FIGHTING THE WAR: EUROPEAN THEATER

D-Day, June 6, 1944

• • • • U.S. + British plan to attack Axis from west

Dwight D. Eisenhower:

Supreme Allied Commander in Europe; led invasion on D-Day Aug. 25, 1944: Paris liberated  Allied victory over Europe, May 8, 1945

US Soldiers landing on Omaha Beach

Going over the top D-Day

V-E Day

• • • • By 1945, Soviets surround Berlin Hitler commits suicide April 30, 1945 Germany signs an unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945 V-E Day—Victory in Europe—May 8, 1945

Liberating the Camps

• Disturbing Pictures to follow…

FIGHTING THE WAR: PACIFIC THEATER

Japanese empire

• By early 1942, Japan controlled – Hong Kong, French Indochina (Vietnam), Malaya, Burma, Thailand, parts of China – Formosa (Taiwan), Dutch East Indies, Guam, Wake Island, Solomon Islands, other islands

Japan Captures Philippines

• • • U.S. surrenders Philippines to Japan April 1942 Bataan Death March: forced march of American and Filipino POWs to POW camp – Japanese war atrocities Douglas MacArthur: Supreme Allied Cmdr of Pacific theater; told Filipinos: “I shall return”

US/Allied Strategy

• • • • Reclaim the Pacific Island-Hopping: conquer one island, clear it, use it as base of operations for next island

Why is this the best strategy for the Pacific?

What problems might arise?

Japanese Strategy

• • • War of attrition: Bleed the enemy dry Dig into island, build underground bunker, use heavy artillery + suicide attacks – Jap. use kamikaze (“divine wind”) suicide pilots loaded with explosives

Where have you seen this strategy before? Where will you see it again? Why do you think?

Kamikaze Aftermath

Key Battles

• • • Bombing Raid of Tokyo (April 1942) Battle of Coral Sea (May 1942): – Prevented Jap. advance to Australia Battle of Midway (June 1942) – Turning point: prevented Jap. advance to Hawaii, Jap. on defensive for rest of war

Key Battles

• • • • Guadalcanal (Aug 1942-Feb. 1943): Jap. first defeat on land Leyte Gulf (Oct 1944): US reclaim Philippines; Iwo Jima (Feb. –March 1945): Strategic air access to Japan Okinawa (April-June 1945): Last Jap. defensive spot

MacArthur Returns to Philippines

US marines raising the flag on Iwo-Jima

Why is this such an iconic picture?

The End is in Sight…

• • • May 1945 Allied forces plan Operation Olympic, the invasion of Japan itself in Nov.

US planners feared casualty estimates of one million!

Japan was desperate but unwilling to surrender!

BTW…

• • FDR dead Truman sworn in – Inherits difficult decision….

Manhattan Project

• • • • Purpose: to build an atomic bomb Scientists, military ppl and civilian policymakers all had doubts on using bomb Truman warned Japan: “prompt and utter destruction” if it doesn’t surrender Victory over Japan: Sept. 2, 1945

“Little Boy” and “Fat Man” Unleashed

• • • • •

August 6, 1945 Hiroshima August 9, 1945 - Nagasaki

Killed approx. 110,000 Japanese Injured 130,000 By 1950, another 230,000 Japanese had died from injuries or radiation

VJ Day

• • August 14, 1945 - Japan accepts unconditional surrender Celebration parties erupt throughout every allied country!

The End

• September 2, 1945 Formal Japanese surrender ceremony on board the USS MISSOURI

Most Destructive War in Human History

• • • European infrastructure destroyed due to targeting civilians Millions of death, more than last 300 years of war combined US & USSR are WORLD Powers

AFTER THE WAR: REBUILDING THE WORLD

Yalta Conference (Feb. 1945)

• • • Big Three: (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin) to decide fate of post-war Ger.

Estab. United Nations (international peacekeeping) Discussed strategy for Jap. defeat

Eleanor Roosevelt with Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Potsdam Conference (July-Aug. 1945)

• • • Demilitarized, disarmed Germany under four zones of Allied occupation Issues ultimatum to Jap. for unconditional surrender Revision of German Soviet-Polish borders

Identify three changes in the map pre- and post WWII.

New Opportunities

• • Economy: Industry, farming and wages are all on the rise.

Population: War jobs and military allowed people more social mobility.

Veterans Come Home

• • • Marriages skyrocket pre-war; divorces rise post-war.

GI Bill of Rights: Education and training for veterans.

Many women lose jobs.