Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941 Japanese fighter planes set out to bomb Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. This attack was a surprise for the US and caused a lot of damage. The Japanese released two waves of attack planes. A total of 350 planes were headed for Oahu. Bombs fell on airbase fields and destroyed US planes, like in Wheeler Field. US ships took many hits and most were sunk. The US came from California to try to help, but they became new targets. When the second attack hit, it wasn't so much of a surprise. More airfields, hangars, and battleships were hit. When the attack was finally over, 21 out of 181 vessels were sunk or damaged. A lot of airplanes were destroyed. A total of 2,390 people lost their lives. On December 8, the US declared war.

Click this button to catch an interactive timeline of the events of Pearl Harbor.

The U.S.S. Arizona

During the war, women began to rise up to the occasion. The pictures above became popular icons that represented the women who went into factories to produce war supplies. Women would often take over jobs for men who were serving in the military. Rosie the Riveter became a common symbol of feminism and women's economic power. Government advertising and commercial posters were used to encourage women to volunteer for wartime service.

Weapons in War

One of the biggest technological advances during the war, and a helpful weapon, was the radar. Aircraft were equipped with radar that was advantageous against submarines. Another smart weapon was a code-breaking operation created by Hitler's scientists. ENIGMA was an encryption machine. The machine offered millions of ways to code a message. Although these are not exactly guns or bombs, they proved effective in the war for both the Allies and Germany.

Letter to Home

Battle of the Bulge

Bastogne, Belgium was an important city. It would be a huge asset to the winner of the battle. Bastogne was a hub city. It had major roads and railroads. It was great for transportation of materials and people. That is why it was so important to win this particular battle.

Roosevelt's Fourth Term

This is a newspaper headline annoucning that FDR was re-elected...for the fourth time.

After the Surrender: The fate of Germany

On May 8, 1945, German officers signed an unconditional surrender. The US withdrew their forces a little from central Germany. Britain, France, Soviet Union, and the United States divided Germany into four occupies zones. Joseph Stalin constructed the People's Republic of Germany with its capital in Berlin. The Federal Public of Germany, sponsored by the western powers, was headquartered in Bonn.

This image shows the zones Germany was divided into.

U.S. Strategy in the Pacific

In the war of the Pacific, there was no unified command. This resulted in makeshift compromise military decisions and actions. Commander of the US army, General Douglas MacArthur, wanted an offensive launch from his headquarters located in Australia that would proceed through New Guinea and the Philippines. MacArthur professed that controlling the Philippines at the end of the war would advance US strategic interests. In contradiction, Midway hero Admiral Nimitz saw strategic assessments differently. He went for a direct advance toward Japan, across the smaller part of the central Pacific. He thought that this push against Japan would be favorable over the Philippines. Both strategies were given the go ahead. MacArthur's forces took New Guinea, and Nimitz's forces freed the Marshall Islands and the Marianas.

The Battle of Iwo Jima

The attack on Iwo Jima was decided as a new target because the US did not have adequate troops, ships, and bombers to invade Formosa as they had originally planned. Iwo Jima is located a couple hundred miles south of Japan. The island itself is very small. The attack began on February 19 when American ships bombarded the island. What they didn't know was that 23,000 defenders were hiding out in deep fortifications in Mount Suribachi. They waited until the Americans landed and were inland when they open fired. The United States employed three marine divisions in the assault. It was expected to last a few days with about 10,000 casualties but actually resulted in 25,000 casualties and took a month. Over 21,000 Japanese bodies were counted. 1,000 surrendered , most of whom were wounded or weak with disease.

America's Atomic Bombs

The atomic bomb that was released on the island of Hiroshima created devastatingly destructive results. The loss of lives was over one third of the population. So what justifies their reasoning for dropping it? That definitely helped secure a victory and end in the war. I think they did what they had to do to ensure the safety of America. It did help move the war the along and closer to a Japanese surrender. Although it is heartbreaking to hear about all the destruction it caused, I think when you are in a time of war, drastic measures must be taken. I would've preferred something that didn't quite so much human life but I feel like they would have taken that option if there was one. Or at least I hope they would have. I have based my opinion off of a document that Harry S. Truman released on a radio address.

"Having found the bomb, we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned the pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands and thousands of young Americans. We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war. Only a Japanese will surrender will stop us."

Hiroshima after the bombing

Click on this button to see what the devastation would be like if your hometown was bombed by an atomic bomb.

One last thing...

World War II is the most devastating wars in history as far as human life. Click the button and take a look at this video to gain some perspective.