America & Georgia in World War II “A Day That Will Live in Infamy”

Rise of Dictators Germany - led by Adolf Hitler Italy - led by Benito Mussolini Japan - led by Emperor Hirohito Soviet Union - led by Joseph Stalin Supreme rulers who wanted to rule through military power 4 nations trying to expand their power & territory

The War Begins 1935 - Hitler seized the Rhineland & captured Austria 1939 - Hitler seizes Czechoslovakia Great Britain & France warn Hitler to STOP! 1939- Hitler invades Poland Great Britain & France declare war on Germany By 1940, France surrendered to Germany

Adolf Hitler Fascist leader - believed gov’t should control everything in society Nazi Party - National Socialist German Workers’ Party His goal was to expand Germany’s power & territory Part of his plan was to “purify” the German race by removing all Jews from Europe

A Neutral United States…but for how long? Isolationism - not taking part in the affairs of other nations 1941- Lend-Lease Act: lend or rent airplanes, tanks, bullets, & other military equipment to the Allied Powers This program supplied the Allies with over 50 billion $ in goods

“A Day That Will Live in Infamy” U.S. protested Japan’s expansion - stopped exporting planes, steel & aviation gas to Japan; froze assets of Japanese companies in the U.S. Japanese wanted U.S. out of the Pacific - Pearl Harbor stood in their way 12/7/1941- Japanese attack Pearl Harbor 12/8/1941-Congress declared war on Japan 12/11/1941-Germany & Italy declare war on the U.S.

The U.S. Prepares for War Americans ready to fight 300,000 GA men & women served during WWII - nearly 7000 died Women worked as nurses, clerks, & pilots; WASPs (Women’s Air Force Service Pilots) 400,000 Mexican Americans served in WWII 700,000 African Americans served in WWII 425 Navajo Indians - “Wind Talkers” - Code

The War in Europe 1942-Allies invade North Africa & win control 1943-Allies invade Italy; Italians overthrow Mussolini & join the Allies 6/6/1944- “D-Day”; Allied forces storm Normandy in France & push German army back into Germany Europe freed from Hitler’s control & he commits suicide on 4/30/1945 5/8/1945-Germany surrenders; called “V-E Day” for Victory in Europe

The Holocaust Allied forces discovered a horrible secret as they moved further into Germany & German-occupied territory “The Final Solution” - was to imprison Jews in concentration camps & kill them The killing of approx. 6 million Jews & 5-6 million “undesirables” has become known as the Holocaust Many killed in gas chambers or died from starvation, disease, or mistreatment

The War in the Pacific 1942-1945-Allied forces began to retake the Pacific islands July 26,1945, Pres. Harry Truman demanded Japan’s surrender & they refused 8/6/1945-bomber Enola Gay dropped an ATOMIC BOMB on Hiroshima; 3 days later a 2nd bomb was dropped on Nagasaki 8/14/1945-”V-J Day” - Victory in Japan - Japanese gov’t stopped fighting & THE WAR ENDS!

GA’s Wartime Industries Liberty Ships were built in Savannah & Brunswick - employed over 16,000 - many were women B-29 bombers were built in Marietta - employed over 28,000 workers (Bell Aircraft) Military vehicles, weapons, equipment,& uniforms- 1000’s of Georgians employed in these industries

Training Allied Troops in GA Camp Stewart - trained 600,000 troops to serve in antiaircraft squads Camp Gordon & Ft. Benning - Infantry & tank training; camp for German & Italian POWs Warner Robins AFB - trained soldiers in airplane maintenance Glynco Naval Air Station - flew blimps looking for German subs

Georgians Support the War Effort Farmers planted peanuts for their oil, grew vegetables, & raised livestock to help feed soldiers Gas, shoes, meat, & sugar were “rationed” (limited) to save resources for the troops GA helped the nation in donating 13 million pints of blood Kids collected toothbrushes, washcloths, & soap for soldiers People planted “Victory Gardens” to feed their families so farmers’ produce could be sent to the troops

WWII’s Effects on Society G.I.Bill - gave soldiers the chance for a college education Federal income tax withheld from workers’ pay Segregation no longer acceptable to African American soldiers Roles of women changed War production pulled the U.S. out of the Great Depression