The US and WWII

Chapter 18

The

Road

to W

ar The largest conflict the world has ever seen. In many ways a renewal of WWI, it will be the death knell of European hegemony and usher in the a new world order

The

Rise

of F

ascis

m

If we were “anxious” in the 20s-

Europe was freaking out… The

“Great War” had been a cataclysmic event, and people

were worried about the spread of

communism from Russia (after all,

remember what happened after

the Fr Rev) Plus there was the

Depression to worry about

In a time of chaos and fear- radical

solutions seemed like good options.

If we are afraid of the left…. Let’s

turn WAY right instead Both the Communism of Stalin and

the Fascism of Mussolini/Hitler are

forms of totalitarianism- just with

different angles….

Fasc

ism in

Ital

y

Mussolini actually invented the word – from the Fasces, an ancient Roman symbol of strength. Il Duce used mass

culture and propaganda to spread his message- a promise of security (in

exchange for freedom) and a return to glory

Fasc

ism in

Ger

man

y

But if you’re talking fascists-

Hitler’s the man. Germany was a

HOT mess, and the Nazi’s offered

a solution and someone to blame

Plan was to create a new world

order based on the “Master”

Aryan race- social darwinism on

crack Came to power legally (they

fudged some election results and

set a building on fire, but other

than that) Their success is the

best example of how psychologically damaging wwi

really was for Germany

Rise

of S

talin

Won the power struggle after Lenin died in 1924. Actually the most successful of the totalitarians- he dominates the USSR from 1927-1953.

Big move in the 30s was modernizing USSR. Collectivization and Industrialization

Rise

of J

apan

Was a newly powerful country- having rapidly transformed themselves into a modern nation by government supported industrialization (Meiji Restoration) Their lack of industrial

resources, and desire to be taken “seriously” by European powers will push

them towards agression

Dem

ise o

f the

Le

ague

of

Natio

ns

The league was an important

1st step towards international

cooperation, but they never

stood a chance- their only

option was to “Condemn”

actions they didn’t like… Like

the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, Mussolini’s invasion of Eithiopia, or Hitler’s occupation of the Rhineland US/USSR never part of league,

Germany withdrew in 1933,

whole thing fell apart by 1936

The

US in

a

Mena

cing

Wor

ld

It wasn’t hard to see another war

coming…but boy did we try…

Some were pacifists, some

isolationists, some resented the

extra $$ which would take focus

from domestic issues Preparing for neutrality- FDR

signed a series of acts to protect

commerce. Most important was

idea of “Cash and Carry” that US

would only sell for cash to nations

at war, and those nations had to

transport their own goods. (and

he starts quietly preparing for

war… building up navy, and

instituting a peacetime draft )

A 3r

d Ter

m fo

r FD

R

In an uncertain world, with US under threat from the “three bandit nations”, Germany, Italy, Japan FDR decided to break tradition and run for a 3 rd term in 1940 (by then war in Europe has already begun)

The

Onse

t of W

ar

Hitler began taking territory in

Europe- and no one made a

move to stop him (Appeasement) Nazi Soviet Pact allowed Hitler to

attack w/o worrying about a two

front war (for the time being)

and He invades Poland on Sept 1

1939. Tripartite Pact united Japan with

Germany/Italy (Rome Berlin Axis)

Never really coordinated war

efforts/aims, but did ensure that

it would be the allies fighting in

multiple directions this time

Lend

Leas

e

Nazis had spent 5 years building up military- Allies didn’t start until after

Munich Conference in spring

of ‘39, they are behind England asks US (neutral-

but Nazis always knew who

we supported) for help- and

FDR created the Lend Lease

Plan- where Britain would

“borrow” war products and

return (or pay for) when war

was over.

The

Atla

ntic

Char

ter a

nd

Subm

arin

e W

arfa

re

August 1941 Winston Churchill

and FDR met off coast of Newfoundland and drew up

Atlantic Charter- goals for war

(eliminate the Nazis) and after

war was over: Collective Security, Disarmament, Freedom of the Seas etc…

We became more engaged-

using convoy system to deliver lend –lease goods, with

a “shoot on sight” directive

which made it clear our entry

into the war was only a matter

of time.

Pear

l Ha

rbor

But it isn’t the Nazis who bring us

in….relations with Japan had been

deteriorating – and we refused to sell

them steel or fuel (two vital military

products) after 1940. So they begin

planning to fight, and decide a 1st

strike attack is the way to play.

Dec 7 th 1941 7:00 am. 2402 killed,

187 airplanes, 18 ships (8 battleships

destroyed) in just over 2 hours. By

chance, non of our aircraft carriers

were at pearl (they were the ultimate

target) but still, a devastating blow.

December 8 th- we declare war on

Japan. Dec 9 th – Germany declares

war on US

Natu

re o

f W

ar

Total War- full commitment of

resources. Even more destructive than WWI, we take

all those technologies and add

aircraft carriers, bombers,

rocketry, radar and the atomic

bomb Lines between military and

civilians blurred, both sides

bombed cities full of noncombatants, and genocide

was an important aspect of Nazi

strategy (interestingly- that

diversion of resources might

have cost the Nazis the war)

War

in E

urop

e

Nazi strategy was Blitzkrieg-

and worked really well in Poland, Denmark, Norway,

Belgium and France. 1942

High water mark of Nazi rule

First place they ran into a

snag was the Battle of Britain- and that “defeat”

prompted Hitler to order the

invasion of Russia way ahead of schedule- and he

gets stuck there (Stalingrad)

North

Af

rica

Once US is in war- they decide

to attack through “Soft Underbelly” of North Africa -

Which had been conquered by

Italy while Nazis had been busy

up north. Operation Torch successful by

1943 (El Alamein most important battle). But what is

most significant Allies (US, Eng,

Fr Resistance Canadians) get

used to working together. With

Africa cleared we head north

into Italy, which flips sides, and

hangs Mussolini

War

in

the

Pacifi

c

Japan also very successful in

beginning of war. Invasion of

Manchuria/China gave them

the resources they needed,

started taking European colonies: Hong Kong, Singapore, The Philippines

Malaya and Indonesia. War in the Pacific fought

primarily at sea- aircraft carriers vital. Midway the turning point. Island Hopping

the strategy.

The

Hom

e fro

nt

More transformation in the

power of the government- as the

war effect the entire population

(far more than wwi) federal

employees goes from 1 m to 4

mil. Unemployment goes from

14% in 1940 to 2% in 1943.

New Agencies: War Production

Board, War Manpower Commission, Office of Price

Administration. Even with fear- this restores our

confidence and optimism. Here

is something we can DO- something concrete to fight.

Econ

omic

Conv

ersio

n

Began with Lend Lease- but by

1942 many consumer industries

had converted to military

manufacturing, creating 60,000

planes, 45,000 tanks and 8,000,000 tons of military

supplies in 1942 alone. Cost of

war supplies 10x wwi and 100x

Civil War Gov’t spent $100,000,000 on

research for new tech (radar,

sonar and atomic most important) Rationing of consumer items like

gas, sugar, coffee and cloth.

Wom

en a

nd C

hild

ren

in th

e W

ar e

ffort

Had played a strong supporting role

in WWI, but really kept the economy

moving here. Unmarried women from 20-35 could

be called to work in key industries or

as agricultural workers. US had

women in military as WACs, WAVES

and WASPs In US and Britain rules about

“women’s work” fell by wayside as

new professional opportunities

opened, and more married women

worked. Led to the development of

daycares etc. (and to criticisms of

mothers leaving their children to

work) Marriage Rates- which had fallen

during depression- boomed during

war. This will create a HUGE

population burst (the Baby Boom)

after the war.

Mino

rity

Parti

cipat

ion

in th

e W

ar E

ffort.

700,000 African Americans

served in the military, primarily

in segregated units (although

that was not possible in the

Navy and Marines- and success

there helped create an integrated military.)

Tuskegee Airmen served with

exceptional distinction Labor needs also continued the

migration of African American

labor to the north. And FDR

required defense contractors to

hire without discrimination

Mexic

ans

1942 US encouraged Mexican agricultural workers to emigrate as part of Bracero program- which

allowed short term residency. Cultural differences created tensions and conflict (Zoot Suit riots)

Inte

rnm

ent

of Ja

pane

se

Amer

icans

After Pearl Harbor, anti-Japanese

feelings were intense. Like German

in WWI, we wanted to “Americanize” various aspects of

culture. 120,000 Americans with

Japanese heritage (most born in US)

were sent to “relocation centers” for

the duration of the war. Most were from west coast- moved

to interior, forced to sell homes/businesses at a loss, and

conditions would best be compared

to a communal prison. Korematsu v US in 1944 upheld the

idea, but in 1984 congress voted to

award reparations as apology for

racial blindness.

Elec

tion

of 1

944

FDR ran for a 4 th term in 1944….and while he won, it

was his smallest margin of

victory (primarily b/c Thomas Dewey, who ran against him was a bland choice) FDR had a different VP

every term- this time he had

chosen a virtually unknown

senator from Missouri with

little experience in international affairs.

The

End

of th

e W

ar

By 1943- the tide had turned

against the Nazis Stalingrad turns the Germans

back in the USSR Operation Avalanche (allied

invasion of Italy) cost Hitler his

major Ally. Allied forces captured and

broke the code for the enigma

machine- and that helped us

win the battle of the Atlantic-

now it is safe to transport

massive numbers of troops and

prepare for an end to the war

D-Da

y an

d V-

E Da

y

June 6 th 1944 Operation Overlord

commences- the largest amphibious landing in history-

167,000 troops landed in 1 day.

Fought our way up the beach-

and pushed towards Paris.

Germans gave a last ditch effort

at the Battle of the Bulge- but

we broke through. Russians are pushing from the

east, Eng/US/Fr pushing from

west- and Germany implodes.

Hitler commits suicide sometime

around May 1st, and on May 7 th

the Nazis surrender.

The

War

in th

e Pa

cific a

nd V

-J Da

y

Hard to fight and supply- different

climate, terrain etc, and US

doesn’t have a ton of experience

there. Australian helped US build

the Burma Road to supply over the

Himalayas We island hopped our way until we

were close enough to start

bombing Japan- but our experiences taught us that the

Japanese would not give up

without a huge fight. On Okinawa

40,000 Japanese committed

suicide rather than surrender.

Experts predicted that a frontal

invasion of japan would cost a

million lives on each side….

Atom

ic Bo

mb

We had been working on the

technology since 1939- but July

1945 we have it working. President Truman authorized it’s

use- after issuing an final ultimatum to the Japanese

warning them of “prompt and

utter destruction”. Aug 6 th Hiroshima (80,000

instantly, 120,000 radiation) Aug

9 th Nagasaki (30,000 instantly,

60,000 radiation- smaller city) and

warn the 3 rd bomb is for Tokyo

Japan surrenders Aug 14 th – treaty

signed on Sept 2nd (V-J day) and

the war is over