World War II “The Power of the Spoken Word”

1. World War II“The Power of the Spoken Word”

2. “The Power of the Spoken Word” • Everyday we as humans engage in conversation. We engage in conversation with friends, colleagues, foes, and supporters. • We use our words everyday to bring encouragement, correction, praise, scold, love, hate, peace, and war. • This phenomenon is present in every age but especially during times of war, and in particular World War II.

3. Bell Work Assignment • Everyday during this unit we will begin the day with a bell work quotation from the World War II period. • You assignment each day is to write in two to three sentences who spoke the words of the quotation and why this quote is significant for our study and personal lives. • Both the biographical and reflection portions are necessary to receive credit as there will be no partial credit given. • BE ADVISED that not doing bell work will only hurt you as you will be quizzed on your knowledge of these quotations in the days to come.

4. Day 1 • “In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communists; And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionists, And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew; And then…they came for me…And by that time there was no one left to speak up.” Martin Niemoller • Why is this significant?

5. Day 2 • “War is a contagion, whether it be declared or undeclared. It can engulf states and peoples remote from the original scene of hostilities. We are determined to keep out of war, yet we cannot insure ourselves against the disastrous effects of war and the dangers of involvement.” • Look in chapter 14

6. Day 3 • “We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” • Look in Chapter 14 Section 2

7. Day 4 • “The victor will not be asked afterwards whether he told the truth or not.” When starting and wagging a war it is not right that matters, but victory. Close your hearts to pity. Act brutally…….The stronger man is right.” • Look in chapter 14 section 1

8. Day 5 • “All the day long, whether rain or shine, she’s a part of the assembly line. She’s making history, working for victory, Rosie the Riveter.” • Look in Chapter 15

9. Day 5 • “We sent an ultimatum to Japan. It was ignored. I ordered atomic bombs dropped on the two cities…Dropping the bombs ended the war, saved lives and gave the free nations a chance to face the facts.” • Look in Chapter 15 Section 3

10. Day 7 • “The resettlement center is actually a jail –armed guards in towers with spotlights and deadly tommy guns, fifteen feet of barbed-wire fences, everyone confined to quarters at nine…What really hurts [is being called] ‘Japs.’ ‘Japs’ are the guys we are fighting.” • Look in Chapter 15

11. Day 8 • “If we cannot eliminate the causes and prevent the repetition of these barbaric events, it is not an irresponsible prophecy to say that this twentieth century may yet succeed in bringing the doom of civilization.” • Look in Chapter 15