Chapter 18: Americans in World War II

Section 1 Early Difficulties; Part 1

Objectives:

Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Allied and Axis Powers in 1941.

Outline the steps that the U.S. took to prepare for war.

Axis Strengths:

Better prepared. Firm control of conquered lands Had rearmed since 1930’s Had airfields, barracks, and military

training centers Economically ready for war.

Axis Weaknesses:

Had to defend multiple fronts

Allied Strengths:

U.S. had a tremendous production capacity

Soviets had vast Manpower British and Soviets had not been defeated.

Allied Weaknesses:

Faced a long drawn out fight on several fronts

Enemy had a firm control of conquered areas spread over an enormous area both in Europe and Asia.

Steps Taken By U.S. to Prepare for War. A. Efforts to Increase Production American factories produced huge

numbers of planes, tanks, jeeps, guns Economy boomed Factories/Farms produced more Unemployment fell Great Depression ended

B) Government Expansion Number of federal employees tripled from

1940-45. Government needed to grow to keep up

with war demands U.S. needed to channel resources toward

war effort.

War Production Board Started in 1942 by President Roosevelt Was developed to increase military production Directed the conversion of existing factories to

wartime production. Supervised building of new plants. Assigned raw material to industry including scrap

iron, recyclable aluminum, paper, tin.

Office of War Mobilization Began 27 May 1943 Coordinated all government agencies involved

in war effort. Supervised production and distribution of

consumer goods Ex: Nylons went to making parachutes Regulated clothing styles

Directing the economy Government took measures to expand the

economy. Increased number of people paying income

taxes.Sought to control inflationSold War Bonds- helped keep inflation down

Office of Price Administration. Set maximum price on consumer goods. 1941 began rationing scarce items-

sugar, coffee, meat, gas, tires. To help with rationing many planted

“Victory Gardens” Froze prices

Mobilizing for war 1940 Congress passed Selective Training

and Service Act- 1st peacetime draft All men 21-35 to register 2/3 of American who served were draftees

300,000 women served WAAC ( Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps) WASP (Women’s Air Force Service Pilots) WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer

Emergency Service) Worked as nurses, drove vehicles, ferried

planes in order to free men for active duty.

Chapter 18 Section 1 Part 2:

Identify the locations where the Japanese military attacked after Pearl Harbor.

Discuss the early turning points of the war in the Pacific.

Relate the major battles in Europe and North Africa in 1942.

War in The Pacific

Japanese Advance Pearl Harbor was launching point of a

major Japanese offensive intent on taking control of Pacific.

For two weeks, Japanese attack American- British installations in Pacific.

Attack on the Philippines

8 December ’41 bombed Clark Air Force Base, Philippines.

22 December began invasion.

Japanese pushed toward capital, Manila.

Defending were 30,000 U.S., 110,000 Filipino troops under command of General Douglas MacArthur.

U.S. forces ordered by MacArthur to retreat to Bataan Peninsula.

Outnumbered Inexperienced Outgunned Few supplies Fearing MacArthur will be captured, FDR orders

him to Australia, leaves Lt. General Jonathan Wainwright in command of forces in Philippines.

MacArthur promises that “I shall return.” On 6 May 1942 Wainwright surrenders 70,000

U.S.- Filipino troops Japanese force survivors to march 60 miles

through jungle on way to prison camp. Brutalize prisoners on the way. 10,000 died. Known as Bataan Death March.

Further Japanese Advances

27 February ’42 Japanese destroy multi- national force in Battle of Java Sea sent to stop their advance.

Began conquest of New Guinea. In the next few months, most of western

Pacific in Japanese hands.

America Strikes Back

18 April 1942 16 B-25 bombers leaving U.S.S. Hornet and U.S.S. Enterprise bombed Tokyo.

Known as Doolittle’s Raid. Not a strategic victory. Provided hope for U.S. at a dark time.

Halting the Japanese Advance

Summer ’42 Japanese ready to attack Australia and continue conquest of New Guinea.

Admiral Chester Nimitz put in command of U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Fleet damaged but not destroyed- soon ready to fight.

Battle of the Coral Sea

Japanese prepared to attack New Guinea Met by British- American Navy Planes from both sides bombed the other in a 5

day battle. 1st naval combat carried out entirely by aircraft. Both sides lost a carrier. Militarily- draw Strategically- prevented Japanese from

establishing base to bomb Australia.

Battle of Midway

2nd Major battle in Pacific. Japanese wanted to draw American fleet into a

battle. Believed key to Asia success was destruction of

U.S. Fleet. Conceived 2-prong attack. 1 headed for Aleutian Islands 1 headed for Midway Island

Americans broke Japanese secret code Knew Japanese plans Forces met 3-6 June. Americans destroyed all four Japanese Carriers

sent against Midway. Americans lost 1 carrier. Battle fought almost entirely in the air.

Significance:

Loss of carriers a devastating blow to Japanese naval power.

Never able launch another offensive operation

Turning point of War in the Pacific.

Battle of Guadalcanal

Midway allowed U.S. to go on offensive. 1st Goal- capture Guadalcanal August ’42 11,000 Marines attacked. Fought for 6 months. November ’42 Japanese sent fleet to

recapture island

Defeated by U.S. Navy- turned back. February ’43 Japanese managed to sneak

off the island. U.S. gained full control. 1st step in a campaign to take Pacific back

from Japan.

War in Europe

Despite attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. adopted a “Europe first” policy.

Meant all war material priority went to Europe.

By December 7th much of Europe under Axis control.

Through 1942 Axis- victorious.

El Alamein

1940 Italy sent troops into North Africa. British Forces under General Bernard

Montgomery opposed. Hitler sends General Irwin Rommel “The Desert

Fox” to command Afrika Korps to fight British. Axis advances to El Alamein, Egypt by July ‘42

Weakness: supply lines stretched- shortage of men, supplies.

Montgomery uses this weakness, goes on the offensive.

Pushes Rommel out of Egypt into Libya. Victory helped turn the war in Africa

toward Allies.

Stalingrad

June 1941 Germany attacks Soviet Union Winter ’41 Germany set to take Moscow/

Leningrad. Summer ’42 advance to Stalingrad Object: rich oil fields beyond. By Fall, fighting for the city. Ferocious fighting. Soviets refused to surrender.

Hitler refused to allow Germans to surrender.

German supply lines stretched, army low on food, supplies.

Surrendered 1/ 43. Turning point in the War in Europe