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When the U.S. entered WW2 in late 1941, victory seemed remote

When the U.S. entered WW2 in late 1941, victory seemed remote. Japan dominated the western half of the Pacific Ocean. Germany controlled almost all of Europe. Germany pressed into Russia. Axis armies controlled Northern Africa & threatened the Suez Canal.

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When the U.S. entered WW2 in late 1941, victory seemed remote

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  1. When the U.S. entered WW2 in late 1941, victory seemed remote Japan dominated the western half of the Pacific Ocean Germany controlled almost all of Europe Germany pressed into Russia Axis armies controlled Northern Africa & threatened the Suez Canal But…over the next 2 years, the U.S. & the Allies began to win the wars in Europe & the Pacific

  2. Europe 1941-1943 The U.S. wanted to attack across Nazi-controlled France by 1943 USSR “freed” Poland, Hungary, Romania England wanted to attack Italy from Northern Africa in 1942 In 1942, U.S.-Anglo troops began the Italian campaign & Stalin was ANGRY To win the European campaign, 2 different plans were proposed In 1943, the Soviet army won at Stalingrad; Germany was never again on the offensive

  3. The Allies began to win the Battle of the Atlantic in 1941 with Lend-Lease aid, but took control in 1943 with America’s entry into the war

  4. Tehran Conference, 1943 By agreeing to “Operation Overlord” (D-Day), Allies would divide Axis military across two fronts • 1943: FDR, Churchill, Stalin met in Tehran, Iran for 1st of 3 wartime conferences: • US, UK, USSR coordinated war strategy • FDR & Churchill committed to Stalin’s demands to open a western front (D-Day) • Discussed plans to create a “general intl org” to promote “peace & security” (UN) FDR proposed future UN dominated by 4 “policemen” (US/UK/China/USSR) w/power to “deal immediately with any sudden emergency”

  5. Europe 1944-1945 US/UK/Can troops landed at 5 strategic points Long-awaited 2nd front came on June 6, 1944 with D-Day

  6. Yalta Conference – Feb 1945 • “Big 3” met at Yalta (modern Ukraine) to discuss post-war Europe: • Stalin refused to give up E Euro but did agree to “self-determination” • Stalin agreed to send troops to Pacific after the G surrender if they could keep Manchuria

  7. Soon after the Yalta Conference in Feb 1945, FDR died…and Harry Truman became president

  8. In late April 1945, the Allies broke through the Eastern & Western Fronts forcing both Italy & Germany to surrender

  9. “Island-hopping” allowed the Allies to win strategic islands without investing precious time, resources, & American lives The Doolittle Raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942 was a morale boost U.S. victory at Midway in 1942 gave the Allies naval supremacy

  10. The Japanese refused to play by according to the Geneva Convention “rules” of war

  11. The German surrender in May 1945, allowed US to turn its full attention towards Japan Victories at Saipan in 1944 & Iwo Jima & Okinawa in 1945 allowed for bombings on Japan

  12. The Decision to Drop the A-Bomb • With no definitive end it sight, how would Allies defeat Japan? • US military favored full-scale invasion of Tokyo by 1946 • Japanese refused to surrender & armed civilians for Allied invasion • Potsdam Conference (July 1945): Truman gave the order to use the atomic bomb

  13. Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago

  14. Triumph & Tragedy in the Pacific • Aug 1945: US dropped 2 atomic bombs – Hiroshima & Nagasaki • Effect of the A-bomb: • Saved hundreds of thousands of US (& Japanese) lives? • Revenge for Pearl Harbor • Showed USSR that US had ultimate weapon • Began ColdWararmsrace

  15. Nagasaki Hiroshima

  16. It’s Finally Over!

  17. Conclusions • WW2 was largest & deadliest war in history & changed the US • War industry ended Great Depression, expanded size of federal gov & ushered in affluent decade • US emerged as world superpower, developed a nuclear arsenal & engaged a Cold War against USSR

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