Test 2 Flashcards
Describe the political climate at end of 1930s
FDRs administration is fixated on a world crisis and international situation. WWII is looming
Describe the post WWI map of Europe and it’s implications
Germany is much smaller, Alsace Lorraine had come over to France (gave France a dagger pointed at western Germany). East Prussia is disjointed from rest of Germany at the expanse of new Poland.
Ethnic disputes were brokered in favor of Germany’s enemies. Lots of ethnic germans living in someone else’s country.
Treaty of Versailles supposedly limited the possibility of Germany being able to menace Belgium through northern France as they did in WWI
Describe the post WWI government transition in Germany
The Keizer government collapsed and was followed by the Weimer Republic.
This was a form of democracy with many parties, but it was associated with the Treaty of Versailles
Describe the implications of the Weimers Republic’s association with the treaty of Versailles
Taints the Weimer Republic, the people aren’t sold on representative government or the idea that they lost WWI
Describe the policy of Coercion pre WWII, it’s evolution
France occupied industrial Germany, taking coal and iron ores
Eventually transitions into Dawes Plan, where Germany agreed to pay reduced reparations - somewhat stabilizes thing
Describe the situation in 1920s Germany. Notable agreements?
Fair bit of optimism. Treaty of Versailles was flawed but might be holding. Seemed to indicate a better future.
Lacardo Pact had Germany and France agree to the borders.
Kellogg Briand Pact outlaws war.
Describe the attitude in 1920s Italy
Italy had fought on the allied side and suffered 1 million casualties, they wanted to get chunk of Balkans and Austria didn’t; bitter
Their economy is on the verge of collapse
Benito Mussolini, description
Veteran of war and head of fascist party. Believes that capitalism has failed and the Great Depression is proof
Coined the term Totalitarianism, Social darwinist.
Wants a redo of the Roman Empire, it’ll get him thrown out of League of Nations but he doesn’t care
Rise of Benito Mussolini
Comes into power by coercion and threat in 1922.
Opposed the Communist party who called for nationwide strike and statewide atheism.
Used a propaganda based media driven march on Rome where he bluffs his way into power.
Marxism and Social Darwinism overview, comparison.
Marxism - historical inevitability of the working class coming to power in industrialized nations, take over means of production
Social Darwinism - Survival of the fittest, blood is essential element of human life and discourse
Both have the father of hate (race, ethnicity, nationalism vs class) and were products of desperate economic circumstances
What were some qualities of Marxism?
Worried about: Exploitation, labor strikes, slums, inequality; haves exploiting the have-nots
State enforced equality, atheism, religion is opiate of the masses that exploits people
Led to rise of communism
What were some qualities of Social Darwinism?
Melded with nationalism, racism- maybe obligated to help lesser people, maybe eugenics, maybe segregation
exploitative and violence: strong survive at expense of weak (economics and war)
Hitler before power
Born in Austria but perceives himself as German, leaves Austria for Germany to avoid the draft, reads about politics, humanity, and music.
Enthusiastic fighter
When he hears about the armistice he feels like the jews who controlled his government betrayed him
Hitler Nazi movement
Turns a glorified drinking club into a real modern party by
1) organizing people in to movement
2) being a brilliant speaker
appealed to peoples fears
Beer Hall Putsch
Failed Coup, Hitler tries to take power by force
Triad for treason and goes to prison
Hitler in Prison
A lot of the authorities sympathize with him and his anti communism anti semitism
“he went too far but his ideas are right on”
he advertises the nazi party at trial
Wrights mein Kempf - nazi bible that talks about
German Depression
massive unemployment, communist party fighting with nazi party in the street
Worry in Germany about becoming communist
Government system when hitler gets into power
Coalition government of nazis and right wing nationalist parties that are believed to keep him in check
Reichstag burns down, what does Hitler do
Hitler uses as an excuse to round up communists and socialists and put them in concentration camps
Repression against Jews steadily builds
Change in Germany when Hitler comes to power
Nazi policy and ideology come to inject themselves into everything
Now have to be politically reliable and ethnically pure
No longer listen to Treaty of Versailles
Hitler Youth
What does Hitler do first with military power?
invasion of the Rhineland -
supposed to be demilitarized by the treaty of Versailles
Hitler sends troops back at Rhineland, act as dagger towards France as to attack France or Belgium they would have to go through there
France does not respond, bloodless victory enhances Hitlers prestige
Why does France not respond to the invasion of the Rhineland?
In the middle of political chaos, left wing socialist government has no stomach for mobilizing war
Why does Hitler accelerate his timetable for military action?
He is on a treadmill - if he doesn’t continue expanding and recouping territory, population, and resources, the German economy will regress and he will lose his prestige
What is the conflict with his military early in Hitlers reign?
He meets with the generals, wanting to establish Germany as the dominant power in Europe. They tell him to wait till 43 or 44 but he wants to go quickly.
The first thing Hitler did was invade the Rhineland, what was the second thing he did?
Annex Austria. Put pressure on them to agree that when the Germans come in they will take part of northern Austria.
This is actually popular within Austria.
Creates another precedent in which Britain and France stand aside while he upsets the balance of power.
After invading the Rhineland and annexing Austria, what does Hitler do?
Tries to take the Sudetenland back from Czechoslovakia. Puts propaganda out.
Sudetenland also allows invasion of Prague.
What is the response to Hitlers continued actions?
Appeasement - Britain and France don’t want a war, presuppose that Hitler is rational and will stop
MUNICH CONFERENCE - Neville Chamberlain
Munich Conference bargains the Sudetenland in exchange for peace
How does Hitler respond to the Munich Conference?
6 Months later he takes the rest of Czechoslovakia, and the allies prepare for war
After Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia, what two things does he do?
Invades Danzig in Poland, which used to be part of the Kaisser republic
Makes Nazi Soviet Pact
Describe the Nazi Soviet Pact
Nonaggression treaty and business deal where soviet oil and timber is exchanged for engineering products
They secretly agree to divvy up portions of Eastern Europe
Ideologically they’re enemies but they don’t want to go to war - communist and social darwinist fascists both feel betrayed
When do the Allies declare war? What are the sides?
After Germany invades Poland. German allies are axis powers,
allied side is Britain, France, Poland, US
Describe the Invasion of Poland
German and Soviets invade. Campaign lasts a month, Germans conquer Warsaw while soviets conquer eastern part
Describe how the Germans vs Soviets oppress the Poles
In the German section the Jews are targeted, put into ghettos, later in the war labor and death camps. 3 million.
In the Soviet section higher class landowners, catholics, and Polish officers are taken out and executed. 20,000.
Early American attitude at the start of WWII
Similar to WWI, Roosevelt declared neutrality. Popular decision. Isolationist philosophy.
Why was Isolationism popular in America at the start of WWII?
Nye Committee - uncovered dirty laundry on American entry into WWI, made public believe we fought and died for Wall Street
Disillusioned - 70% felt that involvement in WWI was a mistake
What were the actions by America that helped insure isolationism?
Neutrality acts - outlaw arms or loans to nations in war, prohibits Americans from traveling on ships of nations in war
What is Roosevelts situation/opinion with regards to isolationism at the start of WWII?
He is very concerned about Hitler and European security but has to bow to pressure, eventually he amends neutrality acts with consent from Congress
First American concern surrounding WWII (pre joining)
First drawn to Asia, concerned about the balance of power
Describe the balance of power in Asia at the start of WWII
There is a civil war going on in China between Nationalists and Chiang Kai-shek. In Japan there is a crisis over resources, Army sees future on asian continent and Navy sees resources in Indonesia area.
Eventually the Quantung army in 1931 takes over Manchuria, which the government uses as a springboard to take over portions of China in 1937.
US government does not want Japan to be the dominant power as they pose a great naval threat.
Describe The Chinese Civil War, Open door policy
Nationalists envision an independent autonomous power, getting rid of the western presence controlling their economy -have a good relationship with US but not Europe. Led by Chiang Kai-Shek
Mao Zehdong led the Communist side, illegitimate shadow government that eventually wins.
Open door policy led to the British selling opium in china, British navy fought in Hong Kong over it
How does the Roosevelt administration want to shape Japanese behavior and limit the threat?
Sanctions. Japan is dependent on our oil, steel, etc.
Freezing Japanese assets.
He is frustrated with isolationism, only weapon is economics.
What are the options for the Japanese after Roosevelts sanctions and freezing of assets?
Option 1: Withdraw from china and play nice (discarded)
Option 2: Invade Soviet Union through Manchuria (can’t get anything but timber and oil)
Option 3: Go to war against western powers, including Dutch empire, Australia, Nationalist china
(decide on this)
Why does war start against Japan?
Pearl Harbor attacks
Early US conflict with Germany pre involvement WWII (first reason why they go to war)
General concern over stopping Hitler changes neutrality dynamic, conquest of France stuns the world. Roosevelt sends US navy destroyers to royal navy in the “Destroyers for bases deal” for bases in the Caribbean.
What is the biggest reason why Germany and America go to war?
Lend Lease Act - Supplies the allies with everything they need. Leads US navy into waters -> German submarines sink ships -> Attention
Neither side wants war but after Pearl Harbor Germany is emboldened- doesn’t think US is a huge player
War at time of US entry in 41
SU and Japan are not yet at war, eventually they will at American behest
War takes up half of world’s population
Pearl Harbor
Hawaii is basing a pacific fleet as a warning to Japan
Americans lose 2400 people and eight battleships
Sucker punch but doesn’t cripple the US fleet as much as they would have hoped
Hope was to force America and GB to negotiations, conquer a resource rich empire
Ultimately unites the American public
Immediately US declared war, how did the fighting play out?
Agreed upon “Germany first” strategy, which recognizes Germany as biggest threat. (although they want revenge on Japan)
Japan get to dominate the pacific, getting the resources they wanted in Dutch East Indies, Singapore, Malaysia, etc while US is not yet prepared
Early allied involvement against Japan
The US is unprepared for many months. American initiated campaign fly supplies from India to china to supply nationalists.
In Burma allies try and open road into china
China is tying down half of Japanese power with a poor army, civil war still going on.
American controlled Philippines are in the way of Japanese forces, Japan invades
Philippines at time of Japanese invasion
On the way to independence, Macarthur helps build an armed force to defend their nation
Macarthurs options and war plans for the defense of the Philippines
War plan orange - retreat army into Bataan peninsula and hold out until US navy arrives
Macarthur’s plan - defend on the coast, spread out forces
How did Macarthur’s plan work out?
Terribly, bases and army was spread apart; Japanese get ashore and army is in chaos. Eventually embraces war plan orange but by the time the army is in Bataan in half or quarter rations, low resources. Macarthur is called out of Philippines but declares he will return.
What happens to the American-Philippines army? (treatment of POWS by Japan)
Many don’t survive, borderline starvation, Bataan death march up 60 miles to POW camps.
Japanese don’t recognize surrender. Treatment is way worse for Chinese.
American battle plan after Macarthur is called out of the Philippines
Burma campaign - get Japanese out of Burma.
Two pronged offensive to turn them back:
Macarthur in southwest pacific area
Chester Nimitz in Central pacific
Describe Macarthurs actions as part of the Burma campaign
Macarthur in the southwest pacific area has US and Australian forces, goal of preventing invasion in Australian and getting across New Guinea and back to Philippines
Ground forces of US and AUS army with increasingly more naval and air forces
Describe Nimitz actions as part of the Burma campaign
Island hopping campaign across pacific with the aim of getting straight at Japan
Commands the US pacific fleet, eventually the most powerful fleet commander in history by end of war
Guadalcanal campaign
On the island of Guadalcanal the Japanese were building an airfield to menace the sea lines between Australia and United States
Escalation style air and sea battle, at that point deadliest battle in US navy.
Importance of New Guinea in the pacific war
Struggle to end Japanese threat, Port Moresby was an important staging port for any invasion of Australia or reverse offensive towards Philippines
New Guinea campaign.
Moving troops from Port Moresby over Stanley Range to secure coast. Horrible terrain, high casualties, not much naval or air support.
Japanese have dug around Buna, both are in bad shape.
Macarthur tells Eichelberger to take Buna or not come back alive.
Eichelberger heads into Buna and fixes the aimless leadership and poor supply conditions. Bit by bit crushes the Japanese offensive with his men.
First American ground victory in WWII
Once they have Buna they can begin a leap frog advance across the coast, eventually they can reinvade the Philippines
Us plan for European fighting
Germany first. Liberate France as soon as possible and establish a second front that would suck in the German army and lessen the impact on the soviet front.
Why can’t we immediately invade France?
We don’t control the sea or the air, don’t have landing craft, troops aren’t fully trained
We can’t invade France, what is the suggestion?
British argue for Mediterranean strategy. Invasion of French Africa that presents Mussolini and hitler with another war front.
Overview of mediterranean strategy
El Alamein - British Invasion
Operation Torch - American invasion of northwest Africa
Operation torch
American led invasion of northwest Africa.
Presents Germans and Italians with open flank, takes germans away from bases in northern France and Norway. Ends up with stalemate in North Africa where Italians and germans set up reinforcements.
Big meeting to rethink campaign
Casablanca Conference
In Morocco -
Americans push for invasion in France, once again not ready for the same reasons.
British propose doubling down on mediterranean strategy - invade Sicily
Americans agree
Unconditional surrender policy
Promise Stalin that we would not cut a separate deal with Hitler
Battle of Atlantic
Germany is sinking millions of tons of allied shipping, we have to combat the threat through convoy tactics.
Convoy tactics - destroyers are very powerful and well equipped, escort carriers are also useful.
Eventually germans are losing more submarines than they can replace
Operation torch takes place in this context
US subs do to Germany what Germany hoped to do to us
Ending of Battle in Africa
Eventually axis powers can only provide 25% of what they need, run out of ammo and reinforcements
Perimeter sinks down and massive axis surrender
Some Italian and German POWs end up in US, treated well and paid for voluntary labor
Operation Husky
Anglo American invasion of Sicily, 3 division front
1st Division, 45th division, 82nd airborne (paratroopers)
Low opposition, the problem is the Herman Goring division counterattack
Initiated Italian Campaign
Victory over Italy
After Italian Campaign the fascist party is not out of power
Italian government arrange unconditional surrender
From an Italian viewpoint the war is just starting as Italy is riven with civil war
Germans create stalemate, Rome is not liberate until a year after Sicily campaign
Italian people are in for malnutrition, destruction of homes and cities, organized crime, prostitution
European air fighting
Germans had bombed British cities but the allies unleash way more on Germany
Ferocious fighting; 100,000 allied lives lost
British and American disagreements over air fighting
British felt that daylight raids were suicide, Americans felt like daytime had better precision and wanted to actually hit their targets
Even with daytime fighting the bombing wasn’t particularly accurate or impactful
Invasion of Normandy
Difficult objectives
Bloodiest fighting is at Omaha beach
Deadliest day for Americans in WWII, invasion is only first part of campaign
-Battle lasts the summer, grind down German capabilities over the course of months
France Liberation
After the invasion of Normandy there becomes a second front, German front expends resources east and west
Invasion in both North and south France catches the germans in a vice, French soldiers join as they are liberated
Germans garrisons in port cities that hold out as long as they can before destroying
Eventually germans are overwhelmed
Battle of the Bulge
German attempt to drive a bulge through the allied frontier, cut British off from Americans. Failed but causes 100,000 American casualties. Hastened the end of war
End of the war - Germany
Germany is dismembered both east and west, US army still has high casualty rates via pockets of resistance
Hitler commits suicide
Unconditional surrender
End of the war (military)- Japan
Capture of Mariana islands turns them into air bases with which to bomb Japan
Fire bombings
Philippines is most important part
Nuclear bombs
Peacetime draft in 1941
19-26 year old single men, plan was to serve for year than go in reserve. After Pearl Harbor happens they’re in the war for as long as they’re needed.
Women are 2% of armed forces as volunteers, did not see combat but functioned as nurses, pilots.
Biggest wartime agency
WPB War production board
War Production Board
Enormous scope
Allocated raw materials, oversaw production, distributed defense contracts
What can we produce on civilian side and what needs to be converted to military?
Defense contractions - gave incentive for American businesses and made sure they made a profit
Implications of industrial transition to wartime
Impossible to get a new automobile, 35 mile an hour speed limit, retreating old tires, Canneries make contains for rations, ammo
Scale of war production - US
US produces more war materials than all allied combined. US industry really kicks in
300,000 military aircraft 86,000 tanks -great against infantry 372,000 artillery pieces -very effective 2.6 million machine guns 90,000 War ships
All this costs money - federal budget multiplies 10 times by end of war, defense spending multiples by 5
Hometime Jobs
17 million new jobs directly related to war, not including spinoffs like laundromats, movie theaters, restaurants, department stores
Lots going to economic outsiders - women, African Americans, latinos
Farmers dealt with scarcity of labor as the labor source is in military service, although they saw really good times with tremendous international demand for food
Organized labor benefits during WWII
All new jobs lend themselves to union labor, union membership rises from 9 to 15 million
How did we pay for war?
War bonds, loans from American banks to government, tax increases
Politics at home
FDR runs and gets in third and fourth term.
Most of the political argument was around new deal, war gave an excuse to roll back most of the new deal programs but Social Security, TVA, Wagner act survive
Eventually there is a reaction against unions as strikes during the war are considered incredibly unpatriotic and a threat to our soldiers
Republicans have Thomas Dewey, who persecuted organized crime and was a pro war internationalist republican
Truman come after FDR, reliable in new deal status, safe bet with no overt civil rights record, compromise choice
What were the two major trends at the American Homefront?
Mobility and Unity
Describe Mobility at the American home front
For men, leaving suburbs and farms to enter military service and go places they never would have gone, both nationally for training and internationally for the war effort.
For women, leaving farms to move into economy for war related jobs, often living independently
For African Americans, leaving hardline segregated states going north to big cities - forever changing makeup of America
Air conditioning and industry led to rise of sun belt, California becomes largest state
Describe Unity at the American Home front
Entertainment - Most of America was watching patriotic, government influenced movies every week, including Movietone news
Sports - athletics continued, team pride, military teams were a big deal; Women’s professional league is created
Describe the issue of Race at the American Home front
During the mobilization black leaders were envisioning a civil rights future
A Philip Randolph threatened a major march on DC in 41 if FDR didn’t do anything about discrimination in war industry
FDR wants to walk the tightrope but starts the Fair Employment Practices Commission, which oversees the mobilization to try and eliminate discrimination
Increase in employment, union membership, pay but enormous discrimination and racism
Tension in the military between black and white soldiers, soldier rights
Detroit riots 43 - 20 years of racial tension resulted in 34 deaths, soldiers called in
Japanese Americans are rounded up and put in internment camps, but it would be ridiculous to go after German and Italian Americans
Describe the situation at end of war with the holocaust
At final operations to dismember Germany soldiers come face to face with holocaust. Even generals didn’t know, soldiers were clueless and unprepared. Some soldiers accidentally killed the survivors by giving them high calorie foods and water that their bodies couldn’t handle
In Japan the holocaust is as bad or worse, experiments on POWS; less systematic though
Allied armies have to transition from traditional battles to humanitarian catastrophe
Describe Japan at the end of the war
Major effort by the US to lead away from famine, transform their bitter enemy
Macarthur implements new constitution, series of reforms, gender empowerment, democracy, rebuilding
Over a 2-3 year period become ally, but war criminals are not punished the way they should be
Describe Europe at the end of the war
Millions uprooted, Displaced persons scattered around. A number of the jewish survivors don’t want to go home to their home countries, many want to go to Palestine but Britain resists this idea - they don’t want to offend the Saudis and Arabs because of the valuable oil
Describe Germany at the end of the war
Dismembered by enemies, 4.5 million dead. Atrocities occur, especially by soviets (rapes and looting).
4 Powers jointly occupy the country with differing ideas
Enormously chaotic
Describe US at the end of the war
The most powerful nation ever, first and only nuclear power
Economic and military superpower
Debt form war but good economy
Enormous prestige for defeating evil regimes, helped allies enormously, liberated millions; tremendous international sympathy
Describe USSR at the end of the war
25 million dead but USSR is enormously powerful
Liberated much of Eastern Europe, major player post WWII
Describe GB at the end of the war
Bankrupt, beginning of end for empire militarily, economically, and diplomatically
The idea of self determination comes in to play - no longer is there the feeling that empires have the right to expand
Compare USSR and US ideology
Soviet Union is hardline communist, Stalin is dictator, no freedom of any kind but there is a tendency for equality - everyone was equally oppressed
United States has immense freedom and belief in private property, civil liberties; however the society is still white male dominated
Diametrically opposed societies
Describe the situation in Poland after the war
Poland is liberated by red army and have communist regime shoved down their throat
Polish hope for representative government but not going to happen
Describe both sides of Germany
4 Occupation zones (British, French, soviet, and US) become east and west Germany as we never could agree
East Germany - German Democratic Republic (German communists)
West Germany - Federal Republic of Germany (right leaning democracy)
Describe the evolution of Japan that led to their need for resources.
Westerners show up uninvited to do businesses in the 1850s. Traditionalists want to reject the new technology modernists recognize the need to get on board. By late 19th century Japan needs to industrialize, an existential crisis leads Japan ending up as a fascist regime.
