CHAPTER 17…”The US in World War II”

Identifications

• 189. George Marshall-Chief of Staff of the US Army…wanted women to serve in non-combat roles…

• 190. WAAC-bill passed in May.1942 gave women official status and salary…in 1943, Army dropped Auxiliary status and granted WACs full US Army benefits…nurses, radio operators, pilots, ambulance drivers.

• 191. Henry J. Kaiser-American industrialist…built 7 massive new shipyards for building US fleet…famous for Liberty Ships (cargo carriers).

• 192. “Rosie the Riveter”-became the symbol of women making a contribution to the war effort…by working in factories.

• 193. A. Philip Randolph-protested discrimination in military and industry by planning march on Washington…FDR issued EO to unions/industry to put an end to discrimination in hiring…march cancelled.

• 194. (OSRD)-created by FDR in 1941…to bring scientists into the war effort…radar, sonar, pesticides, penicillin+ Atomic Bomb

• 195. Manhattan Project-code name for research on the atomic bomb…from Columbia University in Manhattan.

• 196. (OPA)-fought inflation by freezing prices on most goods.

• 197. (WPB)-assured that the armed forces and war industries received the resources they needed to win the war.

• 198. rationing-establishing fixed allotments of goods deemed essential for the military.

• 199. “black market”-buying rationed items illegally without coupons at inflated prices.

• 200. Battle of the Atlantic-U-boats attempted to gain control of 3000 mile shipping lane-over British & US ships trying to deliver needed supplies to GB & USSR…allies developed convoys, used sonar/radar, airplanes…by mid-’43 allies had won control of Atlantic.

• 201. Battle of Stalingrad-Aug.42toJan.43-AH’s attempt to capture vital oil fields in southern USSR…German army trapped in brutal fighting…USSR lost 1.1M men (more than US lost in entire war)…surrender of German Army marked**THE TURNING POINT OF THE WAR IN EUROPE**

• 202. North African Campaign-Nov.’42…2nd Front opened…”Operation Torch”…drove Erwin Rommel & “Afrika Korps” eastward with German Army surrendering in Tunisia in May.43.

• 203. D.D.Eisenhower-commanded US troops that landed in north Africa in Torch.

• 204. Afrika Korps-Rommel’s legendary N. African army (German).

• 205. Erwin Rommel-General/commander of A.K. in north Africa…outmanned and outgunned managed to stave off defeat…later commander of A.H.’s “Atlantic Wall” (aka Fortress Europa) from Spain to Holland.

• 206. Italian Campaign-island of Sicily captured summer ’43…Mussolini forced to resign/arrested...A.H. rescued M and German troops occupied Italy fighting American advance until 1945.

• 207. Bloody Anzio-40 miles south of Rome on beachfront…lasted 4 months…55T total casualties.

• 208. 99th Pursuit Squad-the Tuskegee Airmen fought German Luftwaffe in Sicily & Italy.

• 209. 442nd RCT-all Nisei (American citizens whose parents emigrated from Japan)…became most decorated unit in US history.

• 210. Operation Overlord-plan for invasion of occupied France and liberation of western Europe.

• 211. Normandy…D-Day-began 0030 hours, 06.Jun.44 in skies over north France…followed by beach landings at dawn…largest land-sea-air op in military history…within 30 days-1M men, 567T tons of supplies & 170T vehicles landed.

• 212. Omar Bradley-US Army land commander in Normandy… breakthrough “hedgerow country” at St. Lo-created gap for

• 213. George S. Patton-”Old Blood & Guts”,commander of US 3rd Army…armor spearhead through gap and race towards Seine River…”Dear Ike: Today I spat in the Seine”…By Sep.44-France, Belgium and Luxembourg were liberated—helped FDR get elected to 4th term as President (with VP Harry S Truman).

• 214. Battle of the Bulge-American troops talking of being home for Christmas-16.Dec.44, 8 German tank divisions surprise attack in fog/winter weather, trying to split weak American front-penetrated 80 miles into American lines-creating a “bulge”…in month-long battle,G lost 120T troops, 600 tanks/guns, & 1600 planes…AH big gamble had failed…last offensive of German army in WW II.

• 215. Eva Braun-AH’s longtime companion, married him on 29.Apr.45…died in suicide pact with him the next day…bodies burned together.

• 216. V-E Day-08.May.45…”Victory in Europe Day”…war in Europe was over.

• 217. Harry S Truman-became 33rd President of US when FDR died of a stroke in Warm Springs, GA on 12.Apr.45.

• 218. Douglas MacArthur-commander of allied forces on Philippine Islands in Dec.41…troops forced to surrender…”I shall return”.

• 219. Bataan Death March-US and Filipino survivors marched 100’s of miles-beaten, starved,killed in route to prison camp.

• 220. Doolittle Raid-16 B-25 bombers launched off aircraft carriers in Apr.42, bombed Tokyo, Japan and other industrial centers…good for US morale after Pearl Harbor, bad for Japanese-”Doolittle Do’od It”

• 221. Battle of Coral Sea-May.42…5-day battle in which all fighting was done by airplanes off aircraft carriers…no firing by surface ships…Japanese invasion of Australia turned back.

• 222. Battle of Midway-Jun.42…US Navy avenged Pearl Harbor by sinking 4 Japanese aircraft carriers + 250 planes…”turning point in Pacific War”…soon “island hopping” began.

• 223. Chester Nimitz-US Admiral, commander of US Naval Forces in the Pacific…led US victory in Battle of Midway.

• 224. “island hopping”-US strategy of attacking and capturing Pacific islands one at a time and using them as bases from which to launch their attack against the next island “on the road” to Japan.

• 225. Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa-major battles won by US Marines & Army (at terrible price) in the island hopping campaign.

• 226. kamikaze-”divine wind” Japanese suicide planes which flew into US naval ships…sank many smaller ships but in all, not successful in stopping US strategy.

• 227. Battle of Leyte Gulf-disaster for Japan..3 days-lost 3 battleships, 4 aircraft carriers, 13 cruisers + 500 planes…Imperial Navy could no longer defend Japan.

• 228. J. Robert Oppenheimer-directed research on Manhattan Project…most ambitious/secretive project of war…600T Americans involved in project…Truman not aware of until he became President…

• 229. Atomic bomb-16.Jul.45-1st test near Alamogordo,NM…flash visible 180 miles away…shock wave rolled over desert…should the US use the Bomb? Truman ordered 2 bombs made ready for use.

• 230. Enola Gay and “Little Boy”-06.Aug.45…Enola Gay dropped Little Boy (atomic bomb) over…

• 231. Hiroshima-Japanese military center…city ceased to exist 43 seconds after bomb detonated…Japan refused to surrender.

• 232. Nagasaki-09.Aug…1/2 of city leveled when “Fat Man” detonated…by end of year, 200,000 had died of injuries/radiation poisoning…Emperor Hirohito decided to end fighting.

• 233. USS Missouri-02.Sep.45 in Tokyo Bay, formal surrender ceremonies took place…MacArthur-”Today the guns are silent…The entire world is quietly at peace”.

• 234. Yalta Conference-Feb.45-(Big Three) FDR, Stalin and Churchill met in Crimea on Black Sea…discussed fate of Germany…Stalin favored harsh treatment-divide into zones…FDR made concessions to Stalin-1. wanted his support in war against Japan, 2. wanted his support in creation of “United Nations”.

• 235. “Big Three”-FDR, Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin…met at Yalta Conference.

• 236. Potsdam Conference-

• 237. Nuremberg Trials-24 Nazi leaders tried as war criminals-crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and war crimes…12 of 24 sentenced to death…later nearly 200 “lesser” Nazis found guilty---established that individuals are responsible for their own actions…can’t just follow orders—became part of international law.

• 238. Occupation of Japan-1100 Japanese were arrested and put on trial…7, including Tojo, were put to death..General MacArthur in charge of US forces occupying Japan for 7 years-worked to transform Japanese government---the MacArthur Constitution.

• 239. GI Bill of Rights-Serviceman’s Readjustment Act (1944)…provided education and training for veterans…50% (7.8M) attended schools…guaranteed federal home/farm/business loans.

• 240. CORE-founder, James Farmer,…1942, first sit-in to protest urban segregation in the North.

• 241. “zoot-suit” riots-style of dress of Mexican-American youths in California as symbol of rebellion against tradition…long jacket, pleated pants, broad-brimmed hat-11 US sailors reported they had been attacked…triggered riots involving thousands and lasting a week.

• 242. internment-110T Japanese Americans shipped to ten relocation centers in Feb.42 based on FDR’s Executive Order…panic and prejudice-national security…no specific charges ever filed…lost homes, businesses and belongings.