123 - The Formation of the United Nations! - WW2 - January 2, 1942

Intro

Hello?

Yeah!

Slow down.

You missed?

With ALL of them?

You didn’t hit anything?

Oh come on... What?

Oh, it’s not your fault, it’s the torpedoes’ fault?

Yeah, right.

January 2, 1942

Japan invaded China in 1937, thinking they’d win in a few months.

That was not the case.

Germany invaded Poland in 1939 and by now, Germany and Japan and the other Axis Powers

have invaded over two score nations, dominions, and colonies on three continents, though every

continent except Antarctica has nations now at war.

But as 1942 dawns, those Allied against the Axis Powers declare their solidarity and form

the United Nations.

Briefing

I’m Indy Neidell; this is World War Two.

Last week the Japanese captured both Wake Island and Hong Kong, and continued to advance

in the Philippines and Malaya.

In the USSR, the Red Army continued to make gains, even as the Germans continued to shake

up their High Command.

And the Anglo-American Arcadia Conference began to make plans for how they will prosecute

the war.

The Arcadia Conference continues this week, and indeed, it starts the year with a bang.

On the 1st, 26 nations sign the Declaration of the United Nations at the Conference.

They meet in Washington DC to endorse the principles of the Atlantic Charter from last August.

They will deploy all resources against the Axis Powers and make no separate peace.

This is a very big deal.

Another very big deal from Arcadia is the establishment of a joint British-American

command structure.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Royal Navy resist this but eventually,

all are persuaded to have unity of command in major theaters of war where combined forces

are to deploy.

One supreme commander would command all land, sea, and air forces for that theater.

Of course, there are at least some rights of appeal along national lines, but these

are not to erode the authority of the commander.

British General Archie Wavell is made Supreme Commander of ABDA- American British Dutch