WWII

Rise of Fascism in Europe

Hitler rose to power and the Nazi party gained a ton of power and popularity. Fascist leaders promised strong leadership, economic recovery, and restoration of national pride (Fascism invented by Benito Mussolini).

Main tenets/beliefs of Fascism

Extreme nationalism and loyalty to the government, totalitarian control (dictatorship), militarism and glorification of violence, anti

Causes of WWII (FLAG)

Caused by fear of Communism (upper class scared after Russian Revolution in which peasants revolted) & lack of strong government (democracy seen as weak and inefficient) & appeal to nationalism (nations embarrassed after WWI, wanted to rebuild a strong nation) & great depression (many nations were weakened economically).

Appeasement

Appeasement is the policy of giving in/giving concessions to aggressive nations to maintain peace. This is associated with Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement, which allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland.

League of Nations

Created by Woodrow Wilson, it was an international peacekeeping body created after WWI. The goal of the league was to work out differences without aggression. It was unsuccessful (US chose not to join and it had no effective military power; could only make suggestions; failed to stop Italy in Ethiopia and Japan in Manchuria and Germany’s aggression).

Neville Chamberlain

British prime minister at start of WWII. Known for appeasement, which failed to prevent the war (claimed to have achieved peace for our time after the Munich Agreement). Resigned as prime minister because of a loss of support and died shortly after.

Winston Churchill

British prime minister after Chamberlain. Unlike Chamberlain, he strongly opposed appeasement. He led Britain through the war, and was a symbol of resistance against Germany.

Japanese Aggression

Driven by a need for resources to accommodate their growing industry, and by a belief in Japanese superiority. In 1931, the Japanese invaded Chinese territory of Manchuria (a gateway to China & buffer to the USSR). Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933 (refused to stop aggressive foreign expansion).

Military takeover of democratic government

Assassination of civilian leaders; slow takeover. The civilian government weakened and military leaders dictated foreign policy. Did not completely demolish and kept the structure with the Emperor still being Hirohito.

Emperor Hirohito

Seen as a god

Manchuria and China invasions

In 1931, the Japanese invaded Chinese territory of Manchuria (a gateway to China & buffer to USSR). In 1937, they began a full

Stimson Doctrine

US policy refusing to recognize territorial gains achieved by force. It was their response to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria. It did not stop Japan from its aggression, as it was largely symbolic and ineffective.

Isolationism v. Internationalism

Isolationism means staying neutral in conflicts, and internationalism means staying involved (US felt like it had a responsibility to, “arsenal of democracy”). Isolationists wanted to avoid involvement in foreign wars and focus on domestic issues. Internationalists wanted to maintain global involvement to promote peace and US security.

Nye Committee

Senator Nye conducted a study that showed great profit was made from WWI as isolationist feelings grew (many European nations didn’t repay debts of WWI during depression and many believed that manufacturing and sale of arms dragged US into WWI), so the study disproved these beliefs. It investigated the influence of arms manufacturers in pushing the US into WWI. It contributed to anti

Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936, 1937)

All were laws to prevent the US from being drawn into foreign conflicts. 1935: prohibits shipment of American weapons to any belligerent nation. 1936: no American loans could be given to any belligerent nation. 1937: no US citizens could travel on vessels of nations at war.

Cash and Carry (1939)

Modification of the 1935 neutrality act. The US could sell arms to nations at war if the nations paid in cash (immediately) and transported the goods on their own ships. This benefited Britain and France.

Destroyers for Bases (1940)

Agreement where the US gave Britain 50 naval destroyers (planes) in exchange for leases to establish American military bases on British

Four Freedoms

Speech given by FDR in which he outlined the four fundamental human rights (first freedom=freedom of speech, second freedom=freedom of religion, third freedom=freedom from want, fourth freedom=freedom from fear). Freedom from want means everyone has the basic necessities for a healthy life, such as food, shelter, healthcare, and economic security.

Lend Lease (1941)

Limitless amount of munitions sent to nations by US (vital to US defense as it kept the war away). $50 billion was sent overseas by the end of the war. Marked the end of US neutrality and was a step toward involvement in the war and away from isolationism. This act was vital to US defense. Congress did not make the nations repay their loans. Instead of direct cash repayment, repayment would be made through "joint action directed towards the creation of a liberalized international economic order in the postwar world,” meaning cooperation after the war. Most countries received forgiveness and the US settled for non

Arsenal of Democracy

Phrase used by FDR to describe the US role in WWII as the primary supplier of war materials to the Allies. He argued that providing military aid was a way to defend democracy without entering the war at the time. He used it to justify the lend lease act.

Atlantic Charter

A joint declaration made by FDR and Churchill. FDR and Churchill met on a boat secretly to outline their post

Pearl Harbor

When Japan occupied French Indochina in 1941, the U.S. placed an embargo on oil exports to Japan. This was part of the diplomatic tension that preceded the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Led by Admiral Yamamoto, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941. They launched a surprise attack on the US naval base in Hawaii. This led to the US declaring war on Japan.

Reasons for attack

US placed an oil embargo on japan that crippled japan’s economy (banned trade with japan) and Japan needed a way to get resources like oil—needed to attack pearl harbor to seize resources in southeast asia without US interference, so they attacked the harbor to cripple the US pacific fleet so they wouldn’t interfere with their pursuit of this territory. They miscalculated that attacking would weaken US morale. It instead led to the US declaring war on them.

Outcome and mistakes made

The attack caused severe damage to the US pacific fleet. However, Japan failed to destroy US aircraft carriers (they were out at sea). They also failed to destroy fuel reserves (oil fields) and repair docks, which would have kept the vehicles from being able to move after the attack. The bombing united American public support for entering WWII, and the US immediately declared war on Japan.

Admiral Yamamoto

Admiral (commander in chief) of the Japanese navy. Led the Pearl Harbor attack. He went to Harvard University and knew US industrial strength. Famously said that Japan had awakened the “sleeping giant”.

Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox

Reported on the Pearl Harbor attack; Asserted that the US had been caught by surprise but emphasized national unity. He was so surprised by the attack that he thought the Japanese had actually bombed the Philippines.

Other Pacific targets

Japan attacked pearl harbor while also attacking Guam, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Midway (US and British territories).

Japanese Internment camps

Forced relocation and imprisonment of over 110,000 Japanese Americans during WWII. Motivated by wartime hysteria and racism. Many were afraid Japanese Americans were Japanese spies and were loyal to Japan and not to the US. They claimed it was for “military necessity” as a way to justify it.

Nisei

Second generation of Japanese immigrants. Sent to incarceration despite being US citizens, and many would later serve in the US military.

Executive Order 9066 (FDR)

Issued by FDR, it authorized the military to establish military areas from which any people could be excluded, leading to Japanese Americans to be sent to the internment camps. It enabled the removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

General John L. DeWitt

General in US army, carried out and oversaw the internment of Japanese Americans. He was a military commander who recommended internment. He claimed that Japanese Americans were security risks and said “a Jap is a Jap”, clearly showing that it was motivated by racism.

Manzanar and other camps

Manzanar was one of the 10 major Japanese internment camps. Located in remote, harsh environments with poor living conditions. Located in remote areas because the government did not want people seeing what was going on in the internment camps, ashamed.

Loyalty Questionnaire

Survey given to Japanese Americans in internment camps to determine their loyalty to the US. It asked them if they would serve in the US military and to surrender their allegiance to the Japanese emperor, which were controversial questions. It caused confusion and division, and the Japanese Americans did not support it.

American Civil Liberties Union

The organization condemned the Japanese internment and fought it in court several times, but was unsuccessful in stopping it. They provided legal support to Japanese Americans and challenged the constitutionality of internment.

Korematsu v. US (1944)

Case in which Korematsu fought against the US government, but the supreme court ruled that the internment was justified and upheld it as a “military necessity”, one that outweighed Korematsu’s personal freedom. Fred Korematsu refused to report to an internment camp and was arrested and convicted. He thought the case was a way to fight the constitution with government actions against the japanese americans. ACLU took his case to challenge legality of the internment. The case was opened later, and proved that the government had hidden evidence of Japanese American loyalty. Led to civil liberties act 1988. The decision was later widely criticized.

Civil Liberties Act of 1988

US government formally apologized to Japanese Americans for their incarceration during WWII and provided financial reparations of $20,000 to each surviving person who was incarcerated. Signed by Ronald Raegan.

442nd Regimental Combat Team

All

Battle of Britain

Britain was the only power left in western Europe. Hitler started Operation Sea Lion, his plan to invade Britain. Germany and Britain fought in the first air battle in history. Britain was the only power left in western Europe besides Germany and Hitler began his plan to invade Britain. At first, Germany focused on bombing British cities, especially London (London Blitz). Although outnumbered, the Royal Air Force used radar and Enigma to their advantage, leading to their victory in May 1941 (including the Blitz). Many other major cities were bombed in night raids. The outcome of the battle proved to the Allies that Hitler’s attacks could be resisted. Tizard Mission took place during the battle, and radar and sonar was used. The Lend Lease Act helped Britain carry on after this battle.

Luftwaffe vs. RAF

The Luftwaffe was the German Air Force. At the beginning of the war, it was one of the most technologically advanced air forces there were. The pilots were very well trained. During the Polish Campaign at the start of WWII, the air force was quick to establish air supremacy. The RAF was the British Royal Air Force. In its most important battle which was fought entirely in the air (the Battle of Britain), the RAF demonstrated superiority over the Luftwaffe. The air force brought about Nazi Germany’s first major military defeat.

The Blitz

The London Blitz was a bombing campaign launched by Germany to destroy the city of London in September of 1940. Over 500 German planes dropped more than 700 tons of bombs across the city. Nearly 1,500 people were killed as a result.

Winston Churchill

Churchill of Britain served as the prime minister of Britain from 1940

Battle of the Atlantic

War’s longest continuous military campaign. It began in September 1939 and ended with Germany’s surrender in May 1945. Axis submarines (German U Boats) attacked Allied shipping using the wolfpack strategy to sink them and cut off supply lines. Germany had to surrender as it was losing submarines and crews. The U.S. produced ships faster than the Germans could sink them.

Wolf Pack

In 1940, German U boats traveled in packs to surround and take down Allied shipping convoys. This was especially effective in the Battle of the Atlantic in 1939 and into 1940. The U.S. also used the wolfpack strategy against Japan in the Pacific. The Germans lost the Battle of the Atlantic despite this strategy because the US could produce ships faster than the Germans could sink them.

Tizard Mission

In 1940 during the Battle of Britain, British scientists (Tizard) traveled to the U.S. to share research and development work that could be applied in the military. This helped forge the Anglo

Magnetron #12

Technology the US was able to produce at a large capacity as a result of the tizard mission; crucial for radar development.

Enigma Code

US and British codebreakers break the German enigma code, a complex encryption method used by Germany. This was an encryption system that the Germans used for communication in WWII. Alan Turing and British mathematicians cracked the code. This allowed the Allies to decode German secret messages and quickly launch attacks.

Operation Barbarossa

Germany invades an unprepared soviet union. Hitler wanted to advance to Stalingrad to get to the Caucasus oil fields. Soviet troops burn the land as they retreat (scorched earth policy). Germans are stopped at Leningrad and forced to undergo a long siege. Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. However, German troops failed to defeat Soviet forces in the campaign, which marked a huge turning point in the war. The Soviets practiced the scorched earth policy and the Germans ran out of men and supplies.

Battle of Stalingrad

Germans advance to Stalingrad after the siege. The Luftwaffe started with bombing raids. By November 1942, Germany controlled 90% of the city of Stalingrad. As the Russian winter set in, the Soviets launched a counterattack and surrounded the Germans and trapped them inside the city. The Germans surrendered in February 1943 and 240,000 died. One million Soviet soldiers died. It was the first time the Germans suffered a significant loss of life and equipment.

Battle of Kursk

Major battle between Soviet and German forces near Kursk in Russia (July to August 1943). It was the biggest battle of the war, and the biggest tank battle in history. The Soviet victory was considered a turning point in the European theater. It was Germany’s last attempt to win on the eastern front. They used up most of their supplies and men, things that would’ve been used on other fronts but now they didn’t have as many on those fronts because they used them all for this battle.

Operation Torch

Operation Torch took place in November 1942. It was the first U.S.

General Rommel (Desert Fox)

Erwin Rommel, nicknamed the “Desert Fox,” was a German commander. He led the invasion of North Africa in 1941 and later commanded German forces at Normandy.

Kasserine Pass (American first land battle disaster)

The Battle of Kasserine Pass was a humiliating defeat for the inexperienced U.S. forces against experienced German troops under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in February 1943. However, the battle was a critical learning experience for the U.S. Army, leading to major reforms in command, training, and doctrine. Although the Allies suffered heavy casualties and retreated, they eventually halted the Axis advance and prevented them from achieving their objectives.

Second Battle of El Alamein

The second battle of El

General Eisenhower

American General Dwight D. Eisenhower was a Supreme Allied Commander. He planned and organized Operation Torch in 1942

Operation Husky

Code name for the Allied invasion of Sicily in July to August 1943. Led by Eisenhower, the combined Allied forces launched an amphibious attack and airborne attacks behind enemy lines. The Allies succeeded which weakened the Axis position in the south and led to Italy’s surrender in September 1943. The invasion exposed the weakness of Mussolini’s regime, which led to him being overthrown.

Anzio and fall of Rome

With Italy now working with the Allies, the German troops surrounded Rome in an attempt to keep Italy from Allied occupation. Allied troops landed in Anzio near Rome and encountered German troops surrounding the capital. They fought and forced German troops to retreat, and Rome fell as the allies were successful. Rome was no longer under German control. The Allies now had southern and central Rome, while Germany still had the northern part.

Operation Overlord

Code name for D

D

Day

Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery

British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was the commander of all ground forces. He led the Allies to victory in the Battle of El

Operation Fortitude

Allies used inflatable tanks and dummy soldiers to fake out Germans. This made the Germans think the Allies were going to attack Calais when they were really headed for Normandy. This allowed them to catch the Germans by surprise on D

French Resistance

This was also called the “maquis”. It included sabotage and gathering intelligence, and it assisted preparations for D

Atlantic Wall

The Atlantic Wall was a 2400 mile fortification along the coast of Western Europe with concrete bunkers, barbed wire, landmines and underwater obstacles. It had the ability to rip out the bottoms of landing craft or blow them up. It was begun in 1942 under the direction of Rommel. It ultimately was ineffective at stopping the Allies because parts were not well fortified and the Allies were able to intercept German communications along the wall.

Omaha and Utah Beaches

Beaches on which the Allies landed on D

Cherbourg

Cherbourg was a crucial harbor in Normandy. The battle was part of the Battle of Normandy. Its capture led to the Allies’ success.

Pointe du Hoc

US army rangers climbed the 100 foot cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc. They destroyed a critical German battery and took control of the coastal highway. The mission resulted in a casualty rate of over 60%.

Battle of the Bulge

This battle is also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive. A major German offensive campaign launched in the Ardennes region of Belgium in December 1944. It was the last major German offensive campaign on the western front. The attack caught the Allies by surprise creating a “bulge” in the Allied line. There were many casualties on both sides. Eventually the Allies prevailed. It was the biggest battle that the U.S. fought in WWII and it was a strategic victory for the Allies. Hitler began losing support within Germany after.

VE Day

As Soviet forces closed in on Berlin, Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945. Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945 and WWII officially ended in Europe on May 8, 1945.

Yalta Conference

February 1945, the US, Britain, and the USSR met at Yalta in the USSR. Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan after Germany surrendered. The USSR would get territorial gains. The nations planned post

Potsdam Conference

Clement Attlee was the new British prime minister who replaced Churchill. At the conference, Truman (US president) told leaders that the US had an atomic bomb. This made Stalin nervous.

United Nations

In April 1945, 50 nations met in San Francisco to draft the UN charter. The UN charter was a document mainly aimed at preventing future wars and promoting peace. Its purpose is to maintain international peace and security, cooperate in solving international problems, develop friendly relations among nations, and to centralize the decision

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A document adopted by the UN and drafted by Eleanor Roosevelt. It outlines the 30 articles of fundamental human rights (the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture). The UDHR was drafted in 1948 with the help of Eleanor Roosevelt. Main articles: All human beings are free and equal, no discrimination of any kind, slavery and cruel punishment are prohibited, right to a fair trial, and the right to seek asylum from persecution.

Bataan Death March

A result of the Battle of Corrigedor. In April 1942, 68,000 soldiers surrendered. The Filipino and American prisoners of war were forced to march for seven days, traveling 65 miles in high temperatures with hardly any food and water. Over 5,000 died of starvation, disease, and other causes. It was the largest surrender in U.S. history. Japan treated their POWs very poorly because they saw anyone who surrendered as shameful cowards

Bushido Code

Japanese soldiers followed the Bushido Code. They saw surrender as deeply dishonorable, including the surrender of their enemies. This meant that they treated prisoners of war poorly (Ex: Bataan Death March). Kamikazes purposely crashed planes in battle for the sake of Japan and the emperor because they would rather die than surrender.

Doolittle Raid

The US went to bomb Tokyo, and this showed that they could reach the emperor. This boosted American morale as it shocked Japanese leaders and convinced Yamamoto to change strategy. It also demonstrated that the US could strike back against Japan. For Japan, it was psychologically damaging because it meant they were not unbeatable and that the US could come for them.

Battle of Coral Sea

Aircraft carriers prevented a Japanese attack on Australia in May 1942. This attack would have cut off the supply lines between Australia and the Americas. The first naval battle in history in which neither sides sighted or fired directly upon the other (fought entirely by planes). Admiral Chester Nimitz orchestrates this American response to the Japanese invasion of Port Moresby in New Guinea.

Admiral Yamamoto

Japanese mastermind in naval warfare, he was Japan’s naval officer. Led the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor to cripple the US fleet. He also led the Japanese navy in the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Guadalcanal.

General Hideki Tojo

Was Japan’s powerful wartime Prime Minister and Army Minister. He aggressively expanded Japan’s empire and was directly responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was eventually executed for the horrible war crimes he committed during the war.

Battle of Midway

In June 1942, Japan set out to attack Midway Island as it was the location for a key American airfield. They launched an aircraft carrier offensive to cut American communications. However, the U.S. was aware that a Japanese force was coming toward Midway. As Japanese planes first took flight, the U.S. was quick to attack. The Americans ended up destroying 332 of Japan’s airplanes, one support ship, and all four aircraft carriers. Nimitz was able to create an ambush on the Japanese. Japan surrendered and the battle ended on June 7, 1942. Yamamoto’s planned attack was thwarted by superior US intelligence. The battle was a turning point for war in the Pacific as it was the United States’s first major victory against Japan.

Island hopping

The U.S. adopted this policy in the Pacific Theater in order to avoid costly battles and seize islands that were not well

General Douglas MacArthur

In an effort to drive Japan back, General Douglas MacArthur pushed northward from Australia through New Guinea and from the Philippines toward Japan. MacArthur commanded Allied forces in the Asia Pacific and for this received the Medal of Honor. He made excellent strategic moves in the Battle of Midway, changing the direction of the war in the Pacific to favor the United States.

Admiral Chester Nimitz

Admiral Nimitz advanced on Japan by attacking Japanese

Mariana Islands

Nimitz invaded these islands, which allowed him to capture them and establish bases from which he could launch the b

Guadalcanal

At Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in August 1942 to February 1943, the Allies strategically used air, land, and sea forces together to defeat the Japanese and establish a key Allied base. This joint operations strategy was code named “Operation Watchtower.”

Battle of Leyte Gulf

In October 1944, 160,000 U.S. troops traveled toward the Philippines and landed on Leyte Gulf. It was the first time the Japanese used Kamikaze pilots and was the largest naval battle of WWII. There were over 80,000 Japanese deaths and only 1,000 surrendered. It damaged the Japanese Navy as an offensive force, turning the tide for war in the Pacific. It also opened up plans for attack on Japanese home islands.

Kamikaze

Kamikazes were Japanese suicide pilots. During the war, they flew planes carrying explosives and purposely made crashes into Allied ships. They were especially helpful in the Battle of Okinawa, killing thousands of American troops and damaging hundreds of ships.

Firebombing of Tokyo

The first atomic bombs were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan by the United States in August 1945. They were extremely destructive and killed thousands immediately. Others later died from radiation. The city was completely destroyed and Japan could not recover. The bomb was what brought Japan out of the war. Truman was president of the US during the firebombing. The US using these bombs on Japan was very controversial due to civilian cost.

Battle of Iwo Jima

Iwo Jima was a strategic location that was an airbase for Japanese fighters. It was fought between February and March 1945 and was a bloody battle over rough terrain that cost many lives on both sides. It became a crucial airbase for the Allies when they defeated Japan. Images of American soldiers raising the flag over Iwo Jima had a morale

Navajo Code Talkers

Native Americans used their tribal languages to transmit secret messages. The U.S. government recruited Native Americans to be code talkers. They relayed messages over the radio using their native languages as the code, and were crucial to the American success in the Pacific WWII. They were crucial in every battle of the Pacific Theater, especially the Battle of Iwo Jima. At Iwo Jima, their unbreakable code enabled rapid, secure communication for troop movements and plans, allowing Marines to take the island faster and with fewer errors.

Battle of Okinawa

Kamikazes were especially helpful in the Battle of Okinawa, killing thousands of American troops and damaging hundreds of ships. This battle took place from March to June of 1945. After over 60,000 American troops landed at Okinawa, they had to face steep slopes against constant fire. The Japanese waited in heavily fortified bunkers and caves in the mountains. The Allies planned to take Okinawa and use it as a place to stage their invasion of Japan. Although it was a victory for the U.S., there were 12,000 American casualties. It was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War and the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific War. The army, navy and marines were involved.

Manhattan Project

A $2 billion project with 100,000 people working on the atomic bomb. Japan might face massive destruction if they don’t surrender. 2 rationales and 2 goals: save the American body and the Japanese from the massive death toll that would ensue & study the effects of the new weapon on cities not bombed but have big populations.

Atomic Bomb drops

The first atomic bombs were used on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan by the United States in August 1945. They were extremely destructive and killed thousands immediately. Others later died from radiation. The city was completely destroyed and Japan could not recover. The bomb was what directly brought Japan out of the war, leading to VJ Day.

VJ Day

Victory over Japan Day was on August 14, 1945. Japan surrendered after the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.