World War II: Allied Strategies and Controversies 7.3: Explain how controversies among the Big Three allied leaders over war strategies led to post-war conflict between the United States and the USSR, including delays in the opening of the second front in Europe, the participation of the Soviet Union in the war in the Pacific, and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Tension Between US and USSR Decisions made during WWII laid the foundation for tension between the USSR and the US Known as the Cold War Tension was based on fundamental differences in economic and political philosophies US: Democratic and Capitalist USSR: Totalitarian and Communist

Allies? US opposed Russian Revolution and was scared of the Communist threat (Red Scare) American distrust of USSR increased when Stalin and Hitler signed the Non-Aggression Pact Hitler violated the pact and Soviets became recipients of Lend-Lease aid US and USSR were allies only because they were both enemies of Germany

Big Three Allied Leaders Winston Churchill of Great Britain Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union Met regularly during the war to plan strategy and make postwar plans

Early Controversies USSR took the brunt of German aggression early in the war and wanted to open up a second ground front in the west Would provide Soviets with relief Britain wanted to take out German Air-Force that was constantly bombing them US sided with Britain and mass-produced bombers rather than landing equipment

Operation Torch Allies invaded North Africa (Operation Torch) to free the Mediterranean Sea from Germany and protect Middle Eastern oil fields

Battle of Stalingrad City of Stalingrad is primary city of Southern Russia Hitler’s motivation Rivalry with Stalin – take the city with his name Oil Bloodiest battle of war 2 million killed on both sides Germans stuck in Russian winter

Italian Invasion American and British forces eventually invaded Italy and forced its surrender but further delayed directly attacking Germany

D-Day Operation Overlord: D-Day, Invasion at Normandy Opened up the much needed Western front against Germany and forced them to fight on three fronts (France, Italy, and Soviet Union) Forced Germany to spread resources across Europe and divert attention to the West

Sept 1, 1939 June, 1945 Dec. 8, 1941 August 11, 1945 June 6, 1944 June, 1945 Russia vs. Germany involvement British/French involvement vs. Germany British/French involvement vs. Italy/Germany US involvement in the Pacific Theater v. Japan in World War 2 US involvement vs. Germany US involvement vs. Italy/Germany Timeline of Direct involvement in World War 2

Race to Berlin Battle of the Bulge: Last German offensive of the war and the beginning of the end for the Nazis U.S., British and French forces marched towards Berlin from the west while Soviet troops approached from the east Both sides want to catch Hitler Soviets know that territory controlled important (TofVersailles)

War in the Pacific United States pursued a policy of island-hopping Goal was to get close enough to Japan to launch air attacks in preparation for an invasion Naval victory at Midway (turning point in Pacific) stopped the Japanese advance and put them on the defensive

Iwo Jima and Okinawa Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa demonstrated the tenacity of Japanese soldiers and the cost in lives that an invasion of Japan would entail America was determined to secure Soviet aid in an invasion of Japan and the Big Three agreed at the Yalta Conference USSR invaded Korea as soon as the war in Europe ended

Atomic Bombs US secretly designed a super weapon that used a nuclear reaction to release massive amounts of energy (atomic bomb) President Truman’s decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was designed to prevent the US from invading Japan and the causalities that it would entail After witnessing the destruction of the bomb, Japan surrendered unconditionally officially ending WWII

Dropping of the Bombs

Before Bomb After Bomb

Before and After Bomb

Lasting Effects The end of the war left USSR occupying Korea Laid the foundation for the Korean War of the 1950s The use of the atomic bomb increased distrust between the USSR and America because the technology was not shared USSR detonated their own atomic bomb in 1949 Started a nuclear arms race between US and USSR End of WWII led to the beginning of the Cold War