World+War+II


 * WORLD WAR TWO**

This Fall 2012 semester, I am teaching a course entitled Modern America (HIST 386) in which I concentrate on the Great Depression, New Deal, and World War Two.

My most updated material for this World War Two module is on the following page of our wiki: http://thelearningprofessor.wikispaces.com/HIST+386+Content


 * FROM NORTON TEXT**

CHAPTER 26: THE UNITED STATES IN A TROUBLED WORLD, 1920-1941

//The Course to War in Europe//, 751 German Aggression under Hitler Isolationist Views in the United States Nye Committee Hearings Roosevelt's Evolving Views Poland and the Outbreak of World War II

//Japan, China, and a New Order in Asia//, 754 Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) Manchurian Crisis Map: Japanese Expansion Before Pearl Harbor Roosevelt's Quarantine Speech

//U.S. Entry into World War II//, 757 Map: The German Advance Links to the World: Radio News First Peacetime Military Draft Atlantic Charter U.S. Demands on Japan Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor Explaining Pearl Harbor Avoidable War? Legacy: Presidential Deception of the Public

World War II Diplomacy interactive http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/neh/interactives/wwiidiplomacymap/main.swf

Historian of the State Department items to be inserted

Mukden Incident and the Stimson Doctrine https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/mukden-incident

Good Neighbor Policy https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/good-neighbor

Recognition of the Soviet Union https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/ussr

Neutrality Acts https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/neutrality-acts

American Isolationism in the 1930s https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/american-isolationism

Henry Luce and 20th-Century U.S. Internationalism https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/internationalism

Lend Lease https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/lend-lease

Lend Lease (Today in History, Library of Congress) http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/oct23.html

Tehran Conference https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/tehran-conf

Yalta Conference https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/yalta-conf

Potsdam Conference https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/potsdam-conf

Website Spotlight blog posts that pertain to this module

World War Two (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-world-war-ii-bbc.html

Battle of the Atlantic Interactive (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_gms_battle_atlantic.shtml http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-battle-of-atlantic.html

World War II Europe (History Animated map) http://www.wwiianimated.com/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-world-war-ii-europe.html

World War II Pacific (History Animated map) http://www.pacificwaranimated.com/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-world-war-ii-pacific.html

WWII Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West (PBS) http://www.pbs.org/behindcloseddoors/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-wwii-behind-closed.html

Nuremberg Trials (Famous Trials) http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/nuremberg/nuremberg.htm http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/12/website-spotlight-nuremberg-trials.html

Nuremberg Trials (American Experience) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/nuremberg/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/12/website-spotlight-nuremberg-trials_30.html

The War (Ken Burns) http://www.pbs.org/thewar/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-war.html

Bataan Rescue (American Experience) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bataan/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/07/website-spotlight-bataan-rescue.html

Battle of the Bulge (American Experience) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bulge/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/07/website-spotlight-battle-of-bulge.html

Zoot Suit Riots (American Experience) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/12/website-spotlight-zoot-suit-riots.html

MacArthur (American Experience) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/12/website-spotlight-macarthur.html

American and the Holocaust (American Experience) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/holocaust/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2011/12/website-spotlight-america-and-holocaust.html

Codetalkers (National Museum of the American Indian) http://www.nmai.si.edu/education/codetalkers/ http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-codetalkers.html

Japanese-American Internment (Smithsonian) http://americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/non-flash/index.html http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-japanese-american.html

Powers of Persuasion: Posters from WWII (U.S. National Archives) http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/powers_of_persuasion_home.html http://thelearningprofessor.blogspot.com/2012/06/website-spotlight-posters-from-world.html


 * Maps**

World War II in Europe http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1483/1518969/DIVI585.jpg

World War II in the Pacific http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1483/1518969/DIVI578.jpg


 * FROM COURSE NOTES**


 * 1931**

Japan became a major threat to U.S. goals in Asia: Events preceding World War II in Asia (Wikipedia) []

Standard Map: Pacific Theater http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1483/1518969/DIVI578.jpg

(1) **Japan's "New Order" in Asia**.

Wanted a sphere of influence in Asia Similar to United States in Latin America U.S. unwilling to permit such Japanese influence. United States had major interests at stake in Asia: Philippines and various Pacific islands Religious missions Trade and investments Open Door in China.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (Wikipedia) []

(2) Japanese seized Manchuria Japanese invasion of Manchuria (Wikipedia) [] Manchuria Invasion 1931 Mukden Incident (Wikipedia) []

American response: Stimson Doctrine of nonrecognition [] Mere moral lecture U.S. had neither the means nor will to use military force.


 * 1933**

U.S. recognized Soviet Union. To increase trade. To halt Japanese expansion.

US recognizes Soviet Union (1933) [|http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/1116.html#article] []

Adolf Hitler: Chancellor of Germany (1/30) []

Franklin Roosevelt: President of the United States (3/4)

U.S. Neutrality Acts. Neutrality Acts an expression of isolationist sentiment. [] Congress sought to protect the nation by outlawing the kinds of contacts that had compromised U.S. neutrality during World War I.
 * 1935**


 * 1936**

Germany reoccupied the Rhineland (3/7) Remilitarization of the Rhineland (Wikipedia) []

Expansion in Europe by Germany, 1930s []

Olympic Games held in Berlin (August) 1936 Summer Olympics []

See also:

Jesse Owens. American Experience. WGBH | PBS []

Jesse Owens (Wikipedia) []

50 stunning Olympic moments No6: Jesse Owens's four gold medals | John Ashdown | Sport | guardian.co.uk []


 * Civil war in Spain**. (**1936-1939**)

Spanish Civil War (History.com) http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spanish-civil-war-ends

Spanish Civil War (Today in History, Library of Congress) http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jul17.html

Spanish Civil War (Wikipedia) []

Foreign involvement in the Spanish Civil War (Wikipedia) []

Democratic (left-wing) Spanish government supported by Soviet Union and international mercenaries.

Abraham Lincoln brigade from America.

1st Lincoln Battalion flag.svg (Wikipedia)

General Franco (right-wing) supported by Germany and Italy (fascists).

Britain, France, and U.S. looked the other way. U. S. arms embargo. Franco eventually won.

Bombing of Guernica (Wikipedia)

BBC News - Picasso's Guernica in a car showroom []

Spanish Civil War websites 1. DBQ Spanish Civil War (National Archives) Don Henry story [] See the Sacrifice for Spain poster at a college campus (Univ. of Kansas) []

2. Spanish Civil War (LOC) Today in History July 17 [] Work through this as a guide to research sources

3. Spanish Civil War Letters from American Volunteers [] One is a letter from a nurse; another from a woman volunteer.

4. Spanish Civil War Posters (LOC) [] Go to OTHER WAYS TO SEARCH Go to Preview; click on All the Images [|http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/p?pp/ils:@FILREQ(@FIELD(CALL(+POS))@FIELD(COLLID+spcw))::SortBy=CALL] Can click on any of 124 posters

See also:

BBC News - Spain's Franco-era probe judge Baltasar Garzon on trial []

Spain and the Lingering Legacy of Franco http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/28/spain-lingering-legacy-franco

Facing Fascism: New York and the Spanish Civil War http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/24/arts/design/24fasc.html

The Spanish civil war remembered http://www.guardian.co.uk/galleryguide/0,6191,395635,00.html

Civil War legacy divides Spain http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5192228.stm

BBC News - Fate of Franco's Valley of Fallen reopens Spain wounds http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14189534


 * 1937**

Beginning of World War II in Asia.

Marco Polo Bridge Incident (Wikipedia) []

Nanking Massacre (Wikipedia) []

BBC - BBC World Service Programmes - Witness, Rape of Nanjing http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00h783w

On This Day: Thousands Die in Shelter During Japanese Bombing of Chongqing http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/May-June-08/On-this-Day--Japanese-Bombing-of-Chongqing-Kills-Thousands.html

Panay incident (Wikipedia) [] Japanese Sympathy over Panay incident http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=1212#2010 http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2001/summer/two-japans-1.html http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2001/summer/two-japans-2.html

Pearl S. Buck The Good Earth (Wikipedia) [] http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/b/pearl-buck.html

Hideki Tojo (Wikipedia) [] Hirohito (Wikipedia) []

Japanese invasion of mainland China (7/7) China then was a U.S. ally. Chang Kai–Shek, and Chinese communists under Mao Zedung, will both fight against the Japanese invaders. Chiang Kai-shek (Wikipedia) [] http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/c/madame-chiang-kai-shek.html

Comfort Women Still Resonates Monument in Palisades Park, N.J., Irritates Japanese Officials - NYTimes.com []


 * 1938**

German invasion and annexation of Austria (3/12) []

Munich agreement (Chamberlain/Hitler) (9/15). Czech Sudetenland to Germany. Appeasement [] Munich Agreement (Wikipedia) [] Neville Chamberlain (Wikipedia) [] Sudetenland (Wikipedia) []

Chamberlain and Hitler 1938 (UK National Archives) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/lessons/lesson31.htm

September 30, 1938 | Hitler Granted the Sudentenland by Britain, France and Italy - NYTimes.com http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/september-30-1938-hitler-granted-the-sudentenland-by-britain-france-and-italy/


 * 1939**

Germany occupied remainder of Czechoslovakia (March) []

German-Russian Non-Aggression Pact (8/23). The odd couple: fascists and communists. Agreed not to attack each other. []

01 Sep 1939: Germany invades Poland http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_3506000/3506335.stm

On This Day: Nazi Germany Invades Poland, Starting World War II http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-This-Day--Nazi-Germany-invades-Poland--starting-World-War-II.html

1. Beginning of WWII in Europe

03 Sep 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/3/newsid_3493000/3493279.stm

2. BBC Special Report: The Day the War Began a. Read this section entitled "Hitler's War" [] b. Read this section entitled "Newspaper Headlines" []

3. U.S. declared neutrality (5 September 1939). [] U.S. still trying to stay out of war

4. BBC NEWS | Europe | How Poles cracked Nazi Enigma secret []


 * 1940**

1. German blitzkrieg (lightning warfare) [today we call it "shock and awe"]

Germans invade Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium Germans invade France

a. **Remember: Hitler's conquests and attacks in Europe made French, Dutch, and British colonies in Asia vulnerable to Japanese attack.**

Check out these possessions on Google Earth

b. BBC News Theme Report: Blitzkrieg []

2. Animated Map of Dunkirk and the Fall of France Read the description for each of the six maps: Fall of France; Germany Attacks; Allies Retreat; Allied Forces Trapped; Evacuation from Dunkirk; Paris Captured []

3. Dunkirk:

10 May 1940: Churchill takes helm as Germans advance http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/10/newsid_3497000/3497115.stm

Online Speech Bank Winston Churchill - Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat (13 May 1940) http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/winstonchurchillbloodtoiltearssweat.htm

The miracle of Dunkirk - Telegraph []

British and French evacuated from beach (6/4)

a. BBC On This Day: 4 June 1940 Dunkirk Rescue Over: Churchill Defiant []

b. Letter from a Dunkirk hero []

BBC Archive: WWII: Dunkirk Evacuation (Major Source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/dunkirk/

BBC - BBC World Service Programmes - Witness, Left Behind at Dunkirk http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p007qf3k

BBC - BBC World Service Programmes - Witness, Retreat from Dunkirk http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00gx5fy

4. France conquered (6/5-6/25)

14 Jun 1940: German troops enter Paris http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/14/newsid_4485000/4485727.stm

Historic Headlines | June 22, 1940: Hitler Gains Victory Over France - NYTimes.com http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/22/june-22-1940-hitler-gains-victory-over-france/

5. Battle of the Atlantic game. Guide a convoy across the ocean. []

6. Battle of Britain

a. BBC On This Day: 10 July 1940 Luftwaffe Launches Battle of Britain [] Note: Audio of a dogfight over the British Channel

BBC Archive: WWII: The Battle of Britain (Major Source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/battleofbritain/

BBC Archive: WWII: Outbreak - Britain on the brink (Major Source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/ww2outbreak/

15 Sep 1940: Victory for RAF in Battle of Britain http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/15/newsid_3521000/3521611.stm

b.Blitz

BBC On This Day: 7 September 1940 London Blitzed by German Bombers []

On This Day: Nazi Germany Begins Blitz Attack of London http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/Sept/Nazi-Germany-Begins-Blitz-Attack-of-London.html

On This Day: Coventry Devastated By German Bombing BLITZ 1940 []

Colour pictures revealed of London blitz from Nazi bombers in World War II | Mail Online http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016667/Colour-pictures-revealed-London-blitz-Nazi-bombers-World-War-II.html


 * FROM NORTON TEXT**
 * CHAPTER 27: THE SECOND WORLD WAR AT HOME AND ABROAD, 1941-1945**

//Chapter Vignette: Navajo "Code Talkers"// //The United States at War//, 769 A Nation Unprepared War in the Pacific Map: The Pacific War "Europe First" Strategy

//The Production Front and American Workers//, 772 Businesses, Universities, and the War Effort Manhattan Project Women at Work Success on the Production Front

//Life on the Home Front//, 775 Supporting the War Effort Propaganda and Popular Culture Families in Wartime

//The Limits of American Ideals//, 779 Internment of Japanese-Americans African Americans and "Double V" A Segregated Military America and the Holocaust

//Life in the Military,// 784 Selective Service Fighting the War

//Winning the War//, 785 Tension among the Allies War in Europe Map: The Allies on the Offensive in Europe Yalta Conference Harry Truman War in the Pacific Bombing of Japan Legacy: Nuclear Proliferation


 * FROM COURSE NOTES**


 * Lineup of opposing sides**


 * Allies**:

Franklin D.Roosevelt []
 * United States**

Winston Churchill []
 * Great Britain**

On This Day: Churchill Galvanizes Congress in Fight Against Nazism http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/On-this-Day--Churchill-Defies-the-Nazis-on-Capitol-Hill.html

Churchill | PBS http://www.pbs.org/churchill/

Josef Stalin []
 * Soviet Union**

Charles DeGaulle []
 * France**

Chang Kai–Shek []
 * China**


 * Axis**:

Adolf Hitler []
 * Germany**

Why Was Hitler Popular in Germany? http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/claiming-responsibility-understanding-the-rise-and-popularity-of-hitler/#more-37333

Hitler Assassination Plan | The National Archives UK http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/lessons/lesson17.htm

Benito Mussolini []
 * Italy**

General Hideki Tojo; Emperor Hirohito [] []
 * Japan**


 * 1941**

[]
 * Lend–Lease Act** (March)

Cash and carry (World War II) (Wikipedia) [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_and_carry_(World_War_II]) Lend-Lease (Wikipedia) [] U.S. became the "arsenal of democracy" by lending and leasing American military goods to those fighting against the Axis powers. [] American unemployment dropped as our industries geared up to produce war material.

Battle of the Atlantic Game http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_gms_battle_atlantic.shtml


 * Germany invaded Soviet Union**

(6/22). Major mistake. [|http://www.pbs.org/behindcloseddoors/in-depth/stalin-stands.html#Germany]

22 Jun 1941: Hitler invades the Soviet Union http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/22/newsid_3526000/3526691.stm

BBC - BBC World Service Programmes - Witness, Operation Barbarossa http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00h9rx0

BBC Archive: WWII: The Soviet Union Joins the Allies (Major Source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/ussr/

70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/2011/06/70th-anniversary-of-the-nazi-i.html


 * Japan attacked Pearl Harbor**

(12/7) Major mistake Japanese initial victories (December): Philippines, Malaya, Thailand, Hong Kong. War between China and Japan going on simultaneously.

07 Dec 1941: Japanese planes bomb Pearl Harbor http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/7/newsid_3494000/3494108.stm

11 Dec 1941: Germany and Italy declare war on US http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/11/newsid_3532000/3532401.stm

See also:

December 7 This is no Drill http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=1207

Photos: The 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor | Plog The Denver Post []

Pearl Harbor | Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/12/pearl_harbor_69_years_ago_toda.html

Was the United States Ready for Pearl Harbor? http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/g912/ready.html


 * American Home Front**

Exhibit: Powers of Persuasion: Poster Art from WWII http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/powers_of_persuasion_home.html

Boy Scouts Distribute Posters during World War II (2 part series) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/summer/posters-1.html http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/summer/posters-2.html

Rosie the Riveter Remembers http://www.americanheritage.com/content/rosie-riveter-remembers?page=show


 * 1942**


 * Japanese-American internment**

Smithsonian National Museum of American History A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution []

Click on "Begin the Story Experience" Each of the six pictures corresponds to the six major headings listed below. Click on either the picture or the major heading to go to that section.

Here is an outline of the topics contained within each of the major headings of the exhibit. Within each topic, use the horizontal scroll bar to move through the exhibit materials. A. Immigration 1. Issei: First Generation 2. Hawaii [use horizontal scroll bar at bottom of page] 3. U.S. Mainland 4. Legalizing Racism

B. Removal 1. Crisis: Pearl Harbor 2. Constitution and the Executive Order 3. Process 4. Moving Out 5. First Stop: Assembly Centers

C. Internment 1. Permanent Camps 2. Conditions 3. Home==Barracks 4. Work 5. Community Activities 6. Arts and Culture

D. Loyalty 1. The Questionnaire 2. Segregation Camp: Tule Lake 3. Expatriation and Repatriations 4. The Draft

E. Service 1. 100th and 442nd 2. Soldier's Life 3. Military Intelligence and Translation 4. Honors and Awards 5. Ironies of Service

F. Justice 1. Post-War 2. Court Cases 3. Formal Apologies and Redress 4. Repairing the Constitution 5. Japanese Americans Today

See also:

National Park Service: Confinement and Ethnicity (Japanese-American Internment Sites) []

Manzanar National Historic Site []

On This Day: Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of Japanese Internment []

Children of the Camps: the Japanese American WWII internment camp experience http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/

Japanese-American Evacuees Celebrate New Year's Eve http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=1231

How an eagle feels when his wings are clipped and caged (Prologue NA) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2009/winter/wra.html


 * Tuskegee Airmen**

Here are some of the best places to learn about them.

A. Our Norton text: "African Americans and 'Double V'" (pages 782-783)

B. The comprehensive article in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen

1. Note particularly the section entitled "The First Lady's Flight"

2. Rose Bowl float: from the section titled "Postwar"

"In the 2010 Rose Parade, the city of West Covina, California paid tribute to the "service and commitment of the Tuskegee Airmen" with a float, entitled "Tuskegee Airmen—A Cut Above", which featured a large bald eagle, two replica World War II "Redtail" fighter planes and historical images of some of the airmen who served. The float won the mayor's trophy as the most outstanding city entry—national or international."

Click on this link for a picture of that float: http://bit.ly/hLBS8D

C. "Tuskegee Airmen" movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114745/

D. The Tuskegee Airmen were honored guests at President Obama's inauguration http://nyti.ms/gS5Uw1


 * 1942**


 * Doolittle raid on Tokyo** (4/18)

[] Work your way through each of the parts of this wonderful animation: Prelude, Preparations, Deployment, Approach, The Raid, Aftermath


 * Battle of Midway** (6/6). U.S. wins. Turning point in Pacific war.

07 Jun 1942: Japanese beaten in Battle of Midway http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/7/newsid_3499000/3499378.stm

Work your way through each of the parts of the following animation: Early 1942, Battle of the Coral Sea, Midway Island, Japanese Deployment, American Deployment, Fleet Movements, Action June 3, Action June 4-7 []


 * Dieppe**

19 Aug 1942: Allies launch daring raid on Dieppe http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/19/newsid_3560000/3560309.stm


 * El Alamein**

04 Nov 1942: Rommel goes on the run at El Alamein http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/4/newsid_3564000/3564385.stm


 * Britain Knows Detail of Holocaust**

17 Dec 1942: Britain condemns massacre of Jews http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/17/newsid_3547000/3547151.stm


 * 1943**

02 Feb 1943: Germans surrender at Stalingrad http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/2/newsid_3573000/3573003.stm
 * Stalingrad**


 * Italy**

10 Jul 1943: Western Allies invade Sicily http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/10/newsid_3587000/3587283.stm

25 Jul 1943: Italian dictator Mussolini quits http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/25/newsid_3600000/3600649.stm

03 Sep 1943: Allied troops invade mainland Italy http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/3/newsid_3585000/3585719.stm

08 Sep 1943: Italy's surrender announced http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/8/newsid_3612000/3612037.stm

28 Apr 1945: Italian partisans kill Mussolini http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/28/newsid_3564000/3564529.stm


 * Teheran Conference** (Dec).

01 Dec 1943: Allies united after Tehran conference http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/1/newsid_3535000/3535949.stm

In the following web link, read the two paragraphs entitled "Objectives" and "Outcomes." [|http://www.pbs.org/behindcloseddoors/in-depth/the-conferences.html#Eureka] Dispute b/n Britain & U.S: when/where Europe invaded. Soviets demanded a second front. Soviets bore brunt of land war until mid–1944. Decision was finally made on a cross-channel invasion against Europe mainland Eisenhower was named to be Supreme Commander of Allied Forces

See also:

Big Three in Teheran http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=1130#2010


 * 1944**


 * Normandy invasion**

D-Day=Operation Overlord. (June 6, 1944).

Biggest invasion armada in world history (5,000 ships, 150,000 men). []

1. BBC Special Section: D-Day and Operation Overlord Animated Map: The D-Day Landings Read the description for each of the four maps: The Atlantic Wall, Concentration of Forces, The Landings, Securing the Beachheads []

2. Paratroopers and their equipment []

Fantastic story of one US paratrooper:

U.S. Paratrooper Joseph Beyrle fought for both U.S. and Soviets. [] [] []

3. BBC Special Section: D-Day and Operation Overlord Animated Map: Operation Overlord Read the description for each of the seven maps: Operation Overlord, D-Day, The Slog for Normandy, A Slow Advance, The Breakout, The Falaise/Argentan Gap, The Liberation of Paris []

4. From D-Day to Berlin Photo Gallery. Click through each of the 12 photos []

See also:

Interactive Map with D-Day Invasion of Normandy | EDSITEment http://edsitement.neh.gov/student-resource/interactive-map-d-day-invasion-normandy#node-1335


 * Attempted Assassination of Hitler** (July 1944)

20 Jul 1944: Hitler survives assassination attempt http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/20/newsid_3505000/3505014.stm


 * Liberation of Paris** (August 1944)

On This Day: Paris Liberated from German Occupation http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/July-August-08/On-this-Day--Paris-Liberated-from-German-Occupation.html

25 Aug 1944: Paris is liberated as Germans surrender http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/25/newsid_3520000/3520894.stm


 * A Bridge Too Far**

17 Sep 1944: Airborne invasion of Holland begins http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/17/newsid_3662000/3662264.stm

26 Sep 1944: Airborne troops retreat from Arnhem http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/26/newsid_3523000/3523972.stm


 * Battle of the Bulge**

(December). Surprise German attack. Ultimate Allied victory.

17 Dec 1944: Germany counter-attacks in Ardennes http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/17/newsid_3515000/3515538.stm

Battle of the Bulge (American Experience) []


 * 1945**


 * Bataan Rescue** (January)

This entire website is great. The movie "The Great Raid" is based on this event. [] [Click through the 12 drawings in this section. Read the caption to each one.] Montana native Ben Steele was a Bataan death march survivor. He spent the next 40 months in prison camps, [click on this link] on a hell ship, and working as a slave laborer in a Japanese coal mine before his liberation at the end of the war.

Surviving Bataan: Ben Steele http://www.americanheritage.com/content/surviving-bataan?page=show

Bataan Death March (Wikipedia) []

See also:

American POWs on Japanese Ships (2 part series) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2003/winter/hell-ships-1.html http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2003/winter/hell-ships-2.html

Forbidden Diary of American woman prisoner in Philippines http://www.americanheritage.com/content/forbidden-diary?page=show

Bataan Death March http://www.americanheritage.com/content/death-march?page=show


 * Yalta Conference** (February 1945)

07 Feb 1945: Black Sea talks (Yalta) plan defeat of Germany http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/7/newsid_3517000/3517236.stm

From the following weblink, read the two paragraphs entitled "Objectives" and "Outcomes." [|http://www.pbs.org/behindcloseddoors/in-depth/the-conferences.html#Argonaut2] Soviets would control most of Eastern Europe. Germany would be divided. Soviets would fight Japan three months after German surrender

See also:

BBC - BBC World Service Programmes - Witness, Yalta http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0069cfz

Battle of Iwo Jima (Wikipedia)
 * Iwo Jima** (Feb-Mar)

23 Feb 1945: US flag raised over Iwo Jima http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/23/newsid_3564000/3564547.stm

Animated map of the battle http://www.pacificwaranimated.com/iwo-jima-islandhoppingcampaign-44

Code talker (Wikipedia) [] Code Talkers virtual exhibit from the National Museum of the American Indian []

Code Talkers http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2001/winter/navajo-code-talkers.html


 * Okinawa** (April) Attacks by 3,000 kamikaze planes on U.S. fleet.

Okinawa (Today in History, Library of Congress) http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun21.html

Animated map of the battle http://www.pacificwaranimated.com/okinawa-islandhoppingcampaign-26

21 Jun 1945: US troops take Okinawa http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/21/newsid_3564000/3564489.stm

Kamikaze Attacks http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day--Japanese-Pilots-Begin-Kamikaze-Campaign.html

Kamikaze attack at Okinawa as experienced by an American []

Kamikaze attack as experienced by a Japanese []


 * Holocaust**

World War II in focus: Alan Taylor photo essays in Atlantic Wire http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/10/world-war-ii-the-holocaust/100170/

SS St. Louis: the ship of Jewish refugees nobody wanted http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27373131

America And The Holocaust http://www.americanheritage.com/content/america-and-holocaust?page=show Primary Sources http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/holocaust/filmmore/reference/primary/index.html Rabbi Stephen Wise []

BBC Archive: WWII: Witnessing the Holocaust (Major Source) http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/holocaust/

Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State | PBS http://www.pbs.org/auschwitz/

FRONTLINE Memory of the Camps []

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum []

27 Jan 1945: Auschwitz death camp liberated http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/27/newsid_3520000/3520986.stm

Liberation of Dachau, 7 May 1945 []


 * Victory in Europe**

FDR died (4/12) Hitler died (4/30)

21 Apr 1945: Red Army enters outskirts of Berlin http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/21/newsid_3560000/3560175.stm

Russia Celebrates Victory Day 2012 - The Big Picture - Boston.com []

Annual Russian Victory Day Parade 2012 | The Frame <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">[]

01 May 1945: Germany announces Hitler is dead http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/1/newsid_3571000/3571497.stm

07 May 1945: Germany signs unconditional surrender http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/7/newsid_3578000/3578325.stm

Germany surrendered (5/7) May 7, 1945 | Nazi Germany Surrenders in World War II - NYTimes.com <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">[]

08 May 1945: Rejoicing at end of war in Europe http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/8/newsid_3580000/3580163.stm


 * Potsdam Conference**

16 Jul 1945: Allied leaders gather at Potsdam http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/16/newsid_4685000/4685683.stm

26 Jul 1945: Churchill loses general election http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/26/newsid_3572000/3572175.stm

Notes by Harry S. Truman on the Potsdam Conference His handwriting is wonderfully legible http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/bomb/large/documents/index.php?documentdate=1945-07-17&documentid=63&studycollectionid=abomb&pagenumber=1


 * Victory against Japan**

Japanese Balloon Bombs http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/May-June-08/On-this-Day--Japanese-WWII--Balloon-Bomb--Kills-Six-in-Oregon.html

BBC News - Shoichi Yokoi, the Japanese soldier who held out in Guam for 28 years after WWII ended <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;">[]

1. Role of Manhattan Project in building atomic bomb. Film “Fat Man and Little Boy.”

2. Factors involved in the decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan: [] Fear that the Soviet Union would soon enter the war against Japan Concern that a land war in Japan would result in massive American casualties

First atomic bomb: Hiroshima (8/6) 06 Aug 1945: US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/6/newsid_3602000/3602189.stm

Soviets entered war in Pacific with 1.5 million troops (8/8)

Second atomic bomb: Nagasaki (8/9) 09 Aug 1945: Atom bomb hits Nagasaki http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/9/newsid_3580000/3580143.stm

Japanese survivor of both bombs [] []

3. Victory Day

15 Aug 1945: Allied nations celebrate VJ Day http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/15/newsid_3581000/3581971.stm

4. Japanese surrendered (9/2)

02 Sep 1945: Japan signs unconditional surrender http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/2/newsid_3582000/3582545.stm

Emperor allowed to keep his throne Allied Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur would rule Japan.


 * Afterwards**

24 Oct 1945: United Nations Organization is born http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/24/newsid_4353000/4353094.stm

20 Nov 1945: Nuremberg trial of Nazis begins http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/20/newsid_4356000/4356166.stm

World–wide: 55 million United States: 405,000 Soviet Union: 21 million (one–ninth of Soviet population).
 * Death Toll of World War II**

We suffered little damage to our own land. We emerged as the world leader
 * Postwar position of the U.S.**