World War II and Georgia

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.

WWII and Georgia

• What led to U.S. involvement in WW2?• How did our involvement impact Georgia?• Essential Vocabulary: Bell Aircraft, Richard

Russell, Carl Vinson, Lend-Lease Act, Liberty Ships, industrialization

What was Georgia like before WW2?

• Many Georgians still worked on farms• There weren’t many industrial jobs available.• Many Georgians who didn’t want to work on

farms moved to northern cities to look for work.

Few economic opportunities

World War II & Georgia

• After World War II, Georgia’s economy was much different.

• We will discuss how Georgia contributed to the war effort and how the war effort changed Georgia.

World War II

• Germany invaded its neighbors in Europe.• Japan invaded its neighbors in Asia.• Britain and Russia wanted to defeat the Axis,

but needed equipment• Americans did not want to fight in another

great war, but we wanted to help Britain and Russia.

Lend Lease Act

• When Britain could no longer afford to pay for the ships and supplies it needed, Congress passed the “Lend-Lease Act”.

• This allowed Britain and The Soviet Union to borrow what they needed from us to keep fighting.

• The U.S. became “The Arsenal of Democracy”

Pearl Harbor

On December 7th 1941, Japan launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor2,403 Americans were killed, 1,178 were woundedFranklin Roosevelt called it “a date which will live in infamy”Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans wanted to help the Allies, but did not wish to fight.Now, Americans were ready for war.

Questions

• Which country attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941?

• Which country took over most of Europe?• What was the name of that country’s leader?• Which countries were we trying to help with

the Lend-Lease Act?

Georgia contributions

• 1) Thousands of Georgians served in the military

• 2) Many important military bases were located in Georgia

• 3) Many of the ships, planes, and other war equipment was built in Georgia factories

Richard Russell & Carl Vinson

1) Both were very important leaders in Congress

2) Both believed that America should have a strong military.

3) Both helped get many bases and factories located in Georgia.

Richard Russell & Carl Vinson

Differences:

1) Russell was in the Senate and Vinson was in the House of Representatives

2) Russell was a governor and a state legislator and then a Senator (and ran for president), while Vinson held one office his entire career.

Richard Russell

Carl Vinson

• Like Russell, was elected to office at a very young age.

• Elected to House of Representatives in 1914.• He believed a strong military was very

important.• Because he was on important committees and

he supported President Roosevelt, he was able to get many bases built in Georgia and helped Georgia factories get government contracts

Questions

• What office did Carl Vinson hold?• What offices did Richard Russell hold before

becoming a Senator?• Did they agree or disagree with President

Roosevelt’s policies?

Georgia Military Bases

• Columbus: Fort Benning• Hunter Airfield: Savannah• Camp Stewart: Hinesville• Naval Air Station Glynco: Brunswick• Moody Airfield: Valdosta• Spence Air Base: Moultrie• Turner Airfield: Albany• Bainbridge Air Base: Bainbridge• Souther Airfield: Americus• Warner Robins Air Service Command• Fort Screven: Tybee Island• Camp Wheeler: Macon• Atlanta General Depot• Fort McPherson (Atlanta)• Naval Air Station Atlanta• Navy Pre-Flight School• Camp Toccoa• Fort Ogelthorpe

Georgia’s land, climate, deep-water ports, and other natural resources made it an ideal place to feed and train the millions of people who would be needed to fight in the war.

Georgia had many bases from World War I. These bases were expanded and new bases were built.

The list here shows the many bases that were in Georgia. You can find it on page 313 in your book.

Fort Benning was Georgia’s most famous base. It was the largest infantry training school in the world.

Warner Robins Air Service Command:

Throughout World War II (1941–45), 23,670 employees repaired almost every kind of AAF aircraft, including B-17s, C-47s, B-29s, B-24s, P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s. Its training facilities turned out nearly 60,000 field repair mechanics for every theater of war. The workforce supplied every kind of part necessary to keep AAF planes flying, especially spark plugs. It also maintained thousands of parachutes, aircraft electronic and radio systems, and AAF small arms.

Navy Pre-Flight School

Athens, GA: One of 5 flight schools in the country. Trained over 20,000 pilots.

Savannah & Brunswick Shipyards

Employed thousands of Georgians:15,000, mostly women, worked in Savannah

16,000 worked in Brunswick

Produced over 200 ships, “Liberty Ships”

Produced “AV-1’s” for fight against Japan

Liberty Ships“Liberty Ships” were enormous cargo ships. They weighed over 10,000 tons

Before the US entered WWII, it was helping Great Britain.

Many British ships were sunk by German submarines.

The workers at Georgia shipyards built “Liberty Ships” to replace them.

After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, they were building ships to be sent all over the world.

Bell AircraftWhen it opened in 1943 in Marietta, Bell Aircraft was the largest assembly plant in the world.

It built B-29 Bombers during WWII

27,000 workers built 668 planes

Still open today as Lockheed-Martin

Dobbins Air Force Base was opened in Georgia because it was near this factory.

Questions

• What type of ships were produced at the Savannah and Brunswick shipyards?

• What was the name of the company that produced the B-29 bomber?

Changes to Georgia

• Georgians had more money and better jobs• More Georgians worked in manufacturing

than on farms• The average income for Georgians had

doubled

Changes to Georgia

• Many women worked in factories so that the men could fight in the war.

• Many African Americans had economic opportunities that they previously had been denied.

• Americans were fighting the war for so that others could be free.

Question:

• After the war is over, do you think they will want to go back to not having rights?