Pacific Theater ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: How were the U.S. and its Allies able to achieve victory in WWII? What were the major effects of WWII on America and the world?

TEKS and Objectives We will… I will… (7B) evaluate the domestic and international leadership of Harry Truman during WWII (7D) analyze the development of atomic weapons (7E) analyze major military events of WWII (7F) evaluate the military contributions of leaders during WWII (7G) explain contributions of Navajo Code Talkers (27B) explain how specific needs result in scientific discoveries/technological innovations Summarize the causes and effects of WWII

The War in Asia and the Pacific After Pearl Harbor Japan achieved quick victories in the Pacific took over Malaya Burma, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the Western Pacific Islands Threatened Australia, India, Midway, and Hawaii

The Bataan Death March, 1942 The Philippines Bataan Death March Invaded the same day as Pearl Harbor U.S./Filipino forces surrendered to Japan one month later Bataan Death March POWs (prisoners of war) forced to march 60 miles through the jungle Faced starvation, disease, exposure to the sun, no water 5,000 (almost half) Americans died Some bayoneted, shot, beheaded, or just left to die

The War Turns Against Japan “Island Hopping” U.S. liberated Pacific islands, one at a time Regained naval superiority by 1943 The Navaho Code Talkers U.S. needed undecipherable code to communicate Navajo language is unwritten/complex U.S. transmitted messages by telephone/radio in Navajo language

The Battle of Midway Turning point of the war in the Pacific Japanese planned to lure U.S. Pacific fleet into battle U.S. Navy deciphered Japanese codes and learned about surprise attack Admiral Chester Nimitz Commanded U.S. forces at the Battle of Midway Destroyed four of Japans aircraft carriers Ended Japan’s superior strength in the Pacific

Other Important Figures of WWII General Douglas MacArthur Commanded U.S. Army in the Pacific campaign in the Solomon Islands with Nimitz Drained Japanese resources Retook Philippines and Guam Victory at Iwo Jima and Okinawa Islands close enough to launch attacks against Japan

Other Important Figures of WWII George C. Marshall Acted as Chief of Staff and “organizer of victory” Worked closely with President Helped oversee the creation of the first atomic bomb

The Atomic Bomb Albert Einstein The Manhattan Project Sent a letter to President Roosevelt in 1939 saying Germany might be developing atomic bomb The Manhattan Project Team of American scientists (several European refugees) sent to New Mexico Developed and exploded the world’s first atomic bomb in July 1945 Germany had been defeated; U.S. preparing to invade Japan

The Atomic Bomb President Harry S. Truman Hiroshima and Nagasaki FDR died suddenly in April 1945 (before Germany’s surrender) Truman feared invasion would lead to a million American casualties Opted to use atomic bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki Centers of Japanese military production 230,000 killed in both explosions Critics argued Truman should have targeted unoccupied islands as “warnings” Japan surrendered shortly after; Japanese Emperor allowed to remain on his throne

The Use of Technology in WWII  Allies’ Success Radar Detected moving object’s range, altitude, and direction Sonar Improved to detect submarines Cryptic Code Breaking Allowed Allies to decipher secret messages Later contributed to development of computers

The Use of Technology in WWII  Allies’ Success Proximity Fuze Device that explodes when close to target Helped fight Japanese aircraft Antibiotics Ex. Penicillin Used to treat battle wounds Massed produced in WWII to treat soldiers in the invasion of Normandy Jet and Rocket Engines Developed before the war Used extensively in WWII

The Legacy of World War II The Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946) Surviving Nazi leaders put on trial “for crimes against humanity” Accused claimed they had only been following orders Many found guilty, hanged/imprisoned Demonstrated individuals responsible for their actions, even in times of war

Read this statement by one of the U. S Read this statement by one of the U.S. prosecutors at the military trials in Nuremberg. “Germany became one vast torture chamber. Cries of its victims were heard throughout the world and brought shudders to civilized people. I am one who received most atrocity tales with suspicion and [doubt]. But the proof here will be so overwhelming that I predict these defendant will only deny person responsibility. The elements of the German population which were both decent and courageous were [reduced to nothing]. Those which were decent but weak were intimidated. The Nazis not only silenced discordant voices, they practiced the [leadership principle] which centralized control of the Party over the lives and thoughts of the German people. This German State is incomprehensible to my people [the United States public]…” The prosecutor says these Nazi leaders did not deserve mercy. Would you have agreed? Explain your answer.

The Legacy of World War II “Denazification” and the Division of Germany Germany divided in to 4 occupation zones by U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union Introduced programs explaining evils of Nazi belief to German people

The Legacy of World War II The Occupation of Japan General MacArthur assigned to rebuild and reform Japan Japan lost overseas empire Military leaders put on trial/punished Forbidden from having large army/navy Japan became a democracy