National Victory in the Spanish Civil War Essay

National Victory in the Spanish Civil War - Essay Example The war offered both Hitler and Mussolini an opportunity to test their equipment and military strategies. Hitler also expected Francos assistance in any future German war. Concerned about Hitler’s actions, British and French officials began to discuss an alliance with Soviet Union. But Soviet leader Joseph Stalin felt threatened by Hitler’s military actions and did not think British and French would protect his country. Hence in 1939, the Soviet-German nonaggression pact was revealed where each side agreed not to attack the other. The Spanish Civil War officially came to an end on April 1, 1939, without any reconciliation. Franco began a reign of terror aimed at the physical liquidation of all his potential enemies. Concentration camps were set up and tens of thousands were shot. Mass executions continued until 1944. Meanwhile, World War II was under way, and many of the volunteers took up arms against fascism again (Taylor). Despite almost universal support for the Republic amongst British intellectuals and widespread support amongst the working classes, the British government did not act. It was not only that they feared anything that might lead to a wider war in Europe but also that, British businessmen and a majority of the British Cabinet felt more sympathetic with Franco. Large corporations in America also worked on Francos behalf. In France, the governments sympathies were with the Republic, but the government was weak and feared any acts that might alienate its own military. However, after providing t he Loyalist government with a score of planes, France decided to propose an international policy of Non-Intervention that would bar all foreign aid to Spain (Miller). In fact, if Franco and the rebellious generals had been denied Italys and Germanys aid in the early days of the war, the rebellion might well have collapsed.

HISTORY SUMMARY FOR FDR & JEWISH REFUGEE INCIDENT and KAMIKAZE PILOTS Essay

HISTORY SUMMARY FOR FDR & JEWISH REFUGEE INCIDENT and KAMIKAZE PILOTS - Essay Example Roosevelt was one of the few men during his time who understood what has happening and looked for ways to defeat Hitler and put an end to the Holocaust. The Roosevelt administration did everything possible to save the Jews and the victims of the Nazis. Rosen reveals in his book that President Roosevelt, in spite of the Great Depression wherein a lot of Americans lost their jobs after the stock market crashed, widespread American isolationism, strict immigration legislation, and extensive Semitism which then prevailed in America, did not abandon the Jews; he led the Allies in war against Hitler and the Nazis which cost fifty million lives. President Roosevelt also maintained close ties with many Jewish leaders, many of whom he appointed to high-level positions which include the Supreme Court. During the weaker periods of his presidency, he made many attempts to allow Jewish refugees to enter the United States. While the Holocaust was happening, there was clamor in America to remain ne utral regarding European affairs and distrust anything that had a tinge of internationalism. The American Jews were also divided with regard to coming up with the best policy for freeing their fellow Jews from the Nazis. Many accusations were thrown at President Roosevelt for the way he handled the Holocaust and Rosen considers these to be unfair. One of these accusations involved the SS St. Louis, a shipload of German Jewish refugees which was turned away from Cuba and denied permission to dock in the United States. The SS St. Louis left Hamburg in May of 1939 before World War I broke out or before the Final Solution was imposed. The Final Solution began when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. Cuba refused to let the German Jewish passengers leave the ship because they had bough visas which were considered illegal under Cuban law. The United States government under Roosevelt immediately acted on the problem. Rosen explains how the Roosevelt administration tried to convince C uba to permit the Jews to enter and even went as far as bribing the Cuban government to allow the passengers of the ship to enter Cuba. Rosen also made mention of the efforts FDR’s people to arranged for the ship’s passengers to be taken in by England and by other European countries and avoid being returned to Germany. The Jews were aware that the Americans had saved them. Rosen also said that the Roosevelt administration found difficulty in making an exception in U.S. immigration policy. This was due to the fact that a lot of Americans had feared the increasing wave of immigrants who mostly created trouble such as the anarchists who bombed Haymarket in Chicago in 1886, those who gave rise to violent, radical, and revolutionary labor movements, and the Polish anarchist who assassinated President William McKinley in 1901. The Roosevelt administration was also accused of failing to denounce the Holocaust. Because of this FDR was thought of as having been part of the cons piracy of silence while the Holocaust was happening. According to Rosen, there was no such conspiracy and that FDR did not keep silent while millions of Jews died at the hand of Hitler and his Nazis. As a matter of fact, Roosevelt expressed his outrage over the way Hitler treated the Jews. He thought that Hitler was insane.