11.4 PART 2

Frontline Civilians: The Bombing of Cities

Britain

Theory was that bombing civilians would force peace

Victim of the first sustained bombing in September 1940 German air force bombed London nightly Soon spread to many other British cities

Londoners maintained high morale Set standard for the rest of Britain

Germany

British began major bombing raids on German cities in 1942 Added to the food and fuel shortages Feared incendiary bombs which created firestorms

that swept through citiesBombing of Dresden in 1945 may have killed

as many as 100,000 inhabitants and refugeesFailed to decrease morale or industrial

capacity

Japan

Japanese air force had almost been destroyed towards end of war Left them open to air raids

By 1945 many industries and ¼ of homes had been destroyed Built of flimsy materials that were vulnerable to fire

Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945

Peace and a New War

Allied victory led to a period of political tensions called the Cold War Ideological conflict between the US and the SU

Division referred to as the “iron curtain”

Tehran Conference- leaders of the big 3 met to decide the future course of the war Agreed on a British-American invasion through France as

well as a partition of postwar GermanyYalta Conference- Big 3 met, established United

Nations, and decided the fate of Europe after Germany’s defeat Stalin wanted a buffer of pro-soviet governments Roosevelt favored the idea of self-determination

Peace and a New War cont.

The Potsdam Conference- Roosevelt had died and was succeeded by Truman making the conference difficult Truman demanded free elections in Eastern Europe

which Stalin would not allowWar Crimes Trials- in Summer of 1945 the

allies held a trial of war leaders for committing aggressive war and crimes against humanity Nazi leaders were tried and condemned at

Nuremberg.