Introduction to World War 2

A Study on the Elements and Effects of the Second World War

           My blog is about the characteristics, both human and ideal, that led to, took part in, and now affects us today as a result of the war. I will be discussing key people that defined the war and led the forces that resulted in the war's eventual outcome. I will also be examining the political propaganda, both in their structure and purpose, that was used by the Allied countries on their respective homefronts to motivate their citizen to aid the war effort in any and every way possible. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is another subject that a go into great detail examining (with a little bit of humor) and documenting in a chronological fashion. All of the elements that are involved in the war will then be related and applied to the lifestyles that we all live today.

           The Second World War was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers, from 1939 until 1945. Armed forces from over seventy nations engaged in aerial, naval, and ground-based combat, spanning much of the globe. The main bulk of the war was fought over Germany's attempted takeover of Europe and genocide of the Jewish people in Europe. America, still an isolationist nation, was then attacked by Japan and after a long war in the Pacific, emerged victorious. America then entered The European Conflict and through a collaboration with Allied forces, won the war. World War 2, over is entire span, resulted in the deaths of over 60 million people, effectively making it the deadliest conflict in the history of mankind.

Da Peeps

Dwight D. Eisenhower was a U.S. Army general who held the position of Supreme Allied commander in Europe, among many others. Eisenhower was best known for his work in planning Operation Overlord which is the military code name for the Allied invasion of Europe. After the war was over, Eisenhower became a very popular political figure in the United States and took the office of U.S. president in 1953. During the war, he was a five-star general in the midst of his 41 year-long military career. Eisenhower was the first president of an America that encompassed 50 states and was the first president to appear on color television.

Benito Mussolini was the Italian, Fascist prime minister who came to power in 1922 as an absolute dictator ruling over Italy. Mussolini served as an inspiration to Adolf Hitler, with whom he chose to ally himself during World War II. In 1943, Mussolini, also known as Il Duce(the dictator), was overthrown in a coup de tat planned by a collection of military officers under him, and in 1945 he was executed by the Italian people just prior to the end of World War 2. He was also head of the entire Fascist Party and the armed local Italian fascist militias who terrorized incipient resistances in the cities and provinces of Italy.

Adolf Hitler was the Chancellor and self-proclaimed Führer(leader) of Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. After a fast political climb to the leader of the Nazi Party in the early 1920s, Hitler achieved complete dominance and maintained it throughout his time as chancellor. During his rule, he took a very active role in the government of Germany, making military decisions and implementing regulations regarding the treatment of Jews and other minorities, such as the notorious “final solution” that condemned Jews to death at concentration camps in German-controlled parts of Europe. Just before Germany surrendered in 1945, Hitler committed suicide together with his wife, Eva Braun, in his bunker in Berlin.

Winston Churchill was the prime minister of Britain during most of World War II. Churchill was among the most active leaders in resisting German aggression and played a major role in assembling the Allied Powers, including the United States and the USSR. He is almost universally known as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century due do his outstanding role in the defense against and defeat of the Axis powers.  He is the only British Prime Minister in history to have received the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature, and was also the first person to be made an Honorary Citizen of The United States.

Dr. Seuss: Propaganda Artist?

           Most people aren't aware that some of their favorite books to read to children are illustrated by one of the Allie's leading Propaganda/ Political Cartoonist during the Second World War. Here are a few, with the exception of the last one, that he drew during the war.

           This particular one could almost seem un-american but it does do a truthful job in depicting American sentiments towards Europe during the war. As America took their time in joining the war, the European condition grew worse under the threat of Nazi takeover. This picture not only reflects that mindset but through a more detailed analysis actually reveals a second truth. This depiction of Uncle Sam believes he will not get sick with all of the "Fascist Fevers" simply because he is in another bed, when in actuality, these diseases will get to him in due time(hence the beds being so close). This does, however, exactly represent the view that Americans had during the early stages of the war. This was the view that is was only a European problem and Not of these problems would ever affect them.

           This picture more directly represents the hidden meaning in the previous cartoon. It shows the American false view that anything awful can happen to Europeans, but since it does not directly affect the Americans, there is no need to do anything about it. This particular cartoon really shows the bitterness of Europe over the complete inaction of the United States; a bitterness that was well-founded.

           This propaganda posted was one of many that were designed to motivate the American public to support the war effort at home. Such posters were used to promote rationing, buying war bonds, or in this case, car-sharing. Car-sharing was a prospect the The U.S. Government put in place in an effort to conserve gasoline and fuel so that more could be shipped to the overseas soldiers. This cartoon basically demotes those who do not help the conservation effort by equating their action to helping the Nazis as it keeps more war assets on the this side of the ocean in stead of in Europe, where it was most needed.

Say Hello To My Little Friends

August 6, 1945- U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima/ Nagasaki.

On that particular day the American government saw fit to use the prodigal sons of their latest weapons think tank dubbed, The Manhattan Project. This culmination of the worlds most brilliant scientists was charged with the task of creating the ultimate weapon for use against the Japanese in an effort to force a surrender. They invented the Atomic Bomb, a thermonuclear device capable of leveling large portions of entire cities. The devices they had invented were then primed for use on the Japanese city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, should the first fail to grab their attention. On August 5, our final warning was issued to Emperor Hirohito saying that we would drop our devices on their cities if they did not surrender immediately. This final warning hit Japan unheeded and the next morning, let's just say that the U.S. keeps their promises.

KABOOOSHOAAAAAASHHHHHABOOOM(with a pictureeeeeeebabooosh)

Japan, needless to say, was left in complete shock. Not only did they not believe we had these bombs in the first place but they also never thought we would *actually* do it. This was obviously a huge blow to their rediculously over-drawn pride and the Japanese did everything they could not to show it. Unfortunately, this included releasing the statement that we (the U.S.) had only one of these and could not afford to create another. Essentially, "YOU WON'T DO IT AGAIN THOUGH!". This reaction was not exactly one the Americans expected from the Japanese but one they were more than happy to oblige. In response, the U.S. decided that........wait.......what was that............I can't hear you over the sound of my KABOOOSHOAAAAAASHHHHHABOOOM(with another pictureeeeekrshhhhhbssshhh)

Japan surrendered six days later.........obviously.

I know I'm heartless but hey.

Anyways, despite the seemingly rough nature of the U.S. dropping the bombs on cities of innocent people, I believe that it was for a greater good. Had we not dropped the bombs, we would have easily lost thousands upon thousands of innocent military lives in our invasion of Japan. Even the Japanese were spared massive casualties in avoiding the defense of their homeland. A lot of people say that we were heartless in dropping those bombs but I persona;ly do not believe we were. Japan, just like any other nation that declares war on another, effectively puts forward every aspect of their own country in an effort to destroy another. When you decide to do that to your own people you better think of the consequences. Japan basically attacked our innocents and our military on December 5th at Pearl Harbor and made us retaliate. You better be ready to deal with everything we have if you attack us. We didn't have to drop the bomb but, if it means saving a bunch of our own lives, then you better believe that we will and we have the right.

Connection Across Time

        World War 2 was remarkably different that other wars, especially in terms of the significance of it's outcome.The victor not only fought to win, but to have the opportunity to shape the world that we would live in for years to come. I think that's why, of any of the events that we have connected to today, World War 2 has had the most direct impact.

         When it comes to wars, especially a big one such as this, it is often times difficult to pin a specific event that led to the eventual victory. Wars are determined by the efforts of every last man who fights for their respective side in a culmination that it never even know until the war is over. In this case, the retaliation of the Allies towards the Nazi Regime as a whole event is what made our lives the way they are today. There are no more empires (and I mean the conquesting, territorial, evil ones) to shapes the oppression in different parts of the world but rather a unified world conference (This would be a reference to the United Nations for those of you who do not teach history.) that respects and maintains the rights of each nation as its own entity. In the picture below, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill meet aboard a battleship during the Atlantic Conference, one of the main events that led to the formation of the United Nations.

          Not many people truly even know this but our natural freedoms that we live by in today's society are almost double in number from those that existed in the pre-WW2 20th century. I mean, I don't know about you, but where I live, the government a lot of the times will refrain from the genocidal killing of an entire race. Or at least they try. Hey...stuff happens.