MovieChat Forums > Enemy at the Gates (2001) Discussion > What was the attitude in the U.S. to the...

What was the attitude in the U.S. to the Nazi attack on Russia?

posted 8 years ago by zooeyhall
3 replies | jump to latest

In the summer of 1941, America was still neutral. During that time, when the Germans were rolling through Russia, my grandfather recalled that the Catholic priest in my community would celebrate at the news of every Nazi victory. Actually cheering them on, like he was rooting for his favorite team in the Super bowl or something.

I am wondering if this was representative of the feeling in America at the time? How did America view Hitler's attempted conquest of the Soviet Union? Seems to me there were many who were eager to see Hitler destroy the "Bolsheviks"?

[–] parkerzielinski 8 years ago

Don't know how it was then. But now Americans are glad Russia had the fortitude to stick it out against Germany along with britian. Sadly I this k we in america just voted in our own potential Hitler.

[–] kevin-bergin 8 years ago

... that Der Fuhrer would never catch up.
Not surprising that many in the West thought Hitler was a counter balance; at least until the war was truly revealed.

"It's the system, Lara. People will be different after the Revolution."

[–] cowgoesmoo 8 years ago

Harry Truman, who was a US Senator at the time, said that both the Germans and Soviets were evil and our policy should be to let them kill each other off. I forget the exact quote, but it was something like "If the Germans appear to be winning, we should help the Russians. If the Russians appear to be winning, we should help the Germans. Let them kill each other off."

I doubt there was a universal feeling - some probably thought the Communists were a greater world threat than the Nazis while some thought it was the other way around. My hunch is that the greatest proportion of people thought "It is all so far away and we have giant oceans to either side of us. It's there mess, let them fight it out."