World War II Reference Library Vol 1 Almanac

239 Pages·2000·9.7 MB·English

by  George Feldman

WWII Almanac Title Page. V1 8/10/99 3:45 PM Page 3
Almanac E1
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George Feldman
Edited by Christine Slovey
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George Feldman
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a Staff
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Christine Slovey, U•X•L Editor
a
Carol DeKane Nagel, U•X•L Managing Editor
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Tom Romig, U•X•L Publisher
l Rita Wimberley, Senior Buyer
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Dorothy Maki, Manufacturing Manager

: Evi Seoud, Assistant Production Manager
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r Margaret A. Chamberlain, Permissions Specialist
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Front cover photographs reproduced by permission of the National Archives
and Records Administration.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
World War II: Almanac / George Feldman
cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7876-3830-7 (set), — ISBN 0-7876-3831-5 (v. 1). — ISBN 0-
7876-3832-3 (v. 2)
1. World War, 1939-1945 Juvenile literature. I. Feldman, George II.
Title: World War two. III. Title: World War 2.
D743. 7.W673 1999
940.53—dc21 99-36179
CIP
This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright
laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and
other applicable laws. The author and editors of this work have added value
to the underlying factual material herein through one or more of the fol-
lowing: unique and original selection, coordination, expression, arrange-
ment, and classification of the information. All rights to this publication will
be vigorously defended.
Copyright © 2000 U•X•L, an imprint of The Gale Group
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in
any form.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Advisory Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Reader’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Timeline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Words to Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxi
Research and Activity Ideas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxi
Three children sit in front of
their bombed house in
Volume 1
London. (Reproduced by
permission of the National
Chapter 1: Background to War. . . . . . . . . . . . . . l
Archives and Records
Chapter 2: The Beginning of the War in Europe . . . . . 35 Administration)
Chapter 3: The War Expands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Chapter 4: Japan Attacks and America Goes to War . . . 83
Chapter 5: The Home Front. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Chapter 6: Europe Under Occupation . . . . . . . . . 131
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Chapter 7: The Holocaust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Chapter 8: The Impact of Total War . . . . . . . . . . 181
Volume 2
Chapter 9: The Allies and the Axis. . . . . . . . . . . 205
Chapter 10: Turning Points:
The Allies Begin to Win the War . . . . . . . . 227
U.S. Army tank in Aachen, Chapter 11: The Great Invasion:
Germany. (Reproduced Operation Overlord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
by permission of AP/Wide
Chapter 12: The Defeat of Germany. . . . . . . . . . 277
World Photos)
Chapter 13: The War Against Japan . . . . . . . . . . 305
Chapter 14: The Defeat of Japan . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Chapter 15: Spies and Scientists. . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Chapter 16: Art, Entertainment,
and Propaganda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Chapter 17: The World After the War . . . . . . . . . 391
Where to Learn More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxvii
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xlv
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Advisory Board
Special thanks are due to U•X•L’s World War II Reference
Library advisors for their invaluable comments and sug-
gestions:
• Sidney Bolkosky, Professor of History, University of
Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan
• Sara Brooke, Director of Libraries, The Ellis School, Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania
• Jacquelyn Divers, Librarian, Roanoke County Schools,
Roanoke, Virginia
• Elaine Ezell, Library Media Specialist, Bowling Green
Junior High School, Bowling Green, Ohio
• Melvin Small, Department of History, Wayne State
University, Detroit, Michigan
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Reader’s Guide
Between 1939 and 1945 a war was fought among all the
major powers of the world. By the end of it, more than fifty
countries were involved. It was a war in which more people died
than had died in any previous war and it changed the political,
social, and economic face of the entire world. World War II:
Almanacprovides a comprehensive range of historical informa-
tion and current commentary on World War II. The set explores
how events after World War I (1914–18) led to World War II; the
impact of the rise of dictatorial governments in Europe and of
militarism in Japan; how world leaders attempted to avoid war;
the relationships among the Allied countries and among the
Axis countries; major battles and turning points; life on the
home fronts and the nature of German occupations in Europe;
scientific developments; art and entertainment during the war;
and finally, how the world was changed by the war.
Other Features
World War II: Almanacis divided into seventeen subject
chapters, each focusing on a particular topic, such as The
Beginning of the War in Europe, Europe Under Occupation,
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The War Against Japan, and Spies and Scientists. The chapters
contain numerous sidebar boxes, some focusing on people
associated with the war, others taking a closer look at pivotal
events. More than 150 black-and-white photos and maps illus-
trate the text. Each volume begins with a timeline of events, a
“Words to Know” section, and a “Research and Activity Ideas”
section. The volumes conclude with a list of sources students
can go to for more information and a subject index so students
can easily find the people, places, and events discussed
throughout World War II: Almanac.
Comments and Suggestions
We welcome your comments on World War II:
Almanac and suggestions for other topics in history to con-
sider. Please write: Editors, World War II: Almanac, U•X•L,
27500 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331-3535;
call toll-free: 1-800-877-4253; fax to [phone]; or send e-
mail via http://www.galegroup.com.
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Timeline
1917: The czar (emperor) is overthrown in Russia and a Com-
munist government comes to power. The Russian
empire is eventually renamed the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR), known as the Soviet Union.
1919: Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles, officially end-
ing World War I. Extreme nationalist groups in Ger-
many blame socialists, communists, and Jews for Ger-
many’s defeat.
1919: Communist revolutions in various parts of Germany
are put down with great bloodshed.
1919: Adolf Hitler joins the tiny German Workers’ Party in
Munich. The party soon changes its name to the
National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP),
called the Nazi Party for short.
1920
1908 1914 1918 The League
The Model T Ford World War I World War I of Nations
is introduced begins ends is formed
1905 1910 1915 1920
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1922: Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party march on Rome,
Mussolini is named premier of Italy.
1923: Hyperinflation hits Germany; its currency becomes
worthless, causing severe economic distress.
1923: In November, Adolf Hitler leads a failed attempt to take
over the German government. Police end the rebel-
lion, called the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, and arrest
Hitler and other leaders of the party.
1924: At his trial for treason and armed rebellion, Adolf
Unemployed workers turn
to a German soup kitchen Hitler gains the attention of extreme nationalists.
for a free meal. (Reproduced While serving only eight months of a five year prison
by permission of Bildarchiv sentence, Hitler dictates Mein Kampf(My Struggle).
Preussischer Kulturbesitz)
1924: Benito Mussolini becomes dictator of Italy.
1926: Hirohito becomes emperor of Japan, giving his reign
the name Showa (“enlightened peace”).
1927: Chiang Kai-Shek establishes the Kuomintang or
Nationalist government in Nanking, China.
1930: A worldwide economic depression hits Germany espe-
cially hard. Thirty-three percent of the workforce is
unemployed.
1931: The Japanese army seizes Manchuria in a short war
with China, establishing Manchuria as the indepen-
dent country of Manchukuo, which is actually con-
trolled by the Japanese.
1932: In German parliamentary elections held in July, the Nazis
become the largest party in Germany, with about 37 per-
cent of the vote. Nazi stormtrooper violence increases.
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt begins the first of four terms as
president of the United States.
1933: Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor (head of the govern-
ment) of Germany on January 30. Within a few
1922 1929
Harlem Renaissance 1926 Great Depression begins;
begins 1924 Germany joins the it ends in 1939
Vladimir Lenin dies League of Nations
1922 1924 1926 1928
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months he and his National Socialist German Workers’
Party take control of the German government.
1933: The Reichstag building is set afire. Nazis blame the
Communists and Hitler receives emergency powers
from President Paul von Hindenburg. Free speech and
press are restricted. Nazi stormtroopers receive police
powers.
1933: Dachau, the first permanent concentration camp, is
opened in a suburb of Munich in March. Ten thousand
opponents of Nazis, especially communists, are arrested German soldiers examining
and sent to the newly established concentration camps. the remains of the burned
Reichstag. (Reproduced by
1933: In April, Nazis organize a national boycott of Jewish-
permission of Bildarchiv
owned businesses. The first anti-Jewish laws are
Preussischer Kulturbesitz)
passed, removing almost all Jews from government
jobs including teaching.
1934: Upon the death of German president Paul von Hin-
denburg, the office of chancellor is combined with
president. Adolf Hitler is now the Führer (leader) of the
Third Reich (empire) with absolute powers. All officers
and soldiers of the army swear allegiance to Hitler.
1935: March 16, Germany announces the reintroduction of
the military draft and a major expansion of its army,
violating the Treaty of Versailles.
1935: Germany passes the Nuremberg laws, which define
Jews in racial terms, strip them of German citizenship,
and ban marriages between Jews and non-Jews.
1935: Italy invades Ethiopia on October 3. By May 1936,
Ethiopia is conquered.
1936: Germany and Italy enter into agreements that estab-
lish a political and military alliance between the two
countries called the ”Rome-Berlin Axis.”
1936: Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern (anti-
communist) Treaty.
1931 1933
1930 The Star Spangled Francis Perkins is appointed
The planet Banneris made the Secretary of Labor, becoming 1936
Pluto is national anthem of the first woman to hold a The Spanish Civil
discovered the United States U.S. cabinet post. War begins
1930 1932 1934 1936
Timeline xiii