World War II
TOPIC 4: LEGACIES OF THE WAR
US Minorities Serve in the War
 Minority units in general suffered high casualty rates and
won many medals for bravery
 African Americans begin to push for desegregated society
and fair hiring practices
 During WWII Blacks served
in segregated units and were
assigned to non-combat roles
 They demanded and got
combat roles
 The Tuskegee Airmen served bravely in Europe.
 Asian Americans were treated with distrust but
Japanese units served w/ distinction (Nisei regiments)
 Mexican Americans were not segregated and served
well
 Native Americans – “Codetalkers” Navajo is an oral
language, not a written language, so it was
impossible for the Japanese to decode.
The conduct of countries during the war
A. Rules: The Geneva
Convention - Tried to ensure
the humane treatment of
prisoners of war (POW) by
establishing rules for nations
to follow.
 Japan did not follow these
rules and was brutal to US
prisoners of war.
 Bataan Death March - US
prisoners in the Philippines
– thousands died.
B. How a nation treats POW's often reflects the values and
moral codes of a country (Japanese soldiers often
committed suicide rather than be captured). Democracies
tend to value people more so they usually treat prisoners of
war better.
C. Treatment may also depend on how savage the war is - In
Europe the rules of the Geneva Convention were usually
followed but in the Pacific where the battles were more
savage they usually were not
D. The Holocaust
 Often wars lead to genocide – The systematic and
purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious, or
cultural group. Germany developed the FINAL
SOLUTION
 Hitler and the Nazis believed in a superior master Aryan
race (Blue eyed & blond hair) and sought to purify
Germany and the world by getting rid of anyone they
hated
Civilians at War: 21:35- 32:45
Who did they hate and why?
 The Jews (Hitler said they caused
the Great Depression w/greedy
fiscal policies - Many Jews were
involved w/ banking)
 Poles, Slavs and Gypsies Genetically inferior
 Undesirables - Homosexuals,
mentally ill & political dissidents
(trouble makers). Not meant to live
because they were physically or
mentally inferior to the Aryan race
Results of the Holocaust
 Nuremberg trials after the war - Nazi's were
convicted of war crimes (Some were put to death).
Those convicted were not allowed to use “I was just
following orders” as an excuse.
 6 million Jews were killed. Due to the holocaust
there was increased pressure for a Jewish homeland
in the Middle East (Israel)
The World After the War
 What is the United States’ position in the world after
WWII?
 With all the other world powers in ruins the US
becomes a world power