Georgia and World War IIGeorgia and World War II

1939 to 19451939 to 1945

GPS SS8H9aGPS SS8H9a

Describe the impact of events Describe the impact of events leading up to American leading up to American involvement in WW II; include involvement in WW II; include Lend-Lease and the bombing of Lend-Lease and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor.

War in EuropeWar in Europe Roosevelt, while not an isolationist, was determined Roosevelt, while not an isolationist, was determined

to keep America out of the European warto keep America out of the European war March 1938: Hitler takes the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia March 1938: Hitler takes the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia

and later overruns the entire countryand later overruns the entire country August 1939: Germany and Russia sign non-aggression pact; August 1939: Germany and Russia sign non-aggression pact;

Germany attacks Poland, making the official beginning of Germany attacks Poland, making the official beginning of World War II as France and Britain were treaty-bound to come World War II as France and Britain were treaty-bound to come to the aid of Polandto the aid of Poland

Meanwhile, Hitler and other Nazi were plotting out Meanwhile, Hitler and other Nazi were plotting out the anti-Semitic, the anti-Semitic, Final Solution. Final Solution. Since Hitler Since Hitler believed that the Jews were “sub-human” and created believed that the Jews were “sub-human” and created most of the problems of Europe, he wanted to most of the problems of Europe, he wanted to exterminate ALL Jews.exterminate ALL Jews.

Bombing of Pearl HarborBombing of Pearl Harbor

When Japan invades China and southeast Asia in 1940, When Japan invades China and southeast Asia in 1940, United places embargo on oil and other vital materialsUnited places embargo on oil and other vital materials

To both ensure their survival as an island nation and success To both ensure their survival as an island nation and success for their plans to conquer all of Asia, the needed to cripple for their plans to conquer all of Asia, the needed to cripple the U.S. navy in the Pacific. Japan, who was angry over the the U.S. navy in the Pacific. Japan, who was angry over the embargo, planned a surprise attack on the base for December embargo, planned a surprise attack on the base for December 7, 1941. 7, 1941.

While the United States and Japan were having peace talks While the United States and Japan were having peace talks in Washington D. C., the Japanese fleet lauches their in Washington D. C., the Japanese fleet lauches their surprise attack.surprise attack. This action unified the country and threw This action unified the country and threw America into World War IIAmerica into World War II

SS8H9bSS8H9b

Evaluate the importance of Bell Aircraft, Evaluate the importance of Bell Aircraft, military bases, the Savannah and Brunswick military bases, the Savannah and Brunswick shipyards, Richard Russell, and Carl Vinson.shipyards, Richard Russell, and Carl Vinson.

SS8E1SS8E1

The student will give examples of the kinds of The student will give examples of the kinds of goods and services produced in Georgia in goods and services produced in Georgia in different historical periods.different historical periods.

Changes due to World War IIChanges due to World War IIA.A. America’s “depressed" economy mobilizes into a America’s “depressed" economy mobilizes into a

“war time” economy. Materials needed to fight a “war time” economy. Materials needed to fight a war are produced and unemployment falls to just war are produced and unemployment falls to just 1%.1%.

B.B. America from then on becomes the top player in world America from then on becomes the top player in world affairs (isolationism is a thing of the past)affairs (isolationism is a thing of the past)

C.C. Since women and Black make a major contribution to the Since women and Black make a major contribution to the war effort, both groups demand equality soon after the war.war effort, both groups demand equality soon after the war.

D.D. Throughout the country, and especially in Georgia, the Throughout the country, and especially in Georgia, the population shifts from rural to urban areas; plus Georgia population shifts from rural to urban areas; plus Georgia finally modernizes (cities, electricity, industries, etc.)finally modernizes (cities, electricity, industries, etc.)

Georgia’s Contribution to WW II (SS8H9b and Georgia’s Contribution to WW II (SS8H9b and SS8E1)SS8E1)

1. 1. 320,000320,000 Georgians served in the armed forces during Georgians served in the armed forces during WW II.WW II.

2. Georgia’s 2. Georgia’s Fort BenningFort Benning in Columbus was the largest in Columbus was the largest infantry training school in the world. Other major military infantry training school in the world. Other major military bases were bases were Fort GordonFort Gordon in Augusta, and in Augusta, and Fort Stewart Fort Stewart in in Savannah.Savannah.

3. 3. HunterHunter Air field in Savannah, Air field in Savannah, MariettaMarietta Army Airfield in Army Airfield in Cobb County, and University of Georgia in Athens all took Cobb County, and University of Georgia in Athens all took part in training combat pilots, while part in training combat pilots, while Warner RobbinsWarner Robbins Air Air Force Base had employees to repair aircraft or trained over Force Base had employees to repair aircraft or trained over 60,000 aircraft mechanics to be deployed in Europe or in the 60,000 aircraft mechanics to be deployed in Europe or in the Pacific.Pacific.

4. Airmen from Glynco Naval Station near Brunswick flew 4. Airmen from Glynco Naval Station near Brunswick flew blimps blimps to spot Germen submarines off the coast of Georgia.to spot Germen submarines off the coast of Georgia.

5. Fort McPherson in Atlanta was one of the major 5. Fort McPherson in Atlanta was one of the major InductionInduction CentersCenters for newly drafted soldiers, and a for newly drafted soldiers, and a Military Military HospitalHospital was opened next to it. Fort was opened next to it. Fort Gilliam Gilliam in Clayton County was a major military in Clayton County was a major military storage facility and train yard.storage facility and train yard.

6. Fort Oglethorpe in Chickamauga trained 6. Fort Oglethorpe in Chickamauga trained 150,000 women in the 150,000 women in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Women’s Army Auxiliary CorpsCorps (WAAC). They were trained for desk and (WAAC). They were trained for desk and clerical jobs in the military.clerical jobs in the military.

7. Overall Georgia had military installations that 7. Overall Georgia had military installations that added added $25$25 billion dollars to Georgia’s economy billion dollars to Georgia’s economy each year.each year.

8. 8. Bell AircraftBell Aircraft Company in Marietta assembled B-29 Bombers and was the Company in Marietta assembled B-29 Bombers and was the South largest facility in the deep. The company employed over South largest facility in the deep. The company employed over 20,00020,000

workers and finished 668 planes. Over workers and finished 668 planes. Over 3737% of the work force were % of the work force were women. The city of Marietta grew from 8, 667 people in 1940 to over women. The city of Marietta grew from 8, 667 people in 1940 to over

20,00020,000 at the end of the war. at the end of the war.

9. The shipyards at 9. The shipyards at SavannahSavannah and and Brunswick Brunswick built cargo ships which were named “built cargo ships which were named “Liberty Liberty ShipsShips.” The Savannah shipyard employed .” The Savannah shipyard employed 15,000 workers (mostly women) and built 15,000 workers (mostly women) and built 8888 Liberty ships during the war. The Brunswick Liberty ships during the war. The Brunswick shipyard employed over shipyard employed over 16,000 16,000 men and men and women, and finished 99 Liberty ships.women, and finished 99 Liberty ships.

10. The 10. The Tuskegee Tuskegee Airmen were groups of pilots who were trained Airmen were groups of pilots who were trained in Alabama. Close to 1,000 black men flew fighter planes in Alabama. Close to 1,000 black men flew fighter planes which escorted bombers over Nazi Germany. They shot which escorted bombers over Nazi Germany. They shot down or damaged over down or damaged over 4,000 4,000 enemy planes in over enemy planes in over 1,5001,500 missions. The airmen lost only 98 pilots, and proved to the missions. The airmen lost only 98 pilots, and proved to the U.S. military that troops should be U.S. military that troops should be integratedintegrated not segregated. not segregated.

1.1. What types of descrimination did What types of descrimination did African American soldiers face, African American soldiers face, even in WWII?even in WWII?

2.2. What were some of the What were some of the accomplishments of black soldiers accomplishments of black soldiers during WW II? during WW II?

3.3. What did it mean when some blacks What did it mean when some blacks felt they were fighting “two wars?”felt they were fighting “two wars?”

11. Most of Georgia’s economic and military success during the war can be contributed 11. Most of Georgia’s economic and military success during the war can be contributed to two famous politicians from Georgia. Congressman to two famous politicians from Georgia. Congressman Carl Vinson Carl Vinson from from

Baldwin County served over 50 years and was called the “father of the two-Baldwin County served over 50 years and was called the “father of the two-ocean navy.” Vinson and Senator ocean navy.” Vinson and Senator Richard RussellRichard Russell helped bring military bases helped bring military bases

and government contracts to Georgia.and government contracts to Georgia.