1941 - 1945
KIA:408,306
WIA:670,846
The largest war in history had actually been in the making since the early 1930's
when Japan, Itay and Germany--or "the Axis" as the three power alignment called
itself--were swallowing up one country after another. In 1939, France and Britain
warned Nazi leader Adolph Hitler that an invasion of Poland would precipitate
all-out war. On September 1, 1939, the Nazis launched an unparalleld attack
against Poland using tanks, dive bombers, and paratroopers. World War II had
begun and no one could predict the magnitude the conflict would have. Lasting
six years, WW II would involve some 200 countries, cost 55 million lives,
inflict unimaginable suffering and influence-- to some degree-the lives of
most of the world's inhabitants.
Shortly before 8 a. m. on December 7, 1941--and without warning--Japanese
dive bombers attacked American airfields while torpedo bombers destroyed nearly
the entire Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harborin Hawaii that day. Caught
completely by surprise, Americans could offer little resistance. The sneak attack
which left 2,330 Americans dead and 1,145 wounded, sent a wave of outrage across
the United States. The next day, President Roosevelt asked the U. S. Congress
to declare war on Japan. Thre days later, Japan's Axis partners; Germany and Italy,
declared war on the United States. Congress reciprocated and America found itself
drawn into the second World War.
In the months that followed the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Allied fortunes sank
to their lowest levels. As Japan overran Thailand, Burma, Hong Kong, Singapore,
and the Dutch East Indies, Gen. MacArthur's Flipino and U. S. troops fought
gallently in the Phillipines-- but were badly outnumbered. In Europe the Nazis had
advanced to Stalingrad. By mid-November, however, the tide had changed with major
Allied victories in the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. Then on August 7, 1942,
The u. s. Marines stormed ashore on Guadalcanal and took control of the island.
Huge amounts of suplies were finally reaching the British and Soviet armies,
despite the threat of German U-boats.
In eary 1943, President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
met in Casablanca to chart the Allied strategy. Ruling out a negotiated settlement
with the Axis, they declared that nothing short of unconditional surrender would
be accepted. They laid plans to step up bombings of Gernmany and reenter Europe
through Sicily. In a major counter-offensive, the Soviets trapped the entire 6th
Army at Stalingrad, where they were forced to surrender on February 2, 1943. In
the Pacific theater, Americans seized strategic islands cutting off supplies to
Japanese strong points.With the Axis losing ground, Roosevelt and Churchill met
in Quebec to discuss plans for the invasion of Norway.
After the victory in the Marshall Islands and the liberation of Rome, the
greatest seaborne invasion in history--code-named Operation Overlord,
but more commonly known as D-Day--began when thousands of Allied troops landed
on the Narmandy coast of France. This re-invasion of Europe involved considerable
secrecy to conceal the exact timing and destination from the Germans. As the
Americans waded ashore on Omaha Beach, they were open targets of cross-fire from
the Germans on the bluffs above the beach. The troops clung to their foothold
and claimed victory. After liberating Paris, they fought and defeated the
Germans again in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest.
As 1945 begun, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met to prepare for Germany's
surrender. British and U. S. bombers continued to destroy most of Germany's
major cities. With Berlin surrounded, and the end now in sight, Hitler
committed suicide. italy's deposed dictator Mussolini, died at the hands of
Italian partisans. On May 8, 1945. Germany surrendered, but the war in the
Pacific still had top be won. With it's air force and navy in shambles and
it's economy shattered, the situation was hopeless for the Japanese. By not
responding to the ultimatum of total destruction withjout unconditional
surrender, the U. S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The
war was finally over.
THE KEY FIGURES OF WORLD WAR II
Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd U. S. President
Became President at the height of the Great Depression in 1933 and was
re-elected for three more terms. He died in office in April of 1945, less
than a month before Germany surrendered in WWII
Winston Churchill
British Prime Minister
Was known for his powerful intelect and oratorical style. In WWII. he felt
the coming together of English-speaking peoples was the best defense for
the free world.
Josef Stalin
Ruler of the USSR
Believed that the best way to deal with Adolph Hitler was to form an anti-
fascist alliance with countries in the west. Stalin argued that even Hitler
would not start a war against a united Europe.
Adolph Hitler
Leader of Nazi Germany
Rose from the bottom of societyto conquer Germany and most of Europe. Under
his rule much of Europe was destroyed as were some 6 million Jews.
Benito Mussolini
Fascist Italian Dictator
In alliance with Hitler's Germany, Mussolini attempted to create an Italian
empire. His imperial dreams ended following defeats on all fronts. He was
executed by Italian partisans as he tried to take refuge in Switzerland.
Harry S. Truman
33rd U. S. President
Made the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan, believing that they
would end the war quickly, saving lives and place the United States in a
position to revolutionize Japanese life.
Emperor Hirohito
124th Japanese Emperor
Approved the attack on Pearl Harbor that led to the U. S. declaring war
on Japan. After the U. S. dropped theatomic bombs on Hiroshima amd Nagasaki.
the people of Japan heard his voice for the first time when he announced
the unconditional surrender and the end of the war.
Source:The Military Order of the Purple Heart
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