Adolf Hitler

Battle of the Bulge

200,000 Nazi troops sought to push back and divide the Allied armies. Generals Patton and Eisenhower led their soldiers in slowing the attack and ultimately organized a counterattack to restore the front. Soon after the conflict, Winston Churchill called it "the greatest American battle of the War, and . . . an ever-famous American victory." During the battle, 101st Airborne commanding general Anthony McAuliffe famously sent his one word reply to the German ultimatum to surrender: "Nuts."

Japanese balloon bomb in Oregon

A Japanese balloon bomb caused the only World War II combat casualties in the continental United States. Six people—five teenagers and their Sunday school teacher—were killed when the bomb landed in rural Oregon.

Winston Churchill

A noted British statesman who led Britain throughout most of World War II and along with Roosevelt planned many allied campaigns. He predicted an iron curtain that would separate Communist Europe from the rest of the West.

Code Talkers

About 400 Navajo Indians served as these in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Code talkers used their native language, which was indecipherable by enemy forces, to communicate by radio during the war.

Soviet victory at Stalingrad

After a months-long battle at Stalingrad, Soviet troops recaptured the city in a key victory. The victory came at a great price in civilian and military casualties—as many as two million between the Russians and the Axis powers. The battle weakened German military might and damaged German morale.

US entered World War II

After an address by President Roosevelt calling the Pearl Harbor attack "unprovoked and dastardly," Congress made a formal declaration of war against Japan.

Bombing Of Nagasaki

After the bombing of Hiroshima and Japan's refusal to acknowledge the Potsdam Declaration, the United States deployed a second atomic bomb on the Japanese city.Similar to the first explosion, the bomb utterly destroyed the city and killed thousands of civilians. It left traumatized survivors to face radiation-related illness and injury.

Japanese American internment

Around 120,000 Japanese Americans living on the Pacific Coast were rounded up and sent to internment camps in California, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, and Arkansas.

Hitler's suicide

As the Red Army advanced on Berlin, Hitler recognized the inevitability of defeat. He and his new wife, Eva Braun, committed suicide in a bunker below the city.

G.I. Bill

Congress passed the G.I. Bill, providing "government issue" educational and financial benefits to veterans. The bill offered veterans unemployment compensation, financial aid for college, and low-interest home loans. ....

Lend-Lease Act

Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, which allowed any country "whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States" to receive arms and equipment from the United States by sale, transfer, or lease.

Smith-Connally War Labor Disputes Act

Congress passed the Smith-Connally War Labor Disputes Act, which allowed the government to take over and operate plants in which labor disputes might have interrupted war production.

J. Egar Hoover

Directer of FBI

Axis Powers

During World War II, Germany, Italy, and, later, Japan made up the?

Eleanor Roosevelt

FDR's Wife and New Deal supporter ; great supporter of civil rights ; opposed the Jim Crow laws ; worked for birth control ; better conditions for working women ; brought the New Deal to the street face to face with Americans

D-Day

Following the elaborate plans developed by Dwight Eisenhower of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force,, Allied forces landed along fifty miles of the coastal beaches of Normandy, France. The landing was the largest amphibious invasion ever executed and included more than 160,000 troops. They were supported by more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft. Allied forces battled the Nazis on the beaches of Normandy, taking 9,000 casualties. They pushed back the Germans to begin the march through Europe to Berlin.

Franklin D. Roosevelt re-elected to fourth term

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a record fourth term in office when he defeated Republican Thomas E. Dewey.

Meeting of Big Three in Yalta

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill met at the Black Sea Resort of Yalta to discuss plans for defeating Germany and postwar occupation

Start of World War II

Germany invaded Poland, setting off the Second World War.

Roosevelt died; Truman became president

Harry S. Truman became president upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Potsdam Declaration

Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, and Chiang Kai-shek issued the Potsdam Declaration to Japan: "We call upon the Government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all the Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."

V-E Day

Harry S. Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin issued coordinated announcements of the Allied Powers' victory in Europe. Major celebrations took place, though victory in the Pacific was not yet be achieved.

Battle of Midway

Having intercepted Japanese intelligence, American forces repulsed an attack over the Pacific. destroyed much of the Japanese air fleet. Midway was arguably the most important battle of the war in the Pacific, as American forces under the command of Admiral Chester Nimitz sunk four Japanese carriers and destroyed 248 Japanese plans.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

He was the U. S. general who led the attack in North Africa in Nov. of 1942.He was the master organizer of the D-Day invasion in Europe (June 6, 1944). He ran for the Republican ticket in the 1952 and the1956 elections and won. He was very well liked by the public.

A. Phillip Randolph

He was the black leader of The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He demanded equal opportunities in war jobs and armed forces during WWII. He helped encourage the end of segregation in the military, although that happened after the war.

Bombing of Hiroshima

In the first use of nuclear weapons, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city. The bomb destroyed much of the city and killed about 30 percent of the population immediately. It injured tens of thousands more. Radiation-related diseases continued to affect aresidents for years to come. Harry Truman announced the bomb's deployment to the American public and stated that the US had chosen to use it when Japan did not respond to the Potsdam Declaration: "If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth."

Franklin D. Roosevelt re-elected to third term

Incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to third term in office over Republican nominee Wendell Willkie.

Japanese surrender

Japan agreed to unconditional surrender. Emporer Hirohito announced the surrender to the Japanese people, declaring that "the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is indeed incalculable taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization."

Issei

Name for Japanese immigrants during the war who were not eligible for US citizenship b/c of their race.

Executive Order #9066

President Roosevelt signed Executive Order #9066, which authorized the designation of military areas "from which any or all persons may be excluded." The order was used to remove Japanese Americans to internment camps.

Casablanca Conference

Roosevelt and Churchill met in Casablanca, Morocco, and approved the policy of unconditional surrender. The trip made Roosevelt the first sitting president to both travel to Africa and leave the country during war.

Neutrality Act of 1939

Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act of 1939, which ended the arms embargo and authorized "cash-and-carry" exports to belligerent nations, allowing Allied powers to purchase weapons.

Tehran Conference

Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met in Iran to discuss strategy and cooperation. The three leaders agreed to coordinate a Soviet offensive and an Allied landing at Normandy, and Stalin agreed to enter the war with Japan once Hitler was defeated.

Harry S. Truman

The 33rd U.S. president, who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt upon Roosevelt's death in April 1945. Truman, who led the country through the last few months of World War II, is best known for making the controversial decision to use two atomic bombs against Japan in August 1945. After the war, Truman was crucial in the implementation of the Marshall Plan, which greatly accelerated Western Europe's economic recovery.

Nazi blitzkrieg in Europe

The Nazis began the blitzkrieg (or "lighting war") of several European countries, including Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belguim, France, and the Netherlands. Blitzkrieg attacks combined forces of mechanized infantry, tank divisions, and air support to devastate invaded countries and led to many quick surrenders.

Neutrality Act of 1937

The Neutrality Act of 1937 established a "cash-and-carry" policy for warring nations that required them to pay cash for "nonwar" goods and transport those goods on non-US ships.

Okinawa

The island of Okinawa, was designated a Japanese prefecture (or sub-nation) in 1871. During World War II, Okinawa was captured by American forces after a harrowing months-long battle in which 12,000 Americans, 110,000 Japanese soldiers, and 160,000 civilians were killed.

Pearl Harbor attack

Thirty minutes after Japan declared war against the United States, Japanese planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Naval forces were severely diminished by the unexpected attack and 2,500 Americans were killed.

Charles Lindbergh

United States aviator who in 1927 made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean (1902-1974)

German surrender

With Berlin in ruins and Hitler dead, Germany agreed to an unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers.

Atlantic Charter

a joint statement on behalf of the United States and Britain that highlighted the two nations "common principles" and plans for cooperation in the creation of "a better future for the world."

Pearl Habor

built as a deep water American naval base on Oahu, following the annexation of Hawaii. It was the site of a surprise Japanese aerial attack on December 7, 1941. More than 2,300 Americans were killed in the attack, which precipitated US entry into World War II the next day.

War Refugee

established in January 1944 to rescue minorities in Europe from Nazi persecution.

Internment Camps

internment camps were create to confine Japanese Americans, used during WWII.

The United Nations

is an international organization established in 1945 to promote peace and internationl cooperation.

The General Assembly

is the body of the United Nations that represents all member countries of the organization. Though the General Assembly debates issues and makes recommendations, it does not create or enforce policy.

Sercurity Council

is the executive agency of the United Nations charged with the maintenance of international security and peace.

Nisei

refers to second generation Japanese Americans born in the United States. Though they were American citizens, most Nisei on the West Coast were forcibly relocated to internment camps during World War II.

Alien Registration Act

required all adult non-citizens to register with the US government and imposed penalties for anyone who "advocates . . . overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States."

Hiroshima

the Japanese city that was destroyed by the first atomic bomb dropped by the United States during World War II. On August 6, 1945, the US bombed Hiroshima.

Nagasaki

the city in western Japan that was the target of the second atomic bomb dropped by American forces during World War II. The bombing of Nagasaki decimated the city and killed almost sixty thousand people three days after the bombing of Hiroshima.

Battle of Letye Gulf

the largest naval battle in history, the American navy quashed Japanese air and sea forces. Japanese forces suffered more than 11,000 casualties and the loss of twenty-eight ships.

Disputes Act

to secure industrial peace and harmony by providing machinery and procedure for the investigation and settlement of industrial disputes by negotiations.

Harry Hopkins

was a New Deal administrator and close advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Before Roosevelt's election to the presidency, Hopkins had served as the director of the New York State Temporary Emergency Relief Administration.

Charles Coughlin

was a Roman Catholic priest and radio personality.

George S. Patton

was a skilled and controversial American army officer during World War II. Patton graduated from West Point in 1909 and served under General John J. Pershing in the US. Tank Corps during the First World War.

John Hersey

was a writer and journalist known for his works on World War II. Hersey reported on the war for Time magazine.

Frances Perkins

was an industrial reformer and the first female cabinet member.

The Office of War Mobilization

was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to coordinate supplies during World War II.

The Fair Employment Practices Commission

was established by an executive order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in June 1941. The commission was created to put an end to discrimination in war production jobs and the government.

Douglas MacArthur

was the American general who served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. MacArthur retired from the Army in 1937 but was recalled to active duty in 1941. He was made commander of forces in the Philippines.

Adolf Hitler

was the leader of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party and Führer of Germany during the Second World War. He was responsible for the genocide of six million European Jews and millions of others.

Joseph Stalin

was the longtime leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Lenin. Stalin took part in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, and after the successful overthrow of the tsar, he served in the new revolutionary government. In 1922 he became the secretary general of the Communist Party.

Manhattan Project

was the secret American research program that developed the world's first atomic bombs. The effort was initiated in 1942. By July 16, 1945, the project had produced the first atomic bomb, which was successfully tested in the desert of New Mexico.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

was the thirty-second president of the United States and the only one to be elected to office four times. Roosevelt led the nation during some of the most harrowing events in American history—the Great Depression and World War II.

Bolsheviks

were the dominant political power in Russia after the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party seized control of that country's government in 1917. The Bolsheviks ("Bolshevik" meaning "one of the majority") were anti-feudal revolutionaries who were ed in the United States as radical, anti-capitalist socialists.

Battle of Coral Sea

when American aircraft carriers intercepted a Japanese invasion fleet that planned to invade Port Moresby in New Guinea.