Ch. 34: World War II

Albert EInstein

Encouraged FDR to build the atomic bomb, and knew that the Germans were in the process of doing so, he later regretted it.

Selective Service

Expanded the draft and eventually provided an additional 10 million soldiers (18- 45= age) → 15 million= in forces= one of the largest forces in the world.

Airplanes

Were used to track the U- Boats ocean surfaces.

Aachen

In October 1944, Americans captured German town Aachen and the Allies were closing into Berlin.

Invasion of Axis

launched by American General dwight D. Eisenhower in 1942 until Hitlers Afrika Korps surrendered in May 1943.

WPB

The WPB also organized nationwide drives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper rags, and cooking fat for recycling.

Allied leadership:

FDR, CHurchill, and Stalin.

George Marshall

pushed for formation of the Womens Auxiliary Army Corps.

WWIII

________ accelerated assimilation of many ethnic groups into American society.

Changing of Women's roles

War foreshadowed eventual revolution in roles of women in American Society.

Labor Conditions

Union membership increased from 10 million to more than 13 during war.

Norman Rockwell

→ Four Freedoms painting= freedom of speech, worship, from want (food, shelter), from fear (rights taken away, attacks from other countries)

Japan

invades Manchuria and China: invasions create need for resources to fuel war efforts (iron ore + oil)

1942

In the summer of 1942, the Germans took the offensive in the southern Soviet Union.

production Miracle

Manufacturing capabilities of US tipped war into favor of Allies.

Rosie the riveter

Was promoting women to work in war industry in industry jobs → keep war production high and help America to win the war.

Stalingrad

industrial city= no strategic purpose at all in the war → hitler wanted it because it was named after Stalin → germans taking Stalingrad= humiliation to stalin → Stalin wanted to defend Stalingrad because its his name and its Ego.

Liberation of Death Camps

While the British and AMericans moved westward into Germany, the Soviets moved eastward into German-Controlled pOland (they get to Polish camps)
Americans British liberated German camps
In July of 1944, Red Army liberated the first of the Nazi death camps
SS guards attempted to cover evidence of the crimes
First “outsiders’ to witness horrors of Holocaust
Auschwitz-Birkenau
Men lived; concentration/labor camp and labored for war effort
killing centers had executions
Dachau-Germany

Reasons for Allied Victory

Allied leadership: FDR, CHurchill, and Stalin
Brilliant generals and admirals: montgomery and soviet generals, eisenhower, macarthur, admiral spruance
Resolve of british people when holding off Germany in Battle of Britain
Valient fighting of the soviets in eastern europe
Collaboration between FDR and Churchill
THe industrial power of the US

Women in World War II

George Marshall pushed for formation of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps
Under this  program women worked in non-combat roles such as nurses, ambulance, drivers, radio operators, and pilots (put men in combat, and free up roles for women)
Over 6 million women took jobs outside home:
More than half had never worked for wages before
At end of war, many women not eager to give up work
Change attitude about women working in workplace
War foreshadowed eventual revolution in roles of women in American society
Still maintain femininity
Many other women did not work for wages in wartime economy, but continued traditional roles
At war’s end, ⅔ of women war workers left labor force
Many forced out by returning service-men
Others quit jobs voluntarily because of family obligations
Widespread rush into suburban domesticity and mothering of “baby boomers”

Draft Exemptions and the Bracero Program

Certain industrial and agricultural workers exempt from draft
Still shortage of farm and factory workers (women of minorities filled positions)
Mexican agricultural workers, called braceros, came to harvest fruit and grain crops of West
Program outlived war by some twenty years, becoming part of agricultural economy in many western states
All Americans Fought: African Americans, Mexican-Americans, Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, Native Americans