Free Essays on WWII

The advancements to weaponry in America during the 1930’s to 1940’s greatly influenced the tides of battle for the allies. The firearms of the time were becoming faster, increased accuracy, and more lethal. The M-1 Carbine was the standard semi-automatic rifle for all American troops and was later fitted to be fully automatic. The bazooka, invented in 1941 by American scientists, was first used in the invasion of North Africa in war and proved to be excellent anti-tank warfare. It was also during this time that bullets were upgraded from the pinfire type to the rimfire type. The rimfire type proved to be more precise and damaging because of its finer texture and cartridge case. Miscellaneous advancements include chemical agent weapons (i.e. nerve gas, mustard gas), flame-throwers, improved hand grenades, and other minor adjustments to firearms in general. The Americans during World War II also improved upon vehicles. On land the use of M-60 and M-1 main battle t anks were common. These tanks were often outfitted with a 105-mm gun, a 120-mm gun, or two to four 0.50 caliber machine guns. Also, the use of assault vehicles, armored transports, and tracked vehicles became more involved as technology grew. In the air many advancements were made as well. â€Å"The United States Airforce grew to its top strength during World War II† (World War II 10). Aircraft used by the Americans include the P-51 Mustang long-range fighter, bombers such as the B-17, B-24 Liberator, the B-25, and the B-29 (Enola Gay). It was these aircraft that coordinated air attacks, firebombing, the atomic bombing, and ground support that was crucial in gaining the upperhand. The sea was also the target of advancements. â€Å"The Navy had the most powerful fleet ever. It had 3,400,000 men and women and 2,500 ships, including 24 battleships, 35 aircraft carriers, 77 escort carriers, 92 cruisers, 501 destroyers, 406 destroyer escorts, and 262 submarines† (Z i... Free Essays on WWII Free Essays on WWII At the end of World War II the political and economical ideas that initiated leaders to unify and integrate nation-state’s was based on fear, fear of a history filled with â€Å"rivers of blood†, as Winston Churchill once proclaimed. The European unification was created as an attempt to change geopolitics within Europe. The two main plans in the creation of the European Community were the Schuman Plan (1950) and the Marshall Plan (1948-1951). On May 9, 1950 French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the Schuman Plan, a creation for an international organization to collectively coordinate the activity in the coal and steal industries to ensure reconciliation between France and Germany, to be known as the ECSC. The idea was designed by Jean Monnet in attempt to use prosperity as a peace keeper between the feuding countries. This represented â€Å"a first step in the federation of Europe†. The Marshall Plan was the American influence on European integration in the 1950’s. The United States used the Marshall plan to break down trade barriers, protectionism, and imperial preferences by linking the states through an international economic regime. The U.S. insisted that Europe coordinated the request for the Marshall Plan aid, this in turn assisting the process of integration. Group II. #4) It has been over ten years since the fall of the Soviet Union and the birth of a Russian state. Throughout this period Russia, the largest and most populous portion of states born from the ex-global power, has been idling in what analysts termed a â€Å"transitional† period, it is this stalemate between democracy and dictatorship that has the country and the world scratching their heads wondering what form of government will withstand the transition. Analysts and political scientists all have their own opinion of what will come of the Russian government, but each opinion can be separated into three groups: first, democracy... Free Essays on WWII Introduction Authorization President Clinton signed Public Law 103-32 on May 25, 1993, authorizing the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to establish a World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., or its environs. It will be the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II and acknowledging the commitment and achievement of the entire nation. Purpose The memorial will honor the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S. during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial will be a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. It will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing freedom and democracy. Above all, the memorial will stand as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when a free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause. Site The first step in establishing the memorial was the selection of an appropriate site. Congress provided legislative authority for siting the memorial in the prime area of the national capital, known as Area I, which includes the National Mall. The National Park Service, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission approved selection of the Rainbow Pool site at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. President Clinton dedicated the memorial site during a formal ceremony on Veterans Day 1995. Design ABMC engaged the General Services Administration ¡Ã‚ ¦s (GSA) Public Buildings Service to act as its a... Free Essays on WwII A Mistake in History Following the Great World War I, President Wilson had devised his 14 points to establish peace after the inevitable victory of the Allies. The Allies, including England, France and the US, tried setting up a long lasting peace that would end the fight in all wars and stop other wars form being started (Gelfond, 121). A peace conference was held in Versailles, France beginning on January 8, 1919. Represented was the US, Great Britain, France, and Italy. Even though the German republic was excluded, their government informed the US that the central powers were prepared to undertake negotiations. When the US informed the Allies of this information, Great Britain rejected the German advances due to the fact that Germany never laid down any specific terms for peace. Stated in Wilson’s 14 points was that 1) open covenants of peace, 2) absolute freedom of the navigation of the seas, 3) establishment if an equality of trade conditions, 4) national armaments reduced to lowest po int consistent with domestic safety, 5) absolute impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, 6) the evacuation of all Russian territory, provide opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development, 7) Belgium must be evacuated and restored, 8) the wrong done to France in regards to Allsace-Lorraine in 1871 should be righted, 9) a readjustment of the frontiers of Italy, 10) the peoples of Austria-Hungary should be accorded the freest opportunity for autonomous development, 11) relations of the Balkan states toward one another should be determined by friendly counsel along historically-established lines of allegiance and nationality, 12) Turkish portions of the Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, 13) a independent Polish state should be erected, and 14) a general association of nations must be formed with the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integr... Free Essays on WWII The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 marked the involvement of the United States of America into World War Two (II). The domineering of the German and Italian powers, as well as the attack by the Japanese threatened the freedom and democracy of the United States. As the young men of America were shipped off to war, they, as well as their families questioned their purpose in the battle. In time it was all too evident that the men, women, and children of the United States were to serve a crucial role in fighting World War II. From saving scrap metal, to working in factories, or fighting on the front lines; the efforts by so many facilitated in the fall of the Third Reich and other Axis powers. Never before had a nation worked together in such great scale to achieve a significant goal. The war would be lengthy and ruthless, and would not be won easily. Thousands of Americans were lost in unrelenting, unsympathetic, and grisly battles on land, water, and in the air. By the conclusio n of World War II, combat hardened soldiers and civilians would have contrasting views about the preceding war, and the United State’s involvement. A great nation had triumphed, yet at an immense cost to its people and the people of the other war torn nations. World War II took place on the home front as well as the battlefields in France, etc. Although, no combat ever took place on American soil, the war involved each American, young and old. â€Å"It was the greatest thing since the Crusades. The patriotic fervor was such at the beginning that if ‘The Start Spangled Banner’ came on the radio, everybody in the room would stand at attention† (120). Citizens tried to involve themselves in the war any way possible. Dellie Hahne, a young girl living in California, joined the Red Cross to become a nurse. To Dellie and her female companions, the war prompted excitement and social entertainment (with the soldiers) that never existed before. Every we... Free Essays on WWII World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch weaved in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tal... Free Essays on WWII The advancements to weaponry in America during the 1930’s to 1940’s greatly influenced the tides of battle for the allies. The firearms of the time were becoming faster, increased accuracy, and more lethal. The M-1 Carbine was the standard semi-automatic rifle for all American troops and was later fitted to be fully automatic. The bazooka, invented in 1941 by American scientists, was first used in the invasion of North Africa in war and proved to be excellent anti-tank warfare. It was also during this time that bullets were upgraded from the pinfire type to the rimfire type. The rimfire type proved to be more precise and damaging because of its finer texture and cartridge case. Miscellaneous advancements include chemical agent weapons (i.e. nerve gas, mustard gas), flame-throwers, improved hand grenades, and other minor adjustments to firearms in general. The Americans during World War II also improved upon vehicles. On land the use of M-60 and M-1 main battle t anks were common. These tanks were often outfitted with a 105-mm gun, a 120-mm gun, or two to four 0.50 caliber machine guns. Also, the use of assault vehicles, armored transports, and tracked vehicles became more involved as technology grew. In the air many advancements were made as well. â€Å"The United States Airforce grew to its top strength during World War II† (World War II 10). Aircraft used by the Americans include the P-51 Mustang long-range fighter, bombers such as the B-17, B-24 Liberator, the B-25, and the B-29 (Enola Gay). It was these aircraft that coordinated air attacks, firebombing, the atomic bombing, and ground support that was crucial in gaining the upperhand. The sea was also the target of advancements. â€Å"The Navy had the most powerful fleet ever. It had 3,400,000 men and women and 2,500 ships, including 24 battleships, 35 aircraft carriers, 77 escort carriers, 92 cruisers, 501 destroyers, 406 destroyer escorts, and 262 submarines† (Z i...