199: Building the Anglo-American Alliance: The US Enters the European Theater

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Aldi. Gutjust für alle. Ben Sawyer, how you doing there? Greg Jackson, I'm doing great and you've got a book coming out. I do have a book coming out.

You ever thought about the greatest way possible to celebrate your book coming out? Yes, actually.

“And I think the best way to do that is on open waters.”

You want to go into history, cruise? I think that's a great idea. And you know what? We should record an episode of the road to now at sea. Okay, but you have to do your live show then.

See, you want me to do my live show and launch my book. Okay. Guys, everything you just heard is real. We are going on a cruise May 18th through May 22nd. We're going to be on the open water. It is history.

It is fun. It is nature. It is blue skies and blue seas. Come hang out with me. Come hang out with Ben and have a great time in the Caribbean.

Visit htdscruz.com/100 for $100 off per cabin. That's htdscruz.com/100. [Music] It's a cool gray morning, January 26th, 1942. We're in the waters of Bel-Fast, Northern Ireland.

We're the former luxury liner turned British troops ship HMS Strathor. It is just gliding into Duffer and Key. On board are some 4,000 American soldiers. Mid-western boys, Haley from Iowa, the Dakotas, and Minnesota. All part of the National Guard Unit now federalized as the US Army's 34th Infantry Division.

Elements of which are traveling here in several ships. Their presence could not be more welcomed on shore, but reporters and excited crowds are watching with anticipation. Since the US Congress declared war last month,

these are the very first American ground troops sent into Europe to fight.

I guess the question now is,

“just who will be the very first of these soldiers to disembark and make their arrival official?”

A board that's strathered, the Colonel instructs a lieutenant to get someone from B.C. The young officer doesn't waste time to sight him. He simply goes with a guy who happens to be in closest proximity. Melbourne, Hainke. A handsome, square jawed, cleft chin to 23-year-old private.

Melbourne, due to fully gets up, expecting he's been tapped for manual labor. Or some other dirty detail to use his later recollection, likely unloading cargo. But that changes fast when he suddenly finds himself face-to-face with his division commander. Major General Russell Hartle. The 52-year-old commander asks Melbourne,

"Can you talk to reporters? Put on the spot, young soldier answers. Well, if I have to, I think I can." That's all the general needed to hear. Instructs Melbourne to follow, and in that same moment, the still surprised soldier finds himself walking behind his commander down the gameplay.

It's 11 steps. 11 historic steps that take Melbourne from the transport down to the key,

where he officially becomes the first enlisted soldier of the US Army

to step ashore in Europe during the Second World War. As Melbourne takes that historic step, the Royal Ulster Rifle's name, Threatseum, by striking up the star-spangled banner. The young private's right hand snaps to the edge of his steel helmet in the sharp sand. He stands at attention as the band plays right through the last note.

And that's when you report us that. With a microphone in hand, one asks Melbourne if you'd like to say something to America. Sure! The shock soldier says excited as he leans in. Hello, America! Mom and Pop! I just want to say I hope I'll be back some time.

Tell everybody back in Huch, hello. We'll get those Germans yet. Huch. Ah, Melbourne's referring to his hometown of Hutchinson, Minnesota. As he does, the top brass is faces and betray their surprise. It's in this moment, as Melbourne, the later recall,

that he realizes they likely intended the "first soldier" to step ashore

to be one of the Iowa bullets.

Too late now.

“Or perhaps we should say it seems that ship is sailed.”

As the reporters continue to interrogate the young American on his background, it soon becomes clear that, like many Americans, and especially Midwestern Americans, he's a German descent. His family name alone makes this obvious,

but as evidenced by his first words off the ship,

that doesn't give him any consternation about fighting Nazi Germany. Even his pot, who was born in Germany, has no question of where their allegiance lies. In fact, Melbourne shares with the reporters that the last words he got from his father were, "Give him hell!" And as the commander of U.S. Army forces in the British Isles,

Major General James Cheney joins the conversation, the young German descent privates, quick to ask, "When do we get a whack at those Germans?" The questions continue. A reporter asks the young soldier,

"Does he know where he is?" I just don't know where we are. I know I'm not in America, but I got the idea I'm in Ireland. Rumors travel fast, even at sea.

“But finally, they come to the most important question.”

Does the young enthusiastic volunteer soldier, nonetheless have any regrets about the listing? Well, he admits to one. And her name is Ayola Christensen. With Twitter patient and longing in his very words,

Melbourne answers, "I don't know if she'll wait for me. She may have stepped out on me now, but I hope not." Well, Northern Ireland has known air raids. The people are going without and are hungry. But even in war, or perhaps especially amidst such horrors,

everyone appreciates a good love story.

And so, that very same first night in Northern Ireland,

Melbourne finds himself given the rare opportunity to speak to the woman who, though 4,000 miles away and out of sight since last summer, holds his heart in her hands. There's only one catch. Their conversation is getting broadcast across the United States.

Hello, Squirt! Hi, thank you!

“Yes, the nicknames come out immediately,”

and while Mr. Mrs. Hanky are on the call too, they don't say much. They tell their son how proud they are, how much they miss him, and then, with lumps in their throats,

let him talk to his Iowa, his squirt. Melbourne has nothing to worry about. Iowa misses him dearly. In fact, she's already planning the wedding. No, his real worry is beyond the Irish Sea and the English Channel.

He'll have to hope that German bullets miss him on the battlefield. Every bit as much as Iowa misses him in her heart. Welcome to History that doesn't sound. I'm your professor, Greg Jackson, and I'd like to tell you a story.

It's hard not to like Private Nullburn Hanky. Though turned into a celebrity by mere happenstance, he doesn't let the subsequent outpouring of letters from fans across the US,

nor his meetings with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

or the Queen Mother in Princess Elizabeth, go to his head. He understands that the fame isn't really about him, but about what his first step on Northern Ireland's soil symbolized, that he's become a stand-in of sorts for the US Army, a personifying symbol of the transatlantic Alliance himself.

Milburn does pull through. As the 34th Division, soon nicknamed the Red Bull Division, sees hard fighting in North Africa and Italy. He earns a silver star. He then heads home after a car accident

leaves him with a serious back injury about two years after his famous arrival. As for Miss Iowa, Christensen, she does in fact wait for him. Wedding bells ring in 1944.

They raise three children and have 53 years together that only end when Milburn passes away in 1998. But now that we know the lovebirds more than work out, let's return our focus to the reason we met Milburn in the first place. America's entry into the European theater.

Yes, after following the United States path from Pearl Harbor into the Pacific Theater, through the Battle of Midway in June, 1942, in recent episodes, it's time to use that natural breaking point to pause. Backtrack to America's entry into the war and follow its developments in Europe. By the way, grouping several episodes in one theater

before bouncing to the other is how we'll navigate the multi-theater and complex story of the Second World War. That said, today's story won't start in December 1941.

with the background of a leader whom we met in past episodes, but who's about to play a much bigger role. The brilliant, talented, and adventurous seeking cancer, Dwight D. Eisenhower. After bonding with this young officer,

so frustrated that his brains and capable leadership keep him stuck state-side and off to behind-the-desk right into Middle Age. We'll get a taste of the year's long Battle of the Atlantic, where German submarines or U-boats are seen immense initial success. Then follow the frustration and discussion among the allies

between late 1941 and mid-1942,

“as leaders debate the best way to engage in Europe.”

As we'll see, it's becoming increasingly clear that the United States already thrust into war in the Pacific, is coming to terms with the two front war,

with the second theater in Europe.

That doesn't mean, however, that the allies agree on how or where to fight first. A mid-talk of spheres of influence, both individual and shared, questions hang in the air. Should they push for a cross-channel invasion

as U.S. Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall wants? Or work their way in, using what British Prime Minister Winston Churchill likes to call "the soft underbelly" of the Mediterranean. And what does that odd ally to these democratic nations? The Soviet Union's dictator, Joseph Stalin, think of all this.

Well, we'll get those answers when we wrap this episode at the Moscow Conference of August 1942. Poof, a big lift as ever, and with no time to waste, let's make our way back to the U.S. and back a few decades. So we can properly welcome Little Eich to the story.

Rewine. On October 14th, 1890, in a modest one-and-a-half-story white-washed house alongside some railroad tracks in Denison, Texas. David and Ida Eisenhower,

welcome the third of what will ultimately be seven sons

into their lives. They name him David Dwight Eisenhower, but use his middle name to avoid confusion with his pops. As you may already realize, that practice eventually flips those names.

“That's why you and I know him is Dwight David Eisenhower.”

The Eisenhower's don't stay long in Texas. David and Ida moved their young family to avalane, Kansas, while the thirdborn is still just a toddler. This is where the future U.S. President will grow up,

leading Dwight to forever think of the sunflower state as home. Though we may as well swap out the name Dwight for the nickname he picks up going to school here. In contrast to his older brother Edgar, whose known as Big Eich, Dwight is soon dubbed Little Eich.

Little Eich has fairly standard childhood interests. He hunts fishes, plays football, and in hails, military history. Hmm, I wonder what his mother Ida thinks about this interest given her men and I past fixed values.

Anyhow, in 1911, Little Eich heads to West Point, which happens in no small part thanks to his gift on the football field. But when a career ending knee injury, crushes whatever professional athletic dreams he harbors in these pre NFL days, he's quick to move on.

Little Eich graduates in 1915, very solidly in the middle of his class, 61 out of 164.

The newly minted second lieutenant has a series of mediocre placements over the next few years.

“The most important development, however, happens in 1916,”

at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where he meets in Mary's Mary Jenner the Dow. But no need for such formalities. We'll stick with her well-known nickname, Mami. As World War I, Rages and Europe,

the young, three years out of West Point, Captain Eisenhower, gets a less than thrilling assignment. He's being sent to serve under Lieutenant Colonel Iris C. Wellborn in the 65th engineers. Now, part of the army's newly formed tank corps,

stationed at Camp Mead, Maryland. Eich, that's right, now that he's an adult, the little is dropped. It's supremely disappointed. He wants to be sent over there, into the action. Eich is informed the position is only temporary,

but still, state side training, even if with this cutting edge you take technology is not what he's been dreaming about. To quote his later recollection of his current crest falling disposition.

Some of my class were already in France. Others were ready to depart. I seemed embedded in the Manani and unsought safety of the zone of the interior. Eich's unit, with 300 first tank battalion,

goes through a lot of training, and he plays an important part in establishing this new tank corps. Then, finally, in March 1918, Eich gets the news that he's been longing for. His battalion is shipping out via New York for France.

But, alas, after hastening preparations,

“the young tank officer stops back at camp meat”

for final instructions. Only to be told that, since his organizational ability is so incredibly impressive, the army needs him to stay state side and keep training those troops not heading over there.

This means, of course, that he's not going over there either. Devastated and left in a mood he describes as black. Eich follows orders and heads to, as he puts it, and old abandoned campsite in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania of all places. Yep, camp cult is located right where the Battle of Gettysburg

was fought just over 50 years earlier. In fact, Eich's tents are pitched atop the land where pig's charge took place. The thing he's not afraid of ghosts. Eich and Colonel Ira Welborn form a close relationship

helped along by their bi-weekly meetings.

But aside from that instruction, Eich tells us that was very much on my own at camp cult. The tank corps was new. There were no precedents, except in basic training and I was the only regular officer in the command.

Now, I really began to learn about responsibility. Even though most of the work is improvisation, Eich manages to get camp cult running efficiently. He realizes that the men will soon grow bored after basic training, so he and his civilian officers

add more specialized training to the mix. Telegraph and motor schools are the most popular options. But the men aren't just training and relaxing atop Gettysburg's storied lands. No, it seems like the Battle of Gettysburg

is about to have a 20th century resurgence.

It's an unspecified game, likely late April or May 1918.

We're in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where US Army men likely dressed in captain or a drab olive, are trudging across the same ground once charred by men in blue and gray. But thankfully, these uniformly uniform soldiers

won't be fighting one another today. They're here for a little target practice. Their commander, Captain Dwight Eisenhower, has secured a few machine guns for training. But just as they're about to start,

one of the men realizes they can mount a machine gun on a truck flatbed to make it a mobile platform. Ah, that's a bit more realistic. Now, they can practice both moving and stationary positions. But where should they aim?

Scanning the ridge and hill terrain. A topographical high point stands out to the south. The rocky, plant covered nearly 800 foot mound, known as big ground top. That's right. This union held position. At the bloodiest, multi-dade battle in American history

that we learned about back in episode 60. These very hills are where the US Army decides to do some target practice. According to I, big ground top space is a perfect backstop. And so, to quote the Captain once more,

soldiers were shooting for moving trucks at all times which are inside. And the firing might have been heavier than during the Great Battle 55 years earlier. (laughs)

Agreed, Ike, your military historian chops are shining through. After all, while little round top was the sight of terrible carnage,

“it's big brother, those strategically important, saw a little action.”

Way to even things out half a century later. Those civil war archeologists might like to have a word with you about today's and other training practices on the old battlefield. Though their town once again echoes with the sound of gunfire,

the 3000 or so residents of Gettysburg welcome Ike and his soldiers. By the end of the summer, he's responsible for the training of nearly 10,000 men. But only a few months after they start training with real tanks,

minus their weapons which are still needed in Europe, the armistice arrives. And just like that, this chapter of Ike's life comes to an end. As he so succinctly puts it, no human enterprise goes flat so instantly

as an army training camp when war ends. Everything that sustains morale. Paral to the country, imminent combat, zeal for victory, a sense of importance disappears.

“The only thing that counts for a citizen's soldier”

is his data discharge. Norman Randolph, a fellow West Point classmate, also at Camp Cold, will later recall for Ike, seen the disappointment on his face as they sat in his office on November 11, 1918.

As we sat there, stunned and disappointed by the fact that we had not gotten into the show, I would call you sane. I suppose we'll spend the rest of our lives explaining why we didn't get into this.

And by God, from now on, I am cutting myself a swath and we'll make up for this.

"Well, temporary Lieutenant Colonel Eisenhower, I promise, your time will come."

“The interwar period, as we call the two decades”

between the world wars, have their ups and downs for Dwight Eisenhower. In 1919, he moves back to Camp Mead, Maryland, without his wife and son, mind you. This sarmic camp is in a suitable place for families.

Dwight also travels across country

in the first transcontinental motor convoy of 1919.

While being careful not to downplay the impression that Germany's highways, or Autobahn, will make on him. This experience, on America's early bumpy hazardous roads, will contribute to the future president

later pushing Congress for a highway bill. But that story is a ways down the road, so to speak. Back at Camp Mead in the fall, the still be dragged captain meets another up and coming tank fishing auto.

Colonel George Pan. Together, the two experiment with the new technology spending quite a bit of time together,

“and sometimes even barely escaping tank-based accidents.”

Wanting to publish their discoveries, the men are told their ideas are, quote, "Not only wrong but dangerous." Close quote. And if they are published,

they could be looking at a court martial. This bureaucratic sanctioning only brings Ike and George Closer. The two men know they're on to something. If only the rest of the army would realize that.

But alas, the National Defense Act of 1920 formally abolishes the tank court grouping it with the infantry. George heads back to the cavalry, while Ike pushes on, hoping the army will soon appreciate his new ideas.

In early 1921, Ike and Amami's son, doubt eyes in power, or Ike, as the little three-year-old, is affectionately known, contract scarlet fever. He dies.

Only a year later, in 1922,

“the still grieving captain is shipped off to Panama.”

It's all stationed here that the couple's second son, John, is born.

The small family is moved back to the state side in 1924. But Ike doesn't stay put long. General Blackjack Pershing requests the season's scholar revised the guidebook to the American battlefield in Europe. Yet, before Ike can make a good start of that,

he's admitted to the Army War College for more training in 1927. He graduates first in his class, a big academic step up from his west point years. The blue-eyed major then returns to the Army guidebook, traveling to France to complete the project

before returning to DC in 1929, where he slowly forges a relationship with General Douglas MacArthur. On January 1st, 1933, Ike begins working directly for the general. But he doesn't have an official title.

As Ike later recalls, I wasn't really in aid. The job didn't really have a name. I called myself his good man Friday. My office was right next to his,

and he could just call me at any time. He gave me chores. For example, I'd prepare the annual report for the Chief of Staff. He gave me a few ideas and I'd work them up. As we heard about in episode 197,

Douglas MacArthur is selected to advise the newly established US Commonwealth of the Philippines. His right hand man, Dwight Eisenhower, goes along. In October, 1935, the Eisenhower and MacArthur families arrive in Manila, as military advisors to the new government. Ike serves for four long, tense, often challenging years,

finally being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1936.

By 1939, Ike wants to go home. His boss, however, desperately wants to skill military diplomat to stay. But Ike pushes back. General, in my opinion, the United States cannot remain out of this war for long. I want to go home as soon as possible.

I want to participate in the preparatory work that I'm sure is going to be intense. As you can imagine, Doug is far from pleased. Philippine President and well case on takes the news better. Finally, at the end of 1939, the Eisenhower family heads back to the States.

For the next few years, Dwight bounces around. Over the summer of 1940, at Fort Lewis, the Lieutenant Colonel is a Paul that the lack of urgency he sees among the troops. Burtoness Bar, a future politician, but current platoon leader in Second Lieutenant, later recall.

When the first things he did was call all the battalion officers together and he said, "If any of you think we are not going to war, I don't want you in my battalion. We're going to war. This country is going to war, and I want people who are prepared to fight that war."

I tell you, nobody. Nobody was talking like that at the time. I also participate in the Louisiana Manoeuvres in the summer of 1941 that we heard about in Episode 189. I can only imagine how he felt during these maneuvers,

and subsequent testing at me in 1920. As he proud that his and George Patton's thinking

is finally being taken seriously.

Speculation aside, the U.S. Army is delighted by their brilliant strategist, and Ike is temporarily promoted to Brigadier General in September 1941. Then, as we know, on December 7, 1941, Japan bonds Pearl Harbor thrust in the U.S. into the war. Five days later, December 12th, I get the call from DC.

Secretary of the General Staff, Walter Badell Smith, places the call.

“As the receiver is picked up, he asks, "Is that you Ike?”

The Brigadier General answers." Yes, the chief says for you to hop a plane and get up here right away. Tell your boss that formal orders will come through later. Manoeuvres are husband-been, quote, "Hurried and unhappy. I knew he was hoping the Washington duty would be temporary."

Close-closed. But then again, when have Ike's state side assignments ever been temporary? And this one holds that pattern too. On December 19th, he's permanently assigned to DC as deputy chief for the Pacific and Far East, answering directly to the chief of staff of the United States Army, George C. Marshall.

Miss Ike settles in. Washington DC prepares to go to war.

“The chief of the United States Army is ready to go to war.”

The chief of the United States Army is ready to go to war. The chief of the chief of the chief is ready to go to war. The chief of the chief of the chief is ready to go to war. This is a music for your ears. Videos are also released on Wednesday with the chief of the chief.

at the end of the year. I trust you recall from our holiday special, in episode 197. That shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, in December 7th, 1941, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes a Christmas visit to the White House. Of course you do. How could we forget the British Bulldog standing in the buff as he hides nothing from the president of the United States?

But I digress. That's not the key takeaway we need to remember from the visit.

“What matters is that it enables Winston and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to hold the”

Arcadia Conference, which formalizes an alliance of the United Nations, often called to allies, and solidifies the Anglo-American War effort, while formalizing the US joint chiefs of staff. As General Dwight Eisenhower later notes, the Arcadia Conference serves two key purposes. To quote him, it creates a workable system by which the American and British chiefs of staff could operate effectively as a team, and confirms earlier agreements upon the region in which

should be the object of our attacks. Another major outcome is the creation of an unprecedented dual-eatership body, the Anglo-American combined chiefs of staff. CCS, the highest allied strategic

planning organization. As we mentioned in episode 197, their first meeting takes place on January

23rd, 1942. Under US Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall, and British Field Marshall, Sir John Greer-Dill, the group convenes weekly in the conference room of the public health building in DC. First on Tuesdays at 3, then Thursdays, and then finally Fridays. But that'll do for a minors. Now we turn our attention to this joint USUK effort to protect their shared sphere, the Atlantic, and immense battlefield growing more violent by

the weak since America's entry into the war. While German submarines, or U-boats, have long been attacking British bound ships in the Atlantic, it's on December 9, 1941, just after Japan's infamous attack, and amid the flurry of declarations of war by and against the United States, that it all Hitler informs Vice Admiral Carl Dunitz that all remaining restrictions on U-boat attacks against the US are

lifted. Delighted, that his operations are no longer clandestine, but fails Haba-de-Untis-Ibota, that is, Commander-in-Chief of U-boats, writes in his diary, "The attempt must be made to exploit these advantages, which will disappear in the foreseeable future, and to strike a blow at the American coast with a drunk beat." Up against the ferocious Nazi naval leader, his Commander-in-Chief of the US Navy, aka

the "commonge," Admiral Ernest Joseph Keane.

enemy, often credited with recognizing the power and potential of aircraft carriers at sea.

“But for logistical and doctrinal reasons, that gift of foresight in the skies doesn't seem”

to carry into the depths. Despite Vice Admiral, Adolfus Andrews, Commander of the Eastern Sea Front, that is, the US East coastline, warning that, "should the enemy submarines operate off this coast. This command has no force available to take action against them, either offensively or defensively," close quote.

Admiral Ernest Keane remains unconvinced that immediate large-scale changes are necessary. This lack of American readiness is exactly what Vice Admiral Carl Dunitz has been counting on. Although Uboats are scattered across the globe, German forces are well positioned to strike American shipping in the Atlantic.

Crewed by experienced sailors, German Uboats find American merchant ships, still sailing

independently, poorly guarded and silhouetted by a brightly lit coastline, easy prey. And so, on January 13th, Germany's Operation Drumbeat begins.

“By the end of the month, more than 20 US ships are sunk in American waters.”

This staggering success for the Germans, as Carl later recalls. The Uboats found that conditions there were almost exactly those of normal peace-time. The coast was not blacked out, in the towns were ablaze of bright lights, zover and tie submarine patrols, but they were wholly lacking in experience. A few attacks, with depth charges, were delivered by American patrol vessels, but the attackers

did not display the requisite perseverance, as the attacks were abandoned too quickly. Although, quite often, thanks to the shallow water, they stood a good chance of succeeding.

The aircraft cruise employed on anti-submarine work, were also untrained.

The merchantmen used their radios without any restrictions. They frequently signal their positions, thus the result that the new boats were able to form a very useful overall picture of the shipping and zover vicinity. By late January, the Americans know they're in trouble.

“Yet, our homage, Admiral Ernest King, remains reluctant to act.”

He rejects a British Admiralty proposal for a joint convoy control system and refuses to impose coastal blackouts. Historians, including Dwight Eisenhower, were later called as a grave mistake. But as February unfolds, the situation only worsens. Its February 28, 1942, rough the coast of Cape May, New Jersey, aboard the Wix class destroyer

USS Jacob Jones, which has just finished patrolling for survivors of the torpedoed tanker, RP Rezor. In the galley, 22-year-old fireman II class, Joseph Paul Tidwell, was grabbing sugar for his recently-throughed coffee. But then, all of the sudden, the ship shutters.

Pots and pans fly in 15 seconds after the initial toll. Another explosion rocks the hole. Tutor Petos have struck the Jacob Jones, and worse, if hit the munitions magazine, racing to the deck to help, Joseph finds a dire situation. He gets to work, assisting survivors to life boats and rafts.

As he does, he's certain that he sees the German U-boat that struck them. Later, identified as U-578, roughly 150 yards off the fort side. It seems the German crew is happily watching their handwork, simply taking in the sight of the rapidly-seeking destroyer. 30, or so survivors, on four rafts, managed to escape the wreckage in the frigid February

waters of the Atlantic. Looking on, they see that most of the destroyer is beneath the waves, leaving only the fan tail above water. The ship's depth charges, barrel-shaped canisters of about 200 pounds of torquets, set to detonate at depth, remain in their racks.

Oh, this could give that, and it does. As the fan tail seems, and the charges reach their free set depth, a explode with devastating effect. The blast hares be pulled water, throwing the survivors into the sea. Many are killed or badly wounded, while the frigid temperatures at another depth was

threatened. 131 officers and crew members are dead, including three sets of robbers, only 11 survive. While Pearl Harbor might have still felt like a distant wound and threat to some mainland Americans. It is a stroller, sunk by Nazi Germany right off the coast of New Jersey, doesn't.

The sinking of USS Jacob Jones creates a sense of vulnerability and fear that's quite unfamiliar to people, long used to thinking of the Pacific and Atlantic, as natural barriers to distant

As the sinking of the Jacob Jones becomes national news, the public inserts itself into the conversation about the Atlantic.

“Yet, even still, Admiral King holds back.”

He postpones the formation of coastal convoys until, quote unquote, "enough" escorts are available. And oh, does this draw criticism? Marks, the brids are incredibly frustrated. After all, it's not like America has the only one suffering.

Uncle Sam's island ally is feeling the sting of these German Uboats too.

British naval officers, including the first Lord of the Admiralty, had to DC to try to

talk some sense into earnest. Roger Win, the head of the submarine tracking room in the Admiralty's operational intelligence center, or OIC, finally gets through Washington DC's red tape. He speaks with Admiral Ernest King's deputy chief of staff, Admiral Richard E. Edwards. But Richard isn't having it.

He tells Roger that Americans want to learn their own lessons, and they've got plenty of ships to do so.

“This likely sarcastic remark pushes the brit over the edge.”

His temper flares as he answers. The trouble is Admiral, it's not your bloody ships you're losing. A lot of them are hours. Finally, finally, something snaps. Richard concedes, and Roger is in to see Ernest.

The US naval commander likely knew that changes could not be delayed much longer, and quickly acquiesces. An American version of the OIC is founded with Commander Kenneth A. Nulls in charge. But even as Kenneth works with the British, improving tracking, and trying to crack the Nazi Uboats new cipher, nicknamed "Tryn", losses continue.

In fact, in mid-March, American signals get crossed. Literally. The US destroyer, Dickerson, is hit by the American merchant man, SS Liberator. The sheer numbers are looking grim. In April, President Franklin Roosevelt's long-time right-hand man, Harry Hopkins, since

word that the US has lost 1.2 million tons of shipping, more than half of the tankers,

in these early months of 1942 alone. If something is in done, the Mias will start calling America's arsenal of democracy. To use FDR's phrase for the nation's build-up of arms that we learned about in episodes 188 and 189, the arsenal of Atlantis. More is done.

That same April, Admiral Ernest King agrees to protect of coastal conglies. Finally, implemented along the US coastline in mid-May, this diminishes Uboat attacks. Along the US east coast, at least. Carl Dune is hardly finished. The German Vice Admiral answers by shifting his Uboats' focus south, striking Allied shipping

and the not so well protected Caribbean. US Army Chief of Staff, George Marshall, is fed up with the lack of progress his country is making by summer 1942. So he makes a few changes and sends some strongly worded letters.

First, George sends Dwight Eisenhower to London to command US forces in the European theater.

Yes, at last, Ike is leaving behind his DC desk job and does so at the rank of Major General. The promotional loan shocked Ike. It came last March, just days after George had told him that he was going to stay at his DC desk. But after decades of being told he was too smart and too capable to send to the field,

Ike stormed out of the room shouting, "I don't give a damn!" Quite a thing to say to the US Army Chief of Staff. Ike died a little inside the moment the words came out of his mouth. Then again, just before the door slams shut, he caught a glimpse of a smile creeping across George's face.

Personally, I can't help but wonder. In this moment, to George, who, as a young officer in France, thought he had killed his own career with a blunt outburst of his own on General Blackjack Hershey.

“If you remember that tale from episode 133, maybe see a bit of himself in Ike?”

Well, either way, Ike found himself a temporary Major General only three days later. And on June 24th, 1942, he arrives in the United Kingdom to take command of the European Theatre of Operations, the United States Army. Oh, and weeks later, he's bumped up again to temporary Lieutenant General. Let's pause and just take in Ike's rank advancement for just a moment.

In a matter of two years, Dwight Eisenhower has gone from Lieutenant Colonel to a three-star General. Now, you can say he's well-liked, he is, but he's also just exceptional at what he does. Ike's studied and tested the boundaries of modern warfare for years, arguably since West Point.

To me, it's pretty clear that Ike's promotions thus far, and everything's still to come, aren't luck. It's merit. But to continue with George Marshall's changes and strongly worded letters.

On June 19th, the Army Chief of Staff writes to the Naval Commander.

“The losses by submarines, off our Atlantic Seaboard and in the Caribbean now, have been”

brought to my attention. As every conceivable improvised means, been brought to bear on this situation, I'm fearful that another month or two of this will so cripple our means of transport that we will be

unable to bring sufficient men and planes to bear against the enemy and critical theatres

to exercise a determining influence on the war. Three days later, June 21st, Ernest replies, "I have long been aware of course of the implications of the submarine situation as pointed out in your memorandum. I have employed and will continue to employ, not only regular forces, but also such improvised means as gives any promise of usefulness."

Judging from this letter, it seems that the Admiral wasn't ignorant about the need for convoys. He just didn't realize that any escort was better than no escort, and kept waiting to build up their numbers.

“Regrettably, that delay has been deadly.”

Between January and August 1942, during new boats sink so many Allied vessels that they call this phase of the battle of the Atlantic the "second happy time" or "more mockingly, the American Turkey shoot." To quantify that, by the end of August, Nazi Uboats have sunk 485 ships and 2.6 tons off the coast of North and Central America.

Although, if you trust Karl Dunnitz's numbers, it's more like 585 ships and over 3 million

gross tons. Regardless of who you believe, it's a massive number. And this isn't only frustrating to American leaders and the British Bulldog and his government. It's also frustrating to uncle Sam's ally, or rather his "comerat" farther to the east.

Joseph Stalin.

“Yes, as Germany's second happy time in the battle of the Atlantic draws to a close, his”

time for us to hit pause on this naval conflict and check in on Soviet Union. But we can hardly just pick up in the summer of 1942. There's simply too much to the story. You know what that means. Pretty wine.

We covered the rise of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for a BUSSR, an episode 186, and its path into the second world war between episodes 187 and 189. Nonetheless, let's refresh our memory on its entry. War in Europe begins September 1st, 1939, when Germany invades Poland. Confident that the USSR won't intervene, thanks to the Molotov ribbon trope packed.

Their non-aggression pact, which also divides Poland. The USSR claims its slice on September 17th. With a non-aggression pact in place with Japan as well as of April 1941, the USSR is, on paper, at peace with the Axis Powers. Now, Stalin isn't foolish enough to expect that peace will hold.

Nonetheless, he also believes that Adolf won't dream of attacking his nation before finishing with British. But the Soviet General Secretary is wrong. Adolf Hitler launches his attack on the USSR, Operation Barbarossa, on June 22nd, 1941. Yes, familiar stuff.

And again, you can revisit episodes 186 through 189 if you need more details. Now, let's continue the Soviet's tale.

Adolf sends a massive force against the USSR, around 3 million men, with just under 3,000

aircraft and just over 3,000 tanks, his Panzer divisions of Blitzkriek and the Soviet territory hard and fast. The Nazis also systematically target and murder local Jews, communists, and others they deem lesser than, but those are stories for another day. As soon, the Soviets are going scorched early, burning their own crops and infrastructure

to slow the Nazi advance. And on July 13th, Adolf's relentless attacks on both the USSR and the UK draw the two vastly different nations together to sign a mutual assistance pact. It's a classic the enemy of my enemy is my friend's situation. President Franklin Roosevelt sees that too.

On September 29th, 1941, FDR rights to Stalin with the promise. I am very sure that Hitler made a profound strategic mistake when he attacked your country. I am confident that ways will be found to provide the material and supplies necessary to fight him on all fronts, including your own. The Moscow Protocol is signed on October 1st, and though the Americans aren't yet physically

involved in conflict, they agreed to lend Elise clothes, food, aircraft, tanks, vehicles,

But of course, America is soon physically involved.

“It's 1941 ends in a sad state of affairs for all those opposed to the Axis Powers.”

The British are on the ropes. The Soviets can feel Adolf's breath, with German troops only 90 miles outside of Moscow. And as we know from episode 194, a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor devastates the Americans. Thus we get the Arcadia Conference which, on January 1st, 1942, creates the alliance that FDR dubs the United Nations.

Yes, we touched on that earlier, and again, they'll typically be called simply the Allies. In total, 46 nations sign on, but we'll keep our focus on the big three. That's the term used to describe the US, the UK, and the USSR, or alternatively, their leaders. FDR, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin.

At the end of February, US shipments to the USSR are trickling in. On February 20th, Stalin writes to Franklin to welcome the new American ambassador, 69-year-old Admiral William Stanley, and to urge speeding up aid to his war-tatter nation.

“Meanwhile, Winston Churchill remains wary of Joseph Stalin.”

He worries that, if push comes to shove, the Soviet Communist dictator might get ally with the German fascist dictator. Franklin doesn't share that fear, but understands why Russo-British relations could be strained. As he remarks to the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgan thought, "Every promise, the

English have made to the Russians, they have fallen down on them. The only reason we stand so well with the Russians is that, up to date, we have kept our promises." In March 1942, FDR prioritizes Joseph Stalin over Winston Churchill, essentially removing all strings attached to the Lend-least program for the USSR.

Most of what's sent is raw materials, but the American public isn't too pleased with their president, helping out on a front of the war that seems pretty far from home. One where Uncle Sam's boys aren't doing any of the fighting. Nonetheless, supplies are sent via polar convoys through the Arctic circle. And yes, even in these frigid waters, Nazi U-boats are lying in weight, up by Iceland and

Scandinavia.

In addition to providing essential materials, the convoys prove to the antsy Soviet leader

that the Allies are in fact helping his war effort. Even if they can't comply with demands for an invasion of Western Europe quite yet, which Stalin wants in order to take the pressure off his own relegared defending forces. But the General Secretary means antsy. He wants to talk with his fellow national leaders about post-war borders.

Franklin and Winston aren't quite ready for that yet, even if their August 1941 Atlantic Conference included conversations about a post-war world. That's one thing to talk about such things between two friends committed to democracy. It's another to do so with a dictator, even if you happen to be militarily aligned. Still, FDR has an idea.

What if he invites Soviet Foreign Minister Jitjeslav Molotov, you know, the man behind

“the 1939 Allotov-Rubbinsville Pact, to talk about opening that potential second front?”

Oh, that works.

Those are Stalin and Jumps, or, according to the Soviet Foreign Minister, it was always his

boss's plan to get the US and the UK to agree to support an invasion of Western Europe. But then again, Franklin sent a delegation to London with a memorandum on operations of Western Europe back in April. So, it really does seem like everyone's been parallel planning. Regardless of who you believe, after a short unsuccessful stop in London, Soviet Foreign

Minister arrives on American soil on May 29th, ready for a conversation. It's May 30th, 1942. We're at the White House, we're at the Stout, a stash-yode and be spectacle Soviet Foreign Minister. Jitjeslav Molotov is ever so pleased to be sitting down, finally, with President Franklin

Roosevelt. He's joined by Russia's ambassador to the United States, Maxim Lidfinoff, and several key American leaders. Harry Hopkins, Secretary of State Cordell Hall, US Army Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall, and the Navy's comics, Admiral Ernest King.

Likely still jet lag, Jitjeslav Molotov is nonetheless sharp as ever, or at least he feels sharp.

From what the Soviet seas, he quickly convinces the Americans that his second front must

be opened this summer. All in Joseph Stalin's instructions, the necessary wax is eloquent on this bringing victory. If the Allied forces, in 1942, pulled back at least 40 enemy divisions from our front, the balance of forces would radically shift in our favor, and Hitler's fate would

be sealed.

In Bolton, the spectacle of diplomatic continues.

“You will eventually have to bear the brunt of the war, and if Hitler becomes the undisputed”

master of the continent, next year, will unquestionably be tougher than this one. Franklin appears to agree, he consults his Army Chief of Staff. Are we advanced enough with our preparations to be able to report to Mr. Stalin that we are

ready to open the second front?

Dr. Marshall nods, giving FDR the go ahead. The President turns back to a Soviet guest. Please report to your government that it may expect the opening of the second front this year. And so, the coordinated assault on France, to take place during the summer of 1942, codenamed

"Sledge Hammer" appears to be a go. Franklin is greatly pleased by the Soviet visit. He writes to Joseph Stalin on June 6th, "I appreciate, ever so much, your sending Mr. Malatab to see me." We had a very satisfactory visit.

“Soviet Foreign Minister, Vitcheslav Malatab, was also content.”

He has American assurances of preparations for an invasion and second front in Europe

later this year. He makes his way back via England, hoping to get the brits on board. He gets unlikely, yes, as Winston is careful to add. Oh, he can therefore give no promise on the matcha. To the aid memoir about a 1942 invasion.

For the time being, the big three, that is FDR, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, are happy. Well, as happy as you can be when your country is being invaded and/or war. Cooperation appears to be working. That June, US Secretary of State, Cordell Hall, and Soviet Ambassador, Maxime Litvinoff, signed

the Master Lentley's Agreement between the US and the USSR. But the Nazis are relentless.

“At the end of the month, on June 28th, they proceed with case blue against Caucasus oil”

fields and grain, roughly between the black and caspian seas. Once again, the Red Army needs supplies, urgently. Meanwhile, Joseph Stalin is urging his allies, the Americans and the Brits, to make good on their promise for Operation Sledgehammer. That is, the invasion of Western Europe.

He sends Winston Churchill, with the British bulldog calls, a "ruth and surly note". To quote the Soviet leaders July 23rd, letter, "I am afraid."

The question of creating a second front in Europe is not being treated with the seriousness

it deserves. Taking fully into account, the present position of the Soviet German front. I must state in the most infatic manner, that the Soviet government cannot acquiesce means a postponement of a second front in Europe until 1943. The British PM checks in with his friend and American counterpart Franklin.

The two are worried about poking the bear, so to speak. It is side that things would be better settled in person. After all, they've got to get on the same page before responding to Stalin. And so, in May, Winston Churchill, once again, makes the trip across the Atlantic. His main goal, convinced FDR that, at this point in the war, an invasion of Western Europe

would be suicidal. And the PM's direct words, it would turn the English channel into "a liver of blood." His side goal is to discuss, quote unquote, "heavy water", but will get to the significance of those conversations in a much later episode. Later that summer, in July, American military leaders arrived in London for yet another

discussion about where to engage the German army in the fall. They meet up with our good friend Dwight Eisenhower before heading into conversations with their British allies. Just because the British are anti-sledgehammer, that is the planned invasion of Western Europe that doesn't mean they come empty handed without alternate ideas.

What if they lean into Operation Gymnast, which is a planned invasion of Axis held in North Africa? Franklin seems to be on board, but his joint chiefs hesitate. After all, George Marshall, has personally promised we'd get to Slav Mallotop, that the Americans are a go for Sledgehammer.

Nonetheless, after quite a bit of back and forth, the American military leaders come to agree that it's time to scrap Sledgehammer in favor of going into North Africa. This plan will ultimately take a new codename, Operation Torch, FDR is delighted. To him, it's of the highest importance that U.S. ground troops be brought into action against the enemy in 1942.

But now, someone must tell Stalin, though accompanied by a joint British-American entourage to demonstrate agreement, the task falls to Winston Churchill.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill only arrived in Moscow a few hours ago, and now,

“he's at the seat of Soviet power, the ancient austere, red-walled and tower-guarded”

Kremlin. Ready to meet with another than the head of the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin, sitting down with a moustache-yote Soviet, the British bulldog begins by explaining that. "I wish to speak frankly, and I would like to invite complete frankness."

"Okay, good start. Then, Winston drops the bad news. He tells Stalin that the American and British governments aren't yet prepared to launch an attack in September, which is the last month it would be possible given the changes in weather." As the PM later recalls, "I told Stalin that I was well aware that this plan offered no help to Russia in 1942. At this point, Stalin's face crumpled up into a frown. But

he did not interrupt."

“"Okay, that's as good an outcome as Winston could expect. The husky Brit then goes on”

to explain precisely why the proposed and seemingly agreed upon attack won't go forward." Then, to quote the Brit again, "Stalin whose gloomness had by now much increased, said that

as he understood it, we were unable to create a second front with any large force and unwilling

even to land six divisions. I said this was so. War was war, but not folly. And it would be folly to invite a disaster which would help nobody. I said I feared the news I brought was not good news. If by throwing in 150,000 to 200,000 men, we could render him aid by drawing away from the Russian front, appreciable German forces. We would not shrink from this course on the grounds of loft, but if he drew no men away and spoiled the prospects for 1943,

it would be a great error. Stalin, who had become restless, said that his view about war was different. A man who was not prepared to take risks could not win a war. Why were

“we so afraid of the Germans? He could not understand. His experience showed that troops must”

be bloody, didn't battle. If you did not blood your troops, you had no idea what their value

was. Clearly in disagreement, the two men go back and forth a bit more until, finally, Winston

unfurls a map of North Africa to lay out the neat plan, Operation Torch. Stalin is intrigued. He asks about the timing of the operation, Winston suggests October. A little overly optimistic, but nonetheless, the British Bulldog will later recall that. "This seems a great relief to the Russian." Moreover, he's absolutely impressed with Stalin's mind. As opposed to other military leaders who took months to grasp the brilliance of this approach, Stalin

takes only a matter of minutes to connect the dots on how this will help in four ways as it, one, hurts the Nazis in North Africa. Two, quote unquote, "over Oz, Spain." Three, against the Germans against the French who, though under the Nazi thumb, ostensibly ruled much of North Africa, and four thrusts Italy into the fight. Winston adds a fifth and final point. The military advantages of freeing the Mediterranean went still another front could be opened.

In September, we must win in Egypt and in October in North Africa. All the time, holding the enemy in northern France. If we could end the air in possession of North Africa, we could threaten the belly of Hitler's Europe. Similarly on board, Stalin relays the plan back to Winston, in order to ensure he's got it properly as he remarks. "Migold Prosper," the Sundercake.

Four hours after they first sat down, at 11pm, the two men part ways, what Winston calls.

"An atmosphere of goodwill." This Moscow conference lasts until August 16. It includes a formal state dinner, more personal meetings between Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, and a large conversation with military generals. That last one doesn't go so well, but no matter. The stage has been set. While America's Marines, sailors and soldiers have long been at it in the Pacific,

where they've suffered so much loss in the Philippines in elsewhere. Only recently, the tide started to turn, amid the battle of the Coral Sea, and especially the battle of Midway, this very summer. It's now time for an entirely separate set of Uncle Sam's boys to enter the fight on the other side of the world as well. Join by their British allies, the Yanks are carrying out the invasion of the Axis controlled North Africa. But, as Operation Torch moves forward,

in America enters a second front, it's hard not to wonder. Will these quickly-trained douboys soon to be called GI's? Really be ready by the time their boots are on North African soil?

Alvin Rommel? We'll find out next time.

“History of the dozen suckers created and hosted by me, Greg Jackson, episode research and written by Greg Jackson”

and Riley Bout. Sir Winston Shirtchill read by Tim Wells, production by airship, audio editing by Muhammad Shazay, sound designed by Molly Bought, music composed by Greg Jackson, arrangement and additional composition by Lindsay Graham of airship.

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