Transcript Chapter 25 Notes

Preparing for War
After Pearl Harbor Americans rushed to
help in the war effort.
 Even staunch isolationists became
outraged with what had happened and sought
to redeem America through war.
 The need was great, more than 5 million
volunteered, the Selective Service System
expanded that to 10 million.
The Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps was
formed under George Marshall to assist in
noncombatant positions.
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Production
The largest issue was supplying the
troops.
 Automobile production was halted in
early 1942, and most American
factories were retooled to produce
war goods.
 Things were produced with great
enthusiasm, people wanted to
contribute.
 Women and minorities were able to
contribute after a period of proving
themselves.
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Science becomes important. The
development of radar, sonar,
pesticides, and penicillin were huge
contributions.

German scientists had split an
atom, Einstein wrote to Roosevelt to
warn of potential outcome.
 Roosevelt authorizes the creation of
the Advisory Committee on Uranium
to develop a bomb. This became the
Manhattan Project.
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The Reach of Government
Guarding the economy was a
priority. The Office of Price
Administration was fighting inflation,
collecting higher taxes, set up a
system of rationing and encouraging
the purchase of War Bonds.

War Production Board – took
control of natural resources,
promoted war production in private
businesses, and collected goods that
could be recycled for war usage.
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Establishing Priorities
It was accepted that Germany and Italy
were a larger threat to the world than
Japan, thus the need to get control in
Europe first.
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Hitler orders submarine attacks on
America’s Atlantic coast, sinking 87 ships.

Americans gain the upper hand through
convoys, and offensive tactics.
 By 1943 the U.S. were producing 140
ships per month and outnumbering
greatly the Axis attacks.
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Victories are Costly
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The German army had moved into the
U.S.S.R. in 1941, and had pushed east.
Hitler hoped to gain control of the Soviet
oil fields, and believed victory was close.
At Stalingrad the Soviets seem to have
lost, but held about a tenth of the city.
Urban warfare was not what Germans
expected.
Winter froze out any hope of German
Victory and they surrendered.
Over a million Soviets died during the
battle of Stalingrad.
North Africa
Eisenhower commanded troops in
Africa, Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers
to chase out German and Italian
troops.
 Quick campaign because the German
troops were spread too thin.
 By May of 1943 all resistance was
eliminated.
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Italy
Unconditional Surrender – Allies
agree that Axis must give up all
power and negotiation.

Sicily falls, Italians force Mussolini
out, Italians celebrate.

Mussolini beaten and killed in the
streets.

Germans decide to move into Italy
to stop Allied advance.
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Germans were largely successful
holding off the Allies until 1945, near
the end.
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Free Europe
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Eisenhower organizes a campaign to
retake France, using British and American
troops, directly at the German stronghold.
Operation Overlord – D-day called for a
massive invasion of the beaches. Utah,
Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword were
rushed by troops who crossed the English
channel.
Paratroopers would be dropped behind
enemy lines, and it would become a two
sided attack.
Beaches were heavily guarded and
difficult to reach, not to mention the gun
fire.
Fighting in France lasted for four months,
despite many Allied mistakes.
Roosevelt, Again
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FDR is reelected to a fourth term, due to the
successful military campaigns, as well as the
economic recovery that it offered.
Troops move into Germany, and lose Belgian
ports, making supplying troops a challenge.
Surprise attack to break the Allied troops apart
and further disrupt supply lines, to create a
“bulge.” This is learned from Napoleon.
After a month the Allies recover from the Battle
of the Bulge putting the Germans in a very
compromising position, retreat.
Soviets find first death camps, and Allied forces
search and find others. Meanwhile Nazis try to
destroy as much evidence of their plan as
possible.
Berlin is taken by the Soviets, Hitler and his
“wife” commit suicide, but not until he further
blamed the Jews, and of course his generals.
V-E Day, May 8th 1945
Roosevelt’s Death leaves question
Roosevelt didn’t live to see V-E Day,
died on April 12th 1945 of a stroke.
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Roosevelt had such control in the
White House, that his Vice President,
Harry Truman, came into the
presidency blind.
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Eleanor was reported to console the
new president as he entered office in
the middle of a war that he knew
little about.
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The Pacific
Though Europe was a priority,
attention and effort were given in the
Pacific as Japan had made advances.
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Japan had gained control of Hong
Kong, Indochina, Malaya, Burma,
Thailand, and large portions of
China.
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They controlled many islands as
well, including the Dutch East Indies,
Guam, Wake, and the Solomon
Islands, even the Aleutians.
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Early losses set the stage
MacArthur and his forces were
compromised in the Philippines and
had to abandon.
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This loss irritated not only
MacArthur, but also the military as a
whole. Plans were already being set.
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Tokyo raids took place in the spring
of 1942, surprise bombing attack
that was very successful in hitting
military targets, but also destroying
much of the city.
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Island Hopping
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The Battle of The Coral Sea was the first
turning point, at which the Japanese were
forced to retreat.
The Battle of Midway, which Americans
knew was a Japanese target, Chester
Nimitz located the enemy carriers and
caught them off guard destroying four
carriers and over 250 planes.
Allies began retaking island by island
making their way toward Japan.
Iwo Jima and Okinawa were hard fought
with MANY deaths and casualties, making
the next step more logical.
Ending it
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Truman receives word of the successful
test of the bomb at Potsdam, and the
mood changed.
Stalin had agreed to help with Japan,
looking to have even more influence in the
look of the post war world.
The race to Japan was on, Truman sees
the bomb as a way to limit Soviet
influence in Asia, as well as a way to limit
the loss of life.
Little Boy August 6th, 1945 Hiroshima,
Fat Man August 9th killed an estimated
200,000 people.
The Emperor had no choice but to protect
his people by admitting defeat.
IT Ends, V-J Day September 2, 1945