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The British knew very little about Americans before the war. In World war I, Americans went to France in large numbers and not Britain. American and Britains shared a common lanaguage and cultural tradition, but were two very different period. Few Britains had ever met an American. Most of what the average Britain knew about Americans came from Hollywood movies which were popular in Britain and did not have the languge of other foreign movies. American aid had helped keep Britain in the War during the fiirst 2-years, but the British had done the fighting. Pearl Harbor changed this and within weeks a flood of American GIs (mostly soldiers and airmen) began arriving in Britain. The principal role of the Americans was to prepare for the cross-Channel invasion and to join in on the strategic bombardment of Germany. For the British it was a cultural revolution. The British had never seen anything quite like then. The Americans were brash, forward, outgoing, and generally less reserved than the British-and they game in massive numbers. Perhaps more than anything they were fun loving and had money. The British who had lived under NAZI bombs and threat of invasion for 2-years were glad to see the Americans arrive. Some were, however, less pleased than others. There were two groups who took tonthe Americans from the very beginning. First were the young women who lived a dull existance under rationing for 2-years. American GIs were more than willing to take them out for a good time complete with swing-time dancing. The second group to take to the American GIs were Britush kids. The easy-going, gum-chewing Americans really impressed the kids, not to mention the gum and candy to be had.
The British knew very little about Americans before the war. In World war I, Americans went to France in large numbers and not Britain. American and Britains shared a common lanaguage and cultural tradition, but were two very different period. Few Britains had ever met an American. Most of what the average Britain knew about Americans came from Hollywood movies which were popular in Britain and did not have the languge of other foreign movies.
Britain after a year of War had lost its main ally, France. The RAF had fended off the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, but the Britis Army had been stripped of its armor and artillery at Dunkirt. The only fully equipped division in Britain for a time was the Canadian 1st Division. U-boats wwre sinking merchantmen at an alarming rate. Britain by the end of 1940 was bankrupt. President Roosevelt in the United States was converting merica into Arsenal of Democracy. Some argued that the increased wepons production go to the American arned forces. Roosevelt insisted, however, that America commit to Britain's defense. Various actions helped sustain Britain. The most important was Lend Lease, a program Roosevely personall designed to aid Britain. The American Lend Lease program essentially underwrote the Brirish war effort. Primeminister Churchill described it as the most unselfish act in gistory. American aid had helped keep Britain in the War during the first 2-years, but the British had done the fighting, although by Novermber 1941 the U.S. Navy was fully committed in the North Atlantic aginst the Germn U-boats.
President Roosevelt had committed the U.S. to a shooting war in the North Atlantic by fall 1941. It was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, however, that finally brought America into the War (December 7, 1941). America had been a deeply divided nation, but the character of the Japanese attack changed that. Most Americans had never heard of Pear Harbor. Sudently the youngest school child knew about it. For a few days America was at war with Japan and not Germany. This posed a problem for President Roosevelt. Adolf Hitler solved the problem by declaring war on the United States (December 11, 1941). This meant the new Allies could proceeded with their already agreed policy of concentrating their resources on defeating NAZI Germany. After Pear Harbor, America was fully in the War.
Within weeks of Pearl Harbor, a flood of American GIs (mostly soldiers and airmen) began arriving in Britain.
The principal role of the Americans was to prepare for the cross-Channel invasion and to joun in on the strategic bombardment of Germany.
For the British it was a cultural revolution. The British had never seen anything quite like then. The Americans were brash, forward, outgoing, and generally less reserved than the British-and they game in massive numbers. Perhaps more than anything they were fun loving and had money. The British who had lived under NAZI bombs and threat of invasion for 2-years were glad to see the Americans arrive.
The British reaction to the Americans varied. Outside of militry interactions, Britiish civilins met Americans in various ways. Some GIs were billited with Britih families. Pubs located near Ameeican bases were frequently visited by the GIs. Some Brits were more pleased with the Americans. This is where the phrase ‘over-sexed, over-paid, over-fed, and over here’ originted.
There were two groups who took to the Americans from the very beginning. First were the young women who lived a dull existance under rationing for 2-years. Many British men of dating/military age were stationed abroad. American GIs were more than willing to take them out for a good time complete with swing-time dancing. A consequence here was children born to American fathers and war brides coming to America after the War. The second group to take to the American GIs were Britush kids. The easy-going, gum-chewing Americans really impressed the kids, not to mention the gum and candy to be had.
Reynolds, Dvid. Rich Relations: The American Occupation of Britain, 1942-45 Reynolds recounts many individual experiences.
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