Connection Across Time

       World War Two was a major turning point in history. It was the largest war ever waged, with over 10 million killed. It was the birth of nuclear energy, which quickly eroded into the Cold War and also nuclear tensions with North Korea and the middle East. It also gave USSR strength as a superpower as well, clashing with America over post war decisions. this lead to the Cold War, the Iron Curtain, and even resonates today with a cautious relationship with the US and Russia today.
        World War Two was also the first time that chemical warfare was widely used, and although the UN has outlawed this technique, some versions of it are used today, such as Syria's threats of using chemicals in a rising tension with it's neighbors.
        But it also gave the world a horrifying look into what technology could do with warfare if it went unleaded. With teamwork on a scale never before seen, the Yalta Conference, and later the UN, joined formerly alienated countries together to avoid such wars in the future, and to promote world peace. These alliances will hopefully hold for centuries to come, to offer solace in an increasingly violent and volatile world.

D-Day: The most important battle?

On June 6, 1944, 60 miles of France coastline was invaded. Over 3.5 million troops, tanks, landing craft, boats, and other vehicles were all part of the largest land and sea attack of all time. This massive attack was not unmet, as Nazis were heavily dug in with bunkers and machine guns. An estimated 3,000 American troops alone were killed on the beach. But on July 25, the forces broke through at Saint-Lo, and from that point, the Nazis began to retreat.

I cannot imagine the bloodshed and chaos on that day. Just the sheer mass of people charging 60 miles of beach must have been incredible. But the thousands that lost their lives that day must have covered the beaches like sand. But without their sacrifice, Allied troops wouldn't have broken through and walked into Paris, breaking a major German city. Their bravery and willingness to give all for the greater good is inspiring and unbelievably selfless.

Political Cartoons of World War 2

 This political cartoon was to rally both nationalism and hatred. Hitler is etched into a mountain, much like Rushmore. Next to Hitler, a racist caricature of a Japanese man is depicted. This grotesque parody of Mt. Rushmore would be shocking to most Americans. Also, this particular one was written by Dr. Seuss.

This is another political cartoon by Dr. Seuss. The animal in the cage is emblazoned with the swastika. The bird pulling the cage has an American-like hat. The "cage" is the cost of all the war efforts overseas. This was more directed towards gaining money for the war effort rather than  fighting the enemy.

This political cartoon is more about the post-war questions. These are symbolized by the large question marks that take up most of the cartoon. The competing questions are based against each other. However, both offer a very important question. How should America help other nations while it's still recovering itself?

Important people in World War II

• Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill was the British Prime Minister during World War II. He was considered one of England's best defenses, raising morale even when Britain was being bombed. He never failed to raise up the English army, stating "..we will never surrender." But after the war, Europe was in tatters. Nevertheless, Churchill was still a large part in the post-war treaties, along with Truman and Stalin.

• Josef Stalin

Stalin was the Communist leader of the USSR. Before World War Two officially started,, he signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler. This contract to basic isolationism from one another was broken when Hitler invaded the USSR in 1943. The Battle of Stalingrad, one of Stalin's greatest "victories" was Hitler's attempted killshot on Russia, but The Russians held on, outlasting the Germans by eating crows and rats. However, the USSR would leave the Allies after the war and would start the Cold War.

• Franklin Roosevelt

Roosevelt was the President during World War Two. He originally wanted to practice isolationism, which promptly went out the window after Pearl Harbor. He also signed off dropping the atom bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although this move potentially saved thousands of American lives, he also put hundreds of Japanese Americans into camps. After the war, he backed the idea of the Nuremburg Trials and clashed with Stalin over post-war plans.

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower was one of the highest ranking generals in World War Two. He led American forces in D-Day, which was one of the largest battles  in WW2 and the largest shore offense in modern history. He was affectionately known as "Uncle Ike" because he was so popular with the troops. His ability to work with others led to his multiple victories. These advances led to the greatest victory of all: invading Berlin and winning the war.

Chapter 16 Summary

In Chapter 16, we read about Hitler's tactic of using blitzkreig, or "lightning war" to quickly take over surrounding countries. Japan, an ally of Nazi Germany, attacked Pearl Harbor based on fears of it being "a knife to it's [Japanese fleet's] throat. This persuaded America to finally take part in World War Two, abandoning their old method of isolationism. Hitler began to dehumanize Jews, citing them as the reason for Germany's fall. The Allies, combining island-hopping and organized advances into German-controlled states, slowly won the war, costing millions of lives. But although the war was won, many countries were severely damaged, such as Britain, Japan, and Poland, including others.

World War II is comnsidered to be the most brutal war in history. Even not counting war casualties, over 6 million Jews were killed in concentration camps in Germany. Hitler, along with Mussolini and the rest of the Axis nations, had a goal to create a new world order. But the Allies joined forces to combat these dangerous enemies, and the world's largest war was the result of this clash.