War in the Pacific

1. In what ways were the American victory at Midway and the Japanese triumph at Pearl Harbor alike?     

They were both alike because in Pearl Harbor, the Japanese bombed U.S.'s Pacific Fleet and then in Midway, the U.S. bombed the Japanese fleet and both scenarios were devastating.

2. Why was the Battle of Leyte Gulf so crucial to the Allies?     

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was crucial to the Allies because the Japanese threw their whole Navy into it so if the U.S. defeated them and won, which they did, they would destroy most of the Japanese Navy.

3. Why was Okinawa a significant island in the war in the Pacific?     

Okinawa was a significant island in the war in the Pacific because it was the last Island the U.S. conquered and it was the beginning of the end which is when the U.S. won. Also, it was one of the bloodiest and cost the most lives for Japan.

4. What was the Manhattan Project? And who was J. Robert Oppenheimer?       

The Manhattan Project was the building of the Atomic Bomb and the planning to drop two of them on Japan. J. Robert Oppenheimer was the scientist who developed the Atomic Bomb.

5. Why was Roosevelt anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany?     

He was anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany because Stalin was set on splitting up Germany into four parts and he was an evil dictator that could do a lot of damage if he did not agree with Roosevelt.

6. What decisions did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin make at the Yalta Conference?       

The decisions that they made at the Yalta Conference were to split Germany up into four parts, Stalin agreed to help with the war against Japan, and he agreed to take part in an international conference which led to the beginning of the United Nations.

7. At the trials, many Nazis defended themselves by saying they were only following orders. What does this rationale tell you about the German military? Why was it important to negate this justification?  



It was important to negate this justification because every person is responsible for his/her own actions. People can influence those actions but it is still the persons responsibility for those actions. Also, the rationale tells us that the German military was heartless and listened to orders even if they were drastically horrible.

War for Europe and North Africa

1. Why had the tide turned in the Battle of the Atlantic by mid-1943?   



The tide had turned  by mid-1943 because the U.S. was making more ships than there were sinkings so they eventually had the lead in the battle against the U-boats.
 
2. What two key decisions determined the final outcome at Stalingrad?     

The two key decisions that determined the final outcome of Stalingrad was Hitler's insistence to keep fighting and also Stalin's insistence to keep fighting.

3. What was the outcome of the North African campaign?      

The outcome of the North African Campaign was that the U.S. and G.B. invaded North African cities and fought eastward and then in May of 1943, the Afrika Korps surrendered. The U.S. and G.B then took control of North Africa.

4. What were the results of the Italian campaign?         
   
The results of the Italian campaign was that Mussolini was made to resign and was the most hated man in Italy and the plan to free Italy didn't happen until 1945 when Germany collapsed.

5. Was the Allied invasion of Europe successful? Explain your answer.     
      
The Allied invasion of Europe was successful because they invaded France and the Germans originally didn't see them coming so it was sort of like a sneak attack and then they had a huge, bloody war with the Germans on Omaha Beach but they eventually won and freed France, Luxembourg, and Belgium.

6. Why was the Battle of the Bulge important?             

The Battle of the Bulge was important because it weakened Germany greatly. They lost machinery and men and tanks and all they could do now was retreat. It was vital things that they lost and also, if they had succeeded in their plan, G.B. and the U.S. would have lost.

7. What the significance of V-E day?         

V-E day stands for Victory in Europe day and the significance of it is that that was the day the war ended in Europe.

8. Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower?           

A former president who was an American General in WWII
9. Do you agree with the decision made by Roosevelt and Churchill to require unconditional surrender by the Axis powers? Why or why not?

I agree because Germany had fallen so there was no point for the Axis powers to fight anymore because they had nothing to fight for and so the war would end immediately once Germany fell.