Liberating occupied European allies restored access to people who could serve in the continuing war against Japan. French and Dutch populations are the examples used to explain this manpower benefit. It is presented as one reason for the Europe-first sequence of campaigns and a factor in planning a possible invasion of Japan. The expected reception also differed: liberation in Europe could bring local populations onto the Allied side, while planners did not expect the same response to an invasion of Japan. Recruitment therefore formed part of the argument about campaign order alongside the immediate military objectives.
Notable Point · 32:37-33:22
Europe first and recruitment for the war against Japan
Liberation of European allies expanded the personnel available for the continuing Pacific war, a manpower argument for defeating Germany first.