1941: Fighting the Shadow War: A Divided America in a World at War

by Marc Wortman

Officially, America entered World War II on December 8, 1941 the day after the bombing of Peal Harbor, but even before that infamous day America had been at war. Long before, Franklin D. Roosevelt had been supporting the Allies. While Americans were sympathetic to the people being crushed under the Axis powers, they were unwilling to enter a foreign war. FDR knew he had to fight against isolationism, anti-Semitism, and the scars of World War I, and win the war of public sentiment. In 1941: Fighting the Shadow War, A Divided America in a World at War Marc Wortman explores the "complex, contentious, and portentous" journey of America’s entry into World War II.

FDR used all the powers at his disposal, from helping Winston Churchill and the British Navy with loans, to espionage at home and abroad, to battle with Hitler in the shadows. To gain public opinion, the largest obstacle was Charles Lindberg and his Committee for America First with its following of thousands. Wortman tracks journalist Philip Johnson and William Shirer as they report on the invasion of Poland: one a Nazi sympathizer, the other fervently anti-Nazi. Johnson and Shirer’s story are threads woven throughout the book. Combining military and political history, 1941: Fighting the Shadow War, A Divided America in a World at War tells the story of how FDR led the country to war.

Genres: History, American History, World War II, Nonfiction, Politics, War, Military Fiction

409 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Marc Wortman is an award-winning freelance journalist and independent scholar. His articles and essays on history, science and architecture have appeared in many national magazines. He is the author of The Millionaires’ Unit: The Aristocratic Flyboys Who Fought the Great War and Invented American Air Power, which is in development as a feature motion picture.

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Franklin Delano Roosevelt understood the dangers of Nazism but would not impose a war on the American people without their support. He knew war was inevitable, but most Americans did not see European events as worthy of US intervention and loud and aggressive isolationists (including his Republican opponents) constrained what he could do to prepare. Author Marc Wortman shows the resulting tight rope he walked in the lead up to WWII.

The early part of the book emphasized the isolationists and their propaganda. You learn about radio broadcasts, rallies and articles in mainstream and niche publications. Both Charles Lindbergh and Philip Johnson are extensively profiled. They both visit Germany as honored guests: Johnson loved the emotion and the masculine marches and speeches; Lindbergh loved the perceived advances in aviation. Wortman shows many other moguls, politicians and celebrities who also promoted isolationism and/or Nazism.

While isolationists are whipping up populist opposition FDR worked behind the scenes. He found ways to help the British defend against Germany and the Chinese defend against Japan. He takes you through the lend lease program, the policy of protecting shipping that put US military personnel and vessels as far east as Iceland, Harry Hopkins’ overtures to Stalin, the Atlantic Charter, the moves to curtail Japan’s resources and more.

The views at the time are presented: on how the eventual war would be precipitated (no one expected Pearl Harbor), Russia’s ability to hold off Germany (no one thought it could), whether or not Stalin would be a reliable partner (no one knew) and how difficult a war on two fronts would be with the US state of military readiness.

There is color on what the sinking of the Bismark meant for the US, the Harry Hopkins-Roosevelt relationship, the Japanese surveillance of Pearl Harbor and new (to me) stories about Pearl Harbor survivors.

This is a highly readable history of this time. There many people profiles, some a bit wordy. My thinking is that this is a first cut and a lot more research on this will follow.

[Dave Hoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a book covering the time between the Nazi entering Poland and Pearl Harbor, this 2016 book is the best of the many I've read. William L. Shirer in Berlin for CBS went to Poland, realized how awful Hitler's Nazi regime was, a fellow American reporter, Richard Johnson was enamored with Hitler. It pretty much explained the division in the US between ones wanting to help England and those who didn't. Learned about C. Coughlin and Lindbergh trying to undermine those wanting to save America from fascism. After the Bio of FDR as a tree farmer, his Bio. in this book is more as you'd expect. One high note, the meeting of Churchill and FDR at a place called Argentia, Newfoundland, which this Coastie knows all too well

[Paul Miller]

In hindsight, it seems obvious that the US was going to be a part of WWII. This book, which focuses on the year before Pearl Harbor, makes clear that while FDR knew joining the war was inevitable, public opinion was strongly against active participation. Memories hadn't faded from the Great War, widespread anti-Semitism, isolationist tendencies (we're safe b/c of the Atlanta - Herbert Hoover), and even some prominent people (Charles Lindbergh, most notably) supporting the Nazis resulted in the majority being against intervention.

The author presents this period from the standpoint of FDR, who must seek to stave off Britain's defeat and delay active fighting w/Japan to allow our war machine to rev up... all while on the face of it remaining neutral and changing public support for the war. He succeeds w/helping Britain but never really moves the needle of public opinion until Dec 7, 1941. You all know the story from there.

Very readable take on a period seldom remembered - reminds us of how the 'real' history is often much more complex than the simple take. Highly recommended for students of the 20th century.

[Rayrumtum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great little book on the runup to WWII when isolationist (and anti-Semitic) sentiments were high. It was told using a variety of biographical sketches of some major and minor figures. It tracks the path of how FDR was trying to lead a skeptical electorate in war. Villains in this story include the notorious Father Coughlin, Charles Lindbergh, and a little known art journalist. William Shirer, author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is one of the heroes as he smuggles out the truth about Nazi Germany.
What does this say about American policy on intervention? There is little doubt that until Pearl Harbor, the American electorate strongly opposed intervention. Yet FDR did little tricks that wouldn't seem cricket today. Recent years have seen really catastrophic interventions to name LBJ for Viet Nam and W (and Tony Blair) for Iraq. They too took a reluctant public into war.
What marks the difference? By 1940, it was clear that the Axis represented a real threat to civilization. VietNam and Iraq were cases where there was no clear and present danger; the leaders' egos took them down a nightmarish course.

[Susan Rubinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well not as in depth as some of the books examining this period (such as the excellent, Those Angry Days), this is must-read. I could not put this down. This book examines this crucial year from the perspective of multiple players. The Japanese spies operating near Honolulu to famous author William Shirer to Harry Hopkins to Charles Lindbergh, to lesser-known anti-interventionists...they are all here. One of the more intriguing figures...Teddy Roosevelt, Jr. I didn't recall his anti-war history during this period, (Who can't forget Henry Fonda's portrayal in "The Longest Day") yet he manages to come off as a sympathetic figure. For those not that familiar with the despicable behavior of Lindbergh (and his wife), the author pulls no punches. I always learn something new from the best of the books I recommend, and this work is no exception.

[Jake Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. People look back and think it was unanimous that everyone thought Hitler was bad and we should go to war. In fact their was a vocal and numerous opposition to going to war. I think the most surprising thing about the book was how people were so openly antisemitic and defensive of Hitler. It's scary how close the America First rallies of the 30's resemble the Trump rallies of today.

[R. Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homefront/pre-war top reading!

I've read my fair share of pre-,during and post WWII. Wortman's is the top of my list when considering why we jumped (or were pushed) into the fracas.
Although there were many 'subjects' to cover, Wortman weaves them all into a most readable and understandable format.
If you are interested in WHAT we did during the war, don't miss this one to find out WHY we were there in the first place.

[David Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look back to see the cast of characters 75 years ago. Who were the spies? Who were the interventionists? Who were the isolationists? My curiosity is piqued to read more about Harry Hopkins, Charles Lindbergh, the America First Committee, the Lend-Lease Program, the Atlantic Charter, Nelson Rockefeller, and William Stephenson (INTREPID)!

[Howard]

Great Account of Pre-WW2 FDR

Not being a student of the period before World War II, I was surprised to learn just how difficult it was to persuade America to enter the fight against the Nazis. It was fascinating how Roosevelt was able to cobble together help for the Brits - help that quite likely kept them from being invaded by Hitler.

[Richard Letarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marc Wortman's 1941 is an especially well- written and researched run-up to World War II. He brings life to many personalities, displaying their strengths, weaknesses and foibles, especially FDR, Churchill, Harry Hopkins, and the Japanese spies who lived among us in plain sight in Honolulu.
An excellent and very readable book.

[Debra Hennessey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A skillful structure and smart story telling makes for an exciting read. It's a delight to find a book like this that adds new insights to this much reported history. If you have a WW2 shelf already you'll need to make room for this one.

[pam sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary

Reads like a novel. I thought I knew it all....turns out I was about 50% correct. Lots of new stuff

[Richard krock · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Thoughts

The book was a wonderful overview, but short on details. More time could have been devoted to Lindbergh and what finally happened to him and his wife

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed look at 1941, esp. the "undeclared" war in the Atlantic

[Gavinõ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was extremely enlightening when contemplating the actors and events that led the United States to enter the Second World War. Although I have studied this war in great detail for the past decade, I never really understood how the Battle of the Atlantic unfolded from the American perspective. The first page of the book opens up to the progressive extension of US Naval Patrols in the Atlantic and shows how the US went from patrolling 3 miles of the Atlantic coast in August 1939 to patrolling the entire Atlantic and occupying Iceland.

To me, the most fascinating part of the book was understanding the role the British Security Coordination played in encouraging the US to enter the war. Led by William Stephenson,this intelligence racket went from handing out pro British pamphlets on the street of New York, to paying off Hollywood to show anti-Nazi films, to skewing interventionist questions on the Gallup Poll. They even went as far as to provide the Roosevelt administration in October of 1941 with a counterfeited map of German plans of invasion of North and South America. Roosevelt most likely knew the map was a forgery but nonetheless wanted to get the US involved in the war against the Axis powers.

I also found it quite interesting to learn how the oil embargo against Japan unfolded in September of 1941. In response to the Japanese invasion of French Indochina, the United States decided to freeze all Japanese bank holdings and halt nearly all trade. However, Roosevelt did not intend to completely embargo the US’s oil and aviation fuel exports to Japan at this time. Given that the United States supplied 80% of the crude oil and over 90% of the aviation fuel to Japan, it represented the critical lifeline that the entire Japanese economy and war effort relied on. Although Roosevelt intended to eventually close this vital lifeline, he permitted continued sale of oil and fuel exports. However, an assistant Secretary of State Dean Acheson, used his authority to completely halt all fuel and oil exports to the Japanese. This decision by an assistant secretary directly led the Japanese to craft plans to attack the US a few months later. (It is also interesting to point out that Dean Acheson would later be appointed to Secretary of State during the Korean War.)

Finally, I found presidential candidate Wendell Wilkie to be a fascinating political character, whose speeches in Congress led to the passage of Lend-Lease and Selective Service (the United States first peacetime draft). In fact, Wilkie’s support to these pieces of legislation were so critical that FDR was heard to remark that “We might not have had Lend-Lease or Selective Service or a lot of other things if it hadn’t been for Wendell Wilkie.”

As for my criticisms of this book, I would have to say it sometimes comes across choppy. This is mainly due to the author attempting to describe such a broad subject. I also would add that I don’t feel like he provided enough of a description of the anti-war movement before the involvement. Although he talks at great length about Lindbergh and the America First Committee, I would have liked him to talk at greater length about the protests at Ivy League schools and in DC. Finally, I found the focus on Shirer and Johnson’s juxtaposed views on the Nazi war machine to be a bit odd when the author was attempting to explain of such large magnitude.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the history of the Second World War and American geopolitics.

[John Karabaic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A meticulously researched & engagingly written summary of the pacifist, fascist and America First opposition to the USA entry into WW2. The role of "Intrepid" and the British Security Coordination office in both manufacturing "evidence" (Roosevelt was given a fake "secret map" of the Nazi plan to divide the Americas) and planting spies to goad America into war is fascinating and has disturbing contemporary parallels.

Worth reading, with excellent page-numbered endnotes and references for further reading.

One interesting omission from the list of references is Intrepid's own memoir, A Man Called Intrepid by William Stephenson. I plan to read that soon.

[Bill Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Very well written account of events that transpired in the world in the year 1941. The action shifts from England to the United States and to Japan Italy Germany and Russia. This is concern more with the behind-the-scenes activity then with the actual war itself. The factors that led up to war in the extreme isolationism that was in place in the United States priorTo Pearl Harbor. It goes through the major players in the activity of year 1941 . Charles Lindbergh, Teddy Roosevelt Jr play prominent roles. A lot of parallels to what has happened in the last 10 yrs!

[Sandra Cohen-Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling Read
An enthralling read that gives a fascinating insight into the climate and characters shaping American opinion in the years leading up to its entry into the Second World War. Besides FDR and his entourage of colourful advisors, Workman portrays popular Nazi sympathizers and fascists – who tried to sway public opinion – among whom were architect Philip Johnson and aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife, author Anne Morrow Lindbergh. In addition, he highlights white supremacy, racism, and the alleged "Jewish problem…" – issues that continue to plague America.

[Charles Pascual · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and engaging history of, principally, Franklin Roosevelt's determination to assist Britain and foil the fascist powers of Germany, Italy and Japan in the nearly two years leading up to the U.S. entry into the war. Wortman's account introduces no new findings - I have read all of this history elsewhere, albeit in bits and pieces. His achievement is in packaging and telling the story - to focus solely on the "shadow war" and the personalities involved. This is good, popular history.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonintervention

1941 opens the world of my parents before WW II took my father, his brother, and others off to war. There were no discussions of the war or the time before war. 1941 fills a necessary information void and the delicate balance of hawks, doves, and behind the doors negotiators.

[Robert J. Mattucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

The people change yet the issues remain the same. Then as now congress does little to improve the country’s defense and well being. It is more interested in trying to usurp the executive branch power. Even in clear and present danger they’ll manage to act in the country’s best interests. Thank god for a President like FDR who saw and worked to protect free society.

[Bob Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might suit you if you enjoy engaging stories based on original documents. It explores the two years leading up to World War II, presenting the perspective that the people involved had no idea what the future held. I appreciate books that draw on research from primary sources, and the author, a former journalist, excels at storytelling.

[Peggy Maniates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written account of the war that was waged prior to the 1st shots being fired

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot and was captivated. Recommended.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of FDRs hidden war in 1941 on Nazism and fascism to with drama in a well-written and engaging book.

[Gregg C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much behind the scenes

A really great read of the history of the things going on behind the scenes. In the US, and to a lesser extent, government in the lead up to WW II.

[John Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very informative work with echos that resonate today. I was slightly aware of the discord in America during the buildup to WWII. The fractured country of 1935 to 1942 seems very much the same as the fractured polity of today. To understand today, read about yesterday and pick up a copy of 1941: The Shadow War. I recommend it highly.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book necessarily went back earlier than 1941 to tell the story with some context. It is full of fascinating people and their tales and does a great job capturing the mood of London and the mood of America in the early years of the war.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

1941, Fighting the Shadow War by Marc Worthman is an excellent book outlining the events which led up to American entering World War II from Hitler’s invasion of Poland to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Worthman describes the impact in leading up to the war of many individuals, some known and some not-so-known, including William Shirer, Philip Johnson, Father Coughlin, Charles Lindbergh and the America First Committee, Yamamoto and Harry Hopkins. I thought it was interesting how many individuals campaigned against America entering the war including Father Coughlin, from Christian Front, which was a racist and anti-Semitic organization and Charles Lindbergh and the America First organization. Even Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. campaigned against America entering the war. But the moment America entered the war, the opposition evaporated. America came together as one people, supporting the President in a great effort to bring piece back to the world. This is an excellent book, well written. It is a piece of history we should not forget.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The years before America's entry into WWII were filled with intrigue and deception because President Roosevelt understood that the American people were not ready for war, but his under-prepared armed forces could not sit idly by as the Axis conquered country after country. This book talks about the various groups who tried to influence America's decision such as "America First" on one side and the British Security Coordination on the other. After 75 years, it is difficult to remember how close that decision was, and how it could have gone so tragically wrong if not for some courageous individuals.