World War II left a mixed legacyWorld War II left a mixed legacy

Lic. Laura FloresLic. Laura Flores

World War II caused massive World War II caused massive destructiondestruction

WWII caused unprecedented destruction. At the WWII caused unprecedented destruction. At the same time, it also helped to create a new same time, it also helped to create a new postwar age. It caused more destruction than postwar age. It caused more destruction than any other conflict in human history.any other conflict in human history.

Most experts estimate that the number of war Most experts estimate that the number of war dead reached at least 40 million. Both the Allies dead reached at least 40 million. Both the Allies and the Axis Powers absorbed terrible losses. and the Axis Powers absorbed terrible losses. The soviet Union alone suffered 20 million The soviet Union alone suffered 20 million casualties, more losses than all nations put casualties, more losses than all nations put together in WWI.together in WWI.

The cost in property damage was also The cost in property damage was also devastating. Historic cathedrals, homes , devastating. Historic cathedrals, homes , factories, and schools were all damaged.factories, and schools were all damaged.

In some areas of Germany and Japan the In some areas of Germany and Japan the living envied the dead. Thousands of living envied the dead. Thousands of people starved to death during the first people starved to death during the first months after the war ended.months after the war ended.

The Holocaust claimed the lives of The Holocaust claimed the lives of six million Jewssix million Jews

The Nazi nightmare did not stop on The Nazi nightmare did not stop on the battlefields of Europe. Hitler the battlefields of Europe. Hitler divided humankind into two groups---divided humankind into two groups---a German master race and a lesser a German master race and a lesser race composed of everyone else. race composed of everyone else.

Hitler deprived Jews of their political Hitler deprived Jews of their political rights and property (Kristallnacht) rights and property (Kristallnacht) The Jews’ worst fears became a The Jews’ worst fears became a reality when Hitler conquered Poland reality when Hitler conquered Poland and invaded Russia.and invaded Russia.The killing units brutally shot The killing units brutally shot innocent men, women and children innocent men, women and children and hid their bodies in mass graves. and hid their bodies in mass graves. SS killing units murdered 1.4 million SS killing units murdered 1.4 million Jews.Jews.

The GhettosThe Ghettos

The killing squads were part of a program of The killing squads were part of a program of mass murder that Nazi leaders began to call mass murder that Nazi leaders began to call their final solution of the Jewish race.their final solution of the Jewish race.Polish Jews were herded into ghettos, Jews Polish Jews were herded into ghettos, Jews caught outside the ghettos were killed. caught outside the ghettos were killed. Warsaw ghetto contained half a million Jews Warsaw ghetto contained half a million Jews squeezed into an area that usually housed squeezed into an area that usually housed 10,000.10,000.Despite these horrible conditions, the Jews Despite these horrible conditions, the Jews struggled to maintain their traditions and keep struggled to maintain their traditions and keep their dignity (theaters, teachers, writers.)their dignity (theaters, teachers, writers.)

The Death CampsThe Death Camps

The ghettos were allowed to last The ghettos were allowed to last just a short time, the Nazis just a short time, the Nazis replace them with death camps.replace them with death camps.By Jan. 1942, top Nazi officials By Jan. 1942, top Nazi officials met to coordinate the total met to coordinate the total destruction of the Jews. Such an destruction of the Jews. Such an attempt to kill an entire people is attempt to kill an entire people is known as “genocide”.known as “genocide”.When the victims arrived, they When the victims arrived, they were divided into two groups: were divided into two groups: those judged healthy enough to those judged healthy enough to do heavy labor for the Nazis; in do heavy labor for the Nazis; in the other were those who were the other were those who were to die at once. They might be to die at once. They might be shot, bayoneted, or gassed. Any shot, bayoneted, or gassed. Any who were merely wounded were who were merely wounded were buried alive (shower room) buried alive (shower room)

World War II changed AmericaWorld War II changed America

Women and minorities: Women and minorities: WWII created new WWII created new opportunities for American women. opportunities for American women.

With more than 12 million men in the armed With more than 12 million men in the armed forces, the government urged women to take forces, the government urged women to take places in the work force. By the end of the war places in the work force. By the end of the war 36% of all American women were in the work 36% of all American women were in the work force. This experience change the attitudes of force. This experience change the attitudes of many women about their traditional roles in many women about their traditional roles in societysociety

African AmericansAfrican Americans

The war was also a turning point for The war was also a turning point for African Americans. Thousands of African Americans. Thousands of them left the rural South for higher them left the rural South for higher paying jobs in defense industries.paying jobs in defense industries.

After fighting for freedom, many After fighting for freedom, many African American soldiers returned African American soldiers returned home determined to end racial home determined to end racial discrimination.discrimination.

This new attitude helped to spark This new attitude helped to spark the civil rights movement in the the civil rights movement in the 1950’s.1950’s.

The imprisonment of Japanese The imprisonment of Japanese AmericansAmericans

When the war began, 120,000 Japanese When the war began, 120,000 Japanese Americans lived in the United States. The Americans lived in the United States. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor stunned the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor stunned the nation. Panic citizens feared that the Japanese nation. Panic citizens feared that the Japanese would soon attack the West Coast.would soon attack the West Coast.False rumors spread that the Japanese False rumors spread that the Japanese Americans were committing sabotage by mining Americans were committing sabotage by mining coastal harbors and poisoning vegetables.coastal harbors and poisoning vegetables.An ugly wave of prejudice against the Japanese An ugly wave of prejudice against the Japanese Americans. So Roosevelt felt he could no longer Americans. So Roosevelt felt he could no longer ignore the public’s fear.ignore the public’s fear.

““Internment Camps”Internment Camps”

On February 1942,Roosevelt authorized the On February 1942,Roosevelt authorized the establishment of military areas. Japanese establishment of military areas. Japanese Americans were moved to “internment camps,” Americans were moved to “internment camps,” or prisionlike camps.or prisionlike camps.Despite this mistreatment, Japanese Americans Despite this mistreatment, Japanese Americans nevertheless demonstrated their patriotism nevertheless demonstrated their patriotism honoring the American flag every day.honoring the American flag every day.In 1988 American congress voted a tax free In 1988 American congress voted a tax free payment of $20,000 to all those who had been payment of $20,000 to all those who had been sent to “internment camps”. Congress also sent to “internment camps”. Congress also officially apologized to Japanese Americans for officially apologized to Japanese Americans for the grave injustice they had suffered.the grave injustice they had suffered.