Our free radio app and be part of the National Conversation through cspans daily washington General Program or through our social media feed. Cspan, created by americas People Television company as a Public Service and brought you today by your television provider. This was the europe of 1941. The nazi blitz krieg, had overwhelm fronts, holland, belgium, denmark, norway, and luxembourg. Russian armies were in desperate retreat. The German Air Force was raining death and destruction on england. Combined italian and German Forces were menacing egypt. Their objective to defeat an opposing british army and dominate all north africa. In asia, japanese air and Ground Forces were driving forward in their bloody conquest of china. Only one of the worlds major powers was still not at war, the United States. It was a sunday afternoon in december 1941. The statue of liberty towered over the new york harbor as if she were the last symbol of freedom left to the crumbling free world. Afternoon in new york, Early Morning hawaii, and another great harbor, where American Warships were. Planes with cold engines stood idle on the field, when suddenly, without warning, planes dropping bombs . The immediate Japanese Military objective was to knockout u. S. Naval and air power in the pacific in a single stroke. They reasoned that we were committed to entrance in the war in europe, convinced that we were incapable of fighting a two front war. The japanese were right in their calculations, to the extent that roosevelt and churchill, would agree that to defeat hitler, most powerful of our enemies, must have priority over an offensive against japan. They followed sound principles of warfare, to concentrated the greatest mass of power, against the major objective. But it would be nearly a year, before we could muster, train and move an army overseas to attack the strongest of the aggressors. The First American troops to go into action, and engage the enemy, were those already in the philippines under general douglas mcarthur. After more than three long years of combat, the final land battle against the last of the aggressors. Three days after pearl harbor, japanese troops landed on the coast. noise the following days, still another Japanese Landing was made on east coast. On the 21st of december, the main Japanese Force hit the Eastern Shore on the gulf. Troops came pouring ashore from 80 transports. The japanese onslaught gave general mcarthur only one choice, delay action, try to regroup the forces. It was a monumental task. The japanese had struck swifely, fought and pressed forward unchecked. Two save manilas ware of dysfunction, general mcarthur declared an open city. Ignoring humanitarian consideration, the japanese bombed manila. On the last day of 1941, mcarthur withdrew to the montainous terrain of the bhutan peninsula. The objective, was to delay the enemies entrance to the bay. Mcarthur and his battling of batan, as they call themselves, knew they were fighting a losing battle. noise but they fought on, gaining precious time for us to recover from the disaster at pearl harbor, and build up our forces. There were other prime targets market by the japanese, in december 1941 they took hong kong, and invaded malaysia. They bombed british singapore, and its great naval brace, the british fought back. But it was the same losing fight as in bataan. On new years day 1942, the siege of bataan began. Superior Japanese Forces pounded our troops for three long days. On february 22nd, 1942, president roosevelt ordered general mcarthur to leave the philippines and proceed to australia. As a Supreme Commander in the south pacific, mcarthur turned over his position to waynewright. Mcarthur made the first leg of his journey to australia, through enemy invested waters. And then by plane. Bataan fell on the 9th of april, 1942. Thousands of captured americans and filipino prisoners of war, began their infamous death march. Hundreds were to die, fell by exhaustion, and at the hands of their captors. The battling of bataan, there was a heroism seldom matched. The last foot hole, and what had seemed fortress, now awaited the inevitable doom. noise the fortunes of the United States and its allies were at their lowest. But the japanese, were soon to learn that their home man was vulnerable to a surprise attack. 16 b 25 bombers led by james dolittle, prepared to take off from an aircraft carrier. Their target tokyo, and four other major japanese cities with carefuly selected military targets. It was only nine days, after the fall of bataan. Never before had such a carrier based operation been attempted. The psychological effects of the raid on tokyo were even greater than the material damage it affected. It showed we had the will and the wherewithal to carry the war to the heart of his own homeland. Three weeks later in the United States struck the japanese fleet, a damaging blow in the coral sea. The worst naval battle in history to be fought entirely with carrier based aircraft. noise while the navy was starting to make a comeback, general wiayneright surrendered. A proud soldier who had fought in world war one, and now the age of 59 was surrendering his sword without cause for shame for he and his men had fought in the finest tradition of the American Fighting men. Our stubborn defense, had put the japanese conquest for months behind schedule. In january of 1942, president roosevelt had addressed congress and the nation to set new and immediate production goals. This to increase our production rate of airplanes so rapidly that in this year, 1942, we shall produce 60,000 planes. applause 10,000 by the way more than the goal that we set a year and a half ago. This includes 45,000 combat planes, bombers, super planes, the rate of increase will be maintained, continued so that next year, 1943, we shall produce 125,000 airplanes, including 100,000 combat planes. applause second, to increase our production rate of tanks so rapidly that in this year, 1942, we shall produce 45,000 tanks. And to continue that increase so that next year, 1943, we shall produced 75,000 tanks. applause third, to increase our production rate of anti aircraft guns so rapidly that in this year, 1942, we shall produce 20,000 of them. And to continue that increase so that next year, 1943, we shall produce 55,000 anti aircraft guns. And to increase our production rate of merchant ships so rapidly that in this year, 1942, we shall build 8 million deadweight tons, as compared with a 1941 completed production of 1,100,000. Immense forces, were mobilizing. Millions of americans were in training. The infantry, airborne infantry, field artillery, anti aircraft artillery, armored cavalry, Army Air Corps pilots by the thousands. Woman power as well as man power. The vitality of all america was surging up to full time, America Labor and management performed miracles. Planes, tanks, guns, ammunition, tens of thousands of items rolled of the lines to not only supply ourselves, but our fighting allies. On the home front, 1942 was a momentous year. Great plans and strategies were being laid and coordinated. Supplies, by the millions of tons poured overseas. Nazi submarines took at heavy toll. But enough ships got through to help sustain our beleaguered allies. In the air, the tables were starting to turn. 1000 Royal Air Force planes in a single massive saturation aid, smashed cologne, germany. In the pacific, our naval aircraft inflicted the first decisive defeat on a large japanese fleet winning the battle of midland. noise it was an hour of triumph, there would be others, but they would be slow in coming. Our top military leaders, were now taking the high places deserved to them by destiny. Mcarthur, in the southwest pacific. General dwight d. Eisenhower, was organizing momentous plans, in the european theater of operations. General mcnair, commanding Ground Forces. General omar bradley, soon to be given a top field command. General henry arnold, commanding air forces. General summerville moved up to chief of supplies with the task of statistical support, of what would be an army of millions of people sub throughout the world. The first of our troops began arriving at overseas staging areas. In north island, england, australia, army troops relieved battled marines, who continue to fight for the solomon islands. United states was not only demonstrating a will to fight, but the capability of fighting a two front odds half a world apart. noise on the 8th of november, 1942, American Amphibious forces struck the shores of north africa. noise we were, to use an appropriate american phrase, in business. The business in an all out fight against powerful aggressors, who had reached out to conquer the world. We had come thousands of miles, but not for conquest. In 1942, the commander of our Ground Forces, general leslie mcnair, said it best. The United States is stretching out its arms, twin circle the globe. Nodding conquest, but in sections. Even with our powerful allies, vast is fast, and cause for our utmost effort. noise our armed forces, were encircling the earth. In a mighty crusade for freedom. Nothing like it has happened in all the history of man. It was the dynamic outpouring of a great nations blood and energy. To protect not only itself, but to liberate freedom loving people everywhere. We had come a long way, but the end of the road was far from within sight. We had only just begun to fight. You are watching American History tv. Every weekend on cspan three, explore our nations past. Cspan 3, created by americas Cable Television companies as a Public Service and brought to you today by your television provider. The. We can make this month, we are featuring American History tv programs out a preview of whats available every weekend on cspan three. Tonight, a look at our series on the presidency. First, Herbert Hoover and fdr, the political relationships between the roosevelt and kennedy families, the portrayal of Abraham Lincoln at fords theater and jfks response to the Nuclear Arms Race and civil rights. Watch tonight. Beginning at 8 00 eastern. Enjoy American History tv this week and every weekend on cspan3. The president s, available in paperback, hardcover and ebook from public affairs. Presents biographies of every president inspired by conversations with noted historians about the leadership skills that make for a successful presidency. In this president ial election year, as americans decide who should lead our country, this collection offers perspective into the lives and events that forged each president s leadership style. To learn more about all our president s and books featured historians visit cspan. Org slash the president. Available in paperback, hardcover an ebooks, wherever books are sold. By winter 1942, one year after pearl harbor, our Army Fighting forces were building up fast and being deployed around the world. Troops were in new