The Path to War ROAD TO WAR: The Depression keeps FDR/US focus off of Europe….Isolationism continues A. Neutrality Act of 1935: as dictatorships/military.

The Path to War

ROAD TO WAR: The Depression keeps FDR/US focus off of Europe….Isolationism continues

A. Neutrality Act of 1935: as dictatorships/military regimes rise to power 1. Hitler seizes power in Germany in 1933, and quickly begins to rearm Germany2. Mussolini controls Italy and re-arms the military; allies Italy with Germany; "AXIS"3. Stalin continues a reign of terror to secure absolute power in the Soviet Union.

Totalitarian

Government has total control of the country; one political party usually led by a dictatora. supported by the mediab. usually squashes all dissent

i. Hitlerii. Mussoliniiii. Stalin

Dictator – leader with absolute power

Fascism

1. Nationalistic, strong national government with a dictator

2. Usually totalitarian3. Militaristic4. Private property with strong government

controls5. Anti-Communist

Nazism

1. National, socialistic with no ties to socialism2. Extreme nationalism3. Pure aryan race4. National expansion5. Usually totalitarian6. Militaristic7. Private property with strong government

controls8. Anti-Communist

Hitler’s Aggression

B. Hitler begins a series of aggressive actions in Europe in the late 1930's. Europe descends into war1. Austria in 1938 2. Munich Pact: acquires part of Czechoslovakia a. England and France practice policy of appeasement. Give in to Hitler to prevent war3. Non-Aggression Pact: Hitler and USSR sign in 1939…this gives Hitler the ability to conquer land in Europe without Soviet interference.

Beginning of WWII

4. Hitler starts WWII conquering Poland in 1939. England and France declare war, but do nothing.

a. Within months, he has conquered much of Europe…including France. This shocks the world

b. By summer 1940, England is alone against Germany. The Germans launch a huge air attack on England in the Summer/Fall of 1940. "Battle of Britain"

c. Cash n Carry: FDR asks Congress to help those countries struggling against Hitler; Great Britain and France

FDR’s reaction to Hitler

C. FDR cautiously prepares the US for war. He knows we will get involved…but no public support yet

1. Selective Service Act: passed in Sept.1940…the 1st peacetime draft in our history. a. He increases funds for naval ship building, and sells

destroyers (to fight subs) to the English.

2. Lend-Lease program: "loans" England with military supplies within the legal defin. of neutrality.; eventually extended to Soviet Union

FDR’s reaction to Hitler

3. By Fall 1941, war virtually exists for US, 100's of ships sunk by Germ off the coast of USA. a. Germany attacks the USSR in summer 1941. USSR (communist!) now an ally!

4. Manhattan Project: By 1941, secret project is organized: Einstein warn FDR of project Germany was working on

U.S. Getting Involved

US Goes to War: We assume events in Europe will drag us into war, but it is our relationship with Japan that will draw the US into World War II.

A. Japan, begins a series of brutal conquests in Asia, seeking resources and to dominate East Asia1. Japan conquers coastal China in 1930’s, beginning with Manchuria, becomes allies with Germany & Italy; the “Axis”

2. FDR responds by freezing all Japanese assets in July 1941. They see this as an aggressive act. a. Stop trade of fuel and scrap metal with Japan; eventually oil was added and then all assets were frozen in U.S.

PEARL HARBOR

B. Japan attacks Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Dec 1941. It’s a major success for Japan, almost destroying the US Pacific Fleet (except our aircraft carriers); “day that will live in infamy”

C. FDR declares war on all three Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan). The USA enters WWII.

MOBILIZATION

Economy must make sacrifices to allow the country to fight the war.

Rationing, couponsScarp metal drivesPrice and wage controlsMen, money, and equipment

SEE CHART**

Executive Order 9066

1. 127,000 Japanese Americans lived in the U.S.; Nisei (Japanese born holding citizenship), sansei (sons/daughters of Nisei), and issei (born in Japan not eligible for citizenship)

2. Panic spread throughout west coast; wanted Japanese evacuated

3. Resulted in evacuation in to relocation centers for military reasons, although racial fear was a large part

4. 110,000 evacuated including 60,000 citizens lost possessions

5. Korematsu v. U.S. agreed with U.S. government; 1988 Congress compensated the Japanese for losses during WWII

Depression Ends/Economy Expands

Depression disappears as the economy goes into full production (paid by the gov’t) for the war

A. Full employment (2 incomes!), saving money (buy bonds!), limited consumer goods (no new cars – last one produced in February of 1942)

Social Effects of the War

B. The huge war effort will transform America. 100,000’s migrate to cities to fill available jobs1. Women needed in factories and the military. They perform invaluable service in both.

a. 20 million women work in war-related jobs. Wages still favor males, and most women will leave these jobs at war's end.

b. Women in the Military. The WACS/WAVES are military groups, but not in combat duty.

• Most do "traditional" style roles; clerks, clean, etc. but many served as pilots and engineers.

c. The valuable service of women in the war will spur women’s rights causes after the war.

Social Effects of the War

2. The war is both a benefit and limit to Minorities, who also flock to the cities for jobs. a. Needing Black labor in factories, FDR is forced to issue Executive Order 8802, it ends discrimination in any gov't funded industry.

-A. Philip Randolph organized March of Washington to demand equal rights (Jim Crow Army)

b. Wartime jobs help Black-Americans, but race riots also occur in the overcrowded cities

c. Millions of Blacks serve with distinction in the military, but still only in segregated units.

War in Europe

V. World War II: EUROPE: The US focuses on the most dangerous threat: Germany

A. We fear the USSR & England may fall to Germ, we’d be alone. The alliance is England, US, USSR1. 1942: The Germans move deep into the heart of the USSR, and also capture areas in N Africa

2. In the Atlantic, German subs sink huge amounts of Allied shipping headed to England + USSR

War in Europe

B. Stalin demands England/USA form a 2nd front against Germany (to relieve pressure on his troops)1. 1942-43. England/US attack/defeat German-held North Africa; Operation Torch

C. The Allies invade Italy in July 1943. The Italians surrender, overthrowing Mussolini. 1. The Germans move quickly to hold nation, and the Italian campaign ends up bloody and slow. The Allies will never control all of Italy. Rome is captured by June 1944.

D-Day

D. Invasion of Western Europe. "Operation Overlord." Allies open a 3rd front in Normandy France1. Supreme Comm. of Allied Forces Gen Dwight Eisenhower leads the largest invasion force in world history. 200,000 men, 600+ ships, 11,000 planes. June 1944… the “D-Day” invasion

2. After a costly landing, a beach-head is secured, and allied armies quickly fan out across France.

a. Paris falls, 1944. By late 1944, it appears as though Germany will fall.

Battle of the Bulge

3. Battle of the Bulge: Germany tries one last effort to break Allied lines on the Western Front

a. The Christmas, 1944 attack initially surprises the Allies, but it is quickly stopped. Germany now has no offensive power left….and is left with only retreat on all fronts.

Yalta Conference

E. The Yalta Conference, Feb 1945: The soon-to-be-victorious powers plan the post-war world. 1. FDR seeks Russian help in Asia. They promise to enter war in 3 months after war in Europe is over exchange for land control in Asia

2. Germany would be divided in two, Berlin would be partitioned among the war victors

3. Poland – eastern portion stay with Soviets, promised free elections in Poland ASAP

4. The major achievement of the conference is the establishment of a United Nations. It meets in San Francisco in April 1945 to draft a charter. (similar to League of Nations idea by Wilson)

5. Bretton Woods Conference – established World Bank and IMF with dollar being the standard measurement of exchang 

The End is Near

F. FDR dies in April 1945…he had just secured a unprecedented fourth term as President. The relatively unknown and politically inexperienced Harry Truman is now president.

G. Spring 1945 sees desperate and outnumbered German forces in retreat on all fronts. Russians are at their eastern border, the Allies are at the western border (Rhine River)1. Russians demand, and are given the right to capture Berlin. It falls in May 1945.

2. Hitler commits suicide. German forces surrender on May 8, 1945. War in Europe is over.

War in the Pacific

VI. World War II: PACIFIC: Action in the Pacific sees the US battling Japan in a Navy-based war

A. Early in 1942, Japan has a clear military advantage. They seize large amounts of Pacific territory, gaining natural resources (oil, rubber). 1. The US loss in the Philippines is the largest surrender of US forces in our history

a. Mac Arthur vows to return

War in the Pacific

2. Battle of Coral Sea in May/42 is a draw, but stops Japan’s planned invasion of Australia. It also shows the significance of the aircraft carrier in battle.

B. The Battle of Midway in 1943 sees the Japanese navy try to draw out US navy to destroy it. US intelligence (broke the code!) and poor Japanese strategy causes a huge defeat for the Japanese. They lose 4 carriers. It effectively ends the offensive ability of the Japanese navy; turning point of war

War in the Pacific

C. After Midway, the US begins a slow, bloody process of "Island-Hopping". Securing islands in string closer & closer to Japan. Japanese desperation increases with each stepa. Each step gives us better ability to bomb Japan, and provide for base for invasion of Japanb. Iwo Jima, Okinawa

War in the Pacific

D. The War in the Pacific ends quickly after that in Europe…but with significant differences. 1. The “Manhattan Project” is a secret costly project to build an atomic device. It is successfully tested in secret in July 1945 in New Mexico.2. Potsdam Conference – Truman, Stalin, Churchill; try Nazi War criminals, divide Germany, outlined terms of surrender for Japan; Truman knew about bomb

Atomic Age Begins

2. By summer 1945 an invasion of Japan appears necessary to end the war in the Pacific. a. Japan still has large army and fanatical stance avoiding surrender. US losses from an invasion of Japan are estimated at 1 million. Truman decides the bomb has to be used.

3. Hiroshima: Aug 6: 70,000 killed immediately, (60,000 more die within a few months from radiation/injuries). Japan doesn't surrender.

a. Nagasaki on Aug 9. Somewhat less loss of life (bomb off target)

4. The Japanese surrender on August 14th, 1945. World War II is over.

In conclusion…

WORLD WAR II is the costliest in human history.

Total deaths estimated at 70 million, the Soviet Union alone suffering 27 million dead