SS8H9 The student will describe the impact of World War II on Georgia’s development economically, socially, and politically. a. Describe the impact of events leading up to American involvement in World War II; include Lend-Lease and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. b. Evaluate the importance of Bell Aircraft, military bases, the Savannah and Brunswick shipyards, Richard Russell, and Carl Vinson. c. Explain the impact of the Holocaust on Georgians. d. Discuss President Roosevelt’s ties to Georgia including his visits to Warm Springs and his impact on the state.

Roosevelt watched Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union carve up the world as Americans were determined not to get involved. F.D.R. was convinced that only Great Britain could keep Hitler from crossing the Atlantic. Neutrality Acts prohibited F.D.R. from selling weapons to any warring nation. In 1939 Roosevelt did get a new law that allowed him to sell arms to the allied nations if they paid cash and transported them in their own ships. Once Great Britain ran out of cash, and Germany turned on Russia, Congress approved the lending or leasing of weapons to aid in the fight against Germany.

As Japan continued expanding in the South Pacific, the United States cut off all weapons and aircraft sales, as well as froze all Japanese assets in the U.S. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Hawaii on Dec 7 th 1941 in a surprise Sunday morning attack. 8 battleships were destroyed or severely damaged, more than 180 planes were destroyed. That evening F.D.R. declared 12/7/1941 as a “day that will live in infamy!” The United States declared war on Japan on 12/8/1941

The U.S. needed additional plants to build the B-29 bomber, Bell Aircraft won a contract to build them in Marietta Ga. Once completed, it was the largest aircraft assembly facility in the world. Began production in the spring of 1943 with 1,200 employees, by the spring of 1945, 27,000 employees. The plant closed at the end of Lockheed Martin now operates at this location. (since 1950)

WWII brought prosperity to Georgia, influential Congressmen such as Senator Richard B. Russell Jr. and Representative Carl Vinson helped the state become the site of several military institutions. Major bases included Fort Benning (Columbus), Camp Gordon (Augusta), Fort Stewart and Hunter Air Field (Savannah), and Robbins Air Field near Macon. Fort McPherson - major induction center for the Army. Fort Gillem - transportation and storage facility. Marietta Army Airfield became Dobbins Air Reserve Base

Both facilities produced “Liberty Ships”, named for Patrick Henry’s famous quotation. The first was the James Oglethorpe, which was sunk by a German submarine the next year. 88 ships were built in Savannah alone, many of the workers were women. 99 ships were built in Brunswick. Workers worked 365 days a year during the war, even Christmas Day.

Became Georgia’s youngest Governor in 1931, sworn in by his father, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Russell Sr. Founded the Board of Regents, consolidated 102 state offices into 17 agencies, and tried to run the state like a successful business. Was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1932, and served there for the next 38 years. Was a trusted advisor to 6 Presidents, and was third in line for the Presidency when he served as President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

Served 25 consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from Set a record for longevity in the House. Was a leader of several military committees, and brought much military investment to Georgia. Pushed for strong defenses even after WWII. Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 Had a nuclear aircraft carrier (The country’s third) named for him in 1972

The systematic killing of Jews and other "undesirables” by the Nazi’s in Germany during WWII. Even women and children were killed. Those killed were called “inferior people” by Hitler 1986 – Georgia Commission on the Holocaust was established to take lessons from the Holocaust to promote good citizenship and lead new generations of Georgians beyond racism. Some concentration camps were Auschwitz, Dachau, and Treblinka.

“Work Makes One Free”