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The US and WWII

The US and WWII. Chapter 18. The largest conflict the world has ever seen. In many ways a renewal of WWI, it will be the death knell of European hegemony and usher in the a new world order. The Road to War.

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The US and WWII

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  1. The US and WWII Chapter 18

  2. The largest conflict the world has ever seen. In many ways a renewal of WWI, it will be the death knell of European hegemony and usher in the a new world order The Road to War

  3. If we were “anxious” in the 20s- Europe was freaking out… The “Great War” had been a cataclysmic event, and people were worried about the spread of communism from Russia (after all, remember what happened after the Fr Rev) Plus there was the Depression to worry about • In a time of chaos and fear- radical solutions seemed like good options. If we are afraid of the left…. Let’s turn WAY right instead • Both the Communism of Stalin and the Fascism of Mussolini/Hitler are forms of totalitarianism- just with different angles…. The Rise of Fascism

  4. Mussolini actually invented the word – from the Fasces, an ancient Roman symbol of strength. • Il Duce used mass culture and propaganda to spread his message- a promise of security (in exchange for freedom) and a return to glory Fascism in Italy

  5. But if you’re talking fascists- Hitler’s the man. Germany was a HOT mess, and the Nazi’s offered a solution and someone to blame • Plan was to create a new world order based on the “Master” Aryan race- social darwinism on crack • Came to power legally (they fudged some election results and set a building on fire, but other than that) Their success is the best example of how psychologically damaging wwi really was for Germany Fascism in Germany

  6. Won the power struggle after Lenin died in 1924. Actually the most successful of the totalitarians- he dominates the USSR from 1927-1953. • Big move in the 30s was modernizing USSR. Collectivization and Industrialization Rise of Stalin

  7. Was a newly powerful country- having rapidly transformed themselves into a modern nation by government supported industrialization (Meiji Restoration) • Their lack of industrial resources, and desire to be taken “seriously” by European powers will push them towards agression Rise of Japan

  8. The league was an important 1st step towards international cooperation, but they never stood a chance- their only option was to “Condemn” actions they didn’t like… Like the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, Mussolini’s invasion of Eithiopia, or Hitler’s occupation of the Rhineland • US/USSR never part of league, Germany withdrew in 1933, whole thing fell apart by 1936 Demise of the League of Nations

  9. It wasn’t hard to see another war coming…but boy did we try… • Some were pacifists, some isolationists, some resented the extra $$ which would take focus from domestic issues • Preparing for neutrality- FDR signed a series of acts to protect commerce. Most important was idea of “Cash and Carry” that US would only sell for cash to nations at war, and those nations had to transport their own goods. (and he starts quietly preparing for war… building up navy, and instituting a peacetime draft ) The US in a Menacing World

  10. In an uncertain world, with US under threat from the “three bandit nations”, Germany, Italy, Japan FDR decided to break tradition and run for a 3rd term in 1940 (by then war in Europe has already begun) A 3rd Term for FDR

  11. Hitler began taking territory in Europe- and no one made a move to stop him (Appeasement) • Nazi Soviet Pact allowed Hitler to attack w/o worrying about a two front war (for the time being) and He invades Poland on Sept 1 1939. • Tripartite Pact united Japan with Germany/Italy (Rome Berlin Axis) Never really coordinated war efforts/aims, but did ensure that it would be the allies fighting in multiple directions this time The Onset of War

  12. Nazis had spent 5 years building up military- Allies didn’t start until after Munich Conference in spring of ‘39, they are behind • England asks US (neutral- but Nazis always knew who we supported) for help- and FDR created the Lend Lease Plan- where Britain would “borrow” war products and return (or pay for) when war was over. Lend Lease

  13. August 1941 Winston Churchill and FDR met off coast of Newfoundland and drew up Atlantic Charter- goals for war (eliminate the Nazis) and after war was over: Collective Security, Disarmament, Freedom of the Seas etc… • We became more engaged- using convoy system to deliver lend –lease goods, with a “shoot on sight” directive which made it clear our entry into the war was only a matter of time. The Atlantic Charter and Submarine Warfare

  14. But it isn’t the Nazis who bring us in….relations with Japan had been deteriorating – and we refused to sell them steel or fuel (two vital military products) after 1940. So they begin planning to fight, and decide a 1st strike attack is the way to play. • Dec 7th 1941 7:00 am. 2402 killed, 187 airplanes, 18 ships (8 battleships destroyed) in just over 2 hours. By chance, non of our aircraft carriers were at pearl (they were the ultimate target) but still, a devastating blow. • December 8th- we declare war on Japan. Dec 9th – Germany declares war on US Pearl Harbor

  15. Total War- full commitment of resources. Even more destructive than WWI, we take all those technologies and add aircraft carriers, bombers, rocketry, radar and the atomic bomb • Lines between military and civilians blurred, both sides bombed cities full of noncombatants, and genocide was an important aspect of Nazi strategy (interestingly- that diversion of resources might have cost the Nazis the war) Nature of War

  16. Nazi strategy was Blitzkrieg- and worked really well in Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and France. 1942 High water mark of Nazi rule • First place they ran into a snag was the Battle of Britain- and that “defeat” prompted Hitler to order the invasion of Russia way ahead of schedule- and he gets stuck there (Stalingrad) War in Europe

  17. Once US is in war- they decide to attack through “Soft Underbelly” of North Africa - Which had been conquered by Italy while Nazis had been busy up north. • Operation Torch successful by 1943 (El Alamein most important battle). But what is most significant Allies (US, Eng, Fr Resistance Canadians) get used to working together. With Africa cleared we head north into Italy, which flips sides, and hangs Mussolini North Africa

  18. Japan also very successful in beginning of war. Invasion of Manchuria/China gave them the resources they needed, started taking European colonies: Hong Kong, Singapore, The Philippines Malaya and Indonesia. • War in the Pacific fought primarily at sea- aircraft carriers vital. Midway the turning point. Island Hopping the strategy. War in the Pacific

  19. More transformation in the power of the government- as the war effect the entire population (far more than wwi) federal employees goes from 1 m to 4 mil. Unemployment goes from 14% in 1940 to 2% in 1943. • New Agencies: War Production Board, War Manpower Commission, Office of Price Administration. • Even with fear- this restores our confidence and optimism. Here is something we can DO- something concrete to fight. The Home front

  20. Began with Lend Lease- but by 1942 many consumer industries had converted to military manufacturing, creating 60,000 planes, 45,000 tanks and 8,000,000 tons of military supplies in 1942 alone. Cost of war supplies 10xwwi and 100x Civil War • Gov’t spent $100,000,000 on research for new tech (radar, sonar and atomic most important) • Rationing of consumer items like gas, sugar, coffee and cloth. Economic Conversion

  21. Had played a strong supporting role in WWI, but really kept the economy moving here. • Unmarried women from 20-35 could be called to work in key industries or as agricultural workers. US had women in military as WACs, WAVES and WASPs • In US and Britain rules about “women’s work” fell by wayside as new professional opportunities opened, and more married women worked. Led to the development of daycares etc. (and to criticisms of mothers leaving their children to work) • Marriage Rates- which had fallen during depression- boomed during war. This will create a HUGE population burst (the Baby Boom) after the war. Women and Children in the War effort

  22. 700,000 African Americans served in the military, primarily in segregated units (although that was not possible in the Navy and Marines- and success there helped create an integrated military.) • Tuskegee Airmen served with exceptional distinction • Labor needs also continued the migration of African American labor to the north. And FDR required defense contractors to hire without discrimination Minority Participation in the War Effort.

  23. 1942 US encouraged Mexican agricultural workers to emigrate as part of Bracero program- which allowed short term residency. Cultural differences created tensions and conflict (Zoot Suit riots) Mexicans

  24. After Pearl Harbor, anti-Japanese feelings were intense. Like German in WWI, we wanted to “Americanize” various aspects of culture. 120,000 Americans with Japanese heritage (most born in US) were sent to “relocation centers” for the duration of the war. • Most were from west coast- moved to interior, forced to sell homes/businesses at a loss, and conditions would best be compared to a communal prison. • Korematsu v US in 1944 upheld the idea, but in 1984 congress voted to award reparations as apology for racial blindness. Internment of Japanese Americans

  25. FDR ran for a 4th term in 1944….and while he won, it was his smallest margin of victory (primarily b/c Thomas Dewey, who ran against him was a bland choice) • FDR had a different VP every term- this time he had chosen a virtually unknown senator from Missouri with little experience in international affairs. Election of 1944

  26. By 1943- the tide had turned against the Nazis • Stalingrad turns the Germans back in the USSR • Operation Avalanche (allied invasion of Italy) cost Hitler his major Ally. • Allied forces captured and broke the code for the enigma machine- and that helped us win the battle of the Atlantic- now it is safe to transport massive numbers of troops and prepare for an end to the war The End of the War

  27. June 6th 1944 Operation Overlord commences- the largest amphibious landing in history- 167,000 troops landed in 1 day. • Fought our way up the beach- and pushed towards Paris. Germans gave a last ditch effort at the Battle of the Bulge- but we broke through. • Russians are pushing from the east, Eng/US/Fr pushing from west- and Germany implodes. Hitler commits suicide sometime around May 1st, and on May 7th the Nazis surrender. D-Day and V-E Day

  28. Hard to fight and supply- different climate, terrain etc, and US doesn’t have a ton of experience there. Australian helped US build the Burma Road to supply over the Himalayas • We island hopped our way until we were close enough to start bombing Japan- but our experiences taught us that the Japanese would not give up without a huge fight. On Okinawa 40,000 Japanese committed suicide rather than surrender. Experts predicted that a frontal invasion of japan would cost a million lives on each side…. The War in the Pacific and V-J Day

  29. We had been working on the technology since 1939- but July 1945 we have it working. President Truman authorized it’s use- after issuing an final ultimatum to the Japanese warning them of “prompt and utter destruction”. • Aug 6th Hiroshima (80,000 instantly, 120,000 radiation) Aug 9th Nagasaki (30,000 instantly, 60,000 radiation- smaller city) and warn the 3rd bomb is for Tokyo • Japan surrenders Aug 14th – treaty signed on Sept 2nd (V-J day) and the war is over Atomic Bomb

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