World War II Test

Pearl Harbor

-Carrier-based Japanese planes bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona), Hawaii (Kamikazes-Japanese pilots)

-drew us into the war because we declared war on Japan

US mobilization techniques

-Liberty ships used as cargo ships

-Many civilian industries converted to war production-seen in Europe as well

-Scarce goods rationed, price controls established and more manpower, stockpiling of metals

Role of women in war

• women were needed in the factories→build planes, ships, weapons, etc.
• “Rosie the Riveter”-Greatest symbol of women and the war effort
• Women enjoyed a newfound confidence in their ability and right to work outside the home BUT made less
• Joined all female corps for army, navy, and airforce but NO combat
  • Administrative and clerical roles
  • 60,000 nurses
  • Delivered planes to the war effort (over 12,000 flights by women)

African Americans in war

• Military was segregated→made SOME not want to fight a war for “democracy” and against racism abroad when they were not treated equal in their own country BUT some did want to fight to prove their worth
• Double “V” Campaign:
  • Victory abroad for ALL Americans against Hilter’s racism
  • Victory at home for African Americans to get rid of Jim Crow segregation
• FDR ordered armed services to recruit A.A.= EVERYONE is needed to win this war
• Tuskegee Airmen-1st African American pilots in US history
  • Combined units referred to as “Red Tails”

Native Americans in war

Navajo Code Talkers

• Native Americans radio operators 
• Navajo language-no written alphabet, only known to the Navajo, could create military terms=an unbreakable code
  • Ex. Battle of Iwo Jima-800 messages sent in 48 hrs=no interceptions
• Efforts kept secret until 1971--in case we needed them again
• 2001-Given Congressional Medal of Honor

Mexicans in war

• Mexican immigration encourage ot farm and harvest crops in the Southwest--promised wages, citizenship, etc. 
• L.A. “Zoot Suit Riots”
  • Zoot Suit: baggy pants, wide lapels on jackets, popular with Mexican teens
  • Some took offense to the EXTRA FABRIC when we were trying to conserve resources
  • Clash in June 1943 due to rumor of Zoot-suiters attacking a sailor
  • 2,500 soldiers and sailors attack a Mexican American neighborhoods

FDR mobilizes for war

-propaganda

-scrap drives

-more taxes

-war bonds

Japanese Internment

• FDR issued Executive Order 9066
  • Removed more than 110,000 Issei (Japanese) and Nisei (Japanese-Americans) from the West Coast 
• About two-thirds were citizens…none were ever found to be guilty of spying or sabotage 

Korematsu v. US case

• Korematsu refused to obey the relocation order→arrested
• Appealed convicition on constitutional grounds
• Supreme Court rule the order a valid use of presidential power in wartime
• Decision vacated in 1980, due to government-withheld evidence in the first trial

US Commanders in Europe and the Pacific 

• General Dwight Eisenhower-Supreme Allied Commander of the US forces in Europe
• Douglas MacArthur-Supreme Allied Commander, South West Pacific Area

Operation Overlord

• D-Day (une 6, 1944) is when this plan started
• Goal to invade Northern Europe and take it from the Germans
  • Northern Coast as heavily fortified

Operation Torch

• US/allied Plan-Operation Torch-path from Northern Africa through Italy 
• Allies succeed in drawing out German Forces out of the Soviet Union and taking Italy out of the war

Battle of Iwo Jima

Located 750 miles off the coast of Japan, the island of Iwo Jima had three airfields that could serve as a staging facility for a potential invasion of mainland Japan. American forces invaded the island on February 19, 1945, and the ensuing Battle of Iwo Jima lasted for five weeks. some of the bloodiest fighting of World War II

Battle of Okinawa

Taking Okinawa would provide Allied forces an airbase from which bombers could strike Japan and an advanced anchorage for Allied fleets. From Okinawa, US forces could increase air strikes against Japan and blockade important logistical routes, denying the home islands of vital commodities.

Operation Olympic

• Name for the planned defeat of Japan
• Main problem: Japanese had demonstrated their willingness to lose massive amounts of soldiers in battle AND use suicide bombers (Kamikazee) rather than surrender

Order of defeat/surrender

Germany surrendered after Hitler killed himself

Japan then surrenders when the soviets declare war on them

Yalta Conference goal

• Plan to divide control of postwar Germany and eastern Europe for stability
• All were nervous about Stalin's desire to take back land lost in WWI-FDR still needed the Soviets to defeat Japan

Big three

Churchill, Stalin, FDR 

Potsdam Conference

• Potsdam Confrence: July 1945 - truman, Churchill, & Stalin meet in Potsdam, Germany. Colder meeting -
  • Plan to disarm Germany
  • Eliminate Nazi regime
  • Punish the criminals
  • UNCONDITIONAL surrender of Japan required
  • We also have a secret weapon… no longer need Stalin

US Action/ Inaction During the Holocaust

• 1938 - Evian Conference - Most countries offered excuses for not letting Jewish refugees in -- anti-semitism
• 1939 - The St.Louis - ship with Jews from Europe was turned away at Cuba (pro-fascist) AND the US
• 1944 - FDR issued Executive Order 9417, creating the War Refugee Board (WRB)
• 1945  - US troops participate in liberating and relocating camp survivors

US strategy

• Island Hopping or Leapfrogging: Conquer islands on the way to Japan
• Aircraft Carriers: A warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full length flight deck and resurces for carrying, arming, deploying (take-off), and recovering (landing) planes

treatment of Germany after the war

treated like prisoners and the US occupied them for a lot longer

treatment of Japan after the war

-stayed for 6 year (less than we stayed for germany)

• Transformed Japanese government to be democratic with the “MacArthur” constitution
• To prevent Japan’s fall into communism, the US did not treat it as an enemy like in Germany