Chapter 20

Describe the requirements that needed to be met to pick the right day to launch the invasion?

1. Start at night to hide invaders 2. Low tide (oceans) at dawn for troops to see and get past obstacles and gunners can see targets; get on the beach easier 3. moonlight for paratroopers to see behind enemy lines 4. good weather. Bad weather would ground the airplanes and swamp of the landing craft.

What decisions were made at the Casablanca Conference?

1. increase bombing of Germany to destroy their military, industry, economy and morale to get them to surrender 2. Attack Europe through Sicily (Italy) as they believed Italy would surrender if attacked

Why does FDR decide Morocco and Algeria are the best placed to start the invasion?

1. invasion would give the army some experience without requiring a lot of troops 2. able to help the British troops fighting the Germans in Egypt 3. The US can help the Soviets keep their access to the Suez Canal and keep the materials there open and available to the British

Kamikaze

During WWII, a Japanese suicide pilot whose mission was to crash into his target

Why does Hitler want to take Stalingrad?

Hitler wanted the Soviet Union's economy to become weak. He wanted to strategize a plan to capture strategic oil fields, industries, and farmlands. In addition, he wanted to cut off their materials they needed for the war and make the Soviets lose. If Hitler had Stalingrad, then he would be able to control the Volga River and the major railroad conjecture; thus, have the materials that the Soviets would receive from this location.

Why do you think Hitler chose to take his life when he finally realized the war was lost for Germany?

I think he didn't want to accept the fact that he caused all this trouble and didn't want to take the blame or accept the fact that he was losing in the war. That or he didn't feel as powerful or dominant in the world as he originally wanted to. Instead of facing the truth, he decides to take his life instead.

Could a large scale invasion like D-Day be planned and carried out secretly today? Why or why not?

I think it could still be carried out successfully because if it was done once, it could be done again. Although it would depend on the intelligence of the leader and how the plan can be carried out, I think it would turn out well. Technology has advanced like crazy, which may not be effective in carrying out this plan.

Describe the landing at Omaha Beach?

I think it could still be carried out successfully because if it was done once, it could be done again. Although it would depend on the intelligence of the leader and how the plan can be carried out, I think it would turn out well. Technology has advanced like crazy, which may not be effective in carrying out this plan.

Why was firebombing considered controversial?

It could kill civilians and the soldiers, but it bombing them was really the only way to destroy the Japanese's war production successfully.

Why was the US able to produce goods for the war effort so quickly after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

It had already stated to convert wartime production. After the war, the government offered cost-plus contracts to companies to get them to produce products for the war faster by guaranteeing them a profit.

How did the success of the African American units in the war influence post-war military policy?

It helped President Truman have the ability to fully integrate the military in 1948 and show that the African Americans ARE capable of fighting in a war and doing what the whites can do. In addition to that thought, the African Americans' roles would be expanded in the army because of the integration of the military bases.

Why was the automobile industry so important to the war effort?

It produced nearly ⅓ of all of the products used in the war.

How did the war change the perception of women in the workforce for women and men?

Society, but women especially, came to realize that they had more to offer than being in the home and just being a wife and mother. They could be productive and were as important as men. They could do more with their lives than what they had been doing.

Zoot Suit

Suit with baggy, pleated pants and an overstuffed knee-length jacket with wide lapels. Accessories included a wide-brimmed hat and a long keychain.

Victory Suit

Suit with no vest, no cuffs, a shirt jacket, and narrow lapels

Convoy System

System in which merchant ships travel with naval vessels for protection

Why were the casualty rates so high at Tarawa and other islands in the Pacific?

The 20 ships that were sailed to Tarawa ended up running aground because of the geographical problem of coral reefs not being deep enough. Because of that, 1,000 marines died when trying to reach the shores (wading). This benefited the Japanese because they could easily shoot those who were trying to make it to the shore- although there was only one marine that survived.

Why was the Japanese loss at Midway a turning point in the war in the Pacific?

The Americans won the battle and the Japanese retreated in this battle. Another result of this was Japan lost all four of their best naval ships, which led them to not being able to declare naval campaigns against the US anymore.

What was the result of the Battle of Stalingrad for Germany?

The Germans (91,000) surrendered and the Germans were then put on the defensive. This was yet another major turning point in the war.

How was the Battle of the Bulge a turning point in the war for Germany?

The Germans had to surrender due to them running out of fuel, aircraft, and tanks and the heavily weakened losses they suffered (100,000+ lives were lost). The resources the US had gave them the ability to make the German forces weak and cause them to surrender, which meant the US had won the war.

What was the purpose of the Great Migration?

The Great Migration was for African Americans to find better jobs and lives in the North and the West.

Why was an invasion by the US and British forces needed in Western Europe?

The Soviets were under a lot of pressure since they felt they were doing most of the fighting. By attacking the periphery of the German Empire, the US can help the Soviets gain back some of the original French territories and make the German control weaker.

Despite a fierce battle, why was the US able to successfully defend New Guinea and keep the US supply lines to Australia open?

The U.S.'s code breakers were able do decode what the Japanese's plan of attacking. The advantage of this was that they could plan accordingly and Nimitz was able to send two carriers (Lexington and Yorkton) to the Coral Sea and make the Japanese retreat.

If taking Iwo Jima was going to be so difficult for the US, why did the US decide to spend the manpower and resources to capture it?

The US needed to tackle another plan to bomb Japan. In order to do that, they needed to capture Iwo Jima so they could get closer to Japan and successfully bomb the target they are aiming for.

Why was the US unable to bomb Japan early in the war?

The US planes could have reached Tokyo IF the aircraft carrier brought them close enough, but the Japanese ships prevented the carriers from getting close to its land. In addition, the carriers didn't have a suitable distance in order to attack the place we want to on the spot.

Why would the Germans leave the Ludendorf Bridge intact?

The bridge could allow Germans to still give supplies out to the areas that they needed to go to; moreover, it could connect two areas together so it would still go with Hitler's idea of keeping all the German sites together.

Why were the zoot suits a source of tension during this time period?

The zoot suits created tension because of rumors that were being spread about them. (People had said the zoot suits attacked several soldiers and seemed unpatriotic from different points of views. It appeared as unpatriotic due to the fact that the extra fabric used for this suit should really be dedicated to the war effort. The zoot suit also somehow linked the racism against Mexican Americans and the fear of juvenile crime.

What was the result, at times, of the Great Migration?

There was racial violence at times; in addition, suspicion, intolerance, racism, and prejudice often led to violence.

How did the Doolittle Raid change Japan's strategy in the Pacific?

There were two different plans that were involved in determining what new strategy they needed to place in action. The plan they chose was to attack Midway Island (the last American base in North Pacific (west of Hawaii))and also capture the south coast of New Guinea. They decided to place 3 aircraft carriers for New Guinea and have the others prepare for an assault on Midway Island.

Before the war, what was the view of women and the workforce?

They should not be working as they took jobs away from men. Women that worked should also be single, young, and do "women's" work.

Why was this campaign important during the war?

This campaign's significance was to bring the idea that if the U.S. wins, discrimination could end for/in the U.S and allow the U.S. to show that the country can display themselves as a defender of democracy.

Describe the Bataan Death March.

This was a march, which was held by the Japanese forces, and the American and Fillipino soldiers (78,000) had to walk 65 miles to the Japanese camps either starving, exhausted, and/or dehydrated. In addition, they had to face numerous years of captivity and brutal treatment and (most likely) witness a lot of deaths (tens of thousands).

Liberty Ship

Basic cargo ship used by the US during WWII

Rosie the Riveter

Campaign symbol used to hire women to work in the factories

Double V Campaign

Campaign to get African Americans to join the war effort in order to achieve a double victory - a victory over Hitler's racism abroad and a victory over racism at home

What was the purpose of Rosie the Riveter?

Campaign to get more women into the workforce to replace the men who were fighting in the war and keep the war production going.

Operation Overlord

Code name for the Allied invasion of France

What decisions were made at Tehran?

1. Soviets invade from East when Allies invade France in 1944 2. Germany divided after war so they can't threaten world peace again 3. After defeating Germany, USSR will help defeat Japan 4. Create international peace keeping

What were the results of the Battle of Leyte Gulf?

1. 80,000+ Japanese killed; less than 1,000 surrendered 2. Manilla (capital city) left in ruins 3. 100,000+ Filipino civilians were dead 4. Japanese soldiers retreated north and kept fighting until the end of the war

Bataan Death March

78,000 US and Filipino POWS who were forced to march - sick, exhausted and starving, 65 miles to a Japanese prison camp - thousands die on the march

Tuskegee Airmen

99th Pursuit Squadron - all African American unit of fighter pilots

Manhattan Project

American program to build an atomic bomb; headed by General Leslie R. Groves

While the US was fighting Japan, it was also fighting Germany; however, while Japanese Americans were put into internment camps German Americans were not? Why do you think that was?

As mentioned in the Edpuzzle video, there was segregation and racism directed at Japanese-Americans. The German-Americans didn't really do that much damage to the US as the Japanese did. (The Germans didn't attack naval bases like what Japan did. The Germans may have sunk ships and caused casualties, but it didn't really place an effect on the US) The Japanese angered the US more; which could possibly lead to the US wanting to place Japanese-Americans into internment camps rather than German-Americans.

V-J Day

August 15, 1945 - Victory in Japan (the end of the war in Japan and the end of WWII)

What does this type of attack say about the Japanese war effort?

Because this type of attack is tied into the other idea of committing suicide, it can say that the Japanese war effort wanted to keep fighting rather than just easily giving up. Of course they were running out of options as to how to keep fighting, but they didn't plan on giving up yet either.

What were the Japanese hoping to achieve by attacking Midway Island?

By doing this, they believed it would lure the American fleet into battle, which would then enable his fleet to destroy Midway Island.

How were the Japanese internment camps created?

FDR was under pressure into solving this problem. He declared that the War Department was allowed to claim any US territory to be a military zone (this included the removal of the citizens within that claimed territory). This lead to the entire West Coast undergoing a military zone and having the Japanese-Americans being held at 10 internment camps.

Victory Gardens

Gardens planted by American citizens during war to raise vegetables for home use, leaving more for the troops

Rationing

Giving out of scarce items on a limited basis

Cost-Plus

Government contract to pay a manufacturer the cost to produce an item plus a guaranteed percentage

What was the purpose of the Double V Campaign?

It was to urge African Americans to join the war to fight against two problems they're facing, which was racism from Hitler and racism from their own home.

How did the success of the Doolittle Raid rattle Japan's confidence?

Japan had to change its strategy since the U.S. was smart enough to know what they were doing with their bombs; their bombing on Japan almost caused the emperor to die, which left them thinking they need to change their "gameplan."

Napalm

Jellied gasoline used for bombs

V-E Day

May 8, 1945 - Victory in Europe (the end of the war in Europe)

Nuremberg Trials

Nuremberg, Germany - Place where the International Military Tribunal tried German leaders suspected of committing war crimes

How would the war effort have been impacted if the automobile industry did not exist or did not step up to provide needed materials?

Other industries would have had to step up and make the needed materials or our war production would have been slower and we would not have the edge in the war that we did. Maybe the war would have lasted longer or we may not have won. Automobile industry plays a major role in the war.

How did the attack on Pearl Harbor affect the attitudes towards Japanese and Japanese Americans in the US?

People of the US believed that the Japanese were unloyal to the US. This lead to shutting down Japanese-American businesses and homes, banks not accepting checks, and grocers not selling their foods. This also led to the idea of holding internment camps to keep track of the Japanese-Americans and be on the lookout for spies- if there were any.

Hedgerows

Row of shrubs or trees surrounding a field, often on a dirt wall

How did WWII change the US workforce during, and after, the war?

Since the wartime economy needed workers, the federal government created the Bracero Program. This program, created in 1942, helped overcome labor shortage and arranged 200,000 Mexican farmworkers to help with the harvests of fruits and vegetables, as well as building and maintaining railroads in the Southwest. Because of their contributions to the labor working areas and the wartime economy, they became an important part of the southwest's agricultural system.

How did the military reflect the values and culture of society of the time?

Segregation was a major, and unfair, idea that occurred in this time period.The leaders didn't want African Americans to get involved with activities with the whites, they kept them out of combat, and assigned them to do construction and work with supply units instead. They gave African Americans their own military units, separate barracks, latrines, mess halls, and recreational facilities rather than keeping everything, and everyone, together.

Why are so many people moving in the US during this time?

Since the wartime economy created multiple new jobs, 15 million people moved so they could be closer to their working site or just to be able to find new work.

How did the ration coupon books work?

The households in the US would receive a coupon book monthly. The purpose of these coupons were rationing, or limiting, the availability of many products so the US military force had enough materials they needed. There were blue, red, and other kinds of coupons, which led to needing enough coupon points to fulfill a customer's purchase. The blue coupons would control process foods while the red coupons controlled meats, fats, and oils. When you were out of coupons, then you had to wait until the next round of coupons came around.

What was the main objective in taking islands back from the Japanese in the Pacific?

The main objective was to take islands back to move closer to the Japanese and bomb their territory with the bomb B-29. In addition, if they were capable enough in taking every other island, then they could cut off the islands controlled by the Japanese.

Why do women and minorities take such an active role on the home front during the war?

The men were fighting in the war, so they needed to step up and take over the responsibilities of the men to keep the war effort going.

What was the purpose of a kamikaze attack?

The purpose of this attack was to create as much damage as possible with the idea of crashing their airplanes into American ships to destroy the Mongol fleet during their invasion.

Why was the Doolittle Raid important?

The result of Doolittle's plan surprised the Japanese and this plan was carried out effectively. Plus, this was really the first act that the U.S. has placed on Japan in this World War in December of 1941.

What was the purpose of victory gardens and scrap drives?

The victory gardens, which were encouraged by the government, allowed US citizens to produce more food to contribute to the war effort. This enabled the large farms to send more food to the soldiers. The scrap dives, which was also encouraged by the government, helped the US Industry succeed simply by collecting rubber, tin, aluminum, and steel; donating pots, tires, tin cans, car bumpers, broken radiators, rusting bicycles; and holding fat-collecting stations (where Americans exchange bacon grease/meat droppings for extra coupons). Scrap dives provided materials for the war effort so the soldiers can have what they needed.

Disenfranchised

To deprive of the right to vote

What is the purpose of the Selective Service and Training Act?

We needed the peacetime draft in order to make sure that we had enough soldiers/men in the armed forces to fight in the war. This was a plan for the first peacetime draft in U.S. history. Its opposers (at first) included college students, labor unions, isolationists, and most members of Congress. At first it was opposed by many, but after the Germans defeated France, their opinions changed and was then approved by Congress.

Describe the landing at Utah Beach?

Weak German defenses meant it was easy to take the beach (less than 3 hours) and start moving inward with few casualties (less than 200)

What advantage did the liberty ship have that made it so important during the war?

Welded, not riveted, so they could survive more damage, be fixed and go back out into service. Also, cheaper to make.

With such production, what was the US able to do that had never been done before?

Win a two-front war against two powerful military empires and get both of them to surrender unconditionally.