We'll spend two weeks on the blog looking at World War Two.
So much of World War Two seems larger-than-life (Hitler, Pearl Harbor, FDR, Stalin, Rosie the Riveter, D-Day etc.) but we need to remember normal people lived through those events.
While grateful we won this war and thankful for the sacrifices made, we should be careful to romanticize or glamorize those awful times.
For this week's blog, visit this website. Select any of the World War Two stories that intrigues you and read it carefully.
For the comment section, write 200 words on what your selection was about and what it taught you about this war.
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ReplyDeleteArthur D. Divine was a man who helped rescue the British, French, and some Belgian forces escape from Dunkirk. There were never more than two men in each boat, it was often maybe one person to each boat. The rescuers ranged from bankers and dentists, to taxi drivers and yachtsmen. He described that night as dark. The water was choppy and splashed them as the rowed themselves away from the English coast. As the grew closer big boats overtook them and created great difficulty on the waters. He described it as a “traffic lane.” The rescuers could see the glow of the Dunkirk flames before it even got dark, and as the grew closer the waters became calmer, the sounds of firing and bombing became louder, and giant flames arose from the shore. Arthur stated that the “beach was black with men, and it made a perfect target. But all the smoke from the bombs became a good cover. All the rescuers stayed in Dunkirk until everyone else had been sent back. As they went looking for anyone who might have been straggling one of the boats exploaded frome the boilers being hit with 1000 Frenchmen on the pier. He tells how this was tragic and they couldn’t do anything to help. This has showed me once again how aggressive and hard this war really was. The Germans were really determined and wanted to destroy them all. Its crazy to me how the people who fought against them at Dunkirk continuously fought for three weeks. This war was really tragic. And hard to hear about. (264)
ReplyDeleteThe bombing of Hiroshima was on August 6, 1945. There was a man named Dr. Michihiko Hachiya that kept a diary of his experience and it was later published in English in 1955. He lived near a hospital which was a mile away from the explosion's epicenter. When the bomb hit, Hachiya saw a very bright flash of light. His house began to lean and the roof sagged. He escaped his house as quickly as possible, but he was still cut up very badly with glass in his neck. All of the other houses were collapsed. Hachiya said, “It was all a nightmare.” Hachiya and many other people’s clothes were completely burnt off. Everyone that was able to walk, went straight towards the hospital after the bombing. Luckily, Hachiya and his wife both survived the bombing. The bombing of Hiroshima has taught me that not only did many soldiers die in World War II, but many civilians did also. I have also learned that the severity of the burns depended on the clothes they were wearing because of the thermal radiation. This means that if someone was wearing a striped shirt, their burns would have the same pattern. I think it is awful how even if they were to survive the bombing, they still lost loved ones and all of their belongings. (222)
ReplyDeleteAmerican’s front line soldiers fought there way home in World War II. These front line fighters even got their own cartoon characters made by Bill Mauldin. These Pulitzer Prize-winning characters depicted the everyday trials of the combat soldiers. Mauldin’s artistic talent came to use during WW II but since the depression had hit there was no avenue for him to apply his talent. In 1940, he joined the army. Mauldin even became apart of the 45th Division that saw action in Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. For his division, Mauldin put his talents to good use and began drawing cartoons that addressed the army life. These cartoons started showing up all through the United States and the Army newspaper. His "no holds barred” cartoons of the everyday life of the front line were a huge hit with those types of soldiers. However, his cartoons occasionally drew his superior officers In rage. He was once chewed out by General George Patton and was ordered to cease his soldier drawings because the general considered it an "unsoldierly" appearance. He still continued these drawings. In 1945, Mauldin described the qualities of the combat soldier in a book. His words provided and insight in the motivation and challenges of the front line soldiers. This wasn’t just in World War II but in all conflicts. (221 words)
ReplyDeleteIn 1933, Hitler built the first concentration camp soon after he came to power. There grew to be about 100 concentrations camps, but there were two types. There were concentration camps for slave labor in nearby factories and death camps for the systematic extermination of "undesirables" including Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, the mentally retarded and others. The first liberation came in July 1944 when Soviet troops entered Maidanek, a death camp located in Poland two miles from the city of Lublin. In July 1944 soviet troops entered the camp. A week later, Alexander Werth joined a group of fellow reporters in a guided tour of the facility. They stopped outside a large barrack marked Bad und Desinfektion II. inside of this barrack was made of concrete, and water taps came out of the wall, and around the room there were benches where the clothes were put down and afterwards collected. There were six concrete boxes and gas-chambers side by side. Nearly two thousand people could be disposed of here simultaneously, one of the guides said. The reporters said at first it was all very hard to take in, without an effort of the imagination. There were a number of very dull-looking concrete structures which, if their doors had been wider, might anywhere else have been mistaken for a row of nice little garages. It was an awful thing to see. (229)
ReplyDeleteI have learned a lot about the Holocaust and concentration camps specifically, but I am curious to find out what this account describes. Hitler implemented the concentration camps soon after taking power in 1933. There grew to be abut 100 camps. Some of these camps were used for slave labors in industries and factories. But others, tragically, were used for killing off who Hitler deemed as "undesirables." These were the Jews, homosexuals, mentally retarded, and others. Hitler was trying to create a "pure" society, which is so sickening. Reporters entered the camps to describe what they see in 1944. One reporter said that upon arrival he thought 'is that it'. He thought it looked 'singularly hahrrmless'. But he continually walking and saw where the gas chambers were located. Where about 1,000 people would be gassed to death at a time. At this point he saw the sinister acts and knew how evil this was. While reading this article I was made aware how tormenting and how much embarrassment these people faced. I agree that sometimes we romanticize this event. When in actuality this was a horrible and sinister event that shoul not be viewed how we do sometimes. we view this event and those affected by it as heros sometimes when actually they were victims of one of the most sinister acts ever. (209)
ReplyDeleteParis had been under German rule for four years during World War Two before it was liberated. General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s original plan was to bypass Paris and invade Germany. Because Allied forces were making such a great advance, German forces had begun to prepare to evacuate Paris. When this began, Paris police, postal workers, and metro workers went on strike. That started a large uprising as the Germans were making moves. General Charles De Gaulle, the leader of the French insurgents, told Dwight D. Eisenhower he would attack Paris himself if the United States didn’t send any help. General Eisenhower sent a portion of the United States Army to help liberate Paris after receiving his message. When Hitler got word he ordered his general to destroy the city. He prepared to burn bridges and destroy other things, but the general hesitated and failed. He was taken prisoner by French forces soon after. Sporadic fighting still continued in some parts, but by this time Paris had been liberated. This has taught me a lot about the war. Especially when General Charles De Gaulle said he would attack alone if Eisenhower did not send help. It showed how much love he had for his country.
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Just before 8 a.m. on that Sunday morning December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes came down on pearl harbor where they managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. The attack was a surprise but Japan and the USA had a conflict for many years. Because we didn't like the way they were running their market. Japan declared war on China in 1937, resulting in the Nanking Massacre and other atrocities. American responded to this aggression with economic sanctions and trade embargoes. They reasoned that without access to money and goods, and especially essential supplies like oil, Japan would have to rein in its expansionism. Instead, the sanctions made the Japanese more determined to stand their ground. During months of negotiations between Tokyo and Washington, D.C., neither side would budge. It seemed that war was all but inevitable. An interesting fact I learned while reading is that out of the 8 warships that were bombed all but 2 were recovered and rebuilt. (206)
ReplyDeleteArthur D. Divine was one of many who led boats to rescue people off the coast of dunkirk to escape from the D-Day Invasion. As people like Divine were coming to rescue the hundreds of stranded troops, the troops were wading out into head deep water and were swimming away as the Germans laid heavy fire down on the beaches from its artillery still. the whole operation was named Dynamo, and they hoped to get atleast 50,000, but finished with a massive 340,000 rescued, leaving behind 40,000 to be killed or captured. Divine describes how they searched via the smoke and fires and found massive groups of men on peirs or out in the water, waiting to be rescued. there were even some explosions that these rescue boats had to watch and couldnt do anything about because they didnt have any power to save the men who were being hit. the little boats eventually farried out thousands and thousands of men to the big ships to be rescued. this war, especailly this battle, was hard. it really shows me that so many people were torn away from their families and even hoped a tiny bit to get home, and that chance was close to none. it was a huge sacrifice all these people made and i dont think i could do it.222 words
ReplyDeleteIn this war people went many extremes to help their country. Especially Japan's kamikaze pilots who were thought of as heroes in their country. But to the United States of America they were big threat they nearly took out our whole navy. The kamikaze were part of a group called “the Divine Wind” a group of Japan's best pilots. They were an effective group in the war. Once the idea of suicide bombing was made. It was truly devastating, killing millions of soldiers. It took out many military bases, and it took many naval ships. It is sad though because the pilots basically killed themselves to serve their country. From our perspective we think they died for stupid reasons. But from their perspective they died for the country which meant nothing, because they lost the war. From reading all this it taught me what people can do in certain circumstances. That war can bring people to do awful and terrible things even killing themselves. This gave me glimpse or realization of what Japan felt about this. I honestly feel bad about this war tactic. Once you look through the another person’s shoes, you will never know who the true enemy is. (201)
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of World War 2 General Erwin Rommel, who was later promoted to Field Marshall, was one of Hitler’s favorite generals. Hitler thought this at the beginning of World War 2 but later changed his mind when Rommel thought that Germany no longer had a chance to win the war so he joined a conspiracy group that planned on “ousting” Hitler.
ReplyDeleteRommel was injured and so he had to return home, a few days after he returned home Hitler escaped a bomb that nearly killed him. Hitler thought that this was Rommel’s doing so he told him that he had to commit suicide or else his wife, child, and workers would be killed. Rommel was at home and spent the day with his son and when a few soldiers arrive at his house he only had 15 minutes until he had to commit suicide. He spent 5 of those minutes explaining to his family and a close worker that he had to take poison in order to save their lives, and also that they mustn’t tell anyone of this because that would nullify Rommel’s agreement with Germany. This story taught me that there was a lot more going on during the war that I didn’t know about, and this also taught me that Hitler was even more ruthless than I already thought that he was.
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Dunkirk was a miracle that saved so many men. This evacuation was not done by the navy, but just ordinary men that lived across the English channel. Winston Churchill send out a secret message that had the code name Dynamo. This announcement went out on on May 24 thru June 4. They just wanted to save 50,000 men but instead saved 340,000 men out of the 380,000 men only 40,000 men were left behind killed or captured. That was true miracle of Dunkirk. The thing that blow my mind is that it was just not fishermen, but there was taxi drivers, dentists, boys, engineers, bankers,yachtsmen, and civil servants. These men went out on small boats, and one or two men on board of the boat. While crossing the channel the only thing leading them is that the light of the Dunkirk. The things the men on the boats saw and the soldiers was so terrible it will real play in their minds forever. While saving the men there airplanes dropping bombs all around them, the only thing they saw was to save these men that had no food no water for days. They were so brave to do this. This taught me that even the men that were not fighting in the battle could play a major part to save so many men.(228)
ReplyDeleteLife and Death Aboard a B-17, 1944
ReplyDeleteThe United States of America joined Bristian’s strategic air campaign to destroy Nazi Germany’s industrial capacity. The Boeing B-17 was called “Flying Fortress” amd the Consolidated B-24 was named “Liberators.” They were flown to Britian’s eastern countryside. America bombed their targets during the day amd the Bristiah bombed by night. There were 1,000 of th we bombers per raid, amd they stayed in a formation like a box to combine their defensive firepower. The crews were mostly made of 10 men with many heavy machine guns in the front, bottom and sides of the B-17. That’s how it got it’s niclname of the Flying Fortress. The air em would be woken up into early morning and they had to eat a huge and hardy breakfast, then followed a mission meeting. These missions were usually deep into emery territory. The opposing sides usually had machine guns, canons, and rockets to shoot them down, but they were no match for the B-17s. These planes were unbeaten in the air. The crew would wear heated suits to keep them from getting hypothermia, amd the temperatures dropped to 60 degrees below zero. Once they reach 10,000 feet they put their oxygen masks on so they don’t pass out and die. Some planes went up to 29,000 feet. Parachutes were too bulky to wear all the time so the crewmen, but they wore a harness so it would be easy for them to clip open there parachutes. Joseph Hallock was 22 years old and first lueitenit on board of the Ginger a B-17. He joined the airforce in 1942. His first raid was over Ludwigshaven on December 31. He dropped some bombs and did his job well, but on the way back was rough. He ran into Focke-Wulfs armed with rocket. Luckily he saw 3 other B-17s to help him out. Then the rockets hit. He said it wa like a movie everyone’s is dying and you are just there watching them die. This engine #4 went out, but luckily it was a safe landing over France. It was the scariest thing that has ever happened to him.
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I read an article about the natzi death camps, and the huge gassing chambers the natzis used to kill millions of people. Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, mentally disabled, and physically disabled people were packed into the Maidaneck death camp. A Soviet reporter who visited the camp after its capture describes the horrific scenes he saw. He describes the huge cement gassing chambers where hundreds of men women and children were packed in naked and killed all at once. The fact that they were all being killed was already awful enough, but when you add the shamefully embarrassing factor that they are all packed in there naked it is so much worse. These people were treated worse than animals.
ReplyDeleteThe time between Germany’s defeat in Poland and the invasion of Norway was known as the “Phony War.” The most that happened was propaganda speeches being spread across Germany. The French were ready to fight again but Hitler decided to invade Norway instead. On May 10th the Germans attacked Belgium and Netherlands. Blitzkrieg means lightning war, meaning that this war started and ended in a flash. The British and French attempted to help and save them, but were unable and had to step back in order to not lose. There were German bomb divers that filled the sky which killed many citizens and soldiers. There were other German soldiers with machine guns. This invasion forced prime minister Neville Chamberlain to resign his position. He was then replaced by Winston Churchill. The German’s disobeyed the military doctrine and moved into the French land. This war went by very quick. They eventually reached the English Channel and cut the Allies off from the north. France signed an armistice saying that Britain would be fighting the rest of this on their own leaving France out of it. German annihilated the alliances in the a area they trapped them in which caused the French to back off. (203)
ReplyDeleteTwo days before London went to war, Hitler had unleashed the world’s first blitzkrieg. Prime minister Neville Chamberlain presented an ultimatum to Germany, which was to cease the invasion of Poland or face war with Britain. The prime minister sent out a broadcast that Britain and Germany were at war. At first it was only a test, but it turned into reality when Britain actually went to war. To prepare for war, sandbags were filled to protect buildings, gas masks became required equipment, the nightly blackout became a regular way of life, and children were sent aboard evacuation trains to escape the danger of the city. What was once considered everyday life was completely changed when Britain went to war. Front lawns were dig up to fill sandbags, which were now a very common thing to see. Gas masks were apart of everyday equipment for civilians. Everyone carries square cardboard cartons. The evacuation was spaced over three days. Cars poured out steadily all day, packed with people, luggage and even pets. The railways received trainloads of child refugees and schools opened as centers for the evacuated hordes. Britain was a peace-loving nation until they entered the war. It shows how quickly things can change and how civilians were greatly affected by the war.(213)
ReplyDeleteA little while after Hitler rose to power, he started building concentration camps. The very first concentration camp was built in 1933. In all, there were about 100 concentration camps. However considering this, there were only two separate types of concentration camps. Firstly, the uncommonly known camp was for slaves for factories. Secondly, the infamous type was for the said “undesirable” people. These people consisted of Jews, mentally disabled, homosexuals, and gypsies. These camps were not holding camps like for the slaves, but commonly known as “death camps.” The first liberation to occur for these kinds of camps was in July of 1944. One of the reporters had some very devastating descriptions of the camp, Desinfektion II. These reports consisted of descriptive descriptions of the inside. They were said to be made completely out of concrete. There were six of these, side by side, where the “undesirables” got killed in gas chambers. It is said that up to 2,000 of these innocent people were killed just in one time. Inside there were also benches where the people would put their clothes before going to what they thought was a group shower. (201)
ReplyDeleteThe execution of Nazi war criminals took place in Nuremberg, Germany. The verdicts were announced on October 1, 1946. 18 defendants were found guilty, while 3 were acquitted. 11 were killed by hanging, and the rest were sentenced 10 years to life in jail. Dr. G. M. Gilbert was a prison psychologist who was charged with monitoring the behavior of those who was sentenced. Goering was surprised about his sentence. He exclaimed “Death!” He had an emotional breakdown and asked to be alone. He expected the death sentence, and he was glad that he did not receive life in prison, because those people never became martyrs. Goering realized there was nothing funny about death, when he was the one who was going to die. Rudolph Hess did not care what he sentence was, and when he found out, he laughed. His sentence was life in prison. Ribbentrop received the death penalty and was sad because he couldn’t write his memoirs. Frank expected to be hung, and he accepted his death. Keital also received the death penalty, but he thought he would be spared. Jodl thought he deserved death, but not by hanging. Gilbert’s observations gives us insight into the mind of the Nazi hierarchy.(204)
ReplyDeleteHundreds of thousands of men were stranded at Dunkirk. It seemed as though all hope was lost and there was no chance for rescue. The beach was continuously under attack from German bombers and fighter planes. On May 24, Hitler ordered his tanks to stop pursuing Allied forces for unknown reasons. Then on May 26, all available boats set sail through the Thames river. These boats were of all shapes and sizes manned by everyone from boys to doctors. This was known as operation “Dynamo.” This continued until June 4, and was a better success than anticipated. They believed they would barely rescue 50,000 but ended up rescuing 340,000. The remaining 40,000 that were left behind were either killed or captured.
ReplyDeleteThis was was defestating and full of hard choices. It shows how war in itself is never easy and isn't all it seems to be in books and movies. It takes first person accounts such as this to fully comprehend how much these people suffered for something they believed in. This historic event also emphasizes how many people were involved in the war. It wasn't just the armed forces but also civilians as well. The main reason why this event was a success was because average, non-militant people who decided to join the cause and risk their lives to save those who were also risking theirs.
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The battle of Pearl Harbor was very big for the Untied States of American because this battle brought us into World War 2. December 7 1941 at 7:53 that morning Pearl Harbor was attacked by 2 waves of Japanese torpedoes and bombers. In the first 10 minutes of the battle a bomb went right through the Arizona and hit its ammunition bay and “blew it like a tin can” what a man said the USS Arizona was sunk and took 1,300 lives with it. The USS Nevada was damaged during this battle also. The aircraft carrier that had all the japs planes were 274 miles off the cost of Hawaii. The United states had there most Important ship stationed in the pacific where their aircraft carrier submarines and importantly there oil facilities. The United States Did take a big punch to the face with losing a lot of there destroyers battle ships and planes. And after the battle of Pearl Harbor lead to the battle of midway which was a great win for the United States. And after 4 long years of the United States fighting Axis power we won over them and destroyed Japan 201)
ReplyDeleteThe Tokyo fire raids were a very efficient means of destroying large areas, however, these fire raids often resulted in a large amount of casualties and destroyed the homes of many people. This method of bombing was first seen in 1943 by the British on Germany. It would start many fires that would spread by the wind and soon become self-sustaining. The final death count would be more than the atomic bombs on Nagasaki or Hiroshima. America sent over 300 planes over Tokyo dropping thousands of explosives that would sent the city into flames. Many of the buildings were made of wood so it made it very easy for us to destroy them using fire. The total death count was somewhere from 80,000 - 200,000. I have learned so much about WWII from this chapter and especially from reading this article. I never realized that we caused so much destruction to Japan. Part of me wonders of what we did was completely necessary and if there could have been another way to win the war without killing so many people who were not even directly involved in the war. I think that we should have tried to find another way to defeat Japan other than dropping atomic bombs on them and fire raids that destroyed entire cities and the people living in them. Words:224
ReplyDeleteThe evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 had a better ending than what the British expected. It was said that after the beach was black with men. The mission was very unlikely to succeed at first. British French and Belgian forces all united to try and take over the beach at Dunkirk and defend the town there from the German advances and try and hold off the forces long enough for England to come and get them off of the beach. Oddly enough Hitler made the order to stop firing and killing the retreating allied forces. The British though that they would be lucky to get 50,000 men off of the beach but actually got over 340,000 men off of the beach. Although the mission went well they still had to leave 40,000 men lying on the beach lifeless. The British took every boat they could find to get the men off of the beach. People that weren’t unlisted voluntarily let the army use there boat. They had yachts ferries and even fisherman boats going to get those men off of the beach. They were being attacked by air the whole time they were trying to retreat it was said that they were sitting ducks waiting to be shot. (208)
ReplyDeleteOne of Germany victories over Europe was Poland in October 1939 and the invasion of Norway in April at that point they were planning to invade also Denmark which would not be successful without their mix war machines call the Blitzkrieg which includes tanks call panzers and airplanes call Stukas which were use against the Netherlands and Belgium and cause their enemies to retreat. The panzer tank was the trademark tank use by the Nazis this tank was equipped with a 37mm gun with 360 radius and are very tough during this particular fight an eyewitness saw how these moved in formation usually in a group of 20 while 30 more follow behind one of pilots of these tanks stated that the tank he was in tank two shots from anti-tank fire he also stated that the tank was immovable. Later the Nazis use their tanks against a French line call the Maginot line. These tanks also follow each other in a straight line. As the tanks were moving to the line the towns nearby run off by the sound the tanks made. They succeed in piercing the Maginot line in fact some of the drivers of the tanks found it hard to believe.words204
ReplyDeletethe reason why I didn't turn it in last Sunday is because I thought that you meant that there wasn't going to blog last week