The final chapter of Frank Capra’s Why We Fight series opens with a tribute to the American ideals of liberty and freedom, now under grave threat from the aggressive expansion of Germany and Japan. The narrative explores the early years of World War II from an American perspective, emphasizing the nation’s initial reluctance to engage in conflicts overseas.

As the German army swept across Europe, Nazi organizations began to emerge in the United States. The film attributes this phenomenon to Hitler’s strategy of “softening up” future targets by fostering political sympathizers. One striking scene features a surreal Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden, where swastikas are displayed alongside portraits of George Washington, underscoring the reach of fascist propaganda.

Recognizing that war was inevitable, the U.S. government mobilized for action, dramatically ramping up weapons production and drafting the largest army in its history. The chapter concludes with the United States’ entry into the war, marked by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, an event that irrevocably altered the course of American history and the global conflict.