AMERICA & WORLD WAR II

U.S. HISTORY & GEOGRAPHYCHAPTER 12

BUILDING THE MILITARY

FDR expanded army to 227k after Hitler invaded PolandSEE CHART PG. 287After Pearl Harbor, 60k men enlistedDepartment of Agriculture provided 350k acres of land to War Department for new bases (i.e. Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL)Recruits lived in tents, given physical exams, injections, & trained together as a team.

SEGREGATED MILITARYBasic training promoted unity but segregation still existedPushing for “Double V”: African Americans supported the war & win against Hitler’s racism abroad & racism at homeFDR was pressured to put African Americans into combat. Benjamin O. Davis Sr. was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Tuskegee Airmen (99th Pursuit Squadron) helped win the Battle of Anzio in Italy. They protected American bombers. The 761st African American Tank Battalion assisted in Battle of Bulge

MINORITIES IN THE MILITARYHispanics – 500k; 17 received Congressional Medal of HonorJapanese – 33k; 100th Infantry Battalion & 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Most decorated in history of U.S. militaryNative Americans – 25k. More than 400 Navajo Indians will survive as Marines & provided assistance as “code talkers” using their language that the Japanese could not crack (Windtalkers)Jewish Americans – 500k. 52k decorated for braveryPresident Truman desegregates the military in 1948

WOMEN JOIN THE ARMED FORCESWomen’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) 1942: allowed for women to be a part of the armed services – a non-combative role. Oveta Culp Hobby was WAAC’s first director in the War Department. Women received official status, a salary, but few benefits given to men. Named changed to Women’s Army’s Corps (WAC) in July 1943 & women were given full army benefitsJobs: nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricians, & pilots – Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs)

Awarding of Congressional Gold Medal

AMERICAN ECONOMY

FDR establishes the National Defense Advisory Committee. Goal: to establish incentives to help produce goods quickly & mobilizing the war effortCost-plus contracts were offered to companies who wanted to produce war materials. Government paid costs plus a percentage above that for their profitReconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) was authorized to provide loans to companies who converted to making war materials

AMERICAN INDUSTRY

Production: Factories converted from producing consumer goods to war materials

Cars to tank/planes/command carsMechanical pencils to bomb partsBedspread to mosquito nettingSoft drinks to filling shells with explosives/gun powder

Ship building will increase with the use of pre-fabricated parts (i.e Liberty Ships)SEE CHART PG. 288

AMERICAN INDUSTRY

FDR sets up War Production Board to assist in settling controversies & to decide which companies began producing war materials instead of consumer goods. They would allocate raw materials, set production goals, & organize nationwide drives to collect raw materialsOffice of War Mobilization settled controversies between different agencies involved in war effort

LIFE ON THE HOME FRONTMobilizing of the economy officially brings an end to the Great DepressionThe cost to the improvement of the economy was to families who moved to where the work was: living in horrible housing conditions, experiencing race riots, rising juvenile delinquency, high taxes, & rationed goodsUnemployment down to 1.2%. Men were finding jobs. Price & wage controls were in place but still saved $. Farmers’ crop production rose 50%, income tripled, & many paid off mortgages before the end of the war

LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT

Women: More than 4 million will prove to company owners that they could do the job of a man – Rosie the Riveter. Women made up 35% of workforce. Over 10% were in defense plants. Many lost jobs at end of war but proved they could do itBracero Program: employed Mexican farm workers in Southwest. 200k Mexicans will work in agriculture & railroad industries. Program continued until 1964

LIFE ON THE HOME FRONTAfrican Americans received only 15% of jobs offered. A. Philip Randolph, head of Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters Union organized a march on Washington D.C. to voice disapproval. FDR talked him out of it by issuing Executive Order 8802: every defense industry or government agency had to be equitable in their hiring practices. Fair Employment Practices Commission was assigned to enforce the order

NATION ON THE MOVE

Sunbelt is formed (Southern CA & Deep South) as Americans migrated to where jobs wereNational Housing Agency 1942 created to deal with housing issues by providing government housing

RACISM LEADS TO VIOLENCE

Civil Rights made little gains during the warCongress of Racial Equality (CORE), founded by James Farmer, confronts urban segregation in the north. First sit-in was in a restaurant in Chicago in 1942Detroit 1943: Tensions between black & white teenagers on a beach escalated. White sailors joined in. Fighting went on for 3 days & FDR sent in troops

RACISM LEADS TO VIOLENCE

Mexican Americans experienced prejudice in Lost Angeles.Summer 1943: Sailors said that they were attacked by Mexican Americans wearing the “zoot-suits”. Thousands of servicemen & civilians went into Mexican neighborhoods attacking any youths wearing the “zoot-suit”

GERMAN & ITALIANS

Thousands of German & Italian descent would be deemed as enemy aliens & were given travel restrictions or had their personal property seized. Some were sent to live in military internment camps

JAPANESE

After attack on Pearl Harbor many believed that Japanese Americans were planning to attack, bomb, or sabotage U.S. FDR issued an executive order for all Japanese Americans (Nisei) to be placed in relocation centers (internment camps)Shortly after this a Japanese sub surfaced in Santa Barbara, CA & shelled an oil refinery.

In Canada

JAPANESE

Korematsu v. United States 1944: U.S. Supreme Court decided that the action of internment was justified on the basis of military necessity – SEE ANALYZING SUPREME COURT CASES PG. 291

JAPANESE

Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) pushed for the government to compensate those sent to camps for lost property. In 1965 Congress spent only $38 millionIn 1978, JACL pushed for reparations towards each individual who was in an internment camp. President Reagan signed a bill in 1988 to pay $20k to each person. Payments were made in 1990

DAILY LIFE IN WAR TIME

FDR puts the following economic controls in place to avoid inflation: Office of Price Administration & Civilian Supply (OPACS) & Office of Economic Stabilization (OES). They controlled inflation by freezing prices on most goods & rationing goods/resource materialsAmericans will contributed by rationing everything, planting Victory Gardens, purchasing war bonds

OSRD

Office of Scientific Research and Development:Created to bring scientists together Improved radar, sonar, drugs (penicillin)Created new weapons. Biggest one: the atomic bomb (Manhattan Project)

HOLLYWOOD & THE WAR

Office of War Information (OWI) improved the public’s understanding of the war & served as a liaison to various media outletsFilmmakers had guidelines that had to be answered prior to making & releasing a filmNews reports about the war would air prior to a film being shown

WAR IN THE PACIFIC

Admiral Chester Nimitz leads the U.S. Navy in the Pacific against Japan using aircraft carriers that were out to sea at the time Japan bombed Pearl HarborJapan attacks Philippines bombing their airfields & landing troops. General Douglas MacArthur would be forced to retreat to Bataan Peninsula. FDR orders MacArthur to evacuate to Australia. MacArthur vowed to return.Philippines surrenders to Japan May 1942

WAR IN THE PACIFICLt. Colonel James Doolittle will lead 16 B-25 bombers in the bombing of Tokyo on April 18, 1942. These raids will become known as the “Doolittle Raids” (featured in film Pearl Harbor) The successes of the raids encouraged Americans & hurt the morale of Japan

WAR IN THE PACIFIC

Japan’s original strategy was to cut U.S.’s supply lines to Australia by capturing New Guinea. After Doolittle raids, Admiral Yamamoto convinced Japanese Leaders to attack Midway Island & lure the U.S. navy into battle as he believed he could defeat them.Japan will attack New Guinea with only 3 aircraft carriers but sent the rest with Yamamoto to attack Midway Island

WAR IN THE PACIFICBattle of the Coral Sea – May 1942:

Americans based in HI were successful in cracking Japan’s navy code. Admiral Nimitz would send the Yorktown & Lexington (aircraft carriers)5-day battle where Australians & Americans join forces to stop the advancement of Japanese towards Australian shores.Most of fighting was airstrikes launched from aircraft carriers. U.S. was able to prevent the Japanese from taking New Guinea & Australia, keeping supply lines open

WAR IN THE PACIFICNavajo Code Talkers – “Windtalkers”:

Navajo Indians were recruited into the Marines to use their native language in communicationTheir language had no written alphabet & was only known to them & very few others.Language proved difficult for the Japanese to “crack” thus providing the U.S. with an advantage in doing what needed to be done to defeat the Japanese

WAR IN THE PACIFIC

Battle of Midway – June 1942:Led by Admiral Chester Nimitz. Island is northwest of HIAllies broke Japan’s code & learned they were going after the island. Nimitz moved to defend the island.When Japanese fleet was found, he launched an attack against them severely damaging their navyVictory was seen as a turning point & Allies began taking back territory from Japan, island by islandSEE MAP PG. 297

WAR IN THE PACIFIC

To defeat Japan two things were done: Nimitz advanced through Central Pacific by “island hopping” & MacArthur advanced to take Solomon Islands, New Guinea, & retake Philippines

WAR IN THE PACIFICIsland-hopping:

Fall 1943: Tarawa Atoll, part of Gilbert Islands is invaded by 5k Marines. Many perished as they waded ashore due to ships running around on reefs in shallow water. One group reached shores by using amphtrac, amphibious tractorKwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, was next. Amphtracs were used in landing troops. They also captured Eniwetok Island. Success in Marshall Islands allowed for U.S. to set up air basesMariana Islands: Nimitz invaded Saipan, Tinian, & Guam where Japanese resistance was strongest. Islands fell in August 1944. Islands served as the new base for the B-29 Super fortress bomberSEE MAP PG. 298

WAR IN THE PACIFICMacArthur:

Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands – August 1942: first offensive by MacArthur. Japan’s first defeat on land. MacArthur then moved troops north to capture the north coast of New Guinea. Once secured, MacArthur took the island of MorotaiBattle of Leyte Island, Philippines – October 1942: 3-day battle. Japanese used kamikazes to defend the island. MacArthur led the Allies to victory in retaking Philippines. Japanese lost 3 battleships, 4 aircraft carriers, 13 cruisers, & over 500 planes. Japan’s Imperial Navy is shattered. MacArthur then captured Manila, Philippines' capital, March 1945

WAR IN EUROPE

FDR & Winston Churchill (British PM) meet at the White House to discuss war plans. They decide to strike against Germany & Italy first then go against Japan.Invasion becomes known as OPERATION TORCHSEE MAP PG. 304

WAR IN EUROPE

Battle for North AfricaFDR invades North Africa to give army some experience in fighting as well as to secure British supply lines that came through the Suez Canal. Erwin Rommel (“Desert Fox”), German general in charge of “Afrika Corps”.General Dwight D. Eisenhower invades North Africa through Tunisia. Eisenhower than used General George Patton, prominent tank commander, to achieve victory in May 1943

WAR IN EUROPE

Battle of the Atlantic:Hitler continues to use U-boats to attack U.S. along the eastern coast & all ships in Atlantic.Allies began using the convoy system. Ships that were equipped with sonar will be used on outside to help detect the U-boats. Ships with planes equipped with radar will assist as well to find the U-boats & sink them.Ship production in U.S. increased dramatically to out number the sinking caused by U-boats.

WAR IN EUROPEBattle of Stalingrad:

1ST turning point of war.Germans take control of the oil fields in Caucasus Mountains & Stalingrad, major industrial city of Soviet UnionLuftwaffe used to assist German ground troops & by September 1942 most of Stalingrad has been captured. Soviets launch an offensive during winter by surround the city & cutting off supplies.Germans surrendered January 31, 1943 losing 1.1 million soldiers (more than Americans did the whole war) during this battle alone

WAR IN EUROPECasablanca Conference – January 1943: FDR & Churchill meet to discuss next stage of OPERATION TORCH. Agreed to bombing of Europe & to invade SicilyBritish RAF had dropped 2,300 tons of explosives every month for 3 years. U.S. dropped 1,500 tons in 1942. January 1943 to May 1945 together they dropped over 53k tons of explosives on Germany every month. Germany lost access to railroads, ability to replace airplanes, & an oil shortage

WAR IN EUROPEAllies captured Sicily in Summer of 1943. King Victor Emmanuel III forced Mussolini to resign from his position.Hitler continued to fight Allies in Italy.Battle of Anzio: 40 miles from Rome, raged on for 4 months before Allies gained control. Italy fell in 1945 as Germany was close to collapseTuskegee Airmen: 99th Pursuit Squadron wins its first victory in Sicily against enemy aircraft. Continued to provide aide throughout Italy, engaging in strategic strikes against Germans

WAR IN EUROPE

Tehran Conference, late 1943:Meeting between FDR, Churchill, & Stalin in Tehran, Iran.Finalized plans to attack GermanyStalin launched a full-scale offensive once Allies invaded France in 1944.After war, Germany would be divided up & Stalin agreed to assist U.S. with Japan

WAR IN EUROPE

OPERATION OVERLORD:Hitler fortifies French Coast along the English Channel, preparing for the Allied invasion. Hitler believed they would land in Calais, closest to Britain. Allies assisted the belief by faking the build up of equipment in the regionAllies will plan on landing at 5 beach heads, south of Calais in Normandy. Massive build up of soldiers & equipment.Spring of 1944: 1.5 million U.S. soldiers, 12k airplanes, 5 million tons of equipment were ready to begin invasion

WAR IN EUROPE

OPERATION OVERLORD:D-DAY – JUNE 6, 1944:

Thousands of soldiers land on the shores of Normandy beaches. Code names for beaches: “Utah”, “Omaha”, “Gold”, “Sword”, “Juno”.Heaviest casualties were on “Omaha” beach. (featured in Saving Private Ryan)Allies will hold the beach heads & in time an 80-mmile stretch of France

THE WAR ENDS

July 1944: massive air & land bombardment opens a gap in German line allowing for General George Patton to advance. Reaches the Seine River (south of Paris) leading to the liberation of ParisSeptember 1944: France, Belgium, Luxembourg will be free of German control

THE WAR ENDS

Battle of the Bulge – October 1944:Last-ditch effort of Hitler to disrupt British & American lines to keep them out of GermanyEisenhower sends General George Patton with his tanks & troops into Antwerp, Belgium to attack the GermansBattle raged on for a month costing Germans 120k troops, 600 tanks & assault guns, & 1600 planes.Nazis began retreating

THE WAR ENDSRussians push German troops out of Russia & begin pushing through Poland.Soviet troops discover concentration camps & begin liberation in June 1944. Majdanek was 1st camp. Americans did likewise February 1945: Russian troops are 35 miles east of BerlinMarch 1945: American forces cross Rhine River & are 70 miles west of BerlinApril 1945: Soviets smash through German’s last defense & American troops are not far behind

THE WAR ENDS

V-E DAY – MAY 8, 1945:Soviets storm into Berlin on April 12, 1945.Hitler kills himself on April 30, 1945 before being capturedMay 7, 1945: Eisenhower accepts unconditional surrender from the GermansMay 8 is proclaimed Victory in Europe day

FDR did not live to see V-E day. Passes away on April 12, 1945 from a stroke. Harry S. Truman becomes our 33rd president

JAPAN IS DEFEATED

Battle of Iwo Jima:Sulfur IslandTaking of island is critical as U.S. wanted a base & refueling station for the B-29 bombers.21k Japanese defended the island (200 survived)6k Marines died taking the island.February 19, 1945 was the raising of the American flag on the island by six marines (represents the U.S. Marine Memorial in Washington D.C. today)

JAPAN IS DEFEATED

General Curtis LeMay orders the B-29 to drop bombs filled with napalm (firebombs). This would start fires to assist in destroying main targets. Controversial tactic as many civilians were killed (over 80k)

JAPAN IS DEFEATED

Battle of Okinawa – April to June 1945: island provided an area closer to Japan to prepare for an invasion of the mainland. Much fiercer opposition from Japanese who were in the rugged mountains. 1900 kamikaze attacks by Japanese on U.S. ships. Japanese lost 110k lives, Americans lost 12k

Terms of surrender from U.S. called for unconditional surrender. Japanese were willing to surrender but wanted Emperor Hirohito to remain in power

MANHATTAN PROJECT

Leo Szilard, Jewish physicist, learned that Germans were able to split the uranium atom. Convinced Albert Einstein to send letter to FDR warning him of this & how the power could be used as a weapon.

MANAHATTAN PROJECT

J. Robert Oppenheimer was the lead research scientist for development of atomic bombAlamogordo, NM July 16, 1945 was the first successful test of the atomic bomb

MANHATTAN PROJECT

Truman learned of the existence of this after FDR’s death. July 25, 1945 Truman orders military to make final plans to drop the bomb even though his staff & members of the cabinet debated the actual usage of the atomic bombSEE ANALYZING PRIMARY SOURCES PG. 312

THE ATOMIC BOMB

August 6, 1945: “Little Boy” dropped by the Enola Gay on Hiroshima

ATOMIC BOMB

August 9, 1945: “Fat Man” is dropped on NagasakiAn estimated 200k people died. Accurate number cannot be given as many were disintegrated

JAPAN SURRENDERS

V-J DAY AUGUST 15, 1945: Emperor Hirohito has formal papers drawn up to officially end the war.Formal ceremonies were held on the U.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945

PUTTING THE ENEMY ON TRIAL

International Military Tribunal (IMT): court set up by U.S. Britain, France, & Soviet Union to punish German & Japanese leaders accused of war crimes

NUREMBERG WAR TRIALS

24 Nazi leaders & soldiers are tried for crimes against humanity, against the peace, & war crimes12 of the 24 sentenced to death, rest sent to prison.Established the principle that individuals are responsible for their own actions even in times of war & the use of “I was following orders” is NOT an excuse

Hermann Goering

TOKYO TRIALS

25 Japanese leaders were charged with war crimes18 sentenced to prison, 7 were sentenced to deathEmperor Hirohito was NOT indicted as they wanted to avoid an uprising by the people & there was NO evidence supporting his involvement in the war

Hideki Tojo

HEROES FROM MINORITY GROUPS

92nd Infantry Division (Buffalos) African American infantry unit: 7 Legion of Merit Awards, 65 Silver Stars, & 162 Bronze stars for courage under fireMexican Americans: 17 awarded Congressional Medal of Honor. Unit E of the 141st Regiment, 36th Division was the most decorated of the war100th Battalion consisting of 1300 Hawaiian Nisei (citizens who emigrated from Japan) was known as the Purple Heart Battalion. Most decorated unit in American history

AT HOME

Social adjustments had to be made as women were rearing children alone, children were left alone with neighbors or relatives while mom went to work, & the adjustment with the father finally coming home from the warServicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill): assisted veterans by providing them with education & training from colleges & technical schools & loans to buy homes, a farm, or to start a business