which fought Germany toe to toe in the Second World War. Due to their relative closeness on the ideological front and their supposed racial similarities the battles were more gentlemanly and fair in nature. These two countries did most of the German (& Italian) killing during the war while it is often constructed that America was more busy with Japan. However this misses a very crucial point- America’s economic might. While not directly as responsible for the German deaths as the Russians, Hitler’s ultimate bad decision might as well have been to take on the might of the American economy.
A key fact of utmost importance can be used as a vital indicator. Just prior to WWII, France was the world’s 4th largest industrial power and it accounted for 5 % of its capital goods production. Germany and Britain were tied 2nd with 14% each, with Britain being just ahead on decimal figures. These three countries thus together accounted for roughly 33% of production. Japan and Russia, 2 of the other major powers had even less contribution. U.S.A. accounted for a whopping 42% share. And this at a time when America was still not totally out of Depression, while Britain and Germany were quicker to come out of it. During the war, America sold/lent millions of tons of food, winter clothing, tanks, railroad coaches, heavy vehicles and other essentials to Britain and Russia. Britain was more self sufficient with industrial goods but the Battle of Britain would have long been lost without American food crops. Russia enjoyed a 2nd industrial revolution of sorts during the war, with large production facilities shifting east from the traditional belt of Moscow-St. Petersburg-Kiev. However, the lightning quick pace of movement and starting of production units would have been impossible without American steel.
The formerly miserable ‘Okies’ or immigrants from Okhlahoma’s dust bowl were now eking a life of prosperity in California. While Europe, Asia and north Africa were ravaged by warfare, America sacrificed by sending its men out to war. But on the home front, America ended the war with an economy marginally smaller than the rest of the world combined.
