Why America Fought: The Axis War Machine & U.S. Response
About This Footage
Prelude to War (1942), the first installment in Frank Capra’s acclaimed Why We Fight series, provides a compelling visual history of the global events that led to World War II and America’s entry into the conflict. The film traces the rise of the Axis Powers, detailing Hitler’s conquest of Europe, Mussolini’s imperial ambitions, and Japan’s expansionist Tanaka Plan. Powerful footage showcases Nazi military parades, book burnings, and youth indoctrination, juxtaposed against America’s attempts at peace and disarmament. The documentary highlights key moments, including Japan’s brutal invasion of China, Italy’s assault on Ethiopia, and Germany’s unchecked aggression across Europe. The League of Nations’ failure to prevent war, Roosevelt’s condemnation of Axis actions, and the isolationist sentiment in prewar America further contextualize the path to conflict. The film culminates with Pearl Harbor, the destruction that followed, and the realization that the free world must stand together against tyranny. A crucial wartime propaganda piece, Prelude to War remains an essential historical document, illustrating why the United States could no longer remain neutral.
Explore & Preview Individual Reels
- Prelude to War - Reel 1: The Free World vs. The Slave World
- Prelude to War - Reel 2: Axis Leaders & the Suppression of Faith
- Prelude to War - Reel 3: Axis Indoctrination & America’s Isolation
- Prelude to War - Reel 4: America Builds, the Axis Prepares for War
- Prelude to War - Reel 5: Axis Propaganda & Military Expansion
- Prelude to War - Reel 6: Japan’s Expansion & Mussolini’s Imperialism