Congressional
Declaration of War on Germany
December 11, 1941
The President's Message
To the Congress of the
United States:
On the morning of Dec.
11 the Government of Germany, pursuing its course of world conquest, declared
war against the United States. The long-known and the long-expected has thus taken place. The forces endeavoring to enslave the
entire world now are moving toward this hemisphere. Never before has there been
a greater challenge to life, liberty and civilization. Delay invites great
danger. Rapid and united effort by all of the peoples of the world who are
determined to remain free will insure a world victory of the forces of justice
and of righteousness over the forces of savagery and of barbarism. Italy also
has declared war against the United States.
I therefore request the
Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States and Germany, and
between the United States and Italy.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The War Resolution
Declaring that a state
of war exists between the Government of Germany and the government and the
people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same.
Whereas the Government
of Germany has formally declared war against the government and the people of
the United States of America:
Therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, that the state of war between the United States
and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the United States
is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and
directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the government to
carry on war against the Government of Germany; and to bring the conflict to a
successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged
by the Congress of the United States