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Published byMichael Lester Modified over 9 years ago
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When the U.S. entered WW2 in late 1941, victory seemed remote Germany controlled almost all of Europe Axis armies controlled Northern Africa & threatened the Suez Canal Germany pressed into Russia Japan dominated the western half of the Pacific Ocean But…over the next 2 years, the U.S. & the Allies began to win the wars in Europe & the Pacific
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Europe 1941-1943 To win the European campaign, 2 different plans were proposed The U.S. wanted to attack across Nazi-controlled France by 1943 England wanted to attack Italy from Northern Africa in 1942 In 1942, U.S.-Anglo troops began the Italian campaign & Stalin was ANGRY In 1943, the Soviet army won at Stalingrad; Germany was never again on the offensive USSR “freed” Poland, Hungary, Romania
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The Allies began to win the Battle of the Atlantic in 1941 with Lend-Lease aid, but took control in 1943 with America’s entry into the war
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Tehran Conference, 1943 ■1943: FDR, Churchill, Stalin met in Tehran, Iran for 1 st of 3 wartime conferences: –US, UK, USSR coordinated war strategy –FDR & Churchill committed to Stalin’s demands to open a western front (D-Day) –Discussed plans to create a “general intl org” to promote “peace & security” (UN) By agreeing to “Operation Overlord” (D-Day), Allies would divide Axis military across two fronts FDR proposed future UN dominated by 4 “policemen” (US/UK/China/USSR) w/power to “deal immediately with any sudden emergency”
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Long-awaited 2 nd front came on June 6, 1944 with D-Day US/UK/Can troops landed at 5 strategic points Europe 1944-1945
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Yalta Conference – Feb 1945 ■“Big 3” met at Yalta (modern Ukraine) to discuss post-war Europe: –Stalin refused to give up E Euro but did agree to “self-determination” –Stalin agreed to send troops to Pacific after the G surrender if they could keep Manchuria
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Soon after the Yalta Conference in Feb 1945, FDR died…and Harry Truman became president
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In late April 1945, the Allies broke through the Eastern & Western Fronts forcing both Italy & Germany to surrender
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The Doolittle Raid on Tokyo on April 18, 1942 was a morale boost U.S. victory at Midway in 1942 gave the Allies naval supremacy “Island-hopping” allowed the Allies to win strategic islands without investing precious time, resources, & American lives
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The Japanese refused to play by according to the Geneva Convention “rules” of war
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Victories at Saipan in 1944 & Iwo Jima & Okinawa in 1945 allowed for bombings on Japan The German surrender in May 1945, allowed US to turn its full attention towards Japan
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The Decision to Drop the A-Bomb ■With no definitive end it sight, how would Allies defeat Japan? –US military favored full-scale invasion of Tokyo by 1946 –Japanese refused to surrender & armed civilians for Allied invasion –Potsdam Conference (July 1945): Truman gave the order to use the atomic bomb
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Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago
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Triumph & Tragedy in the Pacific ■Aug 1945: US dropped 2 atomic bombs – Hiroshima & Nagasaki ■Effect of the A-bomb: –Saved hundreds of thousands of US (& Japanese) lives? –Revenge for Pearl Harbor –Showed USSR that US had ultimate weapon Began Cold War arms race
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Hiroshima Nagasaki
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It’s Finally Over!
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Conclusions ■WW2 was largest & deadliest war in history & changed the US –War industry ended Great Depression, expanded size of federal gov & ushered in affluent decade –US emerged as world superpower, developed a nuclear arsenal & engaged a Cold War against USSR
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