World War II

Depression Leads to War The Great Depression of the 1930s hit countries in Europe as well as the U.S. During this time, many European countries saw dictators take over their governments. Military leaders In Germany, Italy and Japan began wars of expansion. Axis Powers formed

Adolf Hitler (Germany) Hirohito (Japan) Benito Mussolini (Italy)

World War II Begins 1939: Germany invaded Poland. England and France both declared war on Germany—WW2 begins. Axis Powers quickly conquers neighboring countries in Europe and SE Asia.

The Allies and the U.S. The Allied were the nations at war with the Axis Powers. The Allies included England, China, France, and the Soviet Union Officially, the U.S. was neutral, but provided military equipment for the Allies through the “Lend-Lease Act” There was a lot of debate in the U.S. about whether or not to join the war (most are against it)…U.S. will be neutral for 2 years

U.S. Enters WW2 America’s neutrality ended on December 7, 1941, when Japanese planes bombed the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next day President Roosevelt asks U.S. Congress for a declaration of war against Japan.

Texans Respond Doris Miller, an African American sailor from Waco, received the Navy Cross for firing at Japanese airplanes during the Pearl Harbor attack. General Dwight D. Eisenhower (aka Ike) from Denison commanded Allied forces in Europe. Admiral Chester Nimitz of Fredericksburg commanded the Allied forces in the Pacific.

Texans Respond Audie Murphy of Kingston received more medals than any other American; becomes successful movie actor

Texas Women Respond Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) – organized by Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASPs) trained at Avenger Field in Sweetwater; ferried aircraft Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) – exclusive women’s group for U.S. Naval Reserve

The Army Trains in Texas Texas’s favorable climate, location b/w two coasts, and wide open spaces made it ideal for military bases More than 100 bases built Soldiers, sailors, and airmen came from everywhere to train

Texas Prisoner of War Camps Thousands of Germans, Italians, and Japanese soldiers captured in battle were housed in more than 20 camps Prisoners worked performing agricultural tasks Some Japanese and German Americans were held in internment camps “for their own safety”

Industrial Production in Texas World War II depended heavily on tanks, ships, airplanes, gasoline, explosives, and other supplies. Texas had large supplies of natural gas, water, timber, and sulfur; and supplies 80% of oil needed. From 1942-1944, Texas industries boomed, resulting in a large population growth.

An Allied Victory V-E Day: May 9, 1945 “Victory in Europe” Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945 The Nazi forces realized they were stretched too thin and surrendered Allied forces entering Germany discovered the horrors of concentration camps where millions of innocent people (mostly Jews) had been killed—this mass murder will become known as the Holocaust.

An Allied Victory V-J Day: Aug. 15, 1945 “Victory over Japan” At approximately 8.15am on 6 August 1945 a US B-29 bomber dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, instantly killing around 80,000 people. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, causing the deaths of 40,000 more. The dropping of the bombs, which occurred by executive order of US President Harry Truman, remains the only nuclear attack in history. In the months following the attack, roughly 100,000 more people died slow, horrendous deaths as a result of radiation poisoning.

Little Boy Fat Man

Demobilization Airplane and ship plants either closed or began producing consumer goods. Women who worked in factories generally were fired so that returning servicemen could have their jobs. Since farming had become mechanized and required fewer workers, most tenant farmers never returned to work on farms.

Texans Return to Civilian Life After the war, servicemen returned to old jobs or went to college. 1944 - Congress passed the GI Bill of Rights which helped veterans in various ways (including tuition for college). As a result, the United States economy grew and prospered. An increase in marriages resulted in the “baby boom” era.

Foreign Affairs Some U.S. troops stayed to serve in Germany and Japan as armies of occupation. New threats emerged when the Soviet Union set up Communist dictatorships in several Eastern European nations. The U.S. was committed to stopping the spread of Communism and became involved in the Cold War. VS.