America and Georgia In World War II

1. America and GeorgiaIn World War II

2. What started WWII? • Germany- WWI treaty punished the country, economic problems • Hitler- came to power, promised a return to German greatness • Rebuilding a German Empire • Japan- wanted an empire, land in southeast Asia and coast of China

3. Where the war was fought: • European Theater: Eastern Europe and then throughout Europe -GERMANY and Italy invade the entire European continent • Pacific Theater: Asia, Pacific, Islands, China- JAPAN

4. Axis Powers

5. Allied Powers FDR, Josef Stalin, and Winston Churchill Harry Truman, Stalin and Churchill

6. US Involvement • Isolationism: US belief/strategy to keep to itself- not involve itself in world issues and affairs. • Stayed out of WWII for quite awhile- (until the bombing at Pearl Harbor)

7. Lend Lease Act • FDR and Congress passed act to be able to lend war materials to countries that were important to our interests. • German u-boats began sinking American merchant ships.- (several off GA- SSI and Cumberland) • FDR ordered to “shoot on sight”

8. Attack on Pearl Harbor • December 7, 1941 • Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii • Brought US into the war- became part of the ALLIES • Over 2,300 killed and 19 ships destroyed • “A date which will live in infamy”

28. The end of the depression Men in the Military Women were in the workforce Factories making war products

29. The European Theater

30. The Holocaust and Liberating the Concentration Camps • Hitler’s plan was to “purify” the German race by removing undesirables. • concentration camps and then • killed them in gas chambers • Over 6 million Jews died • An estimated 11 million people died in the camps • This was the Holocaust • Allied forces liberated a number of the camps

33. Georgia and World War II 1940-still in depression, most still work on farms War Effort: • 1- Servicemen • 2-Manufacturing/War Supplies • 3-Military Training • 4-Crops and Supplies Economy Improves!

34. Georgia’s Military • Over 300,000 Georgia men and women served in the military during the war. • Almost 7,000 of them died.

35. Liberty Ships • Brunswick and Savannah • Between 1943-44 99 built in Bwk • Employed 16,000 people • Quickly built, assembly line • “throwaways”, “ugly ducklings” • Cargo ships- supplies, men, weapons • Famous people: • Henry Grady • Howard Coffin

38. Glynco Naval Air Station • This area is now known as FLETC. • Only Naval station to house every type of aircraft • Largest blimp base in the world • Blimps looked for German U-boats and escorted Allied ships

39. Bell Bomber Aircraft Company • Marietta, GA 1943 • Largest aircraft assembly plant in world • BuiltB-29 bombers (665 of them) • Employed: from 1,179 to over 17,000 by the end of the war • Women- Rosie the Riveter • Major defense plant in US • Now Lockheed Martin

40. Training Allied Troops in GA • GA and Texas had the most training facilities • Camp Stewart • Camp Gordon • Fort Benning • Warner Robbins • Southern Fields

41. How GA got so many military camps: • Lots of open unused land, good climate • Active and powerful leaders: • Carl Vinson- US Congressmanfrom Georgia for over 50 yrs, helped create US AIR FORCE and Navy in the Pacific, helped bring military to GA • Richard Russell- US Senator from GA: over 40 yrs, past governor of GA, supported strong military, supported federal farm relief, rural electrification, National School Lunch Act • Leaders saw this as a way to help Ga. economically

43. Camp Stewart Now called Fort Stewart Near Savannah Anti-aircraft training Lots of land- live ammunition 50,000 troops 280,000 acres- 5 counties

44. Camp Gordon • Augusta • Largest communication center in the world

45. Fort Benning • Columbus, GA • Largest infantry training post in the world

46. Warner Robins • Air Force Base • 15,000 civilian employees

47. Southern Fields • Western GA- near Americus • German Prisoner of War Camp

48. Propaganda