WWII Daily

March 8, 1945

WWII DAILY
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Blitzkrieg: A
Personal Account
October 1, 1939, almost six
years from today. I remember
that day as clear as yesterday.
The planes, the tanks, the
bombs...

Winston Churchill:
A Biography of the
British Bulldog
Winston Churchills speech at
the Potsdam Conference last
Saturday expressed the glory
of the Allied victory in World
War II

Planes of the War

With war comes a great
increase in technology and
ideas. During World War I, the
United States Military
depended

How it All Started:

Dictators

VE-Day: Its Finally Over

Today, March 8, 1945, marks a monumental step in World War II:
Germany has surrendered. Our path to end the rule of Fascist
dictators have come a long way: to our initial defeat in France and
Norway to the valiant fight where our prime minister, Winston
Churchill, saved our country from the bombing of the Luftwae
to our seaborne invasion of Germany and finally to the ultimate
defeat of the Fascist nation. It has been six years of destruction,
six years of pain. Today marks the end of an era and the start of a
time of peace."
On Trafalgar square, Winston Churchill has given a monumental
speech to the millions of celebrating people:"

The close of the European

theater shines a salvatory sun
over the chaotic rubble that
has become Europe

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The Forgotten
Holocaust: The
Rape of Nanking
World War II has presented the
world with many act of
inhumane violence

The League of
Nations: A Failure
to Learn From
Europe has gone to war again
after the rise of Nazi Germany!
France has already been taken
over and Britain is heavily

The Battle of
Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad has
been won by the Russians and
the Eastern Front

The Homefront in
America
After the day that will live in
infamy, or the Pearl Harbor
attacks of the American

March 8, 1945

My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not

victory of a party or of any class. It's a victory of
the great British nation as a wholeI say that in
the long years to come not only will the people
of this island but of the world, wherever the bird
of freedom chirps in human hearts, look back to
what we've done and they will say "do not
despair, do not yield to violence and tyranny,
march straightforward and die if need beunconquered." Now we have emerged from one
deadly struggle-a terrible foe has been cast on
the ground and awaits our judgment and our
mercy.

The Continuing Threat!

Although Germany has surrendered, the war is not over yet.
There is yet another enemy to be defeated: Japan. With Europe
secured, we must not rest a moment and bring this devastating
war to an end.

Todays Cartoon:
Waking the Giant
This cartoon depicts Tojo, the
Japanese warlord, poking the
president

Heil Hitler! AntiNazi Propaganda

Todays special: Heil Hitler! Der
Fhrer ist so stark! Enlist in the
army to finish him off

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March 8, 1945

Blitzkrieg: A Personal Account

Warsaw, Poland is devastated by blitzkrieg.

October 1, 1939, almost six years from today. I remember that day as clear as
yesterday. The planes, the tanks, the bombs... they destroyed everything.
Nothing could compare with the utter destruction of the German tactic of
Blitzkrieg, lightning war. The Germans came upon us quickly. The thunderous
roar of the German invasion only preceded the tanks and planes by a split
second. Our forces were overwhelmed, mauled on the spot by a barrage of
German destruction on a narrow front. Before we could resupply ourselves, the
German forces penetrated our ranks.

-Imi Nazwisko, Polish resident of Warsaw (Not really, its Vincent)

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The Idea Behind Blitzkrieg!

The German tactic of Blitzkrieg was a ruthless and surprisingly eective strategy. It consisted of using
extremely fast moving military vehicles and huge numbers of infantry forces following shortly
thereafter, surprising and overwhelming enemy forces quickly. The success of blitzkrieg relied on
surprising the enemy forces and forcing it to fight in unexpected ways while enveloping and
penetrating its lines. Due to the German fighter pilots, enemy armies were unable to resupply and the
German army could maintain their advantage. Blitzkrieg is characterized by total destruction of both
military and civilian equipment, a horrific example of total war. With a narrow front, German soldiers
would break into the enemy ranks. Blitzkrieg translates to lightning war in German, although the
world is of foreign origin, not appearing in German books, and first appeared in an English newspaper."

A History of Blitzkrieg!
The idea of Blitzkrieg was first conceived to prevent the repetition of the immobility of trench
warfare in World War I. Blitzkrieg was first employed in the German invasion of Poland. On
September 1, 1939, German generals Fedor von Bock and Gerd von Rundstedt launched an all-out
Blitzkrieg attack on western Poland, quickly penetrating into its interior. Within one month, all of
Poland, including its capital Warsaw, had been secured by either German or Soviet forces. The city of
Warsaw was devastated by blitzkrieg: the Germans left nothing. The total German forces numbered
over two million compared to the 950,000 of the Polish. Of the 950,000, there were an estimated
904,000 casualties, while only 59,000 of the over two million of the German soldiers died. Blitzkrieg
had proved its worth. Germanys next move was the invasion of Norway in April 8-9, 1940. The
Germans used blitzkrieg again. Invaders numbered only 10,000, but due to the lack of preparation on
the Norwegian side, Germany was able to quickly overwhelm them. Although the invasion still lasted
a few months due to support on the Allied side, the Norwegian resistance was futile against Blitzkrieg.
Blitzkrieg reached its peak in the invasion of France. Snug behind the maginot line, the French waited
for the Germans to attack the heavily defended fortress. The Germans, however, passed through
Belgium and avoided the line. They used Blitzkrieg on France, forcing France to surrender within 1
month and 12 days. Allied casualties numbered over 2,260,000, while German casualties numbered
only 165,000. One of the last times blitzkrieg was employed was during the invasion of Russia. Within
5 months, Germans were able to take one third of the Soviet Union and march up to the brink of the
capital itself. The invasion of Russia, however, was ultimately a failure when the German army met
their match in the battle of Stalingrad."

Blitzkrieg: Not a Resounding Success?!

Blitzkrieg is not the overwhelming success or the smooth procedure that many think it is. Due to the
massive firepower needed for such a large scale invasion, German troops needed to be resupplied very
quickly. At the beginning of the war, when Germany was still strong and had won a great amount of
land, resupplying was no problem and blitzkrieg was successful. However, as the war raged on and the
German economy declined, the army, navy, and air force competed for the scarce supplies needed for
blitzkrieg to remain in action, which can be attributed to the decline in the use of blitzkrieg for the
later stages of the war. This internal conflict was one of Germanys major shortcomings."
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Winston Churchill: A Biography of the

British Bulldog

Winston Churchills speech at the Potsdam Conference last Saturday expressed the glory of the Allied
victory in World War II. Churchills eorts during the war has made a lasting impact in regards to the
Allied victory as well as the natural well being of Europe. The glorified war hero has maintained the
British morale even during times of mishope. Had Churchill not exerted his eorts, Europe would
have fallen to the Germans and the world would have succumbed to Hitlers wrath."

Early Life and the Boer War!

Winston Churchill, otherwise known as the Bulldog, was born to Lord Randolf Churchill and Jennie
Jerome in November 30, 1874. He never excelled in his primary education and had thus been sent to
boarding school at the age of eight and then to the prestigious Harrow school at the age of twelve.
Here, future prime minister began his military career and studied military strategy. It took Churchill
three attempts to gain acceptance into the British Royal Military College in 1893 where he graduated
at the top of the class in 1894, becoming a cavalry ocer. After six years, Churchill was deployed to
the coast of India where he gained experience in journalism. He was later deployed to South Africa
during the Boer War. Churchill documented the action and sent his publications to several
conservative newspapers across England. During his service in South America, he had been captured
by the Dutch and was held as a prisoner of war. Fortunately, Churchill was able to escape in a few
months. Anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing the man was lucky enough to hear several of his
war stories."
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Upon returning to England at the end of the Boer War, Churchills military reputation earned him a
seat on the conservative side of the British Parliament. However, Churchill soon found that the
conservative party was corrupt and exploited the lower classes. He then denounced his seat and joined
the liberal party, which he believes his father would have preferred."

A young Winston Churchill.

World War I!
The Great War truly defined Churchills military brilliance. Although he never fought directly in the
war, Churchill had been one of the keen minds behind the nations strategies. He had greatly assisted
in the Battle of Gallipoli. Although the Allies lost the battle, Churchill had been the one who
suggested focusing on other matters, helping us cut our nations losses. The pinnacle of Churchills
military success in World War I was the Battle of Jutland. Churchill had devised a strategic plan to
prevent the Germans from nearing the Baltics. He had also been the one directly responsible for
establishing the Royal Air Force, having seen great potential in the emerging field of aerial combat.
After the Allied victory of World War I, Churchill was promoted to the Royal Minister of Munitions. "
Churchills military reputation was surpassed by none by the end of World War I. However, his
political career had reached an obstacle. The liberal party decided to remove his seat, and when he
went back to the conservative side, the party collapsed due to the debts of the Great War and
Churchills military career collapsed along with it. "

World War II!

Churchill, his place in Parliament, still maintained his military position and became an advocate for
British rearmament. It was he who had foreseen the potential of Hitlers military strength. He
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strongly criticized the former prime minister for agreeing to Hitlers appeasement policies. When our
nation declared war with the Axis powers that September six years ago, Churchill had already outlined
a battle plan. Within six months, King George XI appointed him to the position of prime minister.
Churchill then went on to lead our nation through this grave conflict."
In these past few years, Lady Britain has seen her darkest days. Countless British soldiers fell in the
struggle of defending our nation. Even our civilians faced the wrath of the war. All of Europe had fell
to the hands of the Fascist tyrant. All except for one region. As the world would have seen us, one tiny
island. When hope seemed lost and defeat seemed inevitable, one man was struggling to keep our
faith alive. Churchills undying trust in the Royal Air Force was what had saved this nation, and
transitively, was what had saved Europe. The bombing of London had tested the British morale, but
we emerged with a stronger resolve than ever. "
Once the Luftwae was pushed out of Britain, Churchill held many conferences with the allied
powers of the United States along with the Soviet Union. Churchill aided in several battles in the
Western Front and led the struggle towards the heart of Germany. The Allied victory is greatly
attributed to his eorts."

Churchill and Eisenhower debate about military strategy.

Legacy!
Churchill was, by no means, a perfect man. He had developed a strong addiction to alcohol and was
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reported to be intoxicated at several of his conferences. However, the level of stress the man faced in
his daily work required some kind of outlet. Despite his distasteful habits, the man had saved Britain
at the brink of its defeat. History will forever remember the man who had saved Europe from the
Fascist powers."

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Planes of the War

Planes are the next step in war.

With war comes a great increase in technology and ideas. During World War I, the United States
Military depended primarily on slow planes with a very limited range. World War I caused an increase
in technology and has led to many new planes in the Army Air Corps. As of this point in the war the
planes of the Military include single and double engine propeller fighters, long range bombers, and
newly introduced jet fighters. "

Prop Fighters!
One of the most popular prop planes in the United States Arsenal is the P-51 Mustang. The plane was
used primarily for the Army Air Corps in the European theatre but was also saw use for the Navy as it
took o from aircraft carriers."
With the introduction of the P-51 in the winter of 1943-1944, General James Doolittle changed a long
lasting strategy of the war. Fighters usually escorted bombers to their destination and would protect
them from the Luftwae. After the P-51 was accessible to almost all forces in the European Theatre,
Doolittle decided the fighters should go in prior to the bombers and mop up. With this strategy the
Air Force gained air superiority and eliminated about 17% of the Luftwae fighter pilots. Overall, the
introduction of P-51s and other highly advanced prop planes during the war has given the Allies air
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superiority and an ability to defeat the highly advanced Nazis."

A diagram of the P-51.

Bombers!
Bombers have been an important device for both sides during the war. Strategic bombing is defined
as, any government undertaking independent air campaigns of a clearly strategic intent. Strategic
bombing is used to take out many dierent types of land targets. These targets include military,
civilian, and industrial strongholds depending on the desired outcome. One of the most commonly
used bombers in the United States arsenal for both the European and Pacific Theaters is the B-17
Flying Fortress. The B-17, which first flew in 1934, is capable of flying at speeds of 200 to 250 miles per
hour with full 2,000lb.payload in order to reach bombing destinations. The B-17E variant is fitted with
.50 caliber tail armaments for air defense. The specific model was followed by the B-17F in which
3,405 were produced. One of the most important positions of the B-17 is the rear gunner. This is
primarily because most attacks come from the rear of the aircraft.The rear gunner mans a dual .50
caliber machine capable of mutilating enemy fighters. The big brother of the B-17 is the B-29
Superfortress. The B-29 is limited solely to combat in the European Theater. A plane as large as the
B-29 Superfortress is capable of dropping very large weapons accurately with a large mission radius.

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Jet Fighters!

A diagram of the B-29 Superfortress.

Jet Fighters are planes powered by jet engines mounted below the fixed wings, usually in place of the
propellers. Jet Fighters are capable of travelling at very high speeds yet there are very few operational
jets today. The first to fly for the Allies was the Gloster E.28/39 in the United Kingdom. This
prototypal aircraft is not operational yet but it is predicted that the United Kingdom and United
States will introduce new jet fighters in the future. However, it has been reported from members of
the USAAF that the Luftwae have a very reliable jet named the Messerschmitt Me 292. This jet is
capable of reaching speeds much greater than the United States primary fighter, the P-51 Mustang (see
previous paragraph.) It is interesting to see what great accomplishments our militaries will be able to
reach with the increased development of technologies during the war so far. "

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A diagram of the Messerschmitt Me 292.

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How it All Started: Dictators

The close of the European theater shines a salvatory sun over the chaotic rubble that has become
Europe. Europe has stands tall after facing the threat of Fascist dictatorship. The world stands in
amazement as it reflects upon the extent of totalitarianism that had happened before their very eyes."

Benito Mussolini: Italy!

Benito Mussolini.

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!
Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy until his fall from power in 1943. He was considered the
founder of Fascism and a huge ally of Adolf Hitler. "
Mussolini was born to a socialist father who scorned religion and a devoutly Catholic mother in 1883.
During his early years, he was known to start fights in school. By 1904, Mussolini had joined a socialist
group and became known amongst his peers as a powerful orator and an advocate of violence.
However, when Mussolini wrote an argument against the neutrality of Italy, he was expelled from the
socialist group. "
Mussolini, now decidedly anti socialist, advocated for a strong central Italian government under a
dictator. Many shared this belief and started to support him. By 1919, Mussolini had outlined his
Fascist doctrine. On March 23 of that year, Mussolini assembled various Fascist groups into a single
Fascist party. In late summer 1922, Mussolinis Fascist party marched into Rome and wreaked havoc
upon the headquarters. Having already controlled most of Italy, Mussolini was sworn in as prime
minister of Italy on October 31. From then on, Mussolinis path to dictatorship was much longer than
that of his German counterpart. In 1922, the Italian government members still had dierent beliefs.
Unlike Hitler, Mussolini did not quickly remove them and still faced troubles."
Dictatorship under Mussolini never equalled that under Hitler. The first step that Mussolini took in
his dictatorship was buying support from the working classes and the Roman Catholic Church. He
reformed industrialization in Italy by giving workers better conditions and made Catholicism required
for all elementary schools in Italy. Next, Mussolini attempted to consolidate power by introducing the
Acerbo Law. In short, any party that had more than a 25% support rate would gain 66% of the seats in
Parliament. The Fascist party was then able to control most of Parliament. However, Mussolini still
faced open criticism and was not feared as widely as Hitler was during his dictatorship. Critics were
hurt but rarely killed. When Giacomo Matteoti was killed for criticizing the Fascist party, there was
much uproar in Italy that almost ended Mussolinis reign. After surviving this, Mussolini took further
steps to guarantee Fascist control of Italy. By 1926, he banned all opposing newspapers and set up a
secret police force to arrest and execute political dissenters. However, only ten people were ever
executed. Mussolini also set up a diarchy where he and the king, Victor Emmanuel III, could rule as
the sole rulers of Italy. He changed the electoral system so that the existing government could choose
400 out of the 1000 potential candidates, guaranteeing that there would be a Fascist majority.
Mussolinis dictatorship influenced even the regional levels when he replaced mayors with magistrates
that answered only to him. When Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in 1935, he had reached the peak of his
support and he had finally established a true dictatorship."
Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Germany, admired Mussolini for his Fascist principles. On the other
hand, Mussolini did not even care for Hitler at first. However, Hitler continued to back Mussolinis
campaigns, and eventually, the two formed an alliance. Eventually, this would turn into the Pact of
Steel in 1939. Following the path of Hitler, Mussolini stripped Italian jews of their rights. When World
War II started, Italy became an ally of Germany, although it was clear that the two countries were not
on equal footing. Determined to prove the worth of Italy, Mussolini pushed Italy from defeat to
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defeat, trying to keep his plans secret from Hitler. When Allied forces bombed Rome in 1943, Italy
turned on Mussolini. He was promptly rescued by German forces and reinstated in a position of
power in Nazi-controlled northern Italy. However, the Nazis too were on the brink of defeat.
Mussolini was executed in 1945 when Allied forces finally overcame the Nazis."

Adolf Hitler: Germany!

Adolf Hitler.

The Fascist party had reached the height of its influence under the rule of Adolf Hitler. Under his
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reign, the Fascist powers of Europe were able to unite in a global eort to claim Europe. "
"
Hitler was able to gain his dictatorship due to the weakness of the German economy following
the Great War. Germany had faced the punishment of paying retribution for its faults during the war.
Germany had well earned its punishment, but a miscalculation in handling the debt allowed the
German economy to become bankrupt. The mismanagement of power made Germany susceptible for
a change in political power. Germanys former government had collapsed shortly following the
destructive Great Depression."
"
Hitler had been held as a renowned military hero from the Great War. His reputation from the
war had allowed him to gain influence in the newly formed Nationalist Socialist German Workers
Union, which people now recognize as the ruthless Nazi party. Hitler, having been born to a lower
middle class family, agreed with their ideologies. The political party had set public demonstrations of
protest and engaged in rebellious marches. Hitler, who had risen to one of the highest ranking
positions within the party, was arrested in 1921 for disobeying the German government. In his time in
imprisonment, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, in which he detailed his political and social ideologies. The
German people somehow agreed to his erroneous philosophies. After having been released from
prison due to the overwhelming influence of the Nazi party, Hitler was heralded as the partys leader."
"
The former president of Germany held a close relation with the Nazi party, fearing that his power
would otherwise be overthrown. Hitler made a deal with the former president that he would relieve
him of his position should Germany ever initiate martial law. They also agreed that Hitler should be
given full military authority of Germany. The former president believing this agreement was fair,
agreed to the future dictators terms. After Hitler had been given absolute military authority, he
initiated unlimited martial law. This allowed Hitler to become the new Chancellor of Germany. With
his power unchecked, he lead the way for the Fascist conquest of Europe."
Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933. With the death of the former president of
Germany the following year, Hitler became fuhrer of Germany. Hitler's dictatorship began on August
19, 1934. Having acquired the tyrannical powers of a dictator, Hitler modeled his government and
military strategy after the example set forth by Mussolini. In addition to forming a military, Hitler also
formed a police force known as the Brown Shirts. The Brown Shirts would torture any and all
opposition of Hitlers Nazi party. Hitler was able to brainwash the German people by appealing to
their nationalism. He blamed the defeat of Germany on the Jewish citizens. He promoted Germans
appeal and brought nationalism within Germany to a new height. He was also able to gain the support
of Germanys next generation through the Hitler Youth program. By using heavy propaganda, Hitler
made the masses conform to his beliefs. Hitler unified Germany into a resolved Fascist power"
Mussolinis undermining of the League of Nations inspired Hitler to do the same. He first invaded
Austria, as he had envisioned since childhood. Hitler went on to achieved Germanys long term dream
and invaded the Rhinelands. The League of Nations, wanting to avoid war, allowed this upheaval.
Hitler continued to invade more and more portions of Europe until Germany was restored to its
former glory. Germanys size had made it the largest in Europe with the exception being Russia. The
league of nations had maintained the policy of appeasement to avoid war. However, Hitlers
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unopposed expansion faced opposition when the European nations no longer allowed him to
continue. By invading Poland, Hitler began World War II. Mussolini may have been the one who
began the Fascist ideology in Europe, but it was Hitler who manipulated this destructive force to
begin the deadliest war the world has ever seen."

Hideki Tojo: Japan!

Hideki Tojo.

Hideki Tojo was the head of the military and government of Japan during World War II. Ocially
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serving under Emperor Hirohito, Tojo was the true leader of Japan, although his reign is not
totalitarian enough to be considered a true dictatorship."
Tojo grew up in the military and followed a straightforward path to power. Born to a military general
on December 30, 1884, Tojo soon proved to be a natural leader and master of strategy, graduating from
the Japanese military academy in 1905 with honors. Tojo advocated for total warfare and was quickly
promoted to head of the mobilization section of the war ministry. Tojo believed that industrialization
was necessary for the Japanese army to succeed and pushed for the incorporation of Manchuria. Tojo
was then promoted to chief of the police and then to the director of military aviation. In summer of
1940, Tojo was promoted to the Minister of War. After Pearl Harbor, Tojo became the eective
dictator of Japan."
Although Tojo was very much the ruler of Japan, his reign was not dictatorial in the sense that Hitlers
or even Mussolinis was. Just like other people, he worshipped Emperor Hirohito and obeyed him.
Tojo never needed to oppress the Japanese people like Hitler did in Germany or Mussolini did in Italy:
they were all on the same boat due to Shinto, the religion of the Japanese. Although Tojo controlled
much of Japans army and resources, several important facilities were out of his reach: the navy and the
court. Still, Japan was totally blind under the government and their Shinto religion. They had already
been brainwashed; in this case, the government and the religion had done it, not one particular
dictator."
Tojo ruled with relative authority until the island of Saipan fell to the Americans. From then on, the
Japanese were not so trusting of their leader. When Japan finally surrendered in 1945, Tojo was
executed along with other war criminals."

Wrapping it up: How did Dictators Cause the World War?!

Dictators such as Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo played a huge part in the causation of the Second World
War. With liberal governments failing in Germany and Italy, people turned to demagogues for support,
who eventually became the dictators that we know them as. Dictators brainwashed their people who
would pledge unflinching allegiance and killed all dissenters. They became the beacons of their
country and introduced nationalism to the weary people. Feeding on the nationalism, dictators
proceeded to expand their territory, leading to the territorial conflicts that ultimately caused the war
as we know it.

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The Forgotten Holocaust: The Rape of

Nanking

Japanese soldiers execute a Chinese civilian after the massacre. Execution was a sport.

"
World War II has presented the world with many act of inhumane violence. Journalism has
allowed the world to understand the severity and harsh reality of those senseless acts. The world will
never forget the atrocity of the Holocaust, nor will it forget the brutal acts of the Armenian Genocide.
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However, the world hasnt even paused to consider the atrocity of the Rape of Nanking. "
"
The past few weeks glorified the Allied victory of the Pacific theater. Only following the war had
the Allies cared to examine the action at the Pacific. Being Welsh journalist for the past ten years, my
work had only focused almost entirely on Europe. Like myself, the people of whales had little concern
for the rest of the world. When the first group of European reporters entered China after the war,
only then had the world learned of the atrocity that would become the Nanking Massacre. The event
which history shall name the Rape Nanking hadnt simply aected Nanking, but all of China."

Causes!

Japanese students during rifle training.

The Nanking Massacre had been driven by two forces: nationalism and militarism. During the Great
Imperial Era, Japan had developed a strong sense of nationalistic duty. The extreme nationalism
caused Japan to develop a heavy military attitude. From a young age, Japanese boys were thought the
ways of warfare. The whole of Japan focused on developing its military might. Additionally,
nationalism had fueled Japans motivation. Japan had held a long term rivalry with China, whom it had
seen as a threat for domestic security. China had been gaining an advantage in trade during recent
years and Chinas economic progress began threatening Japan. Great Britain had declined trade
relations with the Japanese and began spanning through the Pacific Islands to increase its influence. As
a result, Japan emerged as an Axis power with the aim to retaliate both against China and the Allies. "

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Destruction!
The Japanese entered China on December 13, 1937. Japan had began its expansion even prior to the
war. During the time, China had been waging an internal conflict between the imperial power of
China and the rising Communist party. Infused in its own struggle, China was ill prepared for the
invasion. The Japanese attacked China using a combination of Aerial strikes and direct confrontational
combat. The Japanese were superior in terms of weaponry and military might. Within a matter of
days, the Japanese had conquered a majority of the Eastern region of China. "
Nanking, a port city along Chinas Eastern boundary, had been a prime target of the Japanese.
Japanese soldiers, who were mainly composed of teenagers and young adults, had been given
permission to practice total warfare. The Japanese massacred both military personnel and civilian
indiscriminately. Chinese men were murdered almost immediately. Women had been sexually assaulted
before being murdered. Girls as young a twelve years of age had been raped by the Japanese soldiers.
Babies were often boiled alive or stabbed. The Japanese also used the civilians for target practice. "
The young Japanese soldiers had followed a perverse superstition. They had believed that murdering
civilians would increase their own lifespan. Additionally, they would make necklaces using the pubic
hair of the people they had murdered. The necklace was to act as bullet-proof shield against enemies.
Beheading was a frequent practice. Beheading the Chinese civilians was to bring endless luck to the
Japanese army. One of my colleagues was able to interview several of the Japanese soldiers that had
been captured by the Allies during their occupation of China. They unanimously felt no regret for
their actions. One of the soldiers, who in a few days will be allowed to walk as a free man, believed
their actions were justified because the murderers were aiding the emperor. A translator revealed the
mans state of mind during the atrocity: I dont see humans, I see targets."

Global Impact!

An American soldier talks to a survivor of the Rape of Nanking.

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The Nanking Massacre, or as history would most likely remember it as the Rape of Nanking, revealed
the nature of unrestrained cruelty to the world. Among many things that can be observed from the
tragic event, the primary lesson that is to be learned is the danger of absolute warfare as well as the
danger of ignoring issues outside of ones domain. Nanking had faced the wrath of total warfare in its
most disgusting form.

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The League of Nations: A Failure to Learn

From

A meeting in the league of nations.

Europe has gone to war again after the rise of Nazi Germany! France has already been taken over and
Britain is heavily shaken! The League of Nations can be to blame. Beginning in 1920 and held in
Geneva, Switzerland, the League of Nations has failed to prevent another great European war though
its main goal was to do so. "
World War I had caused the deaths of at least 10 million soldiers and millions of civilians. The Allied
victors of the war formed an international whose goal was to prevent another horrific war. Our former
President Woodrow Wilson was especially instrumental in formulating and advocating the idea of a
"League of Nations". The League arbitrated disputes between member countries in order to peacefully
preserve sovereignty and territorial rights. The League encouraged countries to reduce their amount
of military weapons. Any country that resorted to war would be subject to economic sanctions such as
a halt to trade."

Structure!
The League of Nations was administered by three main bodies. The Assembly, composed of
representatives from all member countries, met annually and discussed the priorities and budget of
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the organization. The Council was composed of four permanent members (Great Britain, France, Italy,
and Japan) and several non-permanent members who were elected by the permanent members every
three years. The Secretariat, led by a Secretary-General, monitored many of the humanitarian agencies
described below."

Successes!
The League of Nations was successful in preventing several small wars. The League negotiated
settlements to territorial disputes between Sweden and Finland, Poland and Lithuania, and Greece and
Bulgaria. The League of Nations also successfully administered the former colonies of Germany and
the Ottoman Empire, including Syria, Nauru, and Togoland, until they were ready for independence."

Failures!
The League of Nations was unable to enforce many of its own regulations because it did not have a
military. The League did not stop several of the most significant events that led to World War II.
Examples of League of Nations failures include: "
The 1935 invasion of Ethiopia by Italy"
The annexation of the Sudetenland and Austria by Germany"
The invasion of Manchuria (the northeastern Chinese province) by Japan in 1932"
The Axis countries (Germany, Italy, and Japan) withdrew from the League because they refused to
comply with the League's order to not militarize."
Now Europe is at war and it is still uncertain if we will have to take part in this war. Because of the
League of Nations failures, Europes future is now uncertain. "

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The Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad has been won by the Russians and the Eastern Front is looking a lot more
promising for the Russians now that Hitlers sixth army has been decimated. The following, is an
excerpt of a letter from the epic battle of Stalingrad that lasted from 23 August 1942 2 February 1943.
This 19 year old Russian soldier did not survive the battle but his letter to his mother did and it
describes some of the horrific events that occurred in this bloody battle. "

Mother, we have been fighting for Stalingrad for four months now and the storm
is beginning to let up! The fascist dogs have tried to hold their pride for too long
and we have now trapped them in the ruins of our demolished city in the winter.
What I have seen in these five past months cannot be completely described in
words but I shall try my best to let you know what has happened. My regimen
and I were one of the first to enter the city and as we fought, the city came
down with us. The German invaders thought that we were cowards but we
showed no mercy defending our city. All of the plain people, mothers, fathers,
and factory workers all took up arms fending off the Germans. Somewhere
inside each of us, we knew that if this battle was lost the Soviet Union would
come down with it. In that spirit each of us fought, not for Stalin, not for each
other, but for the motherland. Thorough the first few months it was hell. Buildings
were reduced to rubble by the bombers, people were shredded by bullets, and
the reality that in a second you could be killed was very real. In this battle it did
not matter if you were a general or a private, the chance of dying was the
same! During the first week of fighting it felt hopeless. The German Luftwaffe
had the benefit of the airspace and the city was bombed to a rubble. However,
as the buildings collapsed, it began to provide cover and made it impassable to
tanks. Our destroyed city was what leveled the playing field, holding the
Germans hostage in our city. The winter is now wearing away at the Germans
and our victory seems to be imminent

-Russian soldier (Not really, its Vlad)

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The Letter above gives a good picture about what the battle was like. As Americans, we cannot
understand what it can be like fighting in the ruins of one of our cities and lets hope we will never
have to. Along with our recent progress in Africa, the war should be over in maybe the next year or so.
As soon as we make the push towards mainland Germany. The United States, Soviet Union, and Great
Britain will crush Hitler from all sides and Europe shall be again liberated. "

Everyone fought: even the women.

The city of Stalingrad, left in ruin.

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Timeline!
The battle of Stalingrad began in August 23, 1942. Hitlers army had arrived at the border walls of
Stalingrad and attacked the city using heavy artillery and aerial bombing. However, the Russians were
able to use the rubble to practice guerilla warfare. By September 23, Nazi commander Paulus had still
failed to capture the city. On October 4th, the Nazi advance is halted and the battle comes to a
standstill. On November 19, Soviet troops begin the counter-oensive code named Operation Uranus.
By November 22, Soviet troops encircle 290000 Nazi soldiers near the Don river and attack from all
directions. On January 9, 1943, Soviet commander Rokossovsky declares an ultimatum for the Nazi
surrender, but Hitler refuses to surrender. The Soviets resupply their artillery and again encircle the
Nazis between January 22 to the 26th. By February 2, all Nazi opposition has ended and Commander
Paulus surrenders despite Hitlers orders. The Nazi defeat allows the Red Army to advance towards
Berlin at an eortless pace.

The Stalingrad battle plan.

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The Homefront In America

Examples of the American resolve.

After the day that will live in infamy, or the Pearl Harbor attacks of the American naval fleet on
December 7, 1941, everyday life across the country was dramatically altered. Simple necessities such as
gas, food, and clothing were rationed. Communities searched for any scrap metal that could be used to
make equipment and ammunition necessary for the war. Women, who had primarily stayed in houses
tending to their families found work as electricians, welders, and riveters in defense plants to build the
armements necessary to win the war. Propaganda in forms of cartoons, entertainment that is seen by
kids and adults alike daily, was used to demonize the nations enemies. This propaganda was viewed as
an outlet that allowed Americans brief respites from the war worries."
On December 7, 1941 Japan forcefully thrusted the United States into World War II. On December 8,
the United States and Great Britain declared war on Japan. Two days later, Germany and Italy declared
war on the United States. "
Americans realized that if the Japanese had the capability to attack Hawaii, they might have enough
military might to attack the mainland. Many people wondered what securities the U.S. had to prevent
an attack on the mainland, or specifically along the Pacific coast. People knew the devastation that
Japan had given to China, and they didnt want similar destruction coming to their homes. Eventually,
the fear of attack motivated the citizens of America to sacrifice to achieve victory. During the spring
of 1942, a rationing plan was devised to set limits on gas, food, and clothing consumptions. Due to the
surge of troops to booth the Pacific and European theaters, government ocials knew that the people
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at home would have to sacrifice a little bit of their everyday lives. After the program was established,
families were issued ration stamps that were used to buy the allowed amounts of everything from
meat, sugar, fat, butter, vegetables and fruit to gas, tires clothing and fuel oil. One common term was,
Do with less-so theyll have enough. Obviously the they are the troops. Meanwhile, communities
conducted drives for rubber and metals such as aluminum to be recycled into armements. "
Ever since the beginning of World War II, the government has called for an abundance of tanks,
planes, warships, rifles, and automobiles. However, there were no able bodied males available to
produce the armements. The government realized that the only way to produce enough for the war
was to have women take jobs in factories. Prior to the war, occupation such as welders, electricians,
and welders had been strictly male jobs. "
Not all American citizens were treated fairly at the beginning of the war. Just two months after the
Pearl Harbor attack, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which called for the
imprisonment of Japanese-Americans who resided on the West Coast. This ultimately removed many
Japanese-Americans from society and caused a great deal of uproar. More than 120,00 JapaneseAmericans were removed from their homes and communities and placed in relocation camps across
the United States. However, young Japanese-American still fought in the European theater in the
100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry."
Overall, the productions on the homefront were miraculous. Prior to the Pearl Harbor attacks, the
United States Navy had 5,000 vessels. By 1945, the United States Navy had 90,000. Also over 80,000
tanks and 300,000 aircraft were developed. Millions of weapons shot from the assembly lines, giving
the soldiers a fighting chance. New industries such as synthetic rubber boomed, and old ones
flourished as well. With the assistance of the hard working women on the homefront and the soldiers
overseas, America was able to conquer two evils: the Axis and the Great Depression."

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Todays cartoon: Waking the giant. This cartoon depicts Tojo, the Japanese warlord, poking the
president of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with a stick that reads pearl harbor, thus
angering and waking the United States from a long period of dormancy. The sign depicting To
Europe outlines the United States next decision. How foolish it was for the Japanese to bomb Pearl
Harbor! Now that Europe is secured, we can focus our eorts on the Pacific Theater."

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Todays special: Heil Hitler! Der Fhrer ist so stark! Enlist in the army to finish him o and eradicate
Fascism and Nazism from the world!Works Cited
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