WWII Test Flashcards
Describe the meeting that shaped post-war World War II. Did FDR sell out?
The meeting that shaped post-war World War II was the meeting at Yalta. In February of 1945, there was a conference between the Ally powers in Yalta, Southern Russia. Stalin was in control of the meeting, as he knew he was in a position of power. At the meeting, they agreed to divide Germany into an East and West side and they created the U.N with five permanent members to the UN: US, Britain, Soviet Union, China, France. Roosevelt sold out; he caved, as he agreed to the U.N. Even though he wasn’t in favor.
When and where was the Battle of the Bulge?
Late in the European theater
Potsdam Declaration
Issued on July 26, 1945
Truman says Japan must surrender by Aug 3 or they would face destruction
Battle of Okinawa
Started on April 1, 1945
- bloodier than Iwo Jima
- BECOMES STAGING AREA FOR ATTACK ON JAPAN
- ends in June
- 50k Americans died, 140k Japanese died
42k Okinawan - 200k died in battle
Casablanca
FDR and Churchill meet
Stalin tells them he needs them on a Western front
What happened in Italy?
North Africa to Italy to Sicily
Election of 1944
Dem Rep FDR. Thomas Dewey (younger)-prev. NYGOv No one liked his VP. 22 million (Wallace) So Truman is VP ^ Missouri senator 25 million
Discuss the dropping of the bombs. What were the reasons? Was it justified?
On August 6, the US dropped the first atomic bombed, named “Little Boy”. Japan claimed that 130-140k died and that 70k buildings were destroyed, yet they did not surrender. Because of this, the US dropped “Fat Man”, the bigger of the two bombs on August 9. The emperor surrenders but asks to say in charge. We dropped. The bomb because:
1. A traditional attack would lose 250k men
2. 100k prisoners of war would be executed if we marched through Japan
3. 400-500k Japanese lives would be lost
It was justified. Truman gave warning (Potsdam Declaration) to Japan yet they thought we were bluffing.
