I. Military and Political Turning Points of World War II Objective 10.02

A. Battle of Britain Germany experienced early success – took over France and Belgium. Battle of Britain- Germany vs. Great Britain Great Britain was the last power left in Europe. Hitler tried to destroy the British Royal Air Force with air raids for FOUR MONTHS in London. People hid in fear each night. Churchill proved to be an inspirational leader to his people during this time period. British were able to fight off the Germans; Hitler was forced to give up his plans to invade Great Britain.

Battle of Britain Pictures

Stalingrad

D-Day

Battle of the Bulge

War in the Pacific

II. The Atomic Bomb Objective 10.02

A. The Manhattan Project Secret project to build an atomic bomb Found out from Albert Einstein that the Germans were experimenting, and Roosevelt wanted to create one before they did. Led by J. Robert Oppenheimer Tested in isolated New Mexico -- The explosion was so strong that it shattered windows over 125 miles away.

B. Dropping the Bomb New president: Harry S. Truman Japan did not respond to U.S. message asking them to surrender and emperor to stand down. Instead of invading Japan after Okinawa, Truman decided to use the atomic bomb. Dropped two atomic bombs on two Japanese cities: Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

C. Effects of the Atomic Bomb Instant death tolls: 100,000 in Hiroshima, 75, 000 in Nagasaki. August 15th, 1945 – Japan surrenders, celebrated as “V-J Day” Officially the end of World War II

C. Effects of the Atomic Bomb The world was shocked by Truman’s decision to drop the bomb. He defended it because he said that he had saved more American lives by dropping the bomb than sending in troops to attack Japan. After the war, the Allies allowed Japan to keep its emperor. If we were going to do that anyway, many people wondered if it was really necessary to drop the atomic bomb.

Independent Practice Do you think Truman made the right decision in dropping the atomic bomb? Say yes or no using the AEC model. A: Assertion/Claim E: Evidence C: Commentary Your answer should be 6-8 sentences.

III. World War II Aftermath Objective 10.02

A. Holocaust The invasion of Europe by the Allies brought an end to the war, but it also exposed the horrible atrocities committed by the Nazis against the people they considered to be socially inferior and unfit to live. Among the groups that they targeted, no group suffered as much as the Jewish people.

B. Nuremberg Trials Twenty-four Nazi leaders were put on trial for “crimes against humanity.” The court sentenced twelve of the defendants to death while the others received long prison sentences. Trials were also conducted in Tokyo where Japanese officers were also sentenced either to prison or to death. “The wrongs we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant, so devastating, that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored because it cannot survive their being repeated”. –Robert Jackson, chief counsel

Exit Ticket 1) Why was the Battle of the Midway a turning point in the war in the Pacific? a. It was the first time that Japan had used aircraft carriers to launch an attack. b. General MacArthur returned as he had promised he would. c. Both sides realized that there was little hope for victory. d. Heavy Japanese losses allowed the Allies to begin re-taking Pacific Islands.

Exit Ticket 2) Why was the Battle of the Bulge such an important Allied victory? a. It was the first Allied victory on the European continent since the fall of France. b. It was the beginning of the combined Allied assault on Japan. c. It marked the last significant attack by the Germans against the Allies. d. It demonstrated the superiority of Allied air power.

Exit Ticket 3) Why did Truman decide to drop the atomic bomb on Japan? How did this decision impact the war?

Exit Ticket 4) Identify a military or political turning point of World War II. Explain what happened and why it is important to the outcome of the war.