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World War II American History (B) C. Simmons Converting the Economy • The Economy of the U.S. during WWII was probably the deciding factor who won the war end the end. Twice as much as Germany, 5 times as much as Japan • Mobilization of Economy before U.S. entered War • Incentives for industry to move quickly called cost-plus, paid costs plus percentage of profits • Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) helped in conversion into war production American Industry • After Pearl Harbor Attack all major industries including 200,000 companies converted to war production • Automobile factories produced trucks, jeeps, tanks, and B-24 bombers. Also ammunition, rifles, mines, cooking pots, helmets – produced 1/3 of military equipmen • War Production Board – set goals and controls, and Office of War Mobilization – settle arguments Building the Army • Selective Service and Training Act – first peacetime draft in American history • # of draftees was huge, “GI” comes from patch on uniforms Government Issue • Segregated military at beginning of war • African American disfranchisement • Tuskegee airmen in Battle of Anzio in Italy • 99th Pursuit Squadron was an AA unit • Integration in 1948 • Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps – first time women allowed in military Discussion • How did American Production achieve so much success during the war? • What did FDR create to keep production stable? Pacific War • After Pearl Harbor, America could do little to stop advancing Japanese in Southeast Asia (Attack on American bases in Philippines) • MacArthur ordered to evacuate to Australia – Bataan Death March • B-25 bombers replaced short range bombers on aircraft carriers, James Doolittle put in charge, April 18 attack • Turning Point - Battle of Midway – code breakers, Americans shot down 38 Jap planes and destroyed 4 carriers Early in Germany • Stalin urged FDR to open up new front, July 1942 FDR ordered invasion of periphery of Germany (Algeria, Morocco) • Dwight Eisenhower invaded N Africa in November 1942, George Patton led troops into Morocco, May 1943 Germans surrendered • Germans sank cargo-ships, so Americans employed a convoy system, protection from Navy • Battle of Stalingrad - German Goal was to destroy Russian economy, turning point in war (first time Germans on defensive), #deaths Discussion • What was important about Battle of Midway? • What was important about Battle of Stalingrad? Women and Minorities • Positive effects of WWII – ended Depression, doubled income, 19 million new jobs • Wartime labor – “Rosie the Riveter” campaign to hire women – 2.5 million • Resistance to hire African Americans • Executive Order 8802 – no discrimination in employment in defense industries • Bracero Program – allowed in 200,000 Mexican harvesters and railroad workers Nation on the Move • 15 million moved West and South (Sunbelt) • The Second Great Migration – factory jobs, but found intolerance and violence • Zoot-Suit problem – Mexican-American violence • Declaration of military zones (1942) led to Japanese internment (10 Camps) West Coast Daily Life in America • Office of Price Administration (OPS) • Office of Economic Administration (OES) • War Labor Board (WLB) – prevented strikes • Rationing – monthly coupon books issued created shortages, foods, meats, oils, gasoline, etc. • Victory Gardens planted to produce more food, Scrap Drives collected raw materials • Trading in of fats and oils – explosives • Raise in taxes, selling of E bonds – funded war Discussion • How did life change for minorities during the war? • What was life like during the war? Striking back at Third Reich • Casablanca Conference – increase bombing of Germany and attack Sicily • Bombing campaign successful because caused oil shortage and troops entering France could not be bombed • Eisenhower commanded troops in Italy and forced German Troops out by August 1943 Italy surrendered in September and Mussolini was arrested Landing in France • Operation Overload – Eisenhower would command troops in invasion of France • Surprise Attack – Germans did not know where attack would happen • D-Day in Normandy – June 7, 1944 • Allied troops captured Utah Beach and moved inland • Invasion of Omaha Beach met intense German fire but succeeded Back to the Pacific • Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur hoped from island to island to retake Pacific • Tarawa Atoll – and rise of the LVT (amphtrac) • Capture of the Kwajalen Atoll allowed B-29 bombers to reach Japan • Battle of Leyte Gulf – largest Naval Battle in history, also first time Japanese used kamikaze attacks – suicide flyers Discussion • Why was D-Day so successful? • Why were kamikazes so deadly? Third Reich Collapses • Germans use of hedgerows in Normandy – embankments of dirt and hedges • Bombing allowed U.S. tanks threw • Paris liberation on August 25, 1944 • Battle of the Bulge – last ditch effort of Hitler, German defenses bulged outward catching Americans off guard • Americans pushed back Germans and crossed Ludendorf Bridge – free entrance into Berlin • Hitler committed suicide, unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, V-E Day Japan Defeated • FDR died in April 1945, Harry Truman took power • Invasion of Iwo Jima – closer to Japan and allow more accuracy of bombers • Napalm bombing in Tokyo (firebombing) • April 1945 invasion of Okinawa 35 miles from Japan(12,000 soldiers lost their lives) • Japan refused to surrender unconditionally • Manhattan Project – atomic bomb, July 1945 first atomic bomb detonated in NM • August atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing 75,000 people • August 15, 1945 Japan surrendered (V-J Day) Building New World • Creation of the United Nations (UN) April 1945 official charter • Britain, France, U.S., China, Soviet Union would be permanent members and have veto power • International Military Tribunal (IMT) punish German and Japanese leaders for war crimes • Nuremburg Trials – only two German leaders were convicted Discussion • Why did Hitler commit suicide? • Why did Truman use the atomic bomb? • Why were only two German leaders convicted of war crimes?