The US and

WWIIChapter 18

The R

oad t

o 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 R

ise o

f Fa

scis

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 Ita

ly

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 G

erm

any

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

Ris

e o

f Sta

lin

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

Ris

e o

f Ja

pan

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 th

e

League o

f N

ati

ons

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 U

S in

a

Menaci

ng W

orl

d

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 3

rd T

erm

for

FDR

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 O

nse

t of

War

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 L

ease

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 A

tlanti

c C

hart

er

and

Subm

ari

ne W

arf

are

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.

Pearl

H

arb

or

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

uro

pe

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)

Nort

h

Afr

ica

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

Paci

fic

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 H

om

e f

ront

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.

Eco

nom

ic

Conve

rsio

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 t

he W

ar

eff

ort

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.

Min

ori

ty P

art

icip

ati

on

in t

he W

ar

Eff

ort

.

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

Mex

icans

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

Japanese

A

meri

cans

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.

Ele

ctio

n o

f 1944

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 E

nd o

f th

e

War

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-D

ay

and V

-E

Day

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 W

ar

in t

he

Paci

fic

and V

-J

Day

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….

Ato

mic

Bom

b

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