Work Citation

       
          Beck, Roger B.. "World War II, 1939-1945." Modern world history: patterns of interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. 438-465. Print.

Connection Across Time

During the years of World War II a massive genocide took place among the Jewish people. The Nazi party took the lives of over 6 million Jewish people, based on the idea that they were performing an "ethnic cleansing." This genocide came to be known as the Holocaust and events ranged from destruction of Jewish homes and businesses, to outright execution of Jewish people using methods such as gas chambers. Despite the Nuremberg Trials' attempt to right the wrongs done by the Nazis, genocide still happens to this day. Events such as the genocide in Darfur, Sudan in 2004 are similar to, and connect to the events of the Holocaust. In Darfur, the Janjaweed people claimed responsibility for the execution of over 70,000 non-Arab people. They also created over 1.5 million refugees from Darfur. All of this happened while the U.N. stood by and hesitated to act. Hopefully one day we will put an end to genocide all around the world, but as of now, it is still an issue that connects and relates to the events of the Holocaust from the World War II era.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

On the Morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. They were led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. The American naval base was caught completely off guard. The Japanese bombed the Americans relentlessly, resulting in 18 sunk and damaged ships, about 2,400 Americans killed, and over 1,000 wounded. This attack resulted in the United States declaring war on Japan the following day.

In my mind, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a gruesome act of war. To launch a surprise attack a country that was neutral during the beginning of the war was an act that cried out for not only retaliation, but revenge. If I were at Pearl Harbor during the time of the attack, I know I would want nothing but revenge on the Nation of Japan. America got its revenge on Japan with the dropping of two atomic bombs in 1945.  
 

WWII Era Political Cartoons

This famous American propaganda poster was put out during World War II to convey the message of the need for troops in the U.S. army. This is shown through a famous figure, Uncle Sam, pointing out to the reader, saying that he wants them to join the war effort.

 This of propaganda is portraying the message that the people need to do their part to fight against the Axis powers. This message is shown by depicting a woman kicking a member of the Nazi party "where it hurts," and asking the reader if they too are doing their part against the Nazis. There is also a humorous play on words to catch the reader's attention.

This piece of German propaganda is depicting Adolf Hitler in all of his glory. It is showing Hitler as a victorious figure in order to build support for him. The poster does this by showing Hitler raising a Nazi flag with the sun on his back, and a massive crowd of people behind him. The caption states, "Long Live Germany!"

Important People of World War II

Charles de Gaulle:

Charles de Gaulle was a French general during the time of World War II. After the fall of France on June 22, 1940, he fled to London, England in order to escape the now German-ruled country. While in London he began working to win France back to the French. He set up a government-in-exile with the sole purpose of reconquering France. He delivered a broadcast to the people of France on June 18, 1940. In this broadcast he stated that it was a crime against the country to give up and lay down their arms. But they must keep the fight going until France was theirs again. The Free French military was formed as a result of de Gaulle's efforts, and they went on to battle the Nazis until the 1944 liberation of France.

Winston Churchill:

Winston Churchill was the British prime minister during the time of the Nazis invasion of Europe. He was keen to never surrender to the Nazi party because after the fall of France, Great Britain was standing alone against Hitler and his power. Churchill said, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets...we shall never surrender." This attitude gave the soldiers of Great Britain a heightened morale. He used his exceptional speaking ability to rally the British people to crush the opposing Germany. He, as a speaker, was the greatest weapon Britain had.

Isoroku Yamamoto:

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was Japan's greatest naval strategist during World War II. He was responsible for the surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, arguing that the fleet was "a dagger pointed at [Japan's] throat." The attack on Pearl Harbor left about 2,400 Americans dead. Yamamoto was also a leading figure in the Battle of Midway. By attacking the island, he had hoped to gain control of it, while finishing off the U.S. Pacific fleet. However, after heavy American bombing, Yamamoto ordered his decrepit fleet to withdraw from the attack on Midway. The battle ended on June 6, 1942.

Douglas MacArthur:
  
General Douglas MacArthur was the commander of the Allied land forces in the Pacific after the Battle of Midway. With his strong will he became one of the greatest military strategists of World War II. He introduced the fighting style of "island hopping." This meant taking control of all or most of the smaller, weaker islands around a larger, stronger target island. He said, "Hit 'em where they ain't, let 'em die on the vine." This fighting technique came in handy in the struggle against the Japanese controlled island of Guadalcanal. The Japanese were attempting to build an airbase there and after a long battle, fled the island in February, 1943.

Introduction

 What's this Blog about?

In this blog I will share information about the events of World War II. There were many events of horror that occurred during this war. There were also several lasting affects put on numerous countries all around the world as a result of this war. My job is to share the information about these happenings with you. There will be descriptions from different points of view, as well as pictures and posters from the perspective of different leading forces throughout the war. My goal is to help the reader better understand certain events that took place in the world during the fateful time of World War II.

Chapter 16 Summary:

The chapter opens with Adolf Hitler's lightning war, which was a fast paced attack of air-raids followed by massive infantry forces. He used this fighting style to attack Poland on September 1, 1939, thus beginning World War II. Battles and retaliations from other countries, such as the declaration of war from Britain and France, are explained, as well as consequences of the start of the war. The chapters moves to tell about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which resulted in the United States' entry to the war. The events of Hitler's campaign led to the Holocaust, which is section three of the chapter. The famous Kristallnacht started the horrible happenings of the Holocaust, from the violence against Jews to the execution on millions of them, Hitler was behind it all. The book then moves to tell about the finish of the war with Germany's surrender and the dropping of the atomic bombs. After the victory for the Allies, the book tells of the Nuremberg Trials, held in order to bring those who were responsible for the Holocaust to justice.