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The Rise to World Power: World War II

The Rise to World Power: World War II. PO 326: American Foreign Policy. American Involvement in WWII. US declares war on Japan after attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 Germany, as per Axis alliance agreements, declares war on US, and US reciprocates

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The Rise to World Power: World War II

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  1. The Rise to World Power: World War II PO 326: American Foreign Policy

  2. American Involvement in WWII • US declares war on Japan after attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 • Germany, as per Axis alliance agreements, declares war on US, and US reciprocates • US begins North African campaign, Fall 1942 • British success at El Alamein • Issue of the second front; conflict with Russians • Defeat at Kassarine Pass, February 1943 • Counteroffensive bottles up Germans in Tunisia, March 1943 – surrender in May

  3. American Involvement in WWII • Invasion of Sicily by Patton’s 7th Army, July 1943 • Fall of Messina, August 1943 • Invasion of Italy, September 1943 • Italy had attempted surrender but invaded by Germans • After heavy losses (Anzio), Rome falls in June 1944 • Engaged German forces that were necessary for the defense of France

  4. American Involvement in WWII • Operation Overlord (6 June 1944) and the war in Western Europe • Followed massive air campaign; attacked German defenses at point of greatest strength • Operation DRAGOON – invasion of Southern France • After establishing northern beachhead, Allies take ports in Brittany, drive toward Seine, swing eastward toward Low Countries and Germany • Last-ditch German counterattack fails – Battle of the Bulge (December 1944) • Weakened by Allies and Soviets, Germany collapses; Berlin falls in May 1945

  5. American Involvement in WWII • The Pacific Theater • Japanese control majority of Pacific • Carrier Battles • Coral Sea and Midway (mid-1942): Allies check and defeat Japanese, successfully defending Australia • Fierce fighting at Guadalcanal and Solomons • Counteroffensive: “Island-Hopping” • Advance through central Pacific, late 1942-early 1944 • Invasion of Marianas, early 1944: fall of Saipan, Guam, Tinian (destruction of Japanese navy and carrier aircraft • Introduction of US airpower to Pacific; bombing of Japanese home islands • Invasion of Okinawa, early 1945 • Japan Surrenders • Soviets declare war • Nuclear Attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 1945

  6. The Politics of War: The Second Front Issue • In 1942, Soviets bearing brunt of German onslaught (“sitzkrieg” in west); sought opening of second front • Churchill against immediate front; sought gradual encirclement • FDR initially wanted full alliance with USSR and opening of second front, but deferred to Churchill • First Allied assault came later in North Africa, which was unsatisfactory to Stalin • This approach engendered mistrust in Soviets that would last throughout and after war • Stalin withdraws ambassadors to London, DC • Fears of separate peace • Solo Soviet victory in East convinces Stalin that USSR is entitled to postwar rule of Eastern Europe

  7. The Politics of War: The Polish Issue • As the tide of war turned in late 1943, the issue of how the Allies would rule the postwar world came to the fore • In Poland, USSR saw essential buffer against future aggression • Polish government in exile opposed Soviet influence • FDR, though pressured domestically, decides not to press the Soviets regarding Poland; by the Tehran conference, the Allies had essentially allowed USSR a free hand in Poland • Before USSR retakes Poland, Stalin allows remnants of Nazi occupation to crush resistance, easing the way for Soviet control

  8. The Politics of War: Yalta • By the end of the Yalta conference (February 1945), the fate of Eastern Europe was seemingly sealed • Though FDR sought assurances from Stalin regarding the right of Eastern European countries to self-determination, circumstances (especially Soviet occupation) precluded US and other Allies from meaningfully intervening • As with the Polish question, the USSR achieves its goals

  9. The Politics of War: Truman • Upon FDR’s death in April 1945, Truman assumes presidency • Truman wishes to renew pressure on USSR about Eastern Europe • However, Truman’s main goal is to get the Soviets to declare war on Japan and help end the conflict – he must therefore take caution in his approach

  10. The Politics of War: Potsdam and “Spheres of Influence” • By the Potsdam Conference, however, Truman felt he could afford to press USSR • Successful atomic test means that war could possibly be ended without Soviet involvement in Japan, and that US could bring USSR to heel on other issues • With this leverage, Truman sought to renew Eastern Europe pressure and advocated the postwar economic rehabilitation of a unified German state • Stalemate develops concerning German question; USSR fearful of a unified Germany administered by former Nazis, and demands reparations • Truman suggests that reparations should be drawn by each of the Allies from their postwar occupation zones • Cements the division of Europe into “spheres,” sets stage for conduct of postwar competition

  11. The Immediate Political Aftermath of WWII • The USSR, substantively unchallenged by other Allies, maintains occupation-based dominance of Eastern Europe • Stalin sticks with “spheres of influence” approach, refusing to intervene in domestic politics of the regions clearly in Western sphere • Stage set for conflict between East and West over unaligned areas • Mutual distrust between USSR and West, which festered during war, becomes hallmark of postwar world

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