Download World War II

World War II
U.S. Enters the War
 After the attack on Pearl Harbor the U.S. enters the war-
1941
Objectives of the War
 The defeat of Germany was Top Priority
 Unconditional surrender would be accepted-surrender without
any concessions
 US would fight a defensive war against Japan
 Allies fight to defeat the Nazis
War at Home
 Attack on Pearl Harbor
ends the debate about
intervention in World War
II
 Most people now believed
the war was needed to fight
for the FOUR
FREEDOMS
 Freedom of Speech and
Expression
 Freedom of Worship
 Freedom from Want
 Freedom from fear
 Norman Rockwell
 Save Freedom of Worship
Norman Rockwell
 Save Freedom of Speech.
 Freedom from Fear
Norman Rockwell
 Save Freedom From Want
American Industry in WWII
 2x as productive as German workers
 5x as productive as Japanese workers
 Began build-up of military after German blitzkrieg began
 National Defense Advisory Committee: mobilize the economy
 Cost-plus contracts: government would pay cost of production
AND portion of profits to companies
New Markets and Methods
 War Production Board
 Helped to convert industries to
war production
 Convert factories from
civilian to military production
 Limit the production of
materials not essential to
the war effort
o From shirts, toys and
cars to uniforms,
bombs, tanks, and
aircraft
New Plants and Over-Production
 Government paid companies to build new plants
 Helped pay for equipment as well
 Granted relief from antitrust laws to war-related industries
 Such a surplus of armaments that eventually asked plants to stop
production
Wartime Economy
 Economy grows during the war
 Gross National Product
 Dollar value of all goods and services produced annually
 Rises from $90.5 billion to $211.9 billion
 War creates 17 million new jobs
 Farm production increases
GIs
 American Soldiers called
themselves GIs after the
Government Issue stamp that
was on all of their belongings
 Many soldiers were drafted
 Many volunteered after Pearl
Harbor was bombed
 Patriotism, anger towards Nazis,
adventure, joblessness
Women in the Army
 Women were used in all
areas except combat
 Typists, clerks, control tower
operators, radio operators,
parachute riggers,
mechanics, ferried planes
around country, and towed
targets from antiaircraft
gunnery practice
WOMEN AT WAR
African Americans
 Were officially segregated in the Military
 Commanded by White Officers
 Had jobs as cooks and laborers
 Approximately 1 million served in the armed
forces
 Only at end of war, when there was a shortage of
soldiers were they allowed to fight
 General Dwight D. Eisenhower believed that
integrated troops were more successful in
combat
 TUSKAGEE AIRMEN
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMX7U
hidKIY&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mo
de=1&safe=active
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZb7ia
_Iy4- movie
AFRICAN AMERICANS AT WAR
Other Minorities
 Hispanic-Americans
 It’s estimated that anywhere from 13.9 percent to 18.6
percent of all Mexican Americans joined the military during
World War II.
 375 thousand to half a million estimate, out of a 2.69 million
population, is extraordinarily high. Remember that you also
have Mexican American women serving in the armed forces.
 Were the most decorated ethnic group from the war.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/
10/01/mexican-american-soldiersworld-war-two_n_1927793.html
Minorities Continued
 Native Americans were
drafted and some
volunteered
 Navajo Code Talkers- native
language was used by
marines to transport
messages by radio and
phone
 Outwitted Japanese by
sending messages in code
NAVAJO CODE TALKERS
Minorities Continued
 Japanese-Americans
 Offered to fight despite
discrimination suffered
by families back home
 442nd Regiment became
the most decorated unit
in the war
Improvements on the European
Front
 Battle for Stalingrad, Spring 1942
 By September, Nazi troops begin major assault on Stalingrad.
 Battle continues for 5 months: February 1943 Germans surrender
 Russia suffered more casualties in this battle than U.S. in entire war
 Stalin does not forgive Allies for failing to help.
 Didn’t want to face a winter deep within Russia
 Was a turning point in the war—puts the Germans on the defensive.
 1943-Allies now move into Italy via bases from North Africa thru
Sicily
 Italians overthrow Mussolini after the invasion of Sicily.
 September 8th unconditional surrender.
 Germans in Italy dug in and contested every Allied move
 June 1944 Allies liberate Rome.
BATTLE AT STALINGRAD
Africa Campaign
 Operation Torch
 North African Campaign 1942-
British gain victory at El
Alamein, Egypt-Great Britain
needed Egypt because the Suez
Canal was located there—most
of Britain’s empire sent supplies
via canal to Britain
 Turning Point—at Battle of
Kasserine Pass where Gen.
Patton led the British and
American troops.
 Axis powers forced to
surrender in May 1943
Atlantic Ocean
 After Germany declared war
on the U.S., German
submarines entered U.S.
coastal waters.
 American cargo ships were
easy targets—especially at
night with glow of city lights.
(blackout curtains-no
headlights)
 Finally in July 1942-new
radar, sonar, and depth
charges used to locate and
attack German submarines.
THE FALL OF THE PHILLIPINES
 A few hours after the
bombing of Pearl Harbor--Japanese attacked American
airfields in the Phillipines.
 Two days later they landed
troops.
 American and Filipino forces
were outnumbered.
 Their Commander—
MacCarthur—retreated to
the Bataan Peninsula. Using
the rugged terrain the troops
held out for 3 months.
 By March the troops were
eating cavalry horses and
mules.
 Lacked food, supplies, and
there were diseases.
 April 4, 1942-they
surrendered and forced to
march 65 miles to a
Japanese prison camp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU3d
nFkWDu4&safety_mode=true&persist_safe
ty_mode=1&safe=active
DOOLITTLE RAID ON TOKYO
 President Roosevelt looking for a way to raise morale of
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American people.
He wanted to bomb Tokyo—
James Doolittle placed in command and they loaded 16 B25’s onto the aircraft carrier the Hornet.
April 18th American bombs fell on Japan for first time.
This caused Japan to change its strategy—Admiral Yamamoto
wanted to attack Midway Island—last American base in N.
Pacific west of Hawaii.
Felt this would lure the American Fleet into battle—and the
Japanese could destroy it.
Pacific Improvements
 http://amhist.ist.unomaha.edu/module_
files/Japanese%20Expansion.jpg
 May 1942 US forces begin to reverse the
Japanese
 Battle of Coral Sea: stop Japanese
from advancing towards AustraliaAmerican code breakers had broken
code and sent destroyers to intercept
them on their way to New Guinea.
American attacks kept the supply lines
to Australia open.
 Midway Island
 Last offensive Japanese operation in the
war --U.S. won and reduced threat to
Hawaii—was a turning point in war!
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i
ipW_576Ea0&safety_mode=true&per
sist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
 Adopt a policy of “Island Hopping”
 Surround Japanese strong holds
and cut them off from supplies
 Build bases from which to attack
Philippines and eventually Japan
itself
1st US Offensive Battle
 Guadalcanal
 U.S. now has offensive in Pacific war
 November of 1942- U.S gains control of waters around islands
cutting of Japanese supply lines
 Have to fight Jungle Warfare on the island
 Battle enemy and jungle environment
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Heat, humidity, rotting gear, poisonous insects, and tropical fevers
 February, 1943 U.S. secures the island
 1st territory Japan loses
Office of Civilian Defense
 To raise and maintain the
country’s morale, citizens
were asked to contribute
“An Hour A Day for the
USA”
Choose from a number of
Civilian Defense Projects
“Victory Gardens”
 Some Americans helped
by growing their own
vegetables
 Farmers were busy feeding
the army
 40% of all vegetables
grown, during the war,
planted in Victory Gardens
Materials for the War
 Anything that could be turned
into armaments was collected
for the war effort
 Newspapers, rubber, scrap metal,
aluminum pots, tin cans, box
springs
 1942-Paper collection
temporarily called off b/c
some so much was collected
 Much of the steel, half the tin,
and half the paper that was
needed to fight the war was
collected by citizens
Media Goes to War
 Government creates the
Office of War Information
 Function was to coordinate
war news from various
federal agencies
 Encourage newspapers,
radio stations, and movie
industry to help Americans
understand the progress of
the war and government’s
policies
Examples of Media at War
Hollywood
Comic Strips
Songs
Advertisements
Filmmakers hard at Characters go to war
work on their
version on the war
Patriotic
songs at the
beginning of
the war
Appeared in magazines
and newspapers and on
billboards and radio
shows
Heroes-gallant
Americans
After 1942more
sentimental
Stimulated National
Unity
Little Orphan Annie
collected scrap metal
and her Daddy
Warbucks was a
general
VillainsG.I. Joe cartoon is
Stereotypes
created
Germans, Japanese,
Italians
Urged Americans to use
less rather than buy more
“Use it up, wear it out,
make it do, or do
without”
Economy Grows too Fast
 FDR worries about inflation
 General rise in wages and prices
 1st he freezes wages
 Trade Unions oppose a wage freeze
 Promise a No-Strike pledge during the war
 FDR creates the National War Labor Board
 Control wages and monitor inflation.
 Workers also want prices controlled– and most unions issued a no-strike
pledge.
 Office of Price Administration set a ceiling on all prices in an
attempt to keep inflation low.
 Reasonable balance in achieved throughout the war
Keeping Prices Down
 Rationing
 Distributing limited goods
fairly
 Reduces demand for goods
 Controversial b/c even though
people were earning more, they
were restricted in their
spending.
 Examples-meat, sugar, gasoline,
driving distances, and speed
limits.
 Books of ration coupons given
out to each family once a month.
Paying For the War
 Taxes met 40% of the war costs
 1942-Revenue Act passed
 Increase corporate taxes and requires nearly all American to pay
income taxes
 1943-Congress approves system for withholding taxes
through monthly payroll deductions
Paying for the War Cont.
 Government borrows the rest of the money
 War Bonds-certificates that promised that the government
would pay the holder the amount borrowed plus interest
 Also helped to control inflation
 Hollywood stars helped to sell bonds
 War stamps-children collected them and when they had $18.75 worth of
stamps they received a bond for $25.00 in 10 years
 Families of those who served in the armed forces bought war bonds to
help them invest their money while they were away
Women on the Home Front
 Married women now working-6
million women joined the civilian
labor force
 Now working non-traditional
roles
 Factories
 Defense Industries:Airplane
Manufacturing and Shipbuilding
 Increase in African American
women in the work force
Women’s Roles Continued
 Problems
 Restrictions imposed by managers,
no fraternization between men and
women
 Women worried about leaving
children
 Low wages
 60% less then men
 Little job security
 End of the war women are urged to
return home
 4 Million women either lost their
job or left the workforce
ROSIE THE RIVETER
 Original poster used to
encourage women to
enter the workforce and
help the war effort.
Rosie the Riveter Continued
 Saturday Evening Post
 Norman Rockwell
version of Rosie.
Japanese-American Internment
 Rumors of sabotage after Pearl Harbor
 Japanese were placed internment camps
 Citizens and non-citizens
 Camps located in desolate areas
 Wooden barracks covered with tar paper and protected by
bared wire
 "And I remember the soldiers marching us
to the army tank. I looked at their rifles
and I was just terrified because it had this
long knife at the end.“ Children of the
camps
PERMANENT WRA CAMPS
 By October 1942, the Army had transferred all inmates from
fifteen temporary camps to ten permanent War Relocation
Authority (WRA) camps under civilian control of the
Department of the Interior.
These camps were located in isolated inland areas in vast,
sandy deserts or swamp lands. Inmates, who had come from
relatively mild climates of the West, experienced frequent
dust storms, bitter cold winters, and sizzling summers for
the first time.
“We Were made to go single file, stripped,
and ...sprayed you with some kind of
chemical powder like DDT."
CAMP LIFE
 Inmates had been led to believe that these more permanent
centers would be "resettlement communities," not prisons. When
they arrived, however, they found their new quarters fenced in
with barbed wire and guarded by military police.
 They also found themselves overcrowded in single rooms with no
furniture except for cots and a pot-bellied stove. As time
progressed, they acquired other necessities, either by fashioning
them out of scrap lumber or ordering through catalogs.
The WRA went to great lengths to provide recreational activities,
fully aware that the monotony of camp life could set off violence
among the discontent.
CAMP LIFE
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In time, a festering anger erupted among the internees. This no
doubt arose from resentment of their confinement, coupled with
the harsh conditions of camp life.
Some internees, suspected of being collaborators and informers,
were attacked. By November and December 1942,
demonstrations and riots had broken out in several camps.
Military police, called in to quell the disturbance, killed two
unarmed youths and wounded nine others.
QUESTIONS OF LOYALTY
 On February 8, 1943, the WRA (War Relocation Authority) and the Army
distributed applications for leave clearance titled "Statement of U.S. Citizenship
of Japanese American Ancestry." All inmates seventeen years old and older were
required to complete the questionnaire, one which was to provoke the greatest
upheaval within the camps.
Two questions, intended to separate the "loyal" from the "disloyal," most
disturbed the internees:
Question #27 asked:
"Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty wherever
ordered?"
-Question #28 asked:
"Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the
United States from any or all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of
allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power, or
organization?"
COURT CASES
 Hirabayashi v. United States.
was arrested and convicted
on two counts, one for
violating General DeWitt's
curfew order, and two, for
failing to register at a
control center to prepare
for departure to an
"assembly" center.
 Korematsu v. United States:
arrested because he
ignored the evacuation
order.
 Supreme Court in 1944-upheld
the exclusion of Japanese
Americans from the West Coast
regions. The Court's cited reason
was the war with Japan and the
military necessity perceived by
Congress and military leaders.
s
Road to Victory-Europe
•
Air attacks against
Germany in 1943-44
softened German
resistance
 Operation Overlord-drive Germans
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out of France and defeat the the
Third Reich
D-Day June 6, 1944
Land, sea and air invasion
 Beaches at Normandy, Eisenhower
August 1944 Paris is freed
Battle of the Bulge-December 1944
German counterattack
Last Offensive German Move Allies
moved into Germany
NORMANDY
End of War in Europe
 Final Assault on Germany early 1945
 April 12th FDR dies after 12 yrs in office
 Truman takes office (V.P.)
 April 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide in a Berlin bunker
 May 2 Berlin Falls
 May 7, 1945 Germany’s unconditional surrender
 May 8, victory in Europe Day (V-E Day)
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End
of
War
in
Pacific
By 1944 bombers close enough to attack Japanese mainland
 Truman scheduled invasion for late 1945/46
 By March of 1945 bombing Tokyo-napalm
 MANHATTAN PROJECT: July 1945-J. Robert Oppenheimer successfully detonates 1st
atomic bomb in New Mexico
 Decision to bomb Japan
 Invading Japan would result in high casualties figures
 Up to a million deaths
 Use of bomb in hopes of ending war without an invasion
 THREATENED “PROMPT AND UTTER DESTRUCTION” if did not surrender
 August 6, 1945
 Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima
 Killed 100,000 plus people instantly another 100,00 die later from burns,
radiation, or other wounds
 4 square miles of city destroyed
 August 9, 1945
 “Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki killing 40,000 plus people
 August, 1945 Japan formally surrenders.
DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB