the united states in wwii -...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 17
Chapter 17 Section 1
Selective Service and Training Act was established to fill the ranks of the military
GI’s went through just an 8 week training program to get the armies built up. Basic Training to get the soldier accustomed to the military and build up camaraderie to make them a more effective unit
At the beginning of the war the military was completely segregated, black soldiers with white officers in command Chinese Americans Native Americans African-Americans
Full military integration will come about in 1948
Army Chief of Staff George Marshall instituted using women to do jobs that would free up men in the military
WAAC’s (Army), WAVES (Navy), WAFS (Air Force)
In the World War Two era, approximately 400,000 U.S. women served with the armed forces and more than 450 lost their lives as a result of the war, including 16 from enemy fire.
African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Native-Americans…
Living in Segregated neighborhoods
Denied basic rights Some wondered if this was
“their” war Close to 1.5 million will
eventually fight in WWII Many became heroes! Navajo Wind Talkers
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army and was a regimental size fighting unit composed almost entirely of Japanese-Americans who fought in World War II, despite the fact that many of their families were subject to internment. The 442nd is "the most decorated unit in U.S. military history." It was awarded eight Presidential Unit Citations and twenty-one of its members were awarded the Medal of Honor for World War II. Its motto was "Go for Broke".
The United States will achieve what no other country had ever done. We will fight and WIN a two front war against two powerful enemies making them both surrender unconditionally.
The US output during World War II was twice as productive as Germany and five times that of Japan
This will turn the tide in favor of the Allies very quickly FDR believed in giving industry a step up when it came to
organizing for the war. FDR will sign what comes to be known as Cost-Plus contracts and manufacturing gets rolling
RFC makes loans to companies to help them convert to wartime production
WPB- War Production Board set priorities and goals for manufacturers
Rationing- Red Points and Blue Points Scrap Drives- Rubber, tin, iron, aluminum…
1939 Albert Einstein revealed to FDR the possibility of creating a weapon of such destructive force as to never have been seen before
He had hinted that the German’s were already moving towards the creation of the bomb itself.
1942 Enrico Fermi, an immigrant who had fled fascist Italy accomplished a chain reaction that would be necessary for a successful atomic bomb
Section 2
By the end of 1942, the Allies have tasted defeat.
The chain of spectacular victories disguised fatal weaknesses within the Axis alliance:
Japan and Germany fought separate wars, each on two fronts.
They never coordinated strategies.
The early defeats also obscured the Allies’ strengths:
The manpower of the Soviet Union
The productive capacity of the United States.
Leader of American forces in North Africa
Very successful against Field Marshal Erwin Rommel- the Desert Rat
Constantly competed with British Commander Gen. Bernard Montgomery
Push Germans and Italians out of North Africa by May 1943
The Afrika Corps is trapped and eventually surrenders in Tunisia 17 Generals 250,000 soldiers taken prisoner
The route for the invasion of Italy is now open July 10, 1943 The Allied invasion of Sicily
German and Italian forces escape to mainland Italy Italy surrenders on September 3, 1943
Germany sends in reinforcements because they cannot allow the Allies to gain a strategic foothold on the European continent Leads to fierce German resistance, one of the deadliest
campaigns for the Americans during the war in Europe
FDR and Churchill meet to discuss events of 1942
Year ended very well for the Allies Soviets will win at Stalingrad
Egypt had been saved in N. Africa
Morocco, Algeria and Libya had been taken from the Germans
RAF and US were delivering devastating blow to Germany in bombing of Germany
The turning point of the war came in 1942-43.
Allied victory in North Africa was followed by an invasion of Italy, which stopped the Axis powers’ string of victories.
The decisive theater of war, however, was the eastern front. The USSR.
“Now, this is not the end, It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” – Churchill 1943
The Big Three Great Britain (Winston
Churchill) The U.S. (FDR) The Soviet Union
(Joseph Stalin) Strategies for War
Defeat Germany first Then USSR promises to
help the United States with Japan
American and RAF bombers were having great success attacking Germany
We used daylight bombing to better pinpoint our targets, trying to miss the civilian population Destroy cities
Disorganize labor
Shatter civilian morale
Force Germany to use their resources to defend
It is decided at the Tehran Conference that a “Second Front” would be established to help relieve the pressure that the Soviet Union was facing
In return the Soviet Union would help the United States defeat the Japanese in the Pacific
Known as Operation Overlord, the invasion of France was the establishment of a “Second Front” on the European continent.
American, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was selected as overall commander of all Allied forces in Europe
Gen. George S. Patton was used as a remarkable decoy, in the Dummy D-Day invasion
The date selected for the invasion was June 5, 1944 but bad weather conditions forced it back one more day to June 6.
The invasion would take place in Normandy, France on 5 separate beachhead's, Omaha, Utah, Gold, Sword and Juno
Responsible for establishing the German defenses was Field Marshall Erwin Rommel
“If the Allies get ashore the war is over.” Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Rommel was responsible for the defending of the French coastline
Hitler was sure the attack was coming at Calais and had his most decorated Panzer divisions there.
When the attack begins at Normandy Hitler thinks it is a ruse and refuses to allow them to leave Calais
When the attack comes Rommel is in Berlin, celebrating his wife's birthday
Normandy will last from June 6 through July 24
The Allies need to get off the beach!
Operation Cobra is that which accomplishes this task
Massive aerial bombing campaign unfortunately killed many of our own- this is known as friendly fire
We accomplished our goal and punched through the last German resistance
The Allies will liberate Paris August 25, 1944
By September combined Allied forces are moving into Germany
The Soviets are moving westward at great speed
They have forced the surrender of Romania and Bulgaria
Stalin is motivated by territorial gains- he will not let go of these nations later
The Soviets want to beat the United States to Berlin
November 7, 1944 FDR is elected to his fourth term as President
December 16, 1944 Germany gives its last best effort at pushing the Allies out of their country
Germany is favored by foul weather that keeps all Allied planes grounded
It will be the largest land battle of WWII in which the United States participates
Germany’s final bid to break the Allies hold on Germany
There was a point where the German’s had completely surrounded the 101st Airborne at Bastogne. When the German commander demanded the surrender of the 101st General McAuliffe replied, “Nuts”. The 101st was able to hold out until Gen. Patton and the 3rd Army came to their rescue
By the end of January the bulge was pinched off and the Germans retreated deeper into Germany
US losses were heavy, 19,000 but the Germans lost 120,000 of its best men.
Battle ends January 28, 1945
What could they have accomplished?
FDR, Churchill and Stalin meet to discuss the end of the war and the future of Europe
The dismantling of Germany is also discussed
It is felt that Germany will once again face paying enormous war reparations
Churchill confides to FDR that he “would like to shake hands with Russia as far east as possible”
Gen. Eisenhower had two options… Move into Berlin and Prague
claiming them before Soviet troops are able to get there making them democratic strongholds and force Stalin to keep his promises
Wait, allow the Soviets to expend men and resources that we are going to need in the Pacific
He decides to wait. He stopped 50 miles west of the river Elbe- Berlin and Prague go to the Soviets
With the Allies closing in on him Adolf Hitler retreats into his bunker below the city of Berlin
He attempts to run the war from here but is soon overwhelmed with the bad news of how the war is going outside the bunker
April 30. 1945 he and his new bride commit suicide in the bunker. He had given specific orders that his and Eva Braun's bodies were to be burnt so they would not be desecrated as Mussolini’s had been when he was captured
May 8, 1945 the Germans sign terms of unconditional surrender- VE Day.
Section 3
Launched off the USS Hornet
Had very little direct effect
Major morale boost for the American Military
Causes Japan to extend their defensive perimeter
All 16 aircraft that were launched were lost
14 of the 16 aircraft crews will make it back to the United States a year later
Commanded by Gen. Douglas McArthur
Many considered him the most brilliant Allied strategist
Removed his outnumbered troops to the Bataan Peninsula
Ordered by FDR to evacuate the Philippines
Promised, “I shall return.”
60 mile march occurred after the 3 month battle of Bataan 1942
Characterized by wide-ranging physical abuse and murder, and resulted in very high fatalities Beheadings, cut throats and casual shootings were the more common and merciful actions
The exact death count has been impossible to determine, but some historians have placed the minimum death toll between six and eleven thousand men; whereas other postwar Allied reports have tabulated that only 54,000 of the 72,000 prisoners reached their destination
Japan is trying to invade Ports Moresby, just north of Australia United States Navy will intercept the Japanese fleet and over 3 days will carry out a battle that was strictly Aircraft Carrier vs. Aircraft Carrier Tactical victory for the Japanese. The US loses the Carrier USS Lexington Strategically a victory for the Allies- the invasion fleet is recalled to Japan
Original perimeter not sufficient.
Doolittle raid concerns Japanese.
Want base to bomb Hawaii.
Deliver killing blow to US fleet.
Yamamoto uses “operational push” tactics. Attacks island before locating US fleet.
US had a code breaking system, referred to as Magic
It was the turning point in the Pacific theater, Japan will not gain any more territory east after this
Navajo Wind Talkers were used
Patrol planes spot Japanese main body just as they are about to return to base.
Midway-based aircraft strike Japanese Tactical fleet
Japanese aircraft attack Midway with little impact. Rearm w/ bombs or torpedoes?
US carrier-based torpedo attack has same outcome as land-based attack, but distract fighters and allow dive bombers to hit tactical fleet while planes rearm/refuel.
Japanese lose four heavy carriers, all planes, and many of their best pilots; US loses Yorktown.
August 7, 1942
First “offensive” action of the war in the Pacific for US
Critical airfield First plane makes emergency landing on 12 Aug. 2 USMC squadrons arrive on Aug. 20 Only one “healthy” carrier left by end of battle.
Strategic offense; tactical defense
Navy bugs out, taking majority of supplies with them. Redeem themselves during critical 12 Nov naval
battle when they turn back major Japanese force.
“Hell was red fury spiders as big as your fist, giant lizards as long as your leg, leeches falling from the trees to suck blood, armies of white ants with the bite of fire, scurrying scorpions inflaming any flesh they touched, enormous rats and bats everywhere, and rivers with waiting crocodiles. Hell was the sour, foul smell of the squishy jungle, humidity that rotted the body within hours…stinking wet heat of dripping rain forests that sapped the strength of any man.”
-The GI War
Japanese piecemeal counterattacks. Maneuver, mass, and surprise all hampered
by jungle. 8 day forced march
USMC conducts vigorous patrols as part of “active defense”. 2nd Raider Battalion conducts month-long
patrol. Japanese attempt to reinforce by sea, but
suffer significant losses in the process. (7 of 11 transports)
Jungle causes significant casualties. Over 1000 new cases of malaria per week.
Army comes in to mop up in November.
Lessons had been learned from earlier in the war concerning the inability of landing troops directly on the beaches of the islands because of the Coral reefs
The US developed a transport called an Amphtrac vehicles to get the troops ashore
Marines began capturing island after island with Japan as our ultimate goal
We begin to launch air strikes on the country of Japan by the end of 1944 US planes were dropping tons of explosives on Japanese cities
October 20, 1944 Gen. McArthur returns to the Philippine Islands keeping his promise
October 23, 1944 the Battle of Leyte Gulf begins offshore Greatest naval battle in world history More than 280 warships were engaged in the 3 day battle Saw the first use of Kamikaze (Divine Wind) aircraft Japanese navy was virtually destroyed
When the Japanese navy is destroyed at Leyte Gulf it is now up to the Army to hold the islands that surround and protect mainland Japan
The Japanese dug into the coral islands and refused to surrender. They were told to take as many Americans with them as possible when they were going to die
Many began charging soldiers and blowing themselves up as they got in the midst of the soldiers
Many would set themselves up as booby traps
We maintain our commitment to conquering the Japan Island chain
Bombing of the island began in June 1944
The Japanese had built over 800 pill-boxes and over 3 miles of interconnected tunnels on the small island
There were over 110,000 American troops against 25,000 Japanese defenders
It took over a month for the Marines to capture the island
27 Medals of Honor were issued for actions on Iwo Jima
Mt. Suribachi
Took place from April to June 1945
More than 100,000 Japanese defenders as it was only 350 miles to mainland Japan
Largest amphibious invasion of the war
The island is captured on June 22, 1945
Over 12,000 American soldiers, sailors and Marines died in this campaign
Tragic loss of civilian life due to lies from the Japanese soldiers
Jewish-American Robert Oppenheimer is running the Manhattan Project for the United States
1942 Enrico Fermi, an immigrant who had fled fascist Italy accomplished a chain reaction that would be necessary for a successful atomic bomb
Now that the war has ended with Germany we are focusing the use of the weapon on Japan
July 16, 1945 the world’s first atomic bomb was successfully tested in the desert of New Mexico at Alamogordo
The scientists agree that the use of this weapon should not happen
“I am become death, the shatter of worlds.” The bomb is ready for use- NOW WHAT?
The U.S.S. Indianapolis
President Truman went with the recommendation of the Interim Committee- bomb a militarily strategic city
First he issued what became known as the Potsdam Declaration- Surrender unconditionally or face complete and utter destruction
The Japanese ignored the warning
The first bomb, Little Boy, was dropped on Hiroshima
Immediately 70,000 were killed
Still the Japanese held out. August 9, 1945 the second bomb, Fat Man, was dropped on Nagasaki- 40,000 die immediately.
200,00 within one year
Japan was eager to surrender after this
August 9, USSR declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4LQaWJRDg
The official surrender takes place aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay
Gen. Douglas McArthur is hosting the ceremonies
The United States has done what no other country had ever done- fight two strong enemies on two separate fronts and get unconditional surrender from both
To prevent another war, FDR wanted a new international political organization that would be called the United Nations
April 25, 1945 delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco to organize and establish the charter of the organization
The delegates decided to have a General Assembly where each member nation would have one vote
The United States, France, Britain, China and the Soviet Union would be permanent members of the Security Council, each having veto power
Nuremberg and Japan War Crimes Trials
Tojo’s Hanging
German Prisoners at Nuremberg
The costs of the war were astounding! 38 Million lives lost Estimates of 7.5 million
Russians 3.5 Million Germans 2.2 Million Chinese 1.2 Million Japanese 300,000 Americans 360,000 from Great
Britain France lost over 563,000
Section 4
The economy boomed during the war
Women had many new job opportunities because of the absence of men
Many Americans will re-locate for the defense factory jobs that were paying so well
Women had to work and raise the family during the war
After the men had gone off for so many years many of the marriages failed because of absence and loneliness, increased the divorce rate in America
Some hurried to marry before they deployed overseas and these of ten failed as well
Passed by Congress in 1944 Designed to help
Servicemen re-adjust to civilian life
The bill paid for college or technical school
Loans to veterans to buy a home or start a business
About 50% participated in the G.I. Bill
Gave the serviceman opportunities he may never have had before
Major migration of African-Americans during the war to the west
About 1.2 million African-Americans moved out of the South during the war years
James Farmer and C.O.R.E. in Chicago Race riots in several locations
in the North Mostly concerned
neighborhoods
Mexican Americans and the Zoot-Suit Riots
About 110,000 total interned in America
5 different camps, most in the west
Korematsu vs the United States
JACL pushed for compensation from the government for their losses
1990 $20,000 payments were sent to the families
“We can never fully right the wrongs of the past. But we can take a clear stand for justice and recognize that serious injustices were done to Japanese Americans during World War II.”