Essay/Term paper: World war 2

Essay, term paper, research paper:  World War

World War 2

Introduction

World War 2 was one of the many wars that occurred during the 20th century.

During

this brutal war many countries, people, and history were changed. The factors

that

encourged the Germans and Japanese forces allowed them to take over other

countries

and kill many of people. Now, years later, from a different point of view, the

Germans and Japanese accomplished nothing but just killing innocent people.

The

greediness behind the Germans and Japanese in the 20th century would change

everybodys

lives forever.

How Did This War Start

The Germans had a powerful army in the 1930's. They had a very powerful leader

named

Adolf Hitler. He was a greedy man who wanted everyone blonde hair, and blue

eyes. He

wanted everyone the same and to be the only leader in the world. Hitler started

his

conquest for land in 1938 when he annexed Austria. He followed this by

threatening

Czechoslovakia. When Hitler increased his demands on the Czechs, war seemed

almost

certain. The British and French had meetings with Hitler and Mussoluni but they

could

not stop them from putting demands on other country's. Soon after the meetings

Hitler

captured Czechoslovakia and seized a former German port. He moved on by putting

demands on Poland and the Polish Corridor. In September 1939 France and Britain

agreed to support Poland and they soon declared war with Germany.

How Did The US Get IntoThe War

First of all Japan has no natural resources in their country. So being that

they

replied on their oil products from the US. In July 27 1941, President

Roosevelt

stopped all trading with the Japanese. That meaning now that Japan has no fuel

to run

their military forces. Japan forces then went and attacked the East Indies and

took

over all of their fuel. Shell was the company that owned most of the fuel

products in

the East Indies. Shell's head office was in England which led European forces

to be

in the war against Japan and Germany. When the US stopped trading with Japan

they

took this as a hostile act but, Japan still tried to make peace with them. A

Japan

ambassador even asked for a peace discussion with the secretary of state. The

meeting

did not go threw with the 2 nations. Japan then attacked Atu (an island off of

Alaska) in hopes to draw the American forces up North. Japan was wrong , but

soon

after this they planned out a sneak attack on Pearl Harbour (a military base for

the

Americans in Hawaii). The Americans had a small idea that the Japanese might

attack

them. On the Morning of December 7, 1941 a flight of planes were detected, but

the

people in Pearl Harbour were told that they were US fighter planes coming in

from

California. Soon after that a Japanese submarine was discovered in the waters

South

of Hawaii. An American destroyer was sent out to destroy the submarine, which

it did.

Soon after that the planes that were detected earlier were Japanese forces.

They

launched their bombes on Pearl Harbour and destroyed 3/4 of the air crafts, all

8

battleships, and 2300 men. The US had no planes in the air, or anything else

ready to

fight. After the bombing the planes from California had arrived only to see

Pearl

Harbour in black smoke. President Roosevelt wasted no time as he asked congress

to

declare war. On December 8,1941 war was declared on Japan.

What Was The Nature Of The War Between The Us And Japan

At the start of the War Japanese forces were very confident of winning the War

against

the Americans. They used methods such as bombings and air raids to try and

defeat the

Americans. In 1943 the US turned the tables by island hoping and soon started

to

drive the Japanese back into Japan. In 1944 Japan started losing really bad

against

the Americans. They started to resort to suicidal banzai in attempts to kill as

many

of the Americans as possible. Some examples they did were driving explosive

filled

planes into air crafts and strapping bombs to themselves so when they were dead

the

bombs would still go off. The battle of Okinawa was the last step in the

island-hopping strategy before the invasion on Japan. In this battle Japanese

forces

continued to do suicidal things, but the American forces were too strong as they

won

their largest battle yet.

How Did The Americans Win The War

The war between the nations had been going on for 4 years. President Truman

wanted to

end this as quick as possible. He did not want to lose anymore men. The

president

and other important men decided that they would drop an atomic bomb on Japan. A

controversy was started as to what cities would be bombed. Kyoto and Tokyo were

first

selected for targets but weather conditions were not good enough, so they needed

2

other cities. In May of 1945 America selected Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be

bombed.

They would bomb Hiroshima and ask for them to surrender and if they didn't they

would

bomb Nagasaki. The plan was approved and the first bomb was sent to go in a

plane

called Enola Gay which was named after the pilots mother. On August 6th 1945,

8:16am,

at 26000 feet the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Total destruction was caused

but the

Japanese would not surrender. So then once again but on August 9th another

atomic

bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Again leaving nothing but destruction Japan

agreed to

surrender to the Americans. The agreement to surrender was on September 2 1945.

Since this war Japan has been allowed to have any military forces at all.

Was It Necessary To Drop The Bomb On Japan

Some people say no and some say yes but no one will ever know if that was the

right

decision. Truman only had 3 options to win the war, and they were continue

firebombing and blockade, an invasion or use the bomb. Truman wanted no more of

his

men gone so he chose the bomb as it would only risk to pilots lives. In the

battle on

Okinawa 48000 American souls were taken which also helped Truman to his

decision.

Many cities were selected to be bombed but Truman had to make a tough decision

as the

war had to be stopped. American forces knew that the bomb would have little

survivors, and cause total destruction. A lot of people today still ask this

same

question, but remember it was either us or them.

World War 2