World War II

Rise of World Dictators

Adolf Hitler

Germany

Axis Powers

Rise of World Dictators

Benito Mussolini

Italy

Axis Powers

Rise of World Dictators

Emperor Hirohito

Japan

Axis Powers

The War Begins

-1938: Britain & France agreed to let Hitler take over the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia)

-This action was considered appeasement– giving an aggressor what it wants in order to avoid war

-They warned Hitler not to seize anymore territory

-1939: Germany invades Poland- WAR BEGINS

Bombing of Britain-1940: German air forces heavily bombed British cities

-Royal Air Force was able to hold them off and Britain was not invaded

The London Blitz

Lend Lease Act-In 1930s legislation was passed to keep the U.S. out of war.

-These would not allow the president to sell weapons to any warring nation.

-In 1941, U.S. Congress authorized Roosevelt to “lend or lease” arms to Britain.

-Later that year he gave lend-lease aid to the Soviets as well.

Pearl Harbor-American-Japanese tensions were increasing.

-In protest of Japanese expansion, the U.S. stopped exporting airplanes, metals, aircraft parts, and aviation gasoline to Japan.

-Roosevelt also seized all Japanese property in the U.S.

-December 7,1941: Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

-All 8 battleships in port were destroyed or severely damaged

-Over 2,000 killed

-Over 1,000 wounded

-The U.S. ENTERED WWII

“A day that will live in infamy”

-Roosevelt

The Allies

Franklin Roosevelt

United States

The Allies

Winston Churchill

Great Britain

The Allies

Joseph Stalin

Soviet Union

American Military Forces

-Millions enlisted in the armed forces

-”Rosie the Riveter”

American Military Forces

-Tuskegee Airmen -Navajo “Code Talkers”

Richard Russell-Traveled to various fronts and reported on the status of American Troops

-Thought maintaining international bases = national security & world stability

-Was not fond of organizations such as the United Nations (UN) or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

- Thought our best defense= Super Military.

Carl Vinson-”Father of the Two-Ocean Navy”

-Consistently pushed for national defense

-Worked along with FDR to expand the naval aviation system resulting in thousands of new planes and pilots as well as 20 air bases.

-He also influenced the shipbuilding industry by helping to ease restrictions on the construction of ships as well as creating more shipyard facilities.

Georgia Military Bases

-Fort Benning

-Camp Gordon

-Fort Stewart

-Fort Mcpherson

Bell Aircraft

-1943

Bell Bomber Plant in Marietta, GA

-Built B-29 bombers

Georgia Shipyards

-Located in Brunswick & Savannah

-largest civilian contribution came from coastal region

-constructed nearly 200 “Liberty ships”- to transport troops/goods to European fronts