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What prior sentiment existed in Europe that contributed to the rise of fascism?
A long history of anti-Semitism.
Who was the leader of Italy that organized a fascist militia?
Benito Mussolini.
What did Hitler blame for the state of the world's finances?
The Jews.
What were the paramilitary organizations formed by Mussolini and Hitler called?
Mussolini organized the Blackshirts; Hitler organized the Brownshirts and later the SS.
What did the US do in the years before WWII to declare their neutrality?
Formed the Kellogg-Briand Pact with the French foreign minister to outlaw war in 15 nations, despite criticism for their inaction.
What are important dates to remember?
1937: Ideological shift out of neutrality- FDR recognizes that there are “enemies” and we should “quarantine them”
1938: Kristallnacht, first violent anti-Semitism in Germany. US does not react.
1939: Allies declare war. Cash and carry is passed, showing US military support.
1940: Postpone Doctrine passed, shutting out Jewish immigrants
1941: Lend-Lease Act, Atlantic Charter, US enters the war after Pearl Harbor bombing
1942: US is fully aware of events in Germany
1944: War Refugee Board formed to rescue Jewish
1945: WWII ends
What significant action did Japan take in 1931?
Japan invaded Manchuria.
What was the response of the League of Nations to Japan's invasion of Manchuria?
They condemned Japan but took no direct action. Japan then withdrew from the League. The US wasn’t even obligated to do anything because we weren’t part of the League.
When did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany?
In 1933.
What event led to Hitler’s consolidation of power after becoming Chancellor?
The burning of the Reichstag.
What action did Germany commit to in 1935 related to military policy?
Militarization and universal military service.
What was the Neutrality Act and when was it passed?
Banned sale of weapons to countries at war, emphasizing neutrality. Passed in 1935.
When did the US begin to shift ideologically towards support for England in WWII?
In 1937, the US begins to shift towards ideological support, with FDR expressing sympathy towards England and suggesting to “quarantine” the aggressors, not directly opposing them but acknowledging the need to fight against them.
What was Kristallnacht, when did it happen, and how did the U.S. respond?
In 1938. It was a violent anti-Jewish attack involving broken glass and vandalism in Jewish properties. FDR condemned Germany but took no direct action.
What was the Wagner-Rogers Bill and when was it made?
A 1939 proposal to admit 20,000 Jewish refugee children to the U.S., which died in Congress.
When did France and Great Britain declare war, and why?
Declared war on September 3, 1939, after Germany invaded Poland.
How long did WWII last?
1939 - 1945, six years in total.
Why did the US have to support the Allies?
Germany’s military had developed technologically and now used a method of “lightning war,” called Blitzkrieg, involving dropping fire bombs from the sky. It was effective and Hitler got most of Western Europe; the Allies were running out of war funds.
What did the Cash and Carry Bill allow and when was it passed?
Allowed Allies to buy arms from the U.S. as long as they paid cash and transported the goods themselves. Passed on September 21, 1939 (after the Allies declared war).
What was the Postpone Doctrine and when was it passed?
Passed in 1940, drafted by Breckenridge Long. Delayed granting of visas to Jewish through unreasonable requirements like obtaining both an exit and US visa within four months.
What are “paper walls”?
The regulations that post an obstacle to prospective immigrants.
What was the purpose of the Lend-Lease Act and when was it passed?
To allow the U.S. to lend weapons to any country whose defense was vital to U.S. security, and then they would be “paid back in kind” after the war. This let the US support the British even when they were nearly financially incapable of buying more weapons. Passed in 1941.
What was the Atlantic Charter and when was it passed?
Passed in 1941, an alliance between the US and Great Britain declaring a mutual truce and permitting international trade between them.
When did the US enter WWII and why?
1941 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
What was the US ideology by 1941?
68% of Americans supported war against Germany because the British Air Force was able to repel the German bombing campaign, showing they weren’t invincible.
What was the U.S. initial stance towards the Holocaust?
The U.S. remained passive and did not take significant action against the Holocaust until later in the war.
What is MY opinion on the US’ stance towards the Holocaust?
The US is indirectly supporting fascist Germany by remaining passive during the Holocaust and even discriminating against Jewish people until 1944 when the War Refugee Board was established— and even then, as it was established reluctantly, amid threats, and its rescue plans were sabotaged.
What event brought the Holocaust to attention in the US, and did they take action?
Stephen Wise, a rabbi, found out about the Holocaust and brought news to FDR, urging him to take action. He did not.
By when was the US government fully aware of what was going on in Germany, and by what means?
By 1942, an anti-Nazi German industrialist had leaked German plans to exterminate Jewish people to the head of a Jewish convention in Geneva, who promptly informed FDR. The government knew because Red Cross member and refugees also reported the genocide to them.
How did the State Department handle reports of the genocide during WWII?
State Department rejected reports of the genocide and did not take direct action to assist the victims, with FDR only threatening to condemn Germany for war crimes.
How did media respond to reports of the genocide?
The church and press largely remained silent, with the press either not writing about the information or downplaying it.
What happened to the Jewish as a result of anti-Semitism in the US?
They were denied jobs based off their ethnicity, discriminated against, made it harder for Jewish people to immigrate who were not already citizens.
What was the positive American Jewish response to the Holocaust?
They organized rallies and gave speeches urging support of the Jewish population and lowering the barrier for immigration/countering Postpone Doctrine.
What was “We Will Never Die”?
A 1943 pageant established a publicize Jewish struggles. Jewish people were united and touched but the general population saw it as theatrical entertainment, not realizing the severity.
What was the Anti-Defamation League?
Group established to combat anti-Semitism in the US and advocate for refugees.
What was the negative American Jewish response to the Holocaust?
They were afraid to “rock the boat” by pressing the government too much, so they shunned those who spoke out. Some leaders also disapproved of the War Refugee Board for their “flamboyant tactics.”
What actions defined US neutrality in the Holocaust?
Continued to hire Jewish people in WPA through New Deal + some of president's closest advisors were Jewish.
US citizens allowed to speak out, anti-Semitism is not official policy.
General public doesn’t understand the gravity of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism despite knowing the facts, b/c FDR downplays the genocide as “personal concerns” and they thought “We Will Never Die” was theatrical entertainment.
What was the Bermuda Conference, when did it occur, and what was its outcome?
A 1943 meeting between US and Great Britain to discuss Jewish refugee issues that ultimately resulted in inaction after they decided the war had to be done before helping the refugees.
Who was John Pehle?
US Treasury official who suggested we raise funds to support the release of Romanian Jewish people. The Treasury Department agreed and tried to obtain a license to rescue them.
When did the Treasury Department push for a license to rescue Jewish people, and what happened with the license drama?
In 1943. It was delayed because someone in the House of Representatives gave a speech falsely exaggerating the number of Jewish people that had already immigrated to the US since the beginning of Hitler years.
How did the Treasury Department deal with the license drama?
The Treasury Department pressed Congress about this and found out they were actively suppressing information. They immediately wrote to FDR, ultimately pressuring him to create the War Refugee Board to avoid the topic being passed to the Senate and brought to public attention.
Who was Karski and what was his association with the Treasury Department?
He brought info about the concentration camps in Warsaw, Poland to the Treasury Department. Treasury tells them America will ally with Poland and enact justice.
What was the War Refugee Board and when was it created?
In 1944, it was created to support the Jewish and because the president wanted to prevent publicizing the license drama. They rescued 48k Romanian Jewish people by threatening to persecute its government, opening up quota spots for Jewish immigration.
What are the unfortunate circumstances the War Refugee Board faced?
Their plans to bomb the extermination chambers in Auschwitz was sabotaged by the government, who hid from them that Italy was already bombing the gas refineries around Auschwitz (and accidentally hit the chambers with bombs) but were largely ignoring the extermination and the Jewish dilemma.
It is also criticized that the War Refugee Board was created too late and could have saved more people if created earlier.
