text: why did the u.s. concentrate on fighting in europe first during wwii?   we fought in both theaters simultaneously.  europe just ended quicker.  i suppose you could say that we pushed a little harder in europe.  if that is the case it was to try to get to berlin before the soviets.  we already knew that there was going to be future issues with the soviets, and germany would figure into those conflicts.    i hate to rain on your parade anehiemsports, but we didn't start fighting germany (and italy, for that matter) until after pearl harbor as well.  once we declared war on the japs, germany and italy declared war on us.  we in turn declared war on germany and italy.