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20th Century US History |
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Imperialism - World War II
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Imperialism - World War II |
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1898-U.S. becomes an imperial power after fighting the Spanish American War. They obtain Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. They look to Asia in terms of expansion, the Caribbean, and Latin America as well. Their intention is to establish hegemony in Latin America. The U.S. establishes its dominance in Latin America economically. This economic dominance came to be known as Dollar Diplomacy.
The Panama Canal is built between 1903-1914, making it possible to do commerce quicker and more efficiently between the East and the West The average voyage prior to the construction of the Canal was 6 weeks. After its construction, it was cut to approx. 3 weeks. Once the canal is built, America places a strategic military presence in the region. Prior to its construction Panama belonged to Columbia. When negotiations between the U.S. and Columbia went sour, the U.S. instigated an uprising of the Panamanian people; thus, creating Panama. As a result a new government is formed, and the U.S. pays an initial 10,000,000 dollars to Panama with a subsidy of 250,000 dollars per year for control of the canal.
U.S. intervention becomes a normal occurrence in the region, and that is justified by the Roosevelt Corollary issued in 1903 The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine was an "amendment" to the Monroe Doctrine by Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. In effect, the Monroe Doctrine was now used not only for its original purpose of keeping out European hegemony in Latin America but also as an agency for expanding U.S. commercial interests in the region.
Roosevelt was determined to make the U.S. the dominant power in the Western Hemisphere. This doctrine was a frank statement that the U.S. was willing to seek leverage over Latin American governments by acting as an international police power in the region. Described as a policy of speaking softly but carrying a big stick, the Roosevelt announcement launched an era of the "big stick."
The "Good Neighbor" policy was the policy of the United States Administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in relation to Latin America in 1933-45, when the active U.S. intervention of previous decades was moderated in pursuit of hemispheric solidarity against external threats.
The most serious of Latin American threats was the 1911 revolution in Mexico with the assassination of President Madero. Wilson is appalled by the assassination and does not recognize their newly established government. He therefore sends in troops to the area, but the mission fails and troops were withdrawn. This was the most serious conflict between the U.S. and Mexico since the Spanish-American War.
In 1914 Europe goes to war. The theatre of conflict is France which also has the highest loss of life. It was one of the bloodiest wars ever fought with massive destruction and devastation. What were the Causes of this war? Thought the immediate cause of this war was the assassination of The Austrian/Hungary Empire�s Archduke Ferdinand and his wife by a Serbian nationalist, who was part of the Black Hand movement, there are underlying causes as well. From the mid 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century there is peace in Europe with the exception of the Franco Prussian War fought in 1871. (The French territories surrendered to Germany became the German imperial province of Alsace-Lorraine). In the course of this peace Europe had begun to industrialize; first, Britain and France, followed by Germany and Italy. In the peace there is rivalry between these nations. Germany emerges as a new economic power and looks to establish empires. They will do this at the expense of Britain and France. There is a scramble for Africa by these major European powers and in 1885 the Berlin Conference establishes Germany as a major economic and military power. The 1885 Congress of Berlin, initiated by Bismarck to establish international guidelines for the acquisition of African territory, formalized this "New Imperialism". Between the Franco-Prussian War and the Great War, Europe added almost 9 million square miles (23,000,000 km�) � one-fifth of the land area of the globe � to its overseas colonial possessions. To appease Germany and Italy, Africa is divided up.]
By the beginning of the 20th century the AHE and the Ottoman Empire are in trouble and crumbling due to nationalism. When an Empire is collapsing it creates a vacuum that needs to be filled. Both Germany and Russia are interested in these regions.
Following the assassination of the AHE�s Archduke, AHE declares war on Serbia and Russia decides to back Serbia up because of their common backgrounds (they are Slavic), and Germany Backs the AHE. Britain decides to enter the War and now the War is being fought on 2 fronts (East& West). On the Eastern front, Germany attacks Russia, and on the Western front, they attack France, which becomes the primary theatre of conflict.
The two sides of this war are the Triple Alliance , made up of Austria Hungary, Italy (which later switches sides), Germany, and the Ottoman Empire, and the Triple Entente, made up of France, Britain, and Russia (the U.S. will later join but not at this point).
The U.S. decides to stay away and isolates itself from the conflict in Europe, because they follow a philosophy of neutrality that stems back to Washington�s Farewell address beseeching American Government to stay out of European affairs. In addition, a large portion of President Wilson�s constituency, were immigrants of German, Irish, and Italian decent. He feared that this group would split loyalties due to cultural ties and sentiment for their people and homelands.
Nevertheless, early in 1917 Germany resumed its policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. This combined with public indignation over the Zimmerman telegram which instructed the ambassador to approach the Mexican government with a proposal to form an alliance against the United States. It was intercepted by the British and its contents hastened the entry of the United States into the war., led to a final break of relations with the Central Powers. President Woodrow Wilson requested that the U.S. Congress declare war on Germany, which it did on April 6, 1917 The American and British Elite also had blood ties which tightened the alliance between these two nations.
World War I became infamous for trench warfare, where huge numbers of troops were confined to trenches and could move little because of tight defenses. This was especially true of the Western Front. Over 9 million died on the battlefield with Germany leading the number of casualties (1.8 million). These massive casualties were made possible by the introduction of new and innovative weapons and machinery. WWI was the first war to engage the usage of the tank, submarines, Gatlin Gun (Machine gun), airplanes, and chemical warfare (most deadly mustard gas). On November 11, 1918, Germany surrenders and the war is over.
Wilson devises a plan for reconstructing a new Europe known as the 14 points. Some of these points were: to make the world safe for Democracy (Wilson is known to be an idealist). He claimed that this would be the war to end all wars; open diplomacy which is an oxymoronic term; freedom of the seas; disarmament; free trade and the creation of the League of Nations. The League of Nations had an assembly made up of member nations that had a council. Britain, France, U.S., Italy (Which switched sides), and Germany is left out.
In 1919, the Versailles Conference is held, and Pres. Wilson is instrumental and a key player. The Treaty of Versailles charges Germany with starting the war and therefore placing full responsibility for the war on them. They are to pay reparations of approximately 50 Billion dollars fro the reparation and reconstruction of Europe. Germany became disarmed and occupied by Britain and France, and they would have to give up all their territories.
As a result new states are created. AHE becomes Austria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. The State of Yugoslavia is formed, and Poland once part of Russia becomes an independent state. The Ottoman Empire is divided up into Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Palestine (Israel).
This exclusion of Germany and demands of reparations and assumption of full responsibility for the war makes Germany bitter and sets the stage for WWII. There is a rise of nationalism in Germany and this is started by a German WWI veteran by the name of Adolph Hitler.
Issues on the Domestic Front
Should Freedom of speech be curtailed? How does a society mobilize for war? Society needs to be convinced that the war is right s, so they need to mobilize economically and politically. The govt. creates a number of bureaucracies.
War Industries Board: Prepares to fight the war.
Food Administration: Food is sent aboard fro the war effort.
Railroad War Board: Usage of the railroads to transport necessary supplies for the war effort.
National War Labor Board: Prevents strikes. They would negotiate disputes between labor and management.
The Commission on Public Information: In charge of propaganda.
In order to fight a war you must have an enemy portrayed and this is what propaganda did to promote U.S. entry and support of the war.
The government determines that there should be a public unity and dissention against the war would be frowned upon and forbidden.
During Wilson�s presidency there is a large constituency of immigrants. (Explained in WWI notes).
The focus of the govt. turns to the Germans. In 1917, the Selective Service Act is Passed this is another term for the draft. All healthy American males between the ages of 18-40 would be eligible to fight for their country, and to protect the draft, the government passes the 1917 Espionage Act which claimed that anyone who supported insubordination, mutiny or disloyalty, would be prosecuted and fined 10,000.dollars and a possible sentence of up to 20 years.
There is a withholding of mails to groups that seemed subversive. In 1918, the Sedition Act is passed. It stated that anyone who shall utter, print, or write anything disloyal or profane about the American govt. would be prosecuted.
In 1919 the famous case of Schenck vs. U.S. The federal government's position was that Schenck's actions violated the Espionage Act. Even though the Supreme Court upheld the decision it set a precedent for 1st amendment limitations during a rime of crisis. This became known as Clear and Present Danger. It was famous Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes who claimed that the first amendment does not apply if one falsely shouts fire in a movie theatre.
Anti-German sentiment is created. It was declared that no German should be spoken or taught in the schools. It was concluded that Germans needed to be Americanized. Germans were scrutinized and faced physical attacks. Thus, the concept of ethnicity and a division of the races based on ethnicity develops. This division becomes evident in the famous Sacco-Venzetti case. Known as Social Anarchists, they are accused of the murder of a security guard in the factory that they had worked for. They were tried convicted, and later sent to the electric chair. The repercussions of this case pitted Boston immigrants against Boston Brahmins (Elite). This event explodes the issue of ethnicity. What it brings out into the open is the question of race.
In Madison Grant�s novel, The Passing of the Great Race, the author uses ethnicity to be associated with race. The Brahmins argue that some whites are superior to other whites. Grant also argues that Jews and Italians are not whites Out of this will develop what is known as eugenics. Those who followed eugenics argued that morons and mentally disabled people should not reproduce. They were advocates of sterilization, which openly raises the question of how one defines race. These are sociological definitions. Somewhere in the 1920�s race will need to be defined. The Red Scare came about after the Russian Revolution. This revolution was successful and it called for the demise of capitalism and it was feared that this would happen in the U.S. The 1920 Palmer Raids uses the justice department to round up people who were viewed as subversives. They were jailed and those who were not citizens were deported. (Emma Goldman, most famous).
In 1919 there were strikes and civil unrest, and a bomb was detonated on Wall Street. It killed scores of people, and was a direct attack on the heart of capitalism (Wall Street being the financial district). There is a direct parallel between this and 9/11 (similar attacks greater scale of destruction on 9/11).
During the war, freedom of speech is limited, ethnic tensions are exacerbated due to the Red Scare, there is civil strife, radicalism, and the govt. deals with it.
The 1920�s was a decade where the American people looked inward. There is now a focus on internal affairs. There are some profound social and cultural changes. This era was also known as the Jazz Age.
In 1920 women got the right to vote. This right empowered women and changed their status dramatically. They �took their clothes off� and did away with the Victorian costume. There is an emergence of the new American woman. She is a party girl and exercises sexual freedom due to access of birth control, women are sexually liberated and begin to party. They now engage in sex for pleasure. The Nation reacts to the bloodshed of WWI by laying back and having a good time. Divorce rates soar, and women become aware of their bodies with the quest for thinness. They do this by emaciating themselves, and plastic surgery, finding themselves acting destructively for the sake of looking good.
The rise of mass entertainment floods American culture, such as, Movies radio, theatre, and jazz clubs. Hollywood is created, thus, the birth of the movies star. Americans have more leisure time and find themselves going on vacations. There is an emergence of professional sports as a form of entertainment, and famous athletes like Babe Ruth and Rocky Marciano. Baseball and boxing are the most popular sports of the time.
The 1920�s marks the point where the American economy shifts from an industrial base to a consumer base. Products are produced for the consumer. Cars emerge as the number one consumer product.
In 1916 the government passes the Highway Act. The purpose of this act was the government would subsidize the building of highways and roads for the automobile.
GM becomes one of the most powerful corporations of the time. Phones become a necessity. Washing machines are in the home, electric stoves, toasters, and new products are designed around plastics and the introduction of synthetic fibers. What consumerism did was it reduced time that women spent at home working and it freed up their days to pursue other projects. It also introduced the corporation types that developed products for the home.
The 1920�s is a decade that produces some economic developments. There is a real estate boom (Fla. &CA). There is a building boom in the North with the development of skyscrapers, and suburbia is developed. It yields speculation in land. Banks merge, and certain corporations become conglomerates (GM). Profits soared. Tax laws were passed that distributed wealth upwards which in turn made the rich wealthier, and, thereby, consumers had les money to consume. Labor unions lost their influence, and wages are stagnated.
Culturally, there is a reemergence of the KKK in 1915. This new Klan is anti-black, catholic, and Jewish. They were referred to as the Nativist Movement. They are largely WASP working class with middle class leadership. They are instrumental in achieving immigration laws that restrict movement of people into the U.S., ad they do this by establishing a quota system in 1921. In 1924 each country, which sent immigrants, would have a quota assigned. It would be based on those immigrants that came to the U.S. prior to 1890. This law was designed to exclude the very people that the KKK and Boston Brahmins were opposed to, and favored those they wanted in the U.S.
� Why did it happen?
� What was the impact?
� How does Hoover deal with the depression?
� How does Roosevelt Deal?
The depression began on October 10th, 1929 and ended in 1942. It was actually WWII that brings America out of the Depression.
The reasons for the depression: On October 24th, 1929 the stock market crashes. This was the immediate cause or trigger of the depression. There was excessive speculation. Stock was purchased with out people putting up the cash for it; therefore, there was no cushion to fall back on.
There was excessive speculation in the real estate market as well (Fla. CA).
Banks were over extended.
There is an unequal distribution of wealth. The distribution of wealth moved upwards, and at a time when it was important for consumers to consume, they did not have the money to spend.
1922- Agriculture is depressed, and there is a shortage of credit in manufacturing. As a result, consumer confidence collapsed, and all these things precipitate in the depression.
Banks fail, and between 1929-1932approximately 5000 banks fail.
The
unemployment rate soars to an all time high, and because of this, people
could not meet their mortgage obligations. This inevitably leads to
foreclosure, and people wound up homeless. Hoovervilles and Shanty Towns
spring up all over.
The national unemployment rate was 25% in1931, but regionally higher. For
example, Chicago and Detroit�s unemployment rate was a staggering 50%
because their livelihood was dependent upon one type of industry (Detroit
GM).
Because capitalism booms and busts, it was assumed (based on past depressions) that this depression was just a part of the capitalistic cycle, and that it would resolve on its own (belief in the invisible hand).
However, this assumption is not working, and by 1930 it just gets worse.
Initially, the government does not want to intervene in business. President Hoover is a stout conservative and believes in Laissez Faire. He therefore cannot bring himself to use government intervention for he believes that would be socialist. Instead, Hoover calls for citizens to unite in this time of crisis and help each other out. The Hoover administration believed that depression, like war, has a cleansing effect, and, at the end, the strong businesses would rise leaving the weak to fail.
In 1932, Hoover uses a modicum of intervention. He invents the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, a government program that will lend money to businesses, banks, and railroads, to jump start the economy. This was too little too late.
Federal Home Loan Bank System for homeowners.
Public works: He set up the public works program, which hired workers to construct schools, build dams, and pave big highways. This program was not ambitious enough, however, to reverse the economic downturn. Hoover refused to engage in deficit spending. He refused to allow the govt. to go into debt.
He refuses to provide direct federal relief to the public, because it is welfare and it would be socialistic. He also did not want people to expect that the govt. should take care of them.
In 1932, Hoover is a repudiated president; his presidency is a failure and he cannot find a way out of this economic disaster.
FDR succeeds Hoover to the presidency. FDR comes from a wealthy background. He was Harvard educated. At age 39 he was stricken with polio. Here was a crippled president for a crippled economy. Roosevelt is charming and charismatic. He tells people when he is campaigning that �happy days are here again.� He spoke to the nation by way of radio famously known as the fireside chat. Roosevelt�s administration must confront:
� Business
� Manufacturing crisis
� Massive unemployment
� A working class & middle class affected
� Large numbers of youths affected
� Fear of people searching alternative forms of government (socialism & communism).
Roosevelt is the master improviser. He turns to the Columbia economists and seeks their advice (this was called a brain trust). These economists will devise the programs necessary for the New Deal. They embrace Keynesian economics, modeled by economist John Maynard Keynes.
What is done to revive the economy?
� The gold standard is abandoned, and immediately upon entering office, FDR shuts down the banks to stabilize the financial sector of the economy.
� FDR turns to congress and introduces the New Deal. It was in the first one hundred days of FDR�s administration that a massive amount of legislation was passed; these 100 days became the benchmark by which future presidents were measured.
� FDR repeals the 18th amendment. It will create jobs and it resurrects the alcohol industry.
� 1933 Glass Steagall Banking Act is passed. It reorganizes the banking system by separating investment banking from commercial banking. This act was repealed in 1995
� FDIC insures depositors that if the bank fails their monies are insured up to a specified amount (Usually 100,000).
� Federal Security Act: This creates the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate the stock market.
Reforms agriculture
� 1933Agricultural Adjustment Act: Pays farmers money not to grow crops on their farms in order to stabilize prices.
Reforms industry
� NIRA (National Industrial Recovery Act): Permits industry to set its own prices.
� NRA: (National Recovery Administration) gives labor the right to collective bargaining, sets minimum wages, and maximum hours.
� PWA (Public Works Administration): Creates jobs for the masses of people out of work.
� CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps): The CCC was created by Congress for the conservation of our natural resources (soil, water, and timber), also to give jobs and training to young men for as long as the depression lasted. Took the youth between the ages of 18-25 and put them in camps of rural America. They built the infrastructure of the U.S. The youth were impressionable and FDR wanted them out of the cities and away from socialists and communists.
� TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority): Government agency created to build dams, establish, rural electrification. They engage in planting forests. This is all done under regional planning. This creates a government agency that competes with the private sector.
� FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration): Provides a form of welfare.
� Homeowners Loan Corporation: Provides mortgages.
� CWA (Civilian Workers Association): Same as PWA; provides jobs.
Clearly, FDR has embarks on a program that causes distress, and opposition rises immediately.
The private sector or businessmen oppose the New Deal because they view it as socialism. They believe it has gone too far and capitalism will have no room to flourish.
Communists and Socialists oppose him because he is not radical enough. They believe he should have nationalized the banks and railroads by enforcing a more social program.
The right believes he is a traitor to his class. They are unhappy about the abandonment of the gold standard.
By 1934, the left begins to speak out; it is centered in the cities.
Father Coughlin, a radical priest, speaks on the radio out of Chicago, wants a guaranteed annual income for all citizens. He wants anti-monopoly laws, redistribution of wealth, and nationalization of the banks.
Senator Huey Long, a senator from Louisiana, wants to tax all incomes over 1,000,000.00 at 100%. Wants to set the maximum inheritance at 5,000,000.00, and whatever is earned over that amount goes to the government for redistribution.
Dr. Francis Townsend: Old age pension plan. Pensioners receive a monthly stipend from the government.
Labor unrest intensifies. The Supreme Court declares 7A of the NIRA that gave workers the right to collective bargaining becomes unconstitutional.
In 1935, Roosevelt shifts left, and embraces these policies with modifications.
1935 Social Security Act: A type of pension for people who are 65 and over. FDR had the people pay into the system instead of the government paying people directly.
FDR implements welfare on a national scale. Welfare is for women with dependant children. Welfare state is put into place.
FDR passes a tax law that tax rich.
NLRA: (National labor Relations Act): Wagner Act of 1935 gives labor the right to collective bargaining.
Roosevelt wins the election of 1936 against Alf Landon. This set Roosevelt�s mandate, but FRD fears the Supreme Court.
FDR wants to increase the Supreme Court, but Congress rejects this plan out of fear that it would set a precedent for future presidents to increase or decrease the amount of judges as they wish.
To FDR�s luck many of the sitting judges either died or got sick making it possible for FDR to replace these judges and protect his New Deal.
Roosevelt�s constituency was made up of White Southerners, Northern Blacks, and Immigrants (Italian, Jews, Poles, and their children), and Labor workers.
Roosevelt succeeded at putting together a coalition that allowed the Democratic Party to dominate congress for over 40 years. He was president for four consecutive terms, and after his death the 20th Amendment is passed limiting the presidency to a maximum of two terms.
FDR�s Legacy:
� Established the Welfare State
� Established once and for all that is the Governments responsibility to address an economic crisis.
� Expanded the power of National Government
� Made the presidency first among equals, the Executive Branch becomes the dominant one.
The immediate causes of World War II were the invasion of Germany into Poland in 1939. Britain and France enter into this war out of an allegiance to secure Poland�s sovereignty. There is a similar configuration as to that of 1914 Britain and France vs. Germany, Italy, and Japan (Axis Powers).
Why does Germany invade Poland? Poland was part of USSR in WWI, Germany viewed part of Eastern Europe as its sphere of influence. Germany begins expansionism. There is an expansionist policy by both Germany and Italy. We see this expansionist policy in Europe and in Asia from the 1930�s. Japan too is an expansionist power they invade China in 1931. In 1937 there is a second invasion and the Japanese invade Nan-Jing killing approximately 300,000 civilians and soldiers.
In 1930�s Fascism is a powerful force, in Italy and Spain there are fascist governments lead by Mussolini and Franco, and in Germany it is called Nazism, led by Adolf Hitler.
Hitler was elected chancellor of Germany in 1933. In a direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles, he rearms Germany and follows a policy of expansionism. In 1936 he invades the Rhineland and in 1938 he takes over Austria and the Sudetenland. By the end of the 1930�s he comes to dominate Czechoslovakia, and Germany expands eastward. By 1939 Hitler invades Poland. In the 1930�s Italy, after a small war with Ethiopia, expands into North Africa.
The U.S. takes a neutral stand, and the reason for its position of non-involvement is because it is faced with its own internal crisis (Economic Depression). Regardless, the U.S. does look upon one country with concern and that country is Japan. They view Japanese expansionist policies as a direct threat to the U.S. Secondly, the U.S. has close ties to China, and, thirdly, Japanese expansionist policies were viewed as a threat to U.S. presence in the Philippines and China. Roosevelt proposed a policy of �Quarantine Aggressors.�
In 1938, Hitler meets with the Prime Minister of England and President of France in Munich. At this meaning both leaders approved of Germany�s expansionism of Eastern Europe. This was called the Act of Appeasement.
The United Kingdom and France hoped that the Soviet Union would help defend Poland. But Hitler and Stalin shocked the world by becoming allies. On Aug. 23, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a nonaggression pact�in which they agreed not to go to war against each other. Hitler�s plan was to neutralize Russia and avoid fighting a two front war. Hitler had every intention of invading Poland, but he was not ready. Stalin signed the treaty, so that he would by time to prepare for future war.
In 1940, Germany invades France and is defeated; all that is left in the way is Britain. To protect themselves against an imminent invasion, Britain�s air force launches an attack on the Germans and suppresses their air force.
From the beginning of this war, the U.S. favors Britain because of their close historic ties. These two nations were close culturally, economically, and politically.
Regardless, Roosevelt does not want to go to war, so he offers all types of aid short of military intervention. Roosevelt and Churchill collaborate often even prior to the U.S.�s entry. FDR offers military advice and direction. This is most evident in the Lend Lease Act which permitted the U.S. to lend or lease arms and other supplies to allies.
FDR also chooses not to enter the war because he had a powerful constituency that was against going to war (Germans, Irish, and Italians) do not want to fight. Irish are anti-war because of their resentment of Britain, and Germans and Italians due to sentimental ties.
In 1941, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, a naval base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The Japanese assumed that by attacking Pearl Harbor they would destroy the American fleet it would take approximately 3-4 years for it to re-group and fight an effective war. However, luckily for the U.S., most battleships were not in the harbor on the day of the attack.
The U.S. intercepted codes sent from the Japan to the Japanese Ambassador. There is an assumption that Roosevelt knew about the attacks, and he deliberately maneuvered Japan to attack Pear Harbor so there would be no split divisions, and the U.S. would support the war Effort.
Once Japan attacks U.S. in 1941, Germany declares war on the U.S., and the U.S. is fighting a two front war; one front being Asia, and the other, Europe. However, the U.S. will execute this war successfully, and the reason for that is that the U.S. has a successful industrial base and available man-power. This industrial capacity makes it possible for the U.S. to fight the war in two theaters.
It was the Battle of Midway, in 1942, that the U.S. fleet destroys most of the Japanese fleet, thus making it ineffective and clears the way to the Asian mainland.
However, for now the U.S. concentrates on fighting the war in Europe. U.S. enters Africa where they link up with the British. This is an area of strategic importance. In this region they seek to secure the Suez Canal and the oil fields. Oil is necessary for fighting this war because WWII is the first mechanized war of the 20th century. The Germans send General Rommel (The Desert Fox), the U.S. sends Patton, and the British send Montgomery.
The Americans and the British defeat the Germans in Africa, and then proceed upwards towards Italy via Sicily. In 1944, Italy surrenders. Finally, on June 6, 1944, the U.S. invades France (Normandy Beach) to liberate it from German occupation. This day became known as D-Day. By August Paris was liberated.
The war is much more vicious on the Eastern front.
In 1941, Germany attacks the Soviet Union by what is known as a Blitzkrieg (in German, �lightning war�, swift, sudden, and overwhelming military offensive used by Germany in World War II (1939-1945). This Blitzkrieg devastates the Soviet Union. However, what stops the Germans is their failure to conquer Stalingrad the Germans surrendered, and along with the brutal winters of 1943-44, and a Scorch Earth policy (Russians burn everything making it impossible for German troops to survive off the land), the Germans are pushed back.
In 1943, Hitler makes one of the most important decisions of WWII. He devises a plan called The Final Solution�the mass extermination of �undesirable� people�Slavs, Gypsies, homosexuals, and above all, Jews.
In 1943, U.S. and British air force launch attacks in Hamburg and Dresden. Casualties ranged between 75-100,000. These bombings created firestorms burning people to death. This was a brutal war which yielded casualties of 50,000,000.
By 1945, 6 million Jewish men, women, and children had perished in the Nazi death camps.
In 1945, Germany looses the war after they are defeated in the Battle of the Bulge.
By 1945, the stage is set for the Cold War. USSR occupies East Germany and USA occupies the West.
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