Richard Overy's Argument Essay

In the ninth chapter of his novel Why the Allies Won by Richard Overy breaks down how the moral and spiritual beliefs of the individual nations might have played a role in the effectiveness of their strategies. He proposes that citizens will “fight with less effect in the service of an evil cause.” In response to this hypothesis, I believe that the author has made a sound argument. While not a blanket statement, it is easy to see how the motivations of Axis armies were reflective of the views held by its nation, and consequently how those beliefs affect the treatment of its constituents. Looking at the views of the Axis powers, the primary figureheads of Germany and Japan were driven by a view of ethnic superiority, while the Allied powers had hatred of Hitler as a “moral cement.” Not just the Allies but the German populous faced “the conscious rejection of the regime,” after seeing the full extent of Hitler’s depravity, while the US was itching to gear up to fight in the response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The extent of Hitler’s ideal only stretched so far as they were winning, so once the Allied powers show their strength, it called into the question the validity of the Axis claimed that only declined over time. Another example to offer in defense of his theory is the response of the volunteers and draftees seen for the Americans and Japan respectively. In the US volunteers showed up in droves to fight for their nation. A call was put out for citizens to volunteer as doctors, lawyers, medic, and nurses and the public …show more content…
The beliefs of Hitler’s Germany and Japan were not able to be sustained throughout the war, while the belief of “good and right” held by the US and the British if anything were strengthened by constant exposure to the opposing values of the