The Holocaust

The Holocaust was the systematic killing of Jews and other "unfit" individuals by the Nazis during World War II. Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazis during this time, blamed the Jews for Germany's failures, such as its economic problems and for their defeat in World War I. The Holocaust started with the passing of the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, which stripped Jews of their German citizenship, jobs, and property, and they were forced to wear yellow Stars of David at all times. Then on the night of November 9, 1938, Nazis stormed Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues all across Germany in an attack that is now known as Kristallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass". Even after the attack, the Germans blamed the Jews for the widespread destruction; they were biased and unfairly treated the Jews in their whole country. The Nazis tried to speed up Jewish emigration, but there were not many countries that would accept so many Jewish immigrants. Then, in 1939, Hitler imposed the “Final Solution”, which was a policy of genocide to eliminate all non-Aryans. Political opponents (communists, socialists, liberals, and anarchists), gypsies, freemasons (supporters of the “Jewish conspiracy”), Jehovah’s Witnesses (those who refused to join the army or salute Hitler), and individuals “unfit” to be part of the “master race” (the mentally ill, homosexuals, the mentally deficient, the physically ill, and the terminally ill) were also targeted, in addition to Jews. As part of the Final Solution, Jews were forced to relocate to ghettos, or dismal, overcrowded, segregated Jewish areas that were sealed off with barbed wire and stone walls. There were also numerous concentration camps that were established, which were originally used to imprison political opponents and protestors, but ended up housing thousands of people in horrific living conditions; they worked there until they collapsed, at which point they were killed. In 1942, the Final Stage of the Holocaust was reached, and a meeting in Wannsee decided that a new phase of mass killing would begin: murder by poison gas. Six death camps were established in Poland, each of which could kill as many as 12,000 people a day by cyanide gas. To get rid of the dead bodies afterwards, huge crematoriums were installed to incinerate the corpses, or even to burn individuals alive.

During WWII in the Pacific, the US fought Japan. The pacific war was unusual, in that the main goal was not the capturing of territory. Indeed, with a few exceptions, the US did not care for the vast majority of islands under Japanese rule. The main goals of the Pacific front were:
1. To defend the American West Coast, including Hawaii and Alaska, against Japanese attack
2. To recapture island bases lost to Japan ie. Wake and Guam
3. To provide bases to attack and stage an invasion on the home islands of Japan.
To accomplish these goals, the US used a new strategy, where they ignored all but the most strategic of the Islands. Other islands, even those with Japanese bases, were ignored. This strategy allowed the US to move quickly across the Pacific, faster than if they had stopped to liberate every other island.
The first step in the Pacific War was naval superiority. Contrary to popular belief, the attack on Pearl Harbor didn’t damage the American Navy very much. Only two of the battleships were sunk outright, and the rest were brought back into commission within a year. The Japanese attack was a strategic failure, because it missed the three American aircraft carriers. As both navies knew, aircraft carriers were more important to warfare than battleships, and their loss would have crippled the American Navy. The main striking power of the US Pacific fleet was intact. America’s industrial power was already ramping up to replace the losses suffered at Pearl Harbor, and expand the fleet. Japanese industry and construction was no match for American industry. The US fleet fought two engagements that would decide the course of the war in the Pacific. The first was the Battle of the Coral Sea. A Japanese fleet was on course to invade New Guinea, and Australia. The American’s carriers heavily damaged two Japanese carriers, losing one of their own. It was a strategic American victory, as it prevented the Japanese from opening a new front in Australia. It also damaged two Japanese carriers heavily enough, that they would not be able to fight at the Battle of Midway. At Midway, a small American fleet used superior tactics to wipe out four irreplaceable Japanese aircraft carriers, destroying the main power of the Imperial fleet, which the Japanese did not have the resources to replace. Midway was the decisive battle in the Pacific, and sounded the death knell of the Empire of the Sun. Midway was a huge setback for the Japanese war effort, and by the time they started to recover, they could not compete with superior American technology, tactics, and industry.

Jay and Jon

The Atlantic Battle and North African Front

Hitler knew that the "life line" between the United Kingdom and the United States across the Atlantic was vital to Britain and the Soviet Union staying in the war (the US provided supplies and other merchandise to the countries). Therefore, he ordered U-Boats (submarines) to attack British and American supply ships. This marked the start of the Atlantic Battle.
In the first four months of World War II, the Germans sank 87 ships. After seven months into the war, the Germans had sunk over 681 Allied ships. This led to the Allies using convoys (groups of ships traveling together for mutual protection). With the technological advances of sonar and radar, the Allies were about to detect German subs easily and therefore, destroy them. Once the Germans were at a disadvantage, they were losing submarines faster than they could build them. At the same time, the United States was mass-producing ships, ending the struggle for the Atlantic in 1943.

In the same year, and roughly the same time (after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attack on the military base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii), the Allies launched Operation Torch, an attack on North Africa that was to be led by future president Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Operation's goal was to open up another front against the Axis Powers (the Allies were pressured by Stalin, from the Soviet Union). Opposite Eisenhower was Rommel, the acclaimed "Desert Fox" from Germany. By May 1943, the last German troop surrendered in North Africa.

- Paul and Tiffany

Battle of the Atlantic and North African Front

Atlantic-After Pearl Harbor, Hitler started attacking the US east coast with U-boats in order to stop US ships from sending war supplies to Britain and the Soviet Union.  In the first 4 months of 1942 a total of 87 American ships were sunk and within the next 7 months a total of 681.  Allies organized the cargo ships into groups called convoys to protect each other.  The convoys traveled with sonar to detect submarines and were accompanied by airplanes that used radar.  Karl Deonitz who was the commander to the German U-boat fleet said that the Allies were too protected and that they outnumbered the German boats.  The US built tons of Liberty boats, 140 per month, to protect their ships.

North African Front-Stalin persuaded US and Britain to attack in North Africa as a second front.  They attacked at Casablanca and were led by Dwight D. Eisenhower.  By 1942 there were 107,000 soldiers in Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers where they began to charge eastward.  The Afrika Korps were led by Erwin Rommel who was known as the Desert Fox.  By May 1943 the Afrika Korps had surrendered.

In conclusion, once the US entered the war, they helped with many victories and were a great asset to the Allies.

Real Life Rambos of WWII

Of all the distinguished fighters who served in World War II, the 99th Pursuit Squadron (better known as the Tuskegee Airmen) distinguished themselves through valiant acts of bravery. Through 15000 sorties on 1500 missions, the regiment is credited with the destruction of over 100 German Luftwaffe aircraft, the sinking of the Italian cruiser TA-23, and the bombing of many railroad lines and fuel dumps. The entirely African American regiment, known favorably as "Redtail Angels" to Allies and deemed as the notorious "Black Birdmen" by the Germans, was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for escorting high explosive weaponry to a German factory and crushing all German opposition in their way (such as 11 Me-262 jets). By the end of the war, the 99th was one of the most decorated squadrons, with 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Purple Hearts, and 744 Air Medals.

Heroism also arose from the most unexpected places, including the Japanese Americans who were prosecuted only for their heritage. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team consisted solely of Nisei (2nd generation American-born Japanese Americans), and pitted their forces against the Germans and the country of their ancestors, Japan. They participated in many major battles of the North African campaign and the Italian campaign during the waning days of the war, including the grand assault on Monte Cassino during the push toward Rome. The 442nd returned to heavy combat, seizing Monte Belvedere and Carrera in April 8th and 10th of 1945. With a 314% casualty rate and over 9000 Purple Hearts awarded to this unit, the 442nd has gone down in history as the most wounded unit in American History.

These two groups are only a sample of the innumerable great soldiers that fought and died during the war. Their stories will be part of the legacy of posterity that will never be forgotten.

By Victor and Brandon

Atomic Bomb Ends the War

After losing over 6,000 marines during the invasion of Iwo Jima, President Truman was reluctant to order a direct assault on Japan. Luckily, there was an alternative - the atomic bomb. American scientists led by J Robert Oppenheimer had been secretly developing a new kind of weapon that was capable of new levels of destruction. It had been successfully tested on July 16th, 1945, in the New Mexican desert. President Truman decided to utilize this new asset immediately and warned the Japanese that they faced "utter destruction" if they did not surrender. On August 6th, 1945, the US sent a lone bomber to the Japanese town of Hiroshima, an important industrial city. The bomber, named the Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb nicknamed Little Boy and annihilated the entire city in an single blast. Those that did not die immediately suffered from radiation poisoning and did not live for long. Still, the Japanese refused to surrender. The Allies dropped a second bomb, named Fat Man, on the city of Nagasaki, destroying half the city. Emporer Hirohito was appalled at the destruction and ordered his military leaders to surrender. The official peace papers were drawn up and signed on September 2nd of the same year on the US battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. General MacArthur declared that peace had finally come to the Pacific.

Rebuilding After World War II

In February 1945, the Big Three (Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin) met at the Black Sea city of Yalta to celebrate the imminent defeat of Germany. For eight days they discussed the fate of Germany and the postwar world. Stalin, who's country had suffered devastating losses, favored a harsh approach in which Germany would be divided into occupation zones controlled by Allied military forces. Churchill strongly disagreed though, and Roosevelt stepped in to mediate. He was prepared to make concessions to Stalin in the hope that the Soviet Union would stand by its commitments to join the war against Japan. He also hoped the Soviet Union would support a new world peace-keeping organization, to be named the United Nations. The meting produced a series of compromises. Roosevelt convinced Churchill to agree to a temporary division of Germany into four zones to pacify Stalin. Stalin, in turn, promised "free and unfettered" elections in Poland and other Soviet-occupied Eastern-European countries. He also agreed to join the war against Japan and to participate in an international conference to be held in San Francisco.

The Nuremburg trials tried 24 survivin Nazi leaders for crimes against humanity, crimes against the peace, and war crimes. 12 of the 24 were sentenced to death and the rest were sent to prison. Later on, 200 lesser officials were also tried and sentenced.

The U.S. also shaped the rebuilding of Japan during its 7-year occupation. General MacArthur, commander of the U.S. forces occupying Japan, introduced free-market practices that led to an incredible economic recovery. He also transformed the government by calling for a new constitution that would provide for woman suffrage and guarentee basic freedoms.

-Written by Arline and J.P.

The Atomic Bomb Ends the War

After the taking of Iwo Jima and Okinawa by the US, Japan was open to invasion in the eyes of the US. Knowing that heavy loses would ensue if US troops had to take over Japan via troops. President Truman saw the atomic bomb as a way to avoid an invasion thus saving countless US lives. Truman turned to the Manhattan Project, which was led by General Leslie Groves with the research directed by American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer. At its peak, more than 600,000 Americans were involved with the project. The first test took place in the morning of July 16, 1945 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The blast was visible 180 miles away yet the government was able to keep it a secret to its citizens. On July 15, 1945, upon seeing the devistation the bomb caused, president Truman agreed to drop it on Japan. On August 6, 1945, a B29 named Elona Grey flew over Hiroshima to deliver the first atomic bomb, deemed, Little Boy. Three days later the US delivered "Fat Man", a second atomic bomb on the Japanese city Nagasaki. On August 28 1945 the allies occupy Japan and call for a surrender by the Japanese. The surrender was signed on the USS Missouri on the same day. After the Atomic Bomb fell onto Japanese cities, world leaders feared it's immense power; this in turn, to the Cold War.
-Erik

Heroes in Combat!

Heroes in Combat: Chapter 18

There were many multi-racial heroes in the military during the war, who were separated into their own units based on race. Each of the unites were highly proficient in their own ways. The first was the 99th Persuit Squadron, an all black unit, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. They won many victories over Germany throughtout Italy. They earned two unit citations for their expertise in airial combat. The citations were the highest commendation possible
The second was the 92nd Infantry Division, known as the "Buffaloes." In the short time span of six months, the unit earned themselves seven Legion of Merit awards, sixty five silver stars, and one hundred and sixty two bronze stars for courage.
Another minority unit was the Mexican Americans. 17 of the Mexican Americans in the Company E of 141st Regiment [36 division], were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. This division was the "most decorated" during the war.
1,300 Japanese Americans, who served in Italy and North Africa, were in the 100th Battalion. They were known as Hawaiian Nisei, which implys that their parents were born in Japan. They dealt with severe combat and were given the nickname "Purple Heart Battalions." Later on, they merged with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was completely Nesie. This team is the most decorated unit in American history.

Created By: Zoe Rose, Emily B

The Atom Bomb Ends the War

By Andres and Lawrence

The Manhattan project was led by general Leslie Graves. The actual project was researched and directed by J. Robert Oppenheimer, and it was the best kept secret of the war. The first test of the A-bomb was conducted on July 16th, 1945 at Alamogordo, New Mexico. The test was successful. on July 25th, 1945, President Truman gave orders to drop two atom bombs on Japan, in an attempt to end the war. The US warned Japan first, telling them that they faced "prompt and utter destruction." On August 6th, a B-29 bomber dropped the first A-bomb, code-named "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, a Japanese military base. Almost every building was blown to dust. However, the Japanese still hesitated to surrender. On August 9th, the second bomb, "Fat Man", was dropped on Nagasaki, leveling half the city. Horrified by the destruction and loss of lives, Emperor Hirohito formally surrendered on September 2nd. By the end of the year, over 200,000 people had died as a result of radiation and injuries from the explosion.



Picture Obtained from: http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/html/record.php?id=99

Atomic Bomb Ends the War

As the Allies began to win the war in the Pacific, President Truman sought to avoid invasion of Japan and looked to alternative methods to end the war. The lone solution was a project former president Franklin Delano Roosevelt left behind, the Manhattan Project. Set up by the Office of Scientific Research and Development, the Manhattan Project was started at Columbia University and had as many as 600,000 workers involved. The result of the Manhattan Project research was the atomic bomb, a devastatingly powerful weapon that would be used to end the war. The first test of the bomb was done in New Mexico on July 16, 1945, and was a success. President Truman ordered for two bombs to dropped on Japan on July 25, 1945. The U.S. gave Japan a chance to surrender, but the Japanese refused on August 6, the Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber, dropped the first atomic bomb "Little Boy" on the city of Hiroshima, leveling the city in 43 seconds. Once again, the U.S. gave Japan a chance to give up, only to be refused again. On August 9, the atomic bomb "Fat Man" was dropped over the city of Nagasaki. 200,000 people were killed by the blast or radiation from the bomb. Emperor Hirohito was devastated by the destruction, and ordered the military leaders to surrender, ending the war in the Pacific.

By Andrew, and Bonan

Japanese American Concentration Camps

On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was bombed by the Japanese. In 1942, the War Department called for mass evacuation of Japanese Americans from Hawaii. At this time, 37% of the population of Hawaii was made up of Japanese Americans. Because of this population amount, evacuation would potentially worsen the Hawaiian economy. However, 1,444 Japanese were sent to internment or concentration camps. This concentration camps held thousands of Japanese Americans and provided people with little food, unsanitary quarters and no sympathy. The victims of the camps were cramped and surrounded by barbed wire or thick fencing. Children as young as newborns and adults as old as great-grandmothers and fathers were sent away, sometimes never to return. The camps were mostly concentrated in the West or Midwest coast of the United States. For example, Manzanar camp in California, or Granada camp in Colorado.
Anti-Japanese sentiment was published in newspapers beginning in California. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt made an executive order remove people of Japanese ancestry from California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona; 11,000 Japanese were shipped to prison camps throughout the United States without any evidence of subversion. In 1944, Korematsu v. United States determined that this racial segregation was legal in times of military necessity. In 1965, The Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) pushed for government compensating. In 1978, Congress gave payment for reparations of $20,000 to each Japanese American who were previously sent to relocation camps.

War in the Pacific (1942-1945)

The War in the Pacific started in the six months after Pearl Harbor was attacked, where Japan overran Hong Kong, French Indonesia, Malaya, Burma, Thailand, much of China, Dutch East Indies, Guam, Wake Island, and the Soloman Islands. They first encountered major resistance in the Phillipines, where 80,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers were led by General Douglas MacArthur. In April 18th, 1942 the Allies began to turn the side on Japan, where Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle led 16 bombers in the attack on Tokyo. One month after Doolittle's raid on Tokyo, there was a 5 day battle in the Coral Sea, where the Allies succeeded in stopping the Japanese advance towards Australia. In June 3, 1942, Chester Nimitz led the Allies to victory in a major turning point in the war in The Battle of Midway by winning back island by island, moving closer to Japan. After this turn of events, the Allies went on the offensive in August 1942 where 19,000 troops stormed Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands which marked Japan's first defeat on land. Two years later in October 1944, 178,000 Allied troops and 738 ships converged to Leyte Island in the Philippines with General MacArthur who announced “People of the Philippines: I have returned”. After these battles, the Japanese went entirely on the defensive in the Battle of Leyte Gulf where Japan lost 3 battleships, 4 aircraft carries, 13 cruisers, and almost 500 planes in three days. o After retaking much of the Philippines and liberating American prisoners, Allies turned to Iwo Jima where only 200 Japanese soldiers survived out of 20,700. Afer Iwo Jima, only Okinawa stood between the U.S. and Japan, so the Allies invaded it in April 1945, where fighting lasted until June 21, 1945. Over 7,600 U.S. soldiers died, while 110,000 Japanese soldiers died. The War in the Pacific was finally ended on August 6, 1945 where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima as Emperor Hrohito was horrified by the destruction and accepted defeat.

By Zack and Mina

Women in the Military

George Marshall, the chief of staff of the army, pushed for the creation of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) because of the shortage of men during World War II. Even though many congressmen did not approve of the bill, the army was desperately in need of women's assistance. The Bill became a law on May 15, 1942. Women worked in non-combat positions. They were nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricians, and pilots. George Marshall once stated that many of the women did a better job in these positions than the men had. About 350,000 women served in the auxiliary during the war. The women received no medical coverage, legal protection, or disability benefits that were available for the male military veterans. In July 1943 the army decided to drop the auxiliary status granting the women full US army benefits, and changing the name to Women's Army Corp (WAC). The WAC remained a separate unit until the male and female units were integrated in 1978.


by Jennah and Katie

Welcome to the Blog for U.S. History - Period D!

Students in the D-period United States History class will be creating posting to this blog as part of an on-going project this spring (2009).

Students will be required to review & to make COMMENTS on any FOUR (4) postings from the two other class blogs.

FAQs sheet is provided to students to help them to develop their postings to the class blog.

Enjoy!