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World War II: Overview and Impact on Society

Explore the worldwide military conflict of World War II, its major players, impact on economies, society, and individuals, and the advancements in weapons and technology. Discover the Allied offensives, the devastating Holocaust, and the ultimate end of the war.

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World War II: Overview and Impact on Society

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  1. World War II

  2. Overview • 1939-1945 Worldwide military conflict • 2 Main Conflicts: Japan in Asia, Germany in Europe • An estimated 40-60 million people died (technological advancements) • Civilian populations as targets • 56 Nations involved • Two “Super Powers” emerge: U.S. and Soviet Union

  3. The Players • Japan aims to be richest nation in the world-invades Manchuria 1931-2 then China’s capitol 1937 • Germany- Nazi rise to power fueled by resentments over Treaty of Versailles • Italy- Fascist dictator Mussolini seized power in 1922, invaded Ethiopia 1935 • Spain- Francisco Franco is supported by Hitler in Spanish Civil War • Soviet Union- Led by Joseph Stalin, first an ally of Germany, then invaded by Germany in 1941 • Britain & France allied against the “Axis” powers

  4. 1940 Divisions

  5. US Gets Involved • Americans are strongly opposed to involvement • France falls to Nazi army June 1940 • Lend-Lease Act provides limitless supply of arms ($50 billion) • Sept. 1940 peacetime draft (1.2 million troops, 800,000 reserves/year) • June 1941 Hitler invades Soviet Union • Aug. 1941 Atlantic Charter (post-war plans including self-determination & security)

  6. Pearl Harbor • 9/27/1940, Japan officially joins “Axis Alliance” • Japan aims to conquer all of SE Asia • Roosevelt freezes Japanese assets and cuts off oil after Japan invades Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) demands Japan withdraw from China • Dec. 7, 1941 Japan responds by attacking Pearl Harbor • Destroyed 200 American planes, badly damaged Pacific fleet • 2,400 Americans dead, 1,200 wounded • Same day Japan struck U.S. bases in Philippines, Guam, and Wake Island • Dec. 11 1941, US declared war against Axis powers

  7. At Home • Primary focus became PRODUCTION • Numerous agencies emerge under the War Powers Act to sell the war and prevent subversion of the war effort • War cost- $250 million/day • New Deal agencies vanished, unemployment plummeted • War effort created largest economic boom in the history of any nation • Federal government begins spending vast amounts of money on defense related production

  8. Economy and Industry • 17 million new jobs created, gains distributed unevenly • American workers were 2x as productive as the Germans, 5x the Japanese • Government investments in the military benefited and transformed many regions…..these regions became reliant on defense production • Large numbers of women and minorities joined the workforce in newly opened positions • Strikers and labor unions gained power before the war by having the upper hand in negotiations…labor demand

  9. Food and Families • American farmers couldn’t keep up with international demand or domestic market • Food, gas and clothing rationed by government = everyone was affected by the war • Diet changes, packaged meals (Kraft mac and cheese) • Marriages skyrocketed and divorces set records • Housing shortages (post-war housing boom) • Childcare became a problem with both parents working, dropout rates increased

  10. Internment Camps • Fear of Japanese invasion and suspected loyalty of Japanese Americans led to the worst violation of civil liberties during the war. • Financial assets of 1st generation Japanese American’s frozen 12/8/1941 • 112,000 people were forced to relocate to internment camps, some for up to 4 years • Many families received no more than 1 week notice to close businesses and homes • Internment camps located in Western military areas, small rooms, army cots, no lights, stoves or washrooms, “American concentration camps” • Formal apology and reparations given in 1988 • Topaz, Utah

  11. Weapons and Technology • Airplanes and tanks gave mobility and firepower = mobile war • Two-way radios transmission and other improvements in communication • Sub-sinking destroyers, landing craft and amphibious vehicles, trucks and jeeps • Chemical and nuclear weapons

  12. Allied Offensive • Allies on defensive until 1942 • 1942 Allies invade N. Africa, later Italy, then plan for France • Allies win major victories in France, Italy , Tunisia, Egypt, Belgium, and Soviet Union • 6 months after Pearl Harbor Allies begin to regain military superiority in Pacific, “island hopping” • http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_War_II_alliances_animated_map.gif • Famous figures: General Douglas MacArthur in Pacific, Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton in Europe

  13. Holocaust • U.S. government released little info during the war • Major news sources treated killings as minor news items • Government resisted intervention, thought it a diversion of valuable resources • Killed 6 million Jews, and millions of other “inferior races”

  14. The End • Unconditional surrender • Europe: • Italy surrendered Sept. 8 1943 • Bombing of German cities -> several hundred thousand civilian deaths • Hitler commits suicide & Germany surrenders • VE Day May 8, 1945 • Asia: • MAJOR bombing campaign, Tokyo & others • Soviet plan to join fighting in Pacific • Atomic bombs (justified?) • Aug. 6 1945 Hiroshima, Aug. 9 Nagasaki • VJ Day Aug. 14 1945

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