World War II What was the impact of World War II on Georgia?

The Holocaust Systematic extermination of 6-12 million Jews and other “undesirables” by Hitler and the Nazis Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau, Treblinka, Bergen-Belsen are examples of concentration camps The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust was created to promote tolerance and character by teaching the history of the Holocaust

How did the U.S. help? The United States provided lend-lease aid (military weapons, etc) to Great Britain, France, China and the USSR (Soviet Union) Bases were set up in Greenland and Iceland to track German subs The U.S. Navy escorted British ships across the Atlantic

December 7, 1941 “a day that will live in infamy” – President Rooseveltday The Japanese bombed the U.S. Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Military bases – brought millions of federal $ to GA Fort Oglethorpe – Trained 150,000 women for Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WACS) – Also used for POWs Fort McPherson – Induction center for newly drafted troops Fort Benning – largest infantry training center – Used for POWs (as was Fort Stewart and Camp Gordon) 320,000 Georgians served in the military Every major Georgia city housed a military installation.

Carl Vinson 25 consecutive terms in Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives (50+ years ) Known as “father of the two-ocean Navy” Served on the Naval Affairs Committee and Armed Services Committee Sponsored the Vinson-Trammel Act (92 warships) Pushed for strong defense Expanded the naval aviation system Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom – Nuclear carrier was named for him

Richard Russell Governor of Georgia – Youngest Georgia governor (age 33) – Created the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia – Combined 102 state agencies into 17 state agencies – Ran the state like a business which helped during the Depression

Richard Russell U.S. Senator – 38 years in the U.S. Senate – Served on the Senate Appropriations Committee and Armed Services Committee – Co-sponsored legislation (National School Lunch Act) creating a school lunch program Earned the nickname “Father of the School Lunch Program”

Liberty Ships Cargo ships Built in Savannah (88) and Brunswick (99)

Bell Aircraft Located in Marietta Created B-29 bombers (built 668 planes) It closed after the war but reopened in 1950 as part of the Lockheed Martin Corporation

Agriculture Before the war the most important industry in Georgia was cotton After WW2 cities grew and farms changed More industry, less farming In 1940 Georgia was 66% rural/34% urban In 1970 Georgia was 60 % urban/40 % rural Crops changed to peanuts, soybeans, corn Poultry became Georgia’s major agricultural product Farm machinery produced higher yields and allowed farmers to work more acres