1939 1945 WORLD WAR II of World War

1939 -1945 WORLD WAR II

of World War II American Isolationism Despite American unease about the growing threats in Europe and the Pacific, the American public in 1939 would not support US involvement in another European war. FDR became increasingly convinced that the US would have to act, so, under great pressure from Churchill, he gradually steered America toward the conflict by seeking political support for military armaments and financial aid. By the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, the American public recognized that it had to join the fight. Rhetorical Weapons After France fell to the Nazis, Germany sought to win the Battle of Britain by breaking down the British morale. However, Churchill’s powerful rhetoric inspired the English people who were able to hold on until America finally entered the War in 1941. Furthermore, FDR’s famous “Four Freedoms Speech” made it clear that we had a moral responsibility to protect liberty wherever it was threatened Good vs. Evil German and Japanese atrocities, the growing evidence of the Holocaust, and Mussolini’s fascism led to a real fear that the world could fall into the hands of evil dictators. As a part of the “Arsenal of Democracy, ” the US helped lead the fight for liberty against tyranny.

Themes of World War II The Greatest Generation This title of a recent book by journalist Tom Brokaw described this generation who had survived the Depression only to be tested again in an epic battle against evil. The strains they faced often seemed unbearable, but the men and women of this generation faced their tasks with a sense of duty and without complaint.

American Isolationism vs Intervention

Anti-War Voices “In war, whichever side may call itself the victor. There are no victors, but all are losers British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, 1938 • In April 1935 --the 18 th anniversary of American entry into World War I--50, 000 veterans held a peace march in Washington, D. C. • A 1935 public opinion poll showed that 70% of Americans belieed that American intervention in WWI had been a mistake • "We didn't win a thing we set out for in the last war, " said Senator Gerald Nye of North Dakota. "We merely succeeded, with tremendous loss of life, to make secure the loans of private bankers to the Allies. "

Isolationist Propaganda "If any one of these groups--the British, the Jewish, or the administration--stops agitating for war, I believe there will be little danger of our involvement. “ - Charles Lindberg, 1939 Link: Primary Source: “Europe’s Troubles Were Fundamentally Not Our Concern”

“Peace in our Time…peace with honor” Appeasement at Munich • Video Link: Neville Chamberlain Declares “Peace in our Time” (1938) • Video Link: Neville Chamberlain Declares War on Germany (1939) • Link: Biography of Neville Chamberlain

1 st hand accounts of events during the period of American Isolationism (1923 -41) Eyewitness to History Links from The Century Links • • • Video Link: Edward R Murrow of CBS Reports on life in London during the Battle of Britain. • • Adolph Hitler Attempts a Coup • The Rape of Nanking • Dining with the King and • Queen of England • The Beginning of WWII • London Goes to War Blitzkrieg France Surrenders France in Defeat Battle of Britain The London Blitz Hitler was Admired, Longed For A Childhood Encounter with Hitler The Anschluss Kristallnacht The Radio The London Blitz

Rhetorical Weapons and Leadership

Rhetorical Weapons Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, OBE Article Link: Summary of Churchill’s Greatest Speeches: Link to Youtube Playlist • “Blood, Tears, Toil, and Sweat” • “We Shall Fight on the Beeches” • “Their Finest Hour” • Video Link: The Atlantic Charter – FDR & Churchill Sing in a Secret Mtg • Article Link: The Friendship of FDR and Churchill • Article Link: The story behind the picture: Why does ole Winston look so mad?

How can we help? Roosevelt tries to inspire isolationist hearts & minds “Quarantine Speech” following the Rape of Nanking, 1937 • War is a contagion, whether it be declared or undeclared. It can engulf states and peoples remote from the original scene of hostilities. We are determined to keep out of war, yet we cannot insure ourselves against the disastrous effects of war and the dangers of involvement “Fireside Chat” December 28, 1940 • The people of Europe who are defending themselves do not ask us to do their fighting. They ask us for the implements of war, the planes, the tanks, the guns, the freighters which will enable them to fight for their liberty and for our security…. We must be the great arsenal of democracy. Press Conference to support House Bill 1776 “Lend-Lease” March 11, 1941 • Link: from FDR library “Our Documents” Lend-Lease

FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech FDR seeks to link Europe’s war to a war for essential human dignity Analysis of Rockwell’s Four Freedoms Paintings Video Link: a brief excerpt of FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech

WAR Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy

a date which will live in infamy Video Link: Japanese Treachery Video Link: The Attack Eyewitness to History: • The Attack at Pearl Harbor • The White House Reacts • The Japanese View • The Revised Text

Good vs Evil From “Eyewitness to History” Bataan Death March The Nazi Occupation of Poland Inside a Nazi Death Camp The Century (use handouts) “Tales of the Eastern Front” “Hiding from the Horror” ‘A Mother’s Desparate Journey out of Leningrad” “Life and Death at Auschwitz”

The Homefront: Women Rosie becomes a cultural icon as she builds the “arsenal of democracy” Link: The Rosie the Riveter Story

V for victory over tyranny in Europe V for victory over segregation at home The Homefront: African- Americans Video Link: FDR, Equality and The Tuskegee Airman “The world’s greatest democracy fought the world’s greatest racist with a segregated army. ” – Historian Stephen Ambrose

The Homefront: Japanese-Americans “ Video link: Internship of Japanese-Americans

The Homefront: Everyone Contributes! WWII Propaganda Posters were everywhere and encouraged rationing, action, and caution. • Link: Poster Gallery Article LInk: Do Loose Lips Really Sink Ships?

“Perfect” Picture at Iwo Jima” sells war bonds Video: 2 nd Flag Raising Flags of Our Fathers Trailer The real story of the flag raising photo What happened to the The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers 1 st Flag Raising 2 nd Flag Raising War Bonds Poster

D-Day – Operation Overlord Link: Crossword Puzzle Link: Interactive Weather Forecast Video Link Deception Link: Eisenhower’s Letter of Apology

D-Day June 6, 1944 Video Link Newsreels

The Greatest Generation Video Link: Tom Brokaw on The Greatest Generation “At a time in their lives when their days and nights should have been filled with innocent adventure, love, and the lessons of the workaday world, they were fighting, often hand to hand, in the most primitive conditions possible. ” – from The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw Video Link Island Hopping Naval/Marine Forces take Pacific Islands one by one to get closer to Japan D-Day: June 6, 1944 Codenamed Operation Overlord The Allies land in German occupied France and it’s the beginning of the end for Hitler The Century: Landing at Normandy Video Link Battle of the Bulge(1945) Hitler’s Desparate Last Offensive The Road to Paris will become clear

The Liberation of Paris Eyewitness to History: The Liberation of Paris

The Liberation of Aushwitz Eyewitness to History: Inside a Nazi Death Camp

Germany begins to crumble Eyewitness to History: The Forced Suicide of Field Marshall Rommel “At Eyewitness to History: Patton interrogates an SS General Battle of the Bulge(1945) Video Link This Day In History: Hitler Survives Assassination Attempt

Yalta: The Big Three Discuss Post-War “Spheres of Influence” Yalta Foreshadows the Cold War FDR would be dead in two months 1942

Eyewitness to History: Germany in Defeat The Rubble of the Third Reich This Day in History: Hitler Commits Suicide Photo Gallery: The Fall of the Third Reich Some pictures are labeled as graphic: You can skip those!

FDR Dies Eyewitness to History: The Death of FDR Eyewitness to History: Thoughts of a President

V-E Day in England

The Bomb Eyewitness to History: Hiroshima The Decision to Drop the Bomb

The Surrender Eyewitness Video News Video

V-J Day in Times Square – Link: The Story Behind the Picture

The Nuremberg Trials Eyewitness to History: The Sentencing and Execution of Nazi War Criminals