While there have only been five declared wars, Germany was one of them.
Here is the Senate record:
DECLARATION OF STATE OF WAR WITH GERMANY
Mr. Connally, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported an original joint resolution (S. J. Res. 119) 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, which was read the first time by its title, and the second time at length, as follows:
“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, etc., 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 United States and the resources 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.”
Mr. CONNALLY. Mr. President, I shall presently ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration of the joint resolution just read to the Senate. Before the request is submitted, however, I desire to say that, being advised of the declaration of war upon the United States by the Governments of Germany and Italy, and anticipating a message by the President of the United States in relation thereto, and after a conference with the Secretary of State, as chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, I called a meeting of the committee this morning and submitted to the committee the course I expected to pursue as chairman and the request which I expected to make.
I am authorized by the Committee on Foreign Relations to say to the Senate that after consideration of the text of the joint resolution which I have reported and after mature consideration of all aspects of this matter, the membership of the Committee on Foreign Relations unanimously approve and agree to the course suggested. One member of the committee was absent, but I have authority to express his views.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the present consideration of the joint resolution.
The VICE PRESIDENT. Is there objection?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint resolution (S. J. Res. 119) 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.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the joint resolution.
The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, and was read the third time.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The joint resolution having been read the third time, the question is, Shall it pass?
Mr. CONNALLY. On that question I ask for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and the Chief Clerk proceeded to call the roll.
The result was announced yeas 88, nays 0.
* * * * * *
So the joint resolution (S. J. Res. 119) was passed.
The preamble was agreed to.
Here are the House proceedings:
DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST GERMANY
Mr. MCCORMACK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass House Joint Resolution 256, which I send to the desk and ask to have read.
The Clerk read as follows.
“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, etc., 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 United States and the resources 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.”
The SPEAKER. The question is, Will the House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution?
Mr. MCCORMACK. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
* * * * * *
The question was taken; and there were yeas 393, answered “present” 1, not voting 36.
So (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended, and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
A message from the Senate, by Mr. Frazier, its legislative clerk, announced that the Senate had passed joint resolutions of the following titles, in which the concurrence of the House is requested:
“S. J. Res. 119. Joint 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; and
“S. J. Res. 120. Joint resolution declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of Italy and the Government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same.”
DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST GERMANY
Mr. MCCORMACK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table Senate Joint Resolution 119, which is identical with the resolution just adopted by the House, and pass the Senate resolution.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
The Senate joint resolution was read a third time, and passed.
It makes one think that Winston Churchill today might revise his remarks to say: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much [known] by so . . . few.”