Figure 1.--. |
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Almost from the beginning of war in Europe, President Roosevelt began what was to become an undeclared war with Germany in the North Atlantic. The first tenative step was naval patrols to to prevent belligerent ships from U.S. waters. Also he began to think about bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean only days after the war had begun. While America would not enter the War until December 1941, Britain had an ally in the Atlantic almost from the beginning of the War. At first the American role was limited, but as the situation worsend and the German's expanded the U-boat fleet, the American role expanded. The Royal Navy was ill prepared for the war. Lossess to the u-boats were severe, despite the fact the Keiegsmarine began the War with only a small force. Months before American entered the War, the U.S. Navy was involved in a full-scale shooting war to protect the convoys needed to keep Britin in the War. The American public was not fully aware of the extent to which the Navy was involved. The American effort, however, played a major role in allowing Britain to to survive the NAZI onslaught.
Germany invaded Poland on September 1. 1939. The British and French demanded the Germans withdraw from Poland and when they did not, declared war on Sptembr 3. Almost from the beginning of war in Europe, President Roosevelt began what was to become an undeclared war with Germany in the North Atlantic.
At the outbreak of war, American neutalitiy laws prohibited the sale of arms one the President had identified beligerant states. The principal law was passed in 1935. These laws were enacted because it was the protection of American shipping carrying supplies to the Allies was what was the rationale for entering World War I. The President delineated the combat zone in which American ships were prohibited from entering (November 4, 1939). The Roosevelt Administration worked to remove the prohibition on sales so arms could be sold to the Allies, but only on a cost and carry basis. The prohibition on carrying war supplies on American flag shops remained. It was at this time that the dministration engineered the registration of U.S. ships in Panaama, the beginning of flag of convenience regustrations.
With the outbreak of war in Europe, the overwealming attitude of Americans was that this time the United states should stay out of the War. As President Roosevelt began working to repeal the Neutrality Acts, aid the Allies, and rearm, a power ful Isolationist Movement began to organize to oppose the Adminisdtrations actions. The Isolationists significantly impaired Rossovelts's ability to aid the Allies. Notable Americans like Henry Ford and Charles Lindberg played a major role in the movement. The Republican minority in Congress were strongly influenced by the Isolationists as were members of President Roosevelt's own Democratic Party.
The first tenative step was naval patrols to to prevent belligerent ships from U.S. waters. Also he began to think about bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean only days after the war had begun. [Freidel, p. 323.] While America would not enter the War until December 1941, Britain had an ally in the Atlantic almost from the beginning of the War. At first the American role was limited, but as the situation worsend and the German's expanded the U-boat fleet, the American role expanded. President Roosevelt was disappointed with how long it took to organize naval patrols. There was large area to be covered and the number of patrol vessels was inadequate. There were, however, no U-boat attacks. The German U-boats at the beginning of the War had limited range. Hitler at any rate had no desire to draw America into the War and made this clear to Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, Commander of the Kriegsmarine. [Freidel, pp. 323-324.] After Poland, his goal was to negotiate a peace or defeat Britain and France.
The Royal Navy was ill prepared for the war.
The Keiegsmarine began the War with only a small force.
Hitler howed considerable restraint in the North Atlantic during the first 2 years of the War. The Kriegs Marinw wanted to launch an unrestricted commerce war against Britain. Hitler fully aware of it was just such a campaign that brought America into World War I, reacted cautiously. He appears to have been primarily concerned with keeping America out of the War as long as possible. Hitler rejected the initial Kriegsmarine plan for unrestricted sunmarine warfare (October 1939). He then ordered that American ships entering the combat zone should not be targeted (December 1939). The Kreiegsmarine wanted to begin alunching attacks off Halifax where mercants vessels were assembling to be formed into convoys. Hitler out of concern over the impact on American opinion if attacks were launched so close to U.S. waters, reject the request (February 1940). Hitler then issued very strict prohibitions on attacking American shipping anywhere in the Atantic (March 5, 1940). These restrictions were only slightly adjusted after the Western Offensive was launched (May 10, 1940). U-boat commandrs were permitted to attack American shipping trying to reach the British and French, but only if they were in the WAr Zone President Roosevely himself had earlier deleniated.
Lossess to the U-boats were severe. The passage of Lend Lease (Match 1941) would count for little if the U'boats blocked the sea lanes. The Luftwaffe shifted its raids from London to major British ports. Hitler extended the WarcZone to the eastern coast of Greenland (March 25). Churchill pleaded with Roosevelt to extend the U.S. neutrality zone easward to extend the range of U.S. Navy convoy escorts.
The President hoped that the British and French with American industrial support could defeat Hitler, but aftervthe fall of France it was obvious that Germany could not be defeated unless America entered the War. Most historians believe that President Roosevelt hoped to involve Ameica in the war against NAZI Germany and that he was merely waiting for an incident that he could use to justify a declaration of war. This may well be the case, but there is no documented evidence of it. The President did not reveal any such plans even to his closest advisers like Harry Hopkins. The first opportunity to expand the American involvement came when a German U-boat stopped and sunk the SS Robin Moor wgich was en route to Capetown and was not carrying war materials. (May 21). The British hoped for an American response, but Roosevelt took no action.
It was Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union that brought American actiin. President Roosevelt ordered the Navy to begin escoring convoys as far as Iceland and to transfer ships from the Pacifi to the Atlantic Fleet to protect the North Atlantic shipping lanes. Increasing tensions in the Pacific prevented the actual transfer. Even so, this was a important step as it freed up Royal Navy escorts for deployment in homewaters against the U-boats. At this time, President Roosevelt explained to his advisers that despite the extension of the neutrality zone, the United States would not declare war unless thecGermans attacked American ships. The President also decided that he needed to meet wuith Churchill and instructed Hopkins to go to London to make the needed arrangements.
Months before American entered the War, the U.S. Navy was involved in a full-scale shooting war to protect the convoys needed to keep Britin in the War. This began with the Greer which participated with the British in an attack on a U-boat southwest of Iceland in the American neutrality zone. After the Greer dropped depth charges, the U-boat fired torpedoes. President Roosevelt declared German U-boatrs the "rattlesnakes of the Atlantic and stated that there very presence in the neutrality zone was an attack on the United States. He then ordered the U.S. Navy to protect American and foreign ships in convoys and to attack U-boats in the neutrality zone on site. This was a virtual declaraion of war, but Hitler fully occupied in Russia wanted for the time to avoid war with America. The destroyer USS Kearney (DD-432) was assigned to escort convoy ON-24 out of Iceland. U-boats find and attack convoy SC-48. The Kearney joined in the defense of convoy SC-48. A Wolfpack of 13 U-Boats press the attack southwest of Iceland. A U-boat torpeoded Kearney which is severely damaged, but not sunk (October 17, 1941). There are 11 fatalities. The Kearney managed to get back to Iceland for repairs.
A U-boat torpedoes and sinks the U.S. merchant ship USS Lehigh off West Africa (October 19). A U-boat torpeodes the oiler USS Salinas (AO-19) 700 miles east of Newfoundland (October 30). Although damaged, there are no casualties and the ship reaches port. U-boats torpedo the destroyer USS Ruben James (DD-245) which sinks west of Oceland (October 31).
There were 115 men lot. The Ruben James was the first U.S. Naval vessel sunk as a resukt of enemy action in World War II.
The American public was not fully aware of the extent to which the Navy was involved.
The American effort, however, played a major role in allowing Britain to to survive the NAZI onslaught.
Freidel, Frank. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Rendezuous with Destiny (Little Brown: Boston, 1990), 710p.
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