US Involvement in WWII

1. US Involvement in WWII Chapter 20

2. Ch. 20.1

3. I. Converting the Economy • A. US produced 2x the amount of other nation’s factories – important to victory • B. Needed to rapidly mobilize (“get ready”); US instituted Cost-Plus program • C. Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) made loans for mobilization

4. II. American Industry • A. After Pearl Harbor, almost all industries converted to war production • B. Auto factories turned to production of jeeps, trucks, rifles, tanks, planes, supplies. • C. Henry Kaiser’s Liberty Ships • D. War Production Board (WPB) set priorities and production goals. Office of War Mobilization (OWM) to settle arguments between the different agencies.

5. III. Building an Army • A. In order to win the war, it was vital that the US built up its armed forces. • B. Selective Service and Training Act – 1st peacetime draft in Am. History. • C. Overwhelming volunteers – short training, but camaraderie made an effective unit.

6. D. US Army was segregated. Blacks were in their own military units, with White officers • E. “Double V Campaign” • F. 99th Pursuit Squadron – Tuskegee Airmen; Important role in the battle of Anzio in Italy. • G. In the army, Blacks also performed well, receiving various awards for distinguished service; Segregation ended in 1948.

7. Some of the Tuskegee Airmen

8. H. Congress established the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in May 1942. First women in American military. By 1943 women became a part of regular war operations. Each branch had their organizations. • I. 1941 the American troops were untrained and had little military experience. Got the job done; fewest casualties in combat of all the major war powers.

9. WAACS and WAVES

10. Ch. 20. 2

11. I. Pacific Front • A. After Pearl Harbor, American bases in Philippines attacked • B. Philippines; General MacArthur; Bataan Death March • C. Doolittle Raid • D. Turning Point in the Pacific: Battle of Midway – destroyed Japanese carriers

12. II. Turning Back the Germans • A. Stalin urged US & UK to open a second front; Churchill wanted to attack periphery (N. Africa) • B. Began under General Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton – Casablanca, Kasserine Pass • C. Convoy system to defeat German submarine threat. • D. Hitler wants to destroy USSR economy; Soviets hold out – Stalingrad was turning point.

13. Some Links… • http://historyanimated.com/Philippines.html • http://historyanimated.com/Midway.html

14. Ch. 20.3

15. I. Women and Minorities • A. War had positive effect of US society • Ended Depression • Created 19 million new jobs • Doubled family incomes • B. Labor shortage forced employers to hire more women for men’s jobs. 2.5 million women entered manufacturing.

16. Rosie the Riveter

17. C. Discrimination against Blacks • A. Philip Randolph (Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters) organized a march to secure jobs. • FDR responded with Executive Order 8802 – no discrimination in defense industries or government • D. Bracero Program – Mexican nationals arranged to help on SW farms. 200,000 came to work farms and RRs.

18. II. Nation on the Move • A. 15 million moved to West and South for jobs; New industrial region called Sunbelt • B. Fed. Gov’t issued $1.2 billion for schools, housing, community centers • C. Continuance of Great Migration (S to N. Cities). Racism often worse in North than South

19. D. Zoot Suit Riots – popular among Mexican-Americans in California; Rumors of attack on several sailors. Led to violence in LA. • E. Feb 19, 1942, FDR allowed the War Dept. to declare any part of the US a military zone and remove anybody from that zone – led to internment of Japanese-Americans.

20. III. Daily Life • A. Office of Price Administration – Regulated farm wages • B. Office of Economic Administration – Regulated everything else • C. Rationing – limiting the availability of products • D. E bonds were used to raise money for the war • E. Most were united in support of war.

21. Ch. 20.4

22. I. Striking Back at the 3rd Reich • A. Casablanca Conference – What to do now? • Increase bombing of Germany • Destroy military, industrial, and economic system • Hurt German morale • Attack Sicily

23. B. Did not destroy morale or economy. Destroyed irreplaceable resources and aircraft; Helped in D-Day invasion • C. Dwight D. Eisenhower – overall commander of Sicily invasion • Victorious • Mussolini was arrested by Italians • September 1943 – surrender of Italy • Hitler reoccupies Italy; puts Mussolini back into power. • Germans retreat in May 1944.

24. D. FDR, Stalin, Churchill meet in Tehran, Iran, and discuss plans for the rest of the war. • Renewed Soviet offensive against Germany • Allies would invade France (D-Day) • Germany would be broken up after the war • USSR would help US defeat Japan 3 months after surrender of Germany • Formation of a new United Nations.

25. II. Landing in France • A. Operation Overlord – Commanded by Eisenhower; Invasion of France (Normandy) – D-Day. • Allied had advantage of surprise • Germany thought they’d strike Pas-de-Calais • Conditions?

26. B. Began shortly after midnight, June 6, 1944. • Attack slowed at Utah Beach; Immense casualties at Omaha Beach • Gen. Omar Bradley considered evacuation, but the attack succeeded. • C. Allied forces now had a foot-hold in France.

31. III. Driving the Japanese Back • A. Island Hopping – Advance from island to island, capturing key locations to proceed toward Japan • Commanded by Adml. Chester Nimitz • B. Gen. MacArthur would advance through the Solomon Islands, capture N. coast of New Guinea, and retake the Philippines

32. C. Island hopping campaign would begin in fall of 1943. • 1st action: Tarawa Atoll – amphibious assault led to many dead marines • Led to use of LVT (Amphtrac) • Kwajalein Atoll (Marshall Islands) went smoother • B-29 bombers were used to capture the Mariana Islands; Soon after were firebombing Japan

33. D. General MacArthur’s troops invaded Guadalcanal in August 1942; Battle lasted almost 2 years. • E. Pushed on to capture Hollandia in New Guinea – on to the Philippines • F Leyte Gulf – American ships ambushed; Kamikaze attacks first used • Manila destroyed, 100,000 Filipinos dead

34. Ch 20.5

35. I. Third Reich Collapses • A. FDR and Allies promise to punish Nazis after the war; end concentration camps. • B. Battle of the Hedgerows ended with the allies blowing a hole in the Axis lines • C. Paris liberated on August 25. Three weeks later, just 20 miles from Germany

36. D. Hitler tried to cut American supply-lines through Antwerp – Battle of the Bulge • Began Dec. 16, 1944 • Allied lines “bulged” but did not break • Weakened Nazis could not renew attack, and broke. • E. Failed to destroy the Ludendorf Bridge, and Allies entered Germany • F. Hitler killed himself; Germany surrendered a week later. May 7, 1945 = V-E (Victory in Europe) Day.

37. II. Japan is Defeated • A. In April, 1945, FDR dies. Harry S Truman becomes President. • B. To better strike Japan, US must get closer. Battle of Iwo Jima. 6,800 casualties • http://www.snopes.com/military/sixboys.asp • C. Firebombing of Japan • D. Japan refused to surrender – US invades Okinawa

38. E. Japan will not surrender unconditionally. Why? • F. Manhattan Project • G. Truman’s threat • H. August 6 – Hiroshima; August 9 – Nagasaki. • I. Truman’s decision debated • J. V-J Day (Victory over Japan)

39. Building a New World • A. United Nations • Organization • General Assembly • Security Council • Role, membership, and Veto Power

40. B. International Military Tribunal • C. Nuremburg Trials • D. Reasons and exemptions.

41. Key People you need to know!