WW2: the US involvement
WWII The North African Front
"Operation Torch" was an invasion of Axis-controlled North Africa that was launched by American General Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1942. Allied troops landed in Casablanca, Oran and the Algiers in Algeria. They sped eastward chasing the Afrika Korps led by German General Edwin Rommel.
What was the gameplan / order of the Allied Powers
"Preseason" - north africa - least occupied portion of European theater - occupied by German troops - Suez Canal "Regular Season" - the "soft underbelly" aka Italy - there were many German troops helping italy there "Playoffs" - the liberation of France - the invasion of Germany
Iwo Jima
(February and March 1945) - General MacArthur and the Allies next turned to the Island of Iwo Jima. The island was critical to the Allies as a base for an attack on Japan a bloody and prolonged operation on the island of Iwo Jima in which American marines landed and defeated Japanese defenders - It was called the most heavily defended spot on earth - Allied and Japanese forces suffered heavy casualties
Battle of the atlantic map
(on slides)
What impact did the Soviet's win to the race to Berlin have on the future?
(see notes, make some research)
What was the response to Pearl Harbor?
- America was trembling with anger. "Remember Pearl Harbor" was the rallying cry as America entered WWII. - After Pearl Harbor, five million Americans enlisted to fight in the war. The Selective Service expanded the draft and eventually provided an additional 10 million soldiers
WWII The Italian Campaign
- another allied victory - Allies easily took Sicily - At that point, King Emmanuel III stripped Mussolini of his power and had him arrested - However, Hitler's forces continued to resist the Allies in Italy. Heated battles ensued. - It wasn't until 1945 that the Allies secured Italy
What were the agreements of the Yalta Conference?
1) They agreed to divide Germany into 4 occupied zones after the war 2) Stalin agreed to free elections in Eastern Europe 3) Stalin agreed to help the U.S. in the war against Japan and to join the United NationsNum
Why did Japan bomb Pearl Harbor?
1941 First, it intended to destroy important American fleet units, thereby preventing the Pacific Fleet from interfering with Japanese conquest of the Dutch East Indies and Malaya and to enable Japan to conquer Southeast Asia without interference. Second, it was hoped to buy time for Japan to consolidate its position and increase its naval strength before shipbuilding authorized by the 1940 Vinson-Walsh Act erased any chance of victory. Third, to deliver a blow to America's ability to mobilize its forces in the Pacific, battleships were chosen as the main targets, since they were the prestige ships of any navy at the time. Finally, it was hoped that the attack would undermine American morale such that the U.S. government would drop its demands contrary to Japanese interests, and would seek a compromise peace with Japan.
The Battle of Midway
1942 Japan's next thrust was toward Midway Island - a strategic Island northwest of Hawaii American naval force commander Chester Nimitz moved to defend the Island The Americans won a decisive victory. The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the war - soon the Allies were island hopping toward Japan
Battle of Stalingrad, Russia
1942 to 1943 For weeks the Germans pressed in on Stalingrad hen winter set in and the Germans were wearing summer uniforms. The Germans surrendered in January of 1943 Unsuccessful German attack on the city of Stalingrad that was the furthest extent of German advance into the Soviet Union. The Germans eventually surrendered, but the Sovtes suffered much more losses.
Operation Overlord / D-Day
A a dramatic invasion of France that began with D-Day. Th Allies decided not t bomb Auschwich and focus its efforts to invade France. The oporation involved 3 million U.S. & British troops and was set for June 6, 1944 <-- D-Day D-Day was the largest land-sea-air operation in military history Despite air support, German retaliation was brutal - especially at Omaha Beach Within a month however, the Allies had landed 1 million troops via paratroopers behinde enemy lines in Normady, France, 567,000 tons of supplies and 170,000 vehicles. The Allies gained a victory that became the turning point for World War II in Europe.
WWII
A war fought from 1939 to 1945 between the Axis powers — Germany, Italy, and Japan — and the Allies, including France and Britain, and later the Soviet Union and the United States.
What was Hitler's first response to America's entry into the war? (Battle of the Atlantic)
After America's entry into the war, Hitler was determined to prevent foods and war supplies from reaching Britain and the USSR from America's east coast. He ordered submarine raids on U.S. ships on the Atlantic. In the first seven months of 1942, German U-boats sank 681 Allied ships in the Atlantic, many carrying vital war supplies. The US was not prepared to respond and didn't have enough air vessels, and its coastal cities did not yet observe blackouts <-- this made them easy prey for German torpedos
What happen after Okinawa?
After Okinawa, MacArthur predicted that a Normandy type amphibious invasion of Japan would result in 1,500,000 Allied deaths. Japan had a huge army that would defend every inch of the Japanese mainland President Truman saw only one way to avoid an invasion of Japan... Truman decided to use a powerful new weapon developed by scientists working on the Manhattan Project - the Atomic Bomb.
The Occupation of Japan
After its surrender in September 2, 1945, Japan was occupied by U.S. forces under the command of General MacArthur. During the seven- year occupation, MacArthur reshaped Japan's economy by introducing free-market practices that led to a remarkable economic recovery Additionally, he introduced a liberal constitution that to this day is called the MacArthur Constitution
Who was the commander of D-Day? Who were the generals?
American General Dwight D. Eisenhower. the American army, under General Bradly,and the British army, under General Bernard Montgomery
Who were the main Allied forces in the Pacific?
Americans and Australians
How did industry in America respond to WW2?
Americans converted their auto industry into a war industry. The nation's automobile plants began to produce tanks, planes, boats, and command cars Many other industries also converted to war-related supplies
What were the main airfare tecniques of the Americans and British?
Americans favored precision bombing, destroying major production, infastructure, bases, etc controlled by Germany. They usually attacked by day. British poilots relied mainly on saturation bombing, the rapid release of a large number of bombs over a wide area and many night raids of cities. They usually attacked by night.
What new tactic did the Japanese use?
As the Americans continued leapfrogging across the Pacific toward Japan, Japanese countered by employing a new tactic: Kamikaze (divine wind) attacks. In this, Pilots in small bomb-laden planes would crash into Allied ships
How did the soviets end up winning Stalingrad?
Axis troops had a lot of Soviets trapped, but then the Soviets began a counteroffensive. launching its defense forches against the Nazi assault.
Were all americans alowed to fight in WW2?
Basically, yes (minus women). Despite discrimination at home, minority populations contributed to the war effort.
What was the official responce to Pearl Harbor by the US and Britain?
Britain and the United States declared war on Japan.
When did the Soviet army make it to Berlin?
By April 25, 1945, the Soviet army had stormed Berlin
France Freed
By September 1944, the Allies had freed France, Belgium and Luxembourg
What was Europe like when the US joined the war?
By the time the US entered the war, the Axis powers had controlled most of Europe. Great Britain had saved itself by fighting off an intense German air attack in the Battle of Britain, but they were running out of money and resources. On the eastern front, the Nazis had invaded the Soviet Union, using lightning warfare or "blitzkrieg tactics to overcome Soviet troops massed at the border. One large German force nearly reached Moscow before the onset of winter froze them in their tracks. Another force marched toward the Soviet Union's oil-rich Caucasus region.
How did FDR and Churchill respond to Pearl Harbor?
Days after Pearl Harbor, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived at the White House and spent three weeks working out war plans with FDR They decided to focus on defeating Hitler first and then turn their attention to Japan (While the Soviet Stalin wanted an invasion of France to take pressure of his weaken army,) It was decided to go after Africa first. As the US prepped, the Allies would focus on defending territory from Axis powers. The Allies had limited resources at the moment They devided to invade Africa first.
Battle of the Bulge
December, 1944-January, 1945 - After recapturing France, the Allied advance became stalled along the German border. In the winter of 1944, Germany staged a massive counterattack in Belgium and Luxembourg which pushed a 30 mile "bulge" into the Allied lines. However, the Allies stopped the German advance and threw them back across the Rhine with heavy losses. Germany lost 120,000 troops, 600 tanks and 1,600 planes From that point on the Nazis could do little but retreat
Yalta Conference
February 4, 1945 - February 11, 1945 As the Allies pushed toward victory in Europe (keep in mind, its not yet VE Day May 8, 1945), FDR met with Churchill and Stalin at the Black Sea resort of Yalta in the USSR A series of compromises were worked out concerning postwar Europe
Why did the Allies focus on invading Italy befroe France?
Germany had a strong presence in France, so they decided incvading Italy first would be the best decision. The Italian army was fairly weak and it could provide a good base for securing the rest of Europe.
Who were the Axis Powers in WWII?
Germany, Italy, Japan
Who were the Great 3?
Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union
WWII Eastern Front & Medditeranian
Hitler wanted to wipe out Stalingrad - a major industrial center with many oil reserves behind it. In the summer of 1942, the Germans took the offensive in the southern Soviet Union By the winter of 1943, the Allies began to see victories on land as well as sea. Stalingrad was unsucssesful for Germany.
How were scientists brought into the war effort?
In 1941, FDR created the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD). Focus was on radar and sonar to locate submarines. Also the scientists worked on penicillin and pesticides like DDT Their most important acheivment was their development of the attomic bomb (The Manhannan Project)
Battle for Okinawa
In April-June 1945, U.S. marines invaded Okinawa, Japan's last defensive outpost. The Japanese unleashed 1,900 Kamikaze attacks. Allies faced even fiercer opposition than on Iwo Jima. There were heavy causalities on both sides (though Japan lost more) The "Typhoon of Steel," island was won by the Allies in 1945, 340 miles from Japan
Who were the Allied Powers in WWI?
In World War II the chief Allied powers were Great Britain, France (except during the German occupation, 1940-44), the Soviet Union (after its entry in June 1941), the United States (after its entry on December 8, 1941), and China.
What lead to Hitler's suicide?
In his underground headquarters in Berlin as Soviets stormed Berlin, Hitler prepared for the end On April 29, he married his longtime girlfriend Eva Braun then wrote a last note in which he blamed the Jews for starting the war and his generals for losing it. The next day he gave poison to his wife and shot himself
Casablanca Conference (1943)
In the middle of the North African campaign, Roosevelt and Churchill met at Casablanca. They decided their next moves: 1) Plan amphibious invasions of France and Italy (German controlled) 2) Only unconditional surrender would be accepted
What was Japan's response to the disasters of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Japan surrendered days after the second atomic bomb was dropped
Japan during the first half of WWII
Japan was busy conquering an empire that dwarfed Hitler's Third Reich Japan had conquered much of southeast Asia including the Dutch East Indies, Guam, and most of China
What was the event that pushed america to enter WW2?
Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor
How did the war benefit the US economy?
Jobs were abundant and despite rationing and shortages, people had money to spend Farmers too benefited as production doubled and income tripled Unemployment fell to only 1.2% by 1944 and wages rose 35% By the end of the war, America was the world's dominant economic and military power
What was the Lend-Lease Act?
March 11, 1941. a policy allowing the president to provide arms to certain foreign countries. It promitted Rosevelt to "sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government [whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States] any defense article."
The Battle of the Coral Sea
May 1942 A battle between Japanese and American naval forces that stopped the Japanese advance on Australia. In May 1942, US and Australia (Allies) succeeded in stopping the Japanese drive toward Australia in the five-day Battle of the Coral Sea
In the war and invading, what important role did Britain play fir the Allies?
Nearby Britain could serve as a staging area for the massing of troops and resources before the assault.
The Atomic Bombs
On August 6 (Hiroshima) and August 9 (Nagasaki) 1945, a B-29 bomber dropped Atomic Bombs on Japan
April 1945 Death of Roosevelt
President Roosevelt died. He was succeeded by President Truman.
Nuremberg Trials
Series of trials in 1945 conducted by an International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany which former Nazi leaders were charged with crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Many were put to death or sentenced to life in prison.
Who liberated death camps?
Soviets --> first, Americans, British
Why didn't Stalin go all on board with the africa, italy, france/germany plan?
Stalin didn't think that the plan helped him enough, considering he was being pushed by Germany at the time. (he had to fight alone in Stalingrad). This created alot of animosity adn resentment between the "Great 3"
March 1945 Allies cross the Rhine
The Allies crossed the Rhine while Soviet forces were approaching Berlin from the East.
What was the Battle of the Atlantic?
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest battle of World War II. It began immediately upon the British declaration of war against Germany in September 1939 and ended with Germany's surrender to the Allies in May 1945.
What was Germany's last gasp?
The Battle of the Bulge
What did the Germans loose after Stalingrad?
The Caucasus oil region in the Soviet Union. After he turned to Romania for oil, and Romania oil fields became a prime target of Allied strategic bombing.
Servicemen's Readjustment Act (GI Bill of Rights)
The GI Bill of Rights was created to help returning servicemen ease back into civilian life. The act provided education for 7.8 million vets.
What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was a code name for the secret atomic bomb research and development by the OSRD. Before, Einstein wrote to FDR warning him that the Germans were attempting to develop such a weapon.
Why was Egypt of strategic importance in WW2?
The Suez Canal was the route to the oil of the Middle East. It would also allow the Axis Powers to Link up ( Mussolini knew that he had to take action after Hitler conquered France. Mussolini took action by ordering his army to attack the British-controlled Egypt. Italian troops pushed 60 miles inside of Egypt forcing British units back. )
What led to Japanese Internment Camps?
The US feared that those with ties to Japan would assist Japan's cause in the war. After the surprising attack on Pearl Harbor, the American government (as well as many Americans) worried about Japanese threats and doubted the loyalty of Japanese Americans.
How did the allies get control of U-Boats?
The United Staes began a feverish building of ships, enough to replace lost vessels and defend against U-boats. This new fleet would play a key role in war to come. Allies used the convoys system. Destroyers and other naval vessels would surround and protect unarmed ships. Destroyers used sonar to track U-boats Airplanes were also used to track. With this improved tec, Allies inflicted huge losses on German U-boats.
What was the WPB?
The War Production Board... - decided which companies would convert to wartime production and how to best allocate raw materials to those industries - organized nationwide "Collection Drives" to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper, rags and cooking fat for recycling - set up a system of rationing. Households had set allocations of scarce goods - gas, meat, shoes, sugar, coffee and used rationing stamps. (WW2 propoganda posters encourages conservation)
Why did the soviets fight alone in Stalingrad?
The decision to invade North Africa had left the Soviets on their own. Hitler now had a chance tp crush the USSR.
What helepd FDR get re-elected for his 4th term?
The godd news that the Allies had freed France - and the American's people's desire not to "change horses in midstream" - helped elect FDR to an unprecedented 4th term. He won over Dewey by a landslide.
How did the US population shift after the war?
The war triggered the greatest mass migration in American history. (Into Califoria and African americans moves to the north)
How did women help in the war effort?
They took up the jobs held by men and many of them volunteered for organizations. Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for the formation of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). Under this program, women worked in non-combat roles such as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, and pilots
Why couldn't Germany keep fighting
They were running out of supplies and were running out of gas. In the Battle of the Bulge for ex, Germany lost 120,000 troops, 600 tanks, and 1,600 planes
What was the Allied technique in invading Germany?
They would destroy any sources r staorage that The Germans would use to fight back (see more in notes!)
How did the Brotish location help in D-Day?
Troops would cross the English channel by ship and land on the beaches of Normandy. France
What happened right before the US dropped atomic bombs?
Truman warned Japan in late July 1945 that without a immediate Japanese surrender, it faced "prompt and utter destruction"
What was VE Day?
Victory in Europe Day General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich On May 8, 1945, the Allies celebrated. The war in Europe was finally over !
5 July 1945 Churchill loses election
Winston Churchill lost the election to Clement Atlee's Labour Party. The Labour party promised sweeping social reforms including nationalisation of the coal and railway industries and the creation of a welfare state.
How did US government take control of inflation?
With prices of goods threatening to rise out of control, FDR responded by creating the Office of Price Administration (OPA) The OPA froze prices on most goods and encouraged the purchase of war bonds to fight inflation
What happened to women after the war?
Women enjoyed economic gains during the war, although many lost their jobs after the war
Why was France important to obtain?
it was a stepping stone to Germany. They swept acorss France. In August, the Allies liberated Paris. In September, theAmerican GIs crossed the German border.
