America, Hitler and the UN : How the Allies Won World War II and Forged a Peace

On January 1, 1942, Churchill and Roosevelt issued a ""Declaration"" by United Nations with 24 other states. This marked the beginning of the UN in a real and tangible form. Yet today many people have forgotten that the UN was forged in the midst of the confusion and complexity of wartime. How did the armies of the United Nations co-operate in the final years of World War II to contain - and ultimately reverse -- Nazi expansionism? And when and for what purpose did the UN undertake to tackle the international economic and social challenges, not only of warfare but of a post-war world transformed beyond recognition? Drawing on previously unknown material from the UN archives, Dan Plesch analyzes responses at all levels of society, from high level political elites to grass roots level. Arguing that the Allied defeat of Nazism should properly be called a United Nations victory, Dan Plesch has pieced together the full story of how the UN intervened in surprising ways at a pivotal time in European history. America, Hitler and the UN is an important addition to the literature of World War II and essential reading for anyone with an interest in military or diplomatic history or contemporary international relations. On 1 January 1942, Churchill and Roosevelt issued a'Declaration by United Nations'with 24 other states, forging a military alliance based on human rights principles that included China, India and the Soviet Union. This marked the beginning of the UN in a real and tangible form. Yet today many people have forgotten that the UN was born in the confusion and complexity of wartime. How did the armies of the United Nations co-operate during World War II to contain - and ultimately crush - Nazi expansionism? And when and for what purpose did the UN undertake to tackle the international economic and social challenges of the post-war world? The role of the UN in motivating the Allied powers to co-operate during the war and forge a meaningful peace in the aftermath is often overlooked. America, Hitler and the UN is the first book to address these issues fully and to explore how the profound restructuring of the international world order was organised while the war still raged. Drawing on previously unknown archival material, Dan Plesch analyses the engagement with the UN by all levels of society, from political elites to grass roots level. Illustrating that the Allied defeat of Nazism should properly be called a United Nations victory, Dan Plesch has pieced together the full story of how the UN intervened in surprising ways at a pivotal time in world history. America, Hitler and the UN is an important addition to the literature of World War II and essential reading for anyone with an interest in military or diplomatic history or contemporary international relations. Plesch argues that the UN's success is as vital today as it was then. Its revitalisation can draw on these lost lessons in peace and economic stability to improve policy making in the twenty first century. On 1 January 1942, Churchill and Roosevelt issued a "Declaration by United Nations" with 24 other states. This marked the beginning of the UN in a real and tangible form. Yet today many people have forgotten that the UN was forged in the midst of the confusion and complexity of wartime. How did the armies of the United Nations co-operate in the final years of World War II to contain and ultimately reverse Nazi expansionism? And when and for what purpose did the UN undertake to tackle the international economic and social challenges, not only of warfare but of a post-war world transformed beyond recognition? Drawing on previously unknown material from UN archives, Dan Plesch analyzes responses at all levels of society, from high level political elites to grass roots level. Arguing that the Allied defeat of Nazism should properly be called a United Nations victory, Dan Plesch has pieced together the full story of how the UN intervened in surprising ways at a pivotal time in European history. America, Hitler and the UN is an important addition to the literature of World War II and essential reading for anyone with interest in military or diplomatic history or contemporary international relations--Publisher's description Contents......Page 8 List of Photographs and Illustrations......Page 10 List of Tables......Page 12 List of Maps......Page 13 Foreword......Page 14 Preface......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 1. America before Pearl Harbor: ostrich or owl?......Page 28 2. America goes to war: the creation of the United Nations......Page 48 3. Weapons for the Allies: Motown goes to Stalingrad......Page 76 4. Keeping the Allies together: Casablanca and Tehran......Page 92 5. Justice for war crimes: Auschwitz and Nuremurg......Page 118 6. Post-war relief and reconstruction: UNRRA......Page 136 7. Money and trade: Bretton Woods and Havana - prosperity for all?......Page 158 8. Security: Dumbarton Oaks, Yalta and San Francisco......Page 180 Conclusion......Page 202 Chronology......Page 205 Glossary of the United Nations in World War II......Page 209 Appendix: Selected Gallup Polls, 1938-45......Page 210 Notes......Page 226 Bibliography......Page 239 Index......Page 266 Contents 8 List of Photographs and Illustrations 10 List of Tables 12 List of Maps 13 Foreword 14 Preface 16 Introduction 18 1. America before Pearl Harbor: ostrich or owl? 28 2. America goes to war: the creation of the United Nations 48 3. Weapons for the Allies: Motown goes to Stalingrad 76 4. Keeping the Allies together: Casablanca and Tehran 92 5. Justice for war crimes: Auschwitz and Nuremurg 118 6. Post-war relief and reconstruction: UNRRA 136 7. Money and trade: Bretton Woods and Havana - prosperity for all? 158 8. Security: Dumbarton Oaks, Yalta and San Francisco 180 Conclusion 202 Chronology 205 Glossary of the United Nations in World War II 209 Appendix: Selected Gallup Polls, 1938-45 210 Notes 226 Bibliography 239 Index 266 9781848853089 I.B. Tauris Dan Plesch ; Foreward By Brian Urquhart. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [209]-247) And Index.