World War II

U.S. Enters the War

After the attack on Pearl Harbor the U.S. enters the war-1941

Objectives of the WarObjectives of the War

The defeat of Germany was Top PriorityUnconditional surrender would be accepted-

surrender without any concessionsUS would fight a defensive war against JapanAllies fight to defeat the Nazis

War at HomeAttack 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 FREEDOMSFreedom of Speech

and ExpressionFreedom of WorshipFreedom from WantFreedom 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 WWII2x as productive as German workers5x as productive as Japanese workersBegan build-up of military after German

blitzkrieg beganNational Defense Advisory Committee:

mobilize the economyCost-plus contracts: government would pay

cost of production AND portion of profits to companies

New Markets and MethodsWar Production Board

Helped to convert industries to war productionConvert factories from

civilian to military productionLimit the production

of materials not essential to the war efforto From shirts, toys

and cars to uniforms, bombs, tanks, and aircraft

New Plants and Over-ProductionGovernment paid companies to build new

plantsHelped pay for equipment as wellGranted relief from antitrust laws to war-

related industriesSuch a surplus of armaments that eventually

asked plants to stop production

Wartime EconomyEconomy grows during the war

Gross National ProductDollar value of all goods and services

produced annuallyRises from $90.5 billion to $211.9 billion

War creates 17 million new jobsFarm production increases

GIsAmerican 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 bombedPatriotism, anger towards

Nazis, adventure, joblessness

Women in the ArmyWomen were used

in all areas except combatTypists, 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 fightGeneral Dwight D. Eisenhower

believed that integrated troops were more successful in combat

TUSKAGEE AIRMENhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=YMX7UhidKIY&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZb7ia_Iy4- movie

AFRICAN AMERICANS AT WAR

Other MinoritiesOther 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-soldiers-world-war-two_n_1927793.html

Minorities ContinuedNative Americans

were drafted and some volunteeredNavajo 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 ContinuedJapanese-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 FrontBattle 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 RussiaWas a turning point in the war—puts the Germans on the

defensive.

1943-Allies now move into Italy via bases from North Africa thru SicilyItalians 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 STALINGRADBATTLE AT STALINGRAD

Africa CampaignAfrica CampaignOperation 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 BritainTurning Point—at

Battle of Kasserine Pass where Gen. Patton led the British and American troops.

Axis powers forced to surrender in May 1943

Atlantic OceanAfter 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 PHILLIPINESA 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=bU3dnFkWDu4&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

DOOLITTLE RAID ON TOKYOPresident Roosevelt looking for a way to raise

morale of American people.He wanted to bomb Tokyo—James Doolittle placed in command and they loaded

16 B-25’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 JapaneseBattle of Coral Sea: stop

Japanese from advancing towards Australia-American 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 IslandLast 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=iipW_576Ea0&safety_mode=true&persist_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

11stst US Offensive Battle US Offensive BattleGuadalcanal

U.S. now has offensive in Pacific warNovember of 1942- U.S gains control of

waters around islands cutting of Japanese supply linesHave to fight Jungle Warfare on the islandBattle enemy and jungle environment

Heat, humidity, rotting gear, poisonous insects, and tropical fevers

February, 1943 U.S. secures the island1st territory Japan loses

Office of Civilian DefenseTo 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 vegetablesFarmers were busy

feeding the army40% of all

vegetables grown, during the war, planted in Victory Gardens

Materials for the WarMaterials for the WarAnything that could be

turned into armaments was collected for the war effortNewspapers, rubber,

scrap metal, aluminum pots, tin cans, box springs1942-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 WarMedia Goes to WarGovernment creates the

Office of War InformationFunction 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 WarHollywood Comic Strips Songs Advertisements

Filmmakers hard at work on their version on the war

Characters go to war Patriotic songs at the beginning of the war

Appeared in magazines and newspapers and on billboards and radio shows

Heroes-gallant Americans

Little Orphan Annie collected scrap metal and her Daddy Warbucks was a general

After 1942- more sentimental

Stimulated National Unity

Villains- Stereotypes

Germans, Japanese, Italians

G.I. Joe cartoon is created

Urged Americans to use less rather than buy more

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”

Economy Grows too FastFDR worries about inflation

General rise in wages and prices1st he freezes wages

Trade Unions oppose a wage freezePromise a No-Strike pledge during the war

FDR creates the National War Labor BoardControl 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 DownRationing

Distributing limited goods fairly

Reduces demand for goodsControversial 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 WarTaxes met 40% of the war costs1942-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

moneyWar Bonds-certificates that promised that

the government would pay the holder the amount borrowed plus interestAlso helped to control inflationHollywood stars helped to sell bondsWar 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 FrontMarried women now

working-6 million women joined the civilian labor force

Now working non-traditional rolesFactories

Defense Industries:Airplane Manufacturing and Shipbuilding

Increase in African American women in the work force

Women’s Roles ContinuedProblems

Restrictions imposed by managers, no fraternization between men and women

Women worried about leaving children

Low wages60% less then men

Little job securityEnd of the war women are

urged to return home4 Million women either

lost their job or left the workforce

ROSIE THE RIVETERROSIE THE RIVETER

Original poster used to encourage women to enter the workforce and help the war effort.

Rosie the Riveter Rosie the Riveter ContinuedContinued

Saturday Evening Post

Norman Rockwell version of Rosie.

Japanese-American InternmentRumors of sabotage after Pearl HarborJapanese were placed internment camps

Citizens and non-citizensCamps located in desolate areasWooden 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 CAMPSBy 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 LIFEInmates 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

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 CASESHirabayashi 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.

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Road to Victory-Europe

NORMANDY

End of War in EuropeFinal Assault on Germany early 1945April 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 FallsMay 7, 1945 Germany’s unconditional

surrenderMay 8, victory in Europe Day (V-E Day)

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 figuresUp to a million deaths

Use of bomb in hopes of ending war without an invasionTHREATENED “PROMPT AND UTTER DESTRUCTION” if did not

surrender August 6, 1945

Enola Gay dropped “Little Boy” on HiroshimaKilled 100,000 plus people instantly another 100,00 die

later from burns, radiation, or other wounds4 square miles of city destroyed

August 9, 1945“Fat Man” dropped on Nagasaki killing 40,000 plus peopleAugust, 1945 Japan formally surrenders.

DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB