World War II

From Indiana Jones Wiki

World War II (or the Second World War) was a major worldwide conflict that followed World War I in bringing nations across the globe to war after two decades of peace. The war began in 1939 with the declaration of war on Germany by France and the United Kingdom, following the German invasion of Poland. It ended following Japan's surrender to the United States of America in 1945. ^[1][2] The main players in the war were the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allied powers (France, United Kingdom, United States, Soviet Union, and China). The results of the war were the defeat of fascist regimes in Germany and Italy, the rise of the United States and Soviet Union as the dominant superpowers, and the beginning of the Cold War.

In his adventures during and after World War I, Indiana Jones saw hints of how another conflict might come to pass. After being captured in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, Jones met fellow prisoner of war Charles de Gaulle, who predicted that "the next great war will be fought with tanks and airplanes".^[3] While at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, T. E. Lawrence also predicted such a war to his friend Jones.^[4] Although all three men played a role in the first world war, Lawrence never saw World War II come to pass, as he died in a motorcycle accident in 1935.^[2] Jones and de Gaule became involved however; Jones joined the Office of Strategic Services along with Sophia Hapgood,^[5] while de Gaulle led the Free French Forces—eventualy becoming the first president of the French Fifth Republic.^[6]

During the second world war, Jones became friends with MI6 agent George McHale and General Bob Ross,^[7] although it is unknown whether he and de Gaulle met again. Jones and McHale regularly worked together during the conflict, disguising themselves as Nazis to steal the cipher machine responsible for generating Germany's Enigma codes. McHale had to save Jones' life again when they traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia when Jones felt the needle of amnesia darts. In 1942, they went on a mission to Flensburg.^[2] Around D-Day (June 6) 1944, Jones received a form "go-get-em" letter from General Dwight D. Eisenhower. At this time, McHale also entrusted Jones with a letter to Penelope in the case that McHale was killed. Jones kept both of these letters in his journal. ^[8] At some point during the war, Jones and McHale also worked as double agents in Berlin, and also served in the Pacific theater.^[9]

In 1945, Jones and McHale were in Flensberg for the final action, perhaps in conjuction with the British effort to arrest the "Flensberg government" which took civilian power after Hitler's death. Jones kept an American newspaper clipping of the May 4 Nazi surrender in his journal. ^[10]

For his service to the United States during the war, Jones was decorated with many awards.^[7] By the end of his military service, he had attained the rank of colonel.^[9]

[edit] Appearances

• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Germany, Mid August 1916" (First mentioned) (Indirect mention) → Trenches of Hell
• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Paris, May 1919" → Winds of Change (Indirect mention)
• Indiana Jones and the Golden Fleece
• Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (Mentioned only)
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Mentioned only)
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (comic) (Mentioned only)
• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles – "Austria, March 1917" (Mentioned only) (Bookends)

[edit] Sources

• Indiana Jones and the Rising Sun
• I am France - The Myth of Charles de Gaulle
• Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide
• The Lost Journal of Indiana Jones

[edit] Notes and references