Neville Chamberlin Neville Chamberlain, born March 18, 186, is best known for his political action—or rather inaction--in WWII. Prior to assuming the role of Prime Minister of Great Britain between the years of 1937 to 1940, Chamberlain held the role of the Director General of the Department of National Service in 1916 and Postmaster General in 1922. Coming from a family with political background, Chamberlain excelled in politics and most political positions. Holding offices such as Chancellor of Ramsay Macdonald’s National Government, Chamberlain instituted several high-profile acts that would eventually lead to his election as Prime Minister in May 1937 ("Past Prime Ministers").
Chamberlain’s actions during WWII largely revolve around the policy of appeasement. After meeting with Adolph Hitler, Chamberlain sought to maintain peace at nearly all cost for fear of being responsible for another war as damaging as WWI. However any potential for appeasement was short-lived after the German invasion of Poland. On September 3rd, 1939, Neville Chamberlin declared war on Germany and resigned from his position in May of 1940 - less than one year later ("Past Prime Ministers"). Winston Churchill Winston Churchill, born November 30, 1874, is best known for being one of the many individuals responsible for the fall of the axis countries and the successor to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin. Churchill received low scores within the education realm, but possessed a keen interest in military affairs. In his lifetime, before devoting his life to political matters, Churchill served as a journalist and soldier. In Britain Churchill held several political positions before becoming Prime Minster in 1940 (Draper and Brown).
In the context of WWII, Churchill is known for boosting British morale and influencing Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide aid for the allied powers. An act fostered by Churchill, known as the Lend-Lease Act, was enabled by the close relationship to President Roosevelt before the war began. The Act allowed for a large quantity of supplies such as ammunition and American airpower to be transferred to ally control, an unarguably necessary part for the continuation of allied resistance ("Winston S. Churchill"). Churchill’s other notable accomplishments include being a decisive part of the military resistance behind allied attacks. Throughout the course of the war, Churchill became a valuable asset to President Roosevelt and others involved in the strategic undertaking of world conflict. Charles de Gaulle Charles de Gaulle, born November 22, 1890, is known for his influence in French politics and leadership of France during World War II. Gaulle was raised in the typical French Family model, and chose to pursue an occupation in military pursuits. After serving in WWI and writing several dissertations on French military strategy, Gaulle went on to form a key part of the French Government and would eventually become the leader of what was known as the “Free French”. After the fall of Paris in 1944, Gaulle escorted the ushering of the Fourth French Republic while subsequently suspending his political career several times before making an eventual return to power ("Charles De Gaulle (1890 - 1970)").
In terms of accomplishments during World War II, Charles de Gaulle is known for his resistance to accept the French government’s surrender with Germany. After retreating to London, England de Gaulle formed the “Free French Resistance” and continued to push to defeat the axis in World War II ("Charles De Gaulle (1890 - 1970)"). Joseph Stalin Joseph Stalin, born December 18, 1878, is known as the individual who turned the Soviet Union into a World Superpower. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, Stalin’s mother sent him to Seminary to study to be a priest at a young age. However, Stalin took an entirely different route and instead became heavily involved in the interworking of revolutionary activity. Being close to Vladimir Lenin, Stalin took control of the Russian government near Lenin’s death. Focused upon becoming an industrialized nation and competing head-to-head with Capitalist Counterparts, Stalin ruled the Soviet Union with aggressive force ("Biography: Joseph Stalin").
In World War II Stalin played a key part in determining the overall outcome of the war. After the signing of the Soviet-Nazi Non-aggression Pact, Stalin believed that there was little chance of a German invasion of the Soviet Union. However, when invasion came, Stalin regrouped the entirety of the Soviet “Red Army” and successfully pushed German forces out of Russia and into Eastern Europe. Stalin’s other notable World War II accomplishments include being a viable negotiator in the company of Churchill and Roosevelt and securing his country’s role on the U.N. ("Biography: Joseph Stalin"). |
Chiang Kai Shek Chiang Kai-She, born October 13, 1887, is most famous for his role as the leader of the Nationalists in the Republic of China. From a young age, raised by his mother and grandparents, Chiang underwent strict military training. In his lifetime, Chiang attended and supervised several military academy’s including a preparatory military academy in Tokyo, Japan in 1906 and Whampoa Military Academy in Taiwan. After attaining significant leadership position, Chiang used several strategies to maintain and control Chinese power for both nationalist cause and World War II (Messier).
China’s role in World War II on the allied side was evasive yet existent. Chiang Kai-Shek’s accomplishments include receiving a $500 million loan from the United States to aide war efforts against Japan until U.S. strategy shifted, and fighting both aerial and land pursuits. Notably over twenty million Chinese causalities remained at the end of the war – the majority being influenced in some way by Chiang Kai-Shek’s military command ("China: History of WW2"). Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt, born January 30, 1882, is most famous for his extensive role as 32nd president of the United States during times of intense crisis. Roosevelt, with the help of private tutors, received an esteemed education in multiple respects. Throughout his time, Roosevelt attended several distinguished schools including Groton, Harvard, and Columbia University where he studied general education, history, and law respectively. After becoming involved with the interworking of politics in 1910, Roosevelt went on to become president in 1932 and provide resolutions for several pressing issues facing the United States including the notorious New-Deal legislation spurred in the midst of the Great Depression ("Biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt").
Roosevelt’s accomplishments in World War II include actively responding to events before and during U.S. military involvement. From the onset, Roosevelt argued for a “good neighbor” policy or the fundamental idea of supporting allies against potential takeover in military crisis (such as was the case with Great Britain). After Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt held a stance that armed the U.S. for war while simultaneously providing for a sufficient counterattack. During active U.S. involvement, Roosevelt stood strongly for an increase in industrial production, and aid to many U.S. allies, both financial and diplomatic (Gibson). Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman, born May 8, 1884, is known for his active role in ending World War II after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unexpected death. Truman was raised in a typical agriculture background and went on to join the Missouri National Guard. Near the beginning of World War I, Truman was selected for the Federal Service where he achieved the position of Captain. After serving as an administrative judge, Harry Truman was elected to the Senate in 1934 and was eventually selected to be the Vice-President of Franklin D. Roosevelt in early 1945. Truman assumed the role of 33rd U.S. President on April 12, 1945 ("Truman: HST Biography").
Truman is accredited for taking an active role in ending World War II. Of all his war accomplishments, Truman is most well-known for allowing the drop of nuclear weapons on Japan. Prior to Japanese surrender, Truman was actively involved in deciding how to control Germany at an assembly in the city of Potsdam after its defeat. Notably Truman was also present for the formation of the United Nations in 1945 ("Truman: HST Biography"). |
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