US History 202-071 (Chapter 25)

World War II : 

World War II An Introduction

Deconstructing Myths : 

Deconstructing Myths WWII considered the “best war ever.” Democratic countries defeated fascism. US emerged from the war prosperous. Racism and sexism at home and abroad. Censorship. Unsettling changes on the Home Front. Some soldiers suffered from PTSD.

A World Gone Mad : 

A World Gone Mad The Axis Powers: Germany, Japan, and Italy. Italy: invaded Ethiopia. Germany: re-militarized the Rhineland. Germany: forced the Anschluss and won the concession of the Sudetenland at Munich. (Later took Czechoslovakia).

A World Gone Mad : 

A World Gone Mad Spain: Francisco Franco aided by Italy and Germany in Civil War. Japan: invaded Northern China. Hitler invaded Poland after signing the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact. Russia invaded Finland and incorporated the Baltic countries into the Soviet Union.

A World Gone Mad : 

A World Gone Mad Hitler attacked Denmark and Norway. Then he attacked Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. However, Hitler lost the Battle of Britain. The Battle of Atlantic was raging. Hitler turned to attack the Soviet Union. The attack of the Soviet Union was disastrous.

American Neutrality : 

American Neutrality FDR was internationalist, but he faced strong isolationism in US. FDR recognized Soviet Union in 1933. Sensing danger, Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1935. (no arms or munitions to countries at war) Despite international problems, FDR promised neutrality in Elections of 1936.

American Neutrality : 

American Neutrality Attack on USS Panay didn’t move public. However, the collapse of Poland led to minor modifications of policy. FDR convinced Congress to pass Neutrality Act of 1939. FDR established a neutrality zone that grew in size to protect England.

American Neutrality : 

American Neutrality FDR increased military spending and activated the National Guard. Burke-Wadsworth Act instituted draft. Exchanged destroyers for access to military bases for 99 years. FDR won re-election in 1940.

Battle of the Atlantic : 

Battle of the Atlantic Arsenal of Democracy: 1) Spend dollars, not lives. 2) Support US and Allies. Winning Battle of the Atlantic was critical. US vessels exchanged fire with German vessels to protect shipping. Victory achieved in mid-1943 due to better convoying techniques, sonar, and the cracking of the enigma code by Ultra.

Decision for War : 

Decision for War US cut off shipments of scrap iron and aviation fuel to protest Japan’s actions. Japan wanted Malaya and the Dutch East Indies (Needed resources). US stationed its navy at Pearl Harbor. The US was attacked since the Japanese believed we lacked the will to retake lost possessions.

Decision for War : 

Decision for War Japan attacked, Singapore, Guam, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. The country was unified. Outraged, FDR asked for declaration of war. Fear of the Japanese led to the creation of interment camps. (Upheld in Korematsu vs. the United States)

American War Machine : 

American War Machine 82% of contracts went to the nation’s top 100 corporations. Office of War Mobilization (James Byrnes) Government and universities worked together. Citizens had to ration, but a black market existed.

American War Machine : 

American War Machine 600,000 volunteers. 10 million drafted. (serve until war ends) Average age: 27 Avoid draft: get married & have a baby. Many blacks couldn’t get deferments. Rejected for flabbiness, literacy, and suspected homosexuality. (29% rejected)

American War Machine : 

American War Machine Women not in combat roles, but performed other duties. (WASPs) Women filled clerical posts in the army. Married and pregnant women not welcome. WAC recruitment down due to false belief that they “serviced” men. Men resented WACs taking jobs.

American War Machine. : 

American War Machine. Women and most blacks not in infantry. College educated men had safe jobs. USAAF, Marines, Paratroopers got glory. Army Infantry felt resentment. Why did they fight well? Fought to not let buddies down and didn’t want families to lose pay and benefits.

American War Machine : 

American War Machine Black troops faced discrimination. 78% in service branches. Most others did manual labor. Black officers couldn’t give whites orders. Army facilities were segregated so was blood. Thought too “stupid” to fly planes. 332d Fighter Group fought this myth.

The Mediterranean War : 

The Mediterranean War FDR promised Churchill that the US would make a commitment in the West. Battle of Atlantic still raging so a cross-channel invasion considered dicey. Strategically bomb Germany and attack in the Mediterranean since the British feared losing Middle East and Oil.

Mediterranean War : 

Mediterranean War Next, the British wanted to attack Sicily despite American protests. Allies took Sicily but Axis troops escaped. Wishing to knock Italy out of the war, Churchill got his way with invading Italy. Rugged terrain ensured that it would be a battle of attrition.

The European War : 

The European War Churchill not happy with the planned invasion of France. Strategic Bombing vs. Morale Bombing. Strategic Bombing initially ineffective (poor target selection and poor protection) Introduction of P-51 Mustang and targeting oil and chemical plants critical.

The European War : 

The European War Operation Overlord (At Marshall’s and Stalin’s request) Bradley pierced St.–Lo defenses and liberated Paris. Captured Aachen and prepared to attack across the Rhine River. Germans lost the Battle of the Bulge. Soviets poured in from the East.

The Holocaust : 

The Holocaust The US enforced immigration laws strongly as Jews tried to fled Germany. Murder of Jews, gays, gypsies, etc. Originally, Allies did not believe reports. Soldiers didn’t sympathize with victims. More concerned with prosecuting Japan. Germany got sympathy during Cold War.

The Pacific War : 

The Pacific War Manpower commitment greatest in Pacific until 1943. Controlled Guam, Wake Island, Singapore, Malaya, Burma, Dutch West Indies, Philippines. (Japan could hold it) They threatened Australia and Hawaii. (Pacific important priority)

The Pacific War : 

The Pacific War Battle of Coral Sea stopped the Japan’s invasion of Port Moresby, New Guinea. Yamamoto miscalculated at Midway. Offensive 1: MacArthur advanced from New Guinea to the Philippines. Offensive 2: Nimitz crossed Central Pacific.

The Pacific War : 

The Pacific War “Island hopping” operations for Solomon, Marshall, Gilbert, and Guam and Saipan. Both MacArthur and Nimitz would link up at Luzon (cut off supplies) and attack Japan. As campaign progressed, US industrial might produced more aircraft carriers.

The Pacific War : 

The Pacific War Iwo Jima and Okinawa Fighting brutal since Japan did not contest landings. Firebombing intensified. 627,000 casualties inflicted in 61 cities to destroy their ability to make war. Unrestricted naval warfare intensified in 1944. (oil supply devastated)

The Atomic Bomb : 

The Atomic Bomb Firebombing was already in use. US worried about high casualty rates. Unconditional surrender unacceptable to Japan. Magic intercepts showed that Japan planned for a defense.

The Atomic Bomb : 

The Atomic Bomb Hiroshima bombing failed to bring surrender. Even after the Nagasaki bomb, radical leaders in Japan wished to continue the war. Emperor broke the deadlock and surrendered.

The Home Front Changes : 

The Home Front Changes 7 out of 8 wives did not work. Of women that did, only 16% were in war industries. (dirty machines, possible affairs) Americans naïve about war production. Advertising convinced civilians that they were doing as much as the men in the field.

The Home Front Changes : 

The Home Front Changes Rise in teen delinquency. (Blame mom) V-girls seen as a problem. Mothers struggled with two jobs. Mothers encouraged to quite jobs after war wound down. (Most did not see it as a sacrifice to return to families.)

Home Front Changes : 

Home Front Changes G.I Bill: unemployment benefits, loans, medical assistance, education, and/or job training. Allowed returning soldiers to join the middle class. Middle class materialistic.

Aftermath: What lessons were learned? : 

Aftermath: What lessons were learned? Let’s use the Persian Gulf War as an example. Is force always necessary to obtain goals? (Saddam Hussein as Hitler) Is war always good for the economy? (Persian Gulf War did not stimulate economy)