WORLD WAR II Allied Powers United States Great

WORLD WAR II Allied Powers United States, Great Britain, France, USSR/Soviet Union Axis Powers Germany, Italy, Japan

TWO-FRONT WAR US had to fight in two places: Europe and the Pacific Ocean Europe Big Enemies: 1. Hitler and the Nazis 2. Mussolini and the Italians Pacific Big Enemy: Prime Minister Tojo and the Japanese

TODAY’S OBJECTIVES 1. Analyze how the United States and the Allies went about defeating two different enemies in two different places during World War II. 2. Analyze the outcomes of World War II.

ALLIES’ GOAL IN EUROPE: Defeat Hitler and the Nazis, free France from the Germans

ALLIES’ GOAL IN EUROPE: Defeat Hitler and the Nazis, free France from the Germans How will we do this? ? ?

D-DAY: OPERATION OVERLORD The US and the Allies decide to invade France in the largest amphibious (sea) invasion in the history of the world

D-DAY-June 5, 1944 OPERATION OVERLORD Between combined Allied forces nearly 156, 000 troops on or supported by nearly 4, 000 ships crossed the English Channel landing the troops on five beaches in Normandy. The beaches were stormed early that morning supported by about 23, 000 airborne troops that had already landed behind enemy lines or getting ready to land in support of the beach assault.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied forces at Normandy for Operation Overlord

D-DAY OPERATION OVERLORD 12, 000 CASUALTIES (killed/wounded)

Allied victory in Europe The Allies pinched the Nazi army in the middle of Europe, the American and British forces coming from the West and USSR (Soviet Union) coming from the East.

Nazis are defeated Hitler killed himself in an underground bunker

Two down… one to go Japan

Italians are defeated Mussolini was executed by a firing squad

POTSDAM CONFERENCE JULY 1945 The Big Three 1. Harry Truman (United States) 2. Clement Atlee (Great Britain) 3. Joseph Stalin (USSR/Soviet Union) Leaders of the US, Britain and USSR all met to decide what to do about the defeated Nazis and war-torn Europe, and what to do about Japan. They decided… 1. Nazi leaders had to stand trial for war crimes. 2. Japan must surrender unconditionally. This was called the Potsdam Declaration.

POTSDAM DECLARATION President Harry Truman The US demanded the unconditional surrender of Japan, or it would face “prompt and utter destruction. ” This was an ultimatum: if you don’t obey, it’s over with…

US ATOMIC BOMB PLANS The Manhattan Project • The US had been secretly building atomic weapons in a program known as the Manhattan Project. • It was led by a scientist named Robert Oppenheimer

JAPANESE BUSHIDO CODE According to Japanese tradition under the Bushido Code, it was sinful and not allowed for a Japanese warrior to surrender under any circumstances. This came from ancient Samurai tradition. They would kill themselves instead of surrendering. They could not bear the shame of

JAPANESE BUSHIDO CODE Do you think Japan surrendered and gave in to the Potsdam Declaration’s ultimatum? . . .

JAPAN WILL FIGHT UNTIL THE END Japan is willing to fight to the bitter end as an underdog. Surrender is not an option for Japan.

AMERICAN RESPONSE The US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI

HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI

TRUMAN’S DILEMMA President Harry Truman Why would President Truman use the bomb on these two Japanese cities, which resulted in the deaths of so many non-combatant Japanese citizens?

SAVING LIVES BY USING THE BOMB Non-combatants were dying throughout Asia at the rate of 200, 000 per month. A naval blockade of Japan would have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths due to malnutrition, dehydration, and famine. The atomic bomb saved thousands of American soldier’s lives (because they didn’t have to invade the Japanese island)

INVADING JAPAN? If America did invade Japan, many Americans would have died. Secretary of State James Byrnes claimed 500, 000 US soldiers would have died.

THE JAPANESE SURRENDER The Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945. Japan agreed to a ceasefire and the release of POW’s.

RESULTS OF WORLD WAR II Marshall Plan • US sends aid to Europe to help them rebuild the continent. • US wants to help out European countries before the USSR gets to. US doesn’t want those countries to accept communism as their political system. United Nations • International organization designed to prevent global conflict. • This was the replacement for the League of Nations after WWI. • This time around, the US would join the United Nations instead of staying out like they did with the League of Nations.

RESULTS OF WORLD WAR II GI Bill Gave loans to returning WWII veterans so they could… 1. Go to college 2. Get other job training 3. Buy homes 4. Start businesses or farms