World War II: D-Day through The BombAnd then some…

Reaction to Pearl HarborAttack Dec. 7, 1941

◦ US declares war on Japan◦ Germany & Italy declare war

on USAParanoia on west coast of

USA◦ Fearful of Japanese espionage

or another attackFDR issues executive order

9066◦ Authorized relocation of

Japanese-American citizens◦ Internment camps

Japanese-Americans face further persecution

The Tide Turns German failures

in Africa – 1943Battle of

Stalingrad◦ Falls Feb. ‘43◦ Turning point on

Eastern frontAllied invasion of

Italy – 1943◦ Rome & Mussolini

fall 6/4/1944

D-DayAllied forces begin plans

for a French mainland invasion◦ Operation Neptune &

OverlordProblem: How to deal with

heavy Nazi fortificationsAttack would be on

Normandy Beach – 5 Beach heads◦ Omaha, Sword, Juno, Utah,

Gold2-Wave attack

◦ Air assault/landing◦ Amphibious landing

Good Fortune @ NormandyHitler thought the main

invasion would happen elsewhere◦ Beaches left less defended

Poor weather conditions◦ Left Germans unsuspecting

Attack commences June 6, 1944

156,000 Allied soldiers land◦ Approximately 10,000

casualties◦ 2500 dead

The Allied AdvanceSoviet forces advance

from the EastUS/British forces slowly

advance from the West◦ Race to beat the Soviets to

BerlinApril 30, 1945: Hitler kills

himself in private bunker in Berlin◦ Had heard of Mussolini’s

fateGerman forces in Berlin

surrender May 02, 1945

The Pacific TheaterBy Nov. 1944 US within

bombing range of Japanese mainland

Firebombing of Tokyo◦ +100,000 deaths◦ 1,000,000

wounded/homeless◦ 50% of Tokyo destroyed by

end of WWIISummer of ‘45 – Japanese

still fighting despite no way of countering the Allies

US demanded unconditional surrender!

Truman’s DecisionFDR dies April 12, 1945

◦ Truman new PresidentTruman is informed of

top secret project◦ “Manhattan Project”

Decision: Use the bomb or invade mainland Japan◦ In hopes of ending the

warPros/ConsTruman uses the bomb!

The Atomic BombsOnly 2 bombs available

◦ Unsure of effectiveness/results

Hiroshima◦ Aug 6, 1945◦ “Little Boy”◦ 140,000 deaths

Nagasaki◦ Aug 9, 1945◦ “Fat Man”◦ 80,000 deaths

Half die instantlyAug. 14 – Japan surrenders

◦ Allowed to retain emperor

Fat Man & Little Boy