World War II

American History (B)

C. Simmons

Converting the Economy• The Economy of the U.S. during WWII

was probably the deciding factor who won the war end the end. Twice as much as Germany, 5 times as much as Japan

• Mobilization of Economy before U.S. entered War

• Incentives for industry to move quickly called cost-plus, paid costs plus percentage of profits

• Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) helped in conversion into war production

American Industry• After Pearl Harbor Attack all major

industries including 200,000 companies converted to war production

• Automobile factories produced trucks, jeeps, tanks, and B-24 bombers. Also ammunition, rifles, mines, cooking pots, helmets – produced 1/3 of military equipmen

• War Production Board – set goals and controls, and Office of War Mobilization – settle arguments

Building the Army• Selective Service and Training Act – first

peacetime draft in American history• # of draftees was huge, “GI” comes from

patch on uniforms Government Issue• Segregated military at beginning of war• African American disfranchisement• Tuskegee airmen in Battle of Anzio in Italy• 99th Pursuit Squadron was an AA unit• Integration in 1948• Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps – first time

women allowed in military

Discussion• How did American Production achieve so

much success during the war?

• What did FDR create to keep production stable?

Pacific War• After Pearl Harbor, America could do little

to stop advancing Japanese in Southeast Asia (Attack on American bases in Philippines)

• MacArthur ordered to evacuate to Australia – Bataan Death March

• B-25 bombers replaced short range bombers on aircraft carriers, James Doolittle put in charge, April 18 attack

• Turning Point - Battle of Midway – code breakers, Americans shot down 38 Jap planes and destroyed 4 carriers

Early in Germany• Stalin urged FDR to open up new front, July

1942 FDR ordered invasion of periphery of Germany (Algeria, Morocco)

• Dwight Eisenhower invaded N Africa in November 1942, George Patton led troops into Morocco, May 1943 Germans surrendered

• Germans sank cargo-ships, so Americans employed a convoy system, protection from Navy

• Battle of Stalingrad - German Goal was to destroy Russian economy, turning point in war (first time Germans on defensive), #deaths

Discussion• What was important about Battle of

Midway?

• What was important about Battle of Stalingrad?

Women and Minorities• Positive effects of WWII – ended

Depression, doubled income, 19 million new jobs

• Wartime labor – “Rosie the Riveter” campaign to hire women – 2.5 million

• Resistance to hire African Americans

• Executive Order 8802 – no discrimination in employment in defense industries

• Bracero Program – allowed in 200,000 Mexican harvesters and railroad workers

Nation on the Move• 15 million moved West and South

(Sunbelt)

• The Second Great Migration – factory jobs, but found intolerance and violence

• Zoot-Suit problem – Mexican-American violence

• Declaration of military zones (1942) led to Japanese internment (10 Camps) West Coast

Daily Life in America• Office of Price Administration (OPS)• Office of Economic Administration (OES)• War Labor Board (WLB) – prevented

strikes• Rationing – monthly coupon books issued

created shortages, foods, meats, oils, gasoline, etc.

• Victory Gardens planted to produce more food, Scrap Drives collected raw materials

• Trading in of fats and oils – explosives• Raise in taxes, selling of E bonds – funded

war

Discussion• How did life change for minorities during

the war?

• What was life like during the war?

Striking back at Third Reich• Casablanca Conference – increase

bombing of Germany and attack Sicily

• Bombing campaign successful because caused oil shortage and troops entering France could not be bombed

• Eisenhower commanded troops in Italy and forced German Troops out by August 1943 Italy surrendered in September and Mussolini was arrested

Landing in France• Operation Overload – Eisenhower would

command troops in invasion of France

• Surprise Attack – Germans did not know where attack would happen

• D-Day in Normandy – June 7, 1944

• Allied troops captured Utah Beach and moved inland

• Invasion of Omaha Beach met intense German fire but succeeded

Back to the Pacific• Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur

hoped from island to island to retake Pacific

• Tarawa Atoll – and rise of the LVT (amphtrac)

• Capture of the Kwajalen Atoll allowed B-29 bombers to reach Japan

• Battle of Leyte Gulf – largest Naval Battle in history, also first time Japanese used kamikaze attacks – suicide flyers

Discussion• Why was D-Day so successful?

• Why were kamikazes so deadly?

Third Reich Collapses• Germans use of hedgerows in Normandy

– embankments of dirt and hedges• Bombing allowed U.S. tanks threw• Paris liberation on August 25, 1944• Battle of the Bulge – last ditch effort of

Hitler, German defenses bulged outward catching Americans off guard

• Americans pushed back Germans and crossed Ludendorf Bridge – free entrance into Berlin

• Hitler committed suicide, unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, V-E Day

Japan Defeated• FDR died in April 1945, Harry Truman took

power• Invasion of Iwo Jima – closer to Japan and allow

more accuracy of bombers• Napalm bombing in Tokyo (firebombing)• April 1945 invasion of Okinawa 35 miles from

Japan(12,000 soldiers lost their lives)• Japan refused to surrender unconditionally• Manhattan Project – atomic bomb, July 1945

first atomic bomb detonated in NM• August atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima

and Nagasaki killing 75,000 people• August 15, 1945 Japan surrendered (V-J Day)

Building New World• Creation of the United Nations (UN) April

1945 official charter

• Britain, France, U.S., China, Soviet Union would be permanent members and have veto power

• International Military Tribunal (IMT) punish German and Japanese leaders for war crimes

• Nuremburg Trials – only two German leaders were convicted

Discussion• Why did Hitler commit suicide?

• Why did Truman use the atomic bomb?

• Why were only two German leaders convicted of war crimes?