1. History 171C The United States and the World 1898-1945

2. The World in 1945

3. May 8, 1945—Germany surrendered

4. By spring of 1945 increasingly clear Japan would lose the war, but still Japan refused to surrender February-March 1945— Battle of Iwo Jima

5. By spring of 1945 increasingly clear Japan would lose the war, but still Japan refused to surrender April-June 1945— Battle of Okinawa

6. Kamikaze attacks

7. Meanwhile, US was secretly developing atom bomb (Manhattan Project)

8. Germany surrendered before bomb was completed; Truman had to decide whether and how to use bomb against Japan

9. July 1945—Potsdam Conference Churchill, Truman, and Stalin

10. July 1945—Potsdam Conference Churchill, Truman, and Stalin

11. July 1945—Successful test of atom bomb in New Mexico desert

12. July 1945—At Potsdam, Truman issued ultimatum, containing nonspecific reference to “utter devastation” of Japan

13. Japan rejected ultimatum

14. Truman’s attempt, at Potsdam, to warn Stalin about the atom bomb

16. August 6—US dropped atom bomb on Hiroshima, killing 80,000 immediately (120,000 died later)

18. Soviet Navy at Port Arthur, Manchuria August 8—Soviet Union declared war on Japan, dashing Japan’s hopes for Soviet mediation

19. August 9—US dropped second atom bomb on Nagasaki, killing 70,000

20. Mid-August—Japan agreed to surrender if emperor could be retained Emperor Hirohito

21. Mid-August—Japan agreed to surrender if emperor could be retained US accepted Japan’s terms Emperor Hirohito

22. September 2—Japan formally surrendered, bringing WWII to an end

25. US-Soviet rivalry US and Britain disagreed with Soviet Union over interpretation of Yalta Agreement

26. US-Soviet rivalry US and Britain disagreed with Soviet Union over interpretation of Yalta Agreement

27. Western Allies also disagreed with USSR over fate of Germany Western Allies wanted (parts of) Germany restored as economic and industrial power in Europe USSR wanted Germany permanently weakened

28. Political Division of Germany

29. Nuclear weapons ’

30. Decolonization

31. Vietnam and Palestine

32. Vietnam Joint Japanese-French administration of Vietnam during war

33. Vietnam March 1945—Japanese forces took over in Vietnam, jailing French colonial officials

34. Spring-summer 1945— Ho Chi Minh and Vietminh stepped up nationalist struggle against Japan; began loose alliance with US Ho Chi Minh with Vietminh and Office of Strategic Services (OSS) officers

35. August 1945—Vietminh launched “August Revolution”

36. September 2, 1945—Democratic Republic of Vietnam declared independence Ho appealed to Truman for support

37. 1945-1946—Truman administration acquiesced in France’s reconquest of Vietnam, setting stage for later US involvement in conflict

38. Palestine

39. Liberation of Nazi death camps

40. What would become of Jewish DPs (displaced persons)?

41. Repatriation to countries of origin was not a viable option, and US and British governments were still tightly restricting immigration into own countries

42. Zionists demanded that Britain ease restrictions on immigration to Palestine, but Britain refused

43. Political claims by Palestinian Arabs

44. 1945-1946—Paramilitary groups attacked British forces in Palestine; Haganah illegally smuggled Jewish DPs into Palestine

45. June 1945—Truman sent Earl G. Harrison to inspect DP camps

46. Harrison urged that camps be dismantled and that Britain allow 100,000 Jewish DPs to emigrate to Palestine June 1945—Truman sent Earl G. Harrison to inspect DP camps

47. Truman accepted Harrison’s recommendation and began pressuring Britain

48. First step toward US involvement in Palestine issue, with far-reaching consequences for US position in Middle East