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National Observance of World War II 6/4/92 [OA 7576]
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National Observance of World War II 6/4/92 [OA 7576]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Chronological Files
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S
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MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron Files, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13818
Folder ID Number:
13818-003
Folder Title:
National Observance of World War II 6/4/92 [OA 7576]
Stack:
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G
26
22
6
1
and
its
secretary Card Canthony Dr. Archivis laurencenald June Draft 3,
Naryse.V (Smith/Aarhus) Three WAR
1992
David Jeremiah,
PRESIDENTIAL
REMARKS:
50TH
ANNIVERSARY
OF
WORLD
WAR
II
ViceCh.
ROOSEVELT ROOM
JCS
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1992
General Colin Powell; Deputy Secretary of Defense Don
Bill Caldwell
Atwood; Secretary of the Army, Michael Stone; Congressman John
Myers, and other Members of Congress with us this morning; Albert
McCluskey, Veteran of the Battle of Midway; other veterans here
Adm. Frank
Chief Open:
today; Members of the civic and veterans service organizations
Naval attons
who, along with local communities, will observe over the next
three and a half years various anniversaries of World War II.
Gen.Memilk Gen.
Members of the Department of Defense's World War II Commemoration
Mchak
of.AF AF
Committee. //
Welcome to the White House -- and to the observance of the
Gen. Carl
50th anniversary of an event which linked American hearts, and
Mindy Cosmaring
minds: The monumental struggle known as the Second World War. //
Overnight, World War II transformed America from a people at
peace to a nation at war that would define the course of history
Coast
for the rest of this century. / The attack on Pearl Harbor
forced America to abandon isolationism and take up the mantle of
leadership. / World War II was fought for American soil and
sovereignty. It was also fought to defend people who, hating
war, sought only peace -- people everywhere who yearn for
freedom, then and now. /
The year 1942 was crucial to our history. Americans came
together. Each citizen sought ways to do his or her part. /
White House News Summary
Thursday, June 4, 1992
3:30 P.M. NEWS UPDATE
HAITI/MEETING (AP) -- President Bush conferred on the Haiti crisis
and trade issues with prime ministers from five Caribbean nations.
Afterwards, Prime Minister Simmonds of St. Kitts and Nevis defended
the U.S. refusal to admit Haitian refugees. "We are not in a
position to take the Haitians ourselves,' said Simmonds. He called
the crisis in Haiti "a very complex matter" that requires a
regional solution.
WWII PROCLAMATION (AP) -- President Bush warned against ever
letting America's defenses down as he signed a proclamation marking
the 50th anniversary of World War II. Bush said the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor "forced America to abandon isolationism and
take up the mantle of leadership." "Weakening our defenses during
a time of peace is an open invitation to those with the potential
to wage war," Bush said at a signing ceremony in the Roosevelt Room
witnessed by generals and lawmakers.
BALANCED-BUDGET AMENDMENT (Reuter) -- Speaker Foley said a
constitutional amendment to balance the budget was losing momentum,
but Rep. Stenholm said he has the votes to pass it. "I think
support is weakening," said Foley, following a one-hour closed
discussion among House Democrats. But Stenholm scoffed at the
speaker's doubts that the necessary two-thirds majority will be
achieved in a scheduled vote next week. "We still have the 290
votes and the battle is on," said Stenholm. "If there are second
thoughts, they have not been expressed to me personally."
EARTH SUMMIT (Rio de Janeiro/AP) -- The U.S. said it had offered
changes to a treaty on protecting animals and plants from
extinction, opening the door to signing an Earth Summit convention
that Washington previously opposed. EPA chief William Reilly also
said the U.S. was changing its forestry policy to make clear-
cutting of U.S. national forests the exception, not the norm. The
changes in the U.S. position came as Secretary-General Boutros-
Ghali opened signing on a treaty on global climate control.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Reuter) -- The U.S., which has learned a painful
lesson in Yugoslavia, will not object if Czechs and Slovaks decide
peacefully to split after weekend elections, U.S. officials said.
"There is general consensus that there isn't a risk of violence so
the United States, while indicating that we see some problems in
a breakup, is saying that it really isn't our business," said one
State Department official. "If that's what they decide to do
democratically, so be it."
CUBA/SANCTIONS (AP) -- The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted
to water down provisions that would have eased a 30-year U.S. ban
on export of food and medicine in Cuba. In considering a measure
designed to tighten sanctions on Cuba, the panel on voice votes
eviscerated provisions that would have opened the door to shipments
of medicines and medical equipment into Cuba. As it worked toward
final action on the bill, the committee adopted language offered
by Rep. Torricelli that would require on-site monitoring by U.S.
officials of the use of any imported medical supplies.
###
U.Gen. (Ref.) Claude Kicklighter, exec. dir. POD of 50hanniv. of
with Comm. Comittee
Chapman Cx, preside CEO of uso
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
03-Jun-1992 04:18pm
TO:
Christina M. Martin
FROM:
Rebecca L. Anderson
Office of Legislative Affairs
SUBJECT: Real Work
We've invited a few MC's to the WWII Veteran's Signing Ceremony --
following are confirmed:
Congressman John Myers (R-IN) (principle sponsor of legislation)
Congressman Sonny Montgomery (D-MS), Chairman, House Veterans
Affairs Committee (NOT CONFIRMED YET)
Congressman Bob Stump (R-AZ), Ranking Republican on the House
Veterans Affairs Committee (remember him from the AZ trip?)
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) [he's Chairman of BQ Veteran's
Coalition - - but I'm not sure it's appropriate to mention at this
event]
Thanks pal, I'll let you know for sure tomorrow!
tother Membersof of Cargress
4 people whowill be scated
during speech signing: will come
up for
Bill Caldwell, OPL
3
Sec. of Army Michael Stone
X 7845
1 Don Atwood, Dep. Sec Defense
veterans
(Cheney- last minute)
nets in
EGen. Powell
$
AlbertM 1bert
cluskey, WWII net in
ack??
Battle of Midway
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR II \ ROOSEVELT ROOM
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1992 \ 11:00 A.M.
GENERAL COLIN POWELL; DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
DON ATWOOD; SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, MICHAEL STONE;
CONGRESSMAN JOHN MYERS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
WITH US THIS MORNING; ALBERT MCCLUSKEY, VETERAN OF THE
BATTLE OF MIDWAY; OTHER VETERANS HERE TODAY; MEMBERS OF
THE CIVIC AND VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WHO, ALONG
WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WILL OBSERVE OVER THE NEXT
THREE AND A HALF YEARS VARIOUS ANNIVERSARIES OF WORLD
WAR II. MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S WORLD
WAR II COMMEMORATION COMMITTEE. //
- 2 -
WELCOME TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- AND TO THE OBSERVANCE
OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF AN EVENT WHICH LINKED
AMERICAN HEARTS, AND MINDS: THE MONUMENTAL STRUGGLE
KNOWN AS THE SECOND WORLD WAR. //
OVERNIGHT, WORLD WAR II TRANSFORMED AMERICA FROM A
PEOPLE AT PEACE TO A NATION AT WAR THAT WOULD DEFINE
THE COURSE OF HISTORY FOR THE REST OF THIS CENTURY. /
THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR FORCED AMERICA TO ABANDON
ISOLATIONISM AND TAKE UP THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP. /
- 3 -
WORLD WAR II WAS FOUGHT FOR AMERICAN SOIL AND
SOVEREIGNTY. IT WAS ALSO FOUGHT TO DEFEND PEOPLE WHO,
HATING WAR, SOUGHT ONLY PEACE -- PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WHO
YEARN FOR FREEDOM, THEN AND NOW. /
THE YEAR 1942 WAS CRUCIAL TO OUR HISTORY.
AMERICANS CAME TOGETHER. EACH CITIZEN SOUGHT WAYS TO
DO HIS OR HER PART. /
- 4 -
FACTORIES DESIGNED TO BUILD THE TOOLS OF PEACE PRODUCED
THE TOOLS OF WAR -- SHIPS, PLANES, TANKS, AND
AMMUNITION -- ALL CRUCIAL TO THE ALLIED EFFORT. / IT
WASN'T EASY -- BUT WE DID IT. WE DID THE HARD WORK OF
FREEDOM. //
I WAS SEVENTEEN ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, AND ENLISTED
ON MY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY. I RECALL HOW FOR THE FIRST
FEW MONTHS OF THE WAR, NEWS FROM THE PACIFIC WAS GRIM.
GUAM WAS OVERRUN.
- 5 -
BATAAN AND CORREGIDOR FELL IN THE PHILIPPINES. / YET
THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA FOILED JAPANESE PLANS TO
INVADE PORT MORESBY IN NEW GUINEA. AND FIFTY YEARS AGO
THIS WEEK, OUR FORCES BEGAN WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE
GREATEST NAVAL BATTLE OF ALL TIME. //
WE REMEMBER, EVEN NOW. FIRST, WE BROKE THE NAVAL
CODES ARMED WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENEMY'S
PLANS.
- 6 -
THEN, ADMIRAL NIMITZ SENT HIS CARRIER TASK FORCE TO
INTERCEPT THE JAPANESE FLEET THAT HAD BEEN SENT TO
ATTACK MIDWAY. / FOR FOUR DAYS THE FIGHTING RAGED.
FINALLY, THE INVASION FORCE WAS DRIVEN OFF. WHILE
AMERICA LOST THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER YORKTOWN AND A
DESTROYER, FOUR ENEMY CARRIERS WERE SUNK AND 250 ENEMY
AIRCRAFT DOWNED -- DESTROYING THEIR FLEET. EXACTLY SIX
MONTHS AFTER PEARL, VICTORY WAS NOT IMMINENT -- BUT IT
WAS INEVITABLE. THE ENEMY'S TIDE WAS RUNNING OUT.
- 7 -
THE ALLIES' TIDE WAS RUNNING IN.
HERE IS WHAT HISTORY WILL SAY OF THE GREATEST WAR
IN MAN'S TIDE OF TIMES: WHEN ATTACKED, AMERICA'S SONS
AND DAUGHTERS TOOK UP ARMS, AND BORE OUR BURDEN, FOR A
CAUSE LARGER THAN OURSELVES. THEY FOUGHT AT BATAAN AND
THE BULGE / FOUGHT IN UNKNOWN LANDS, AMID THE SHROUD OF
DARKNESS, TO ILLUMINATE THE NIGHT. /
- 8 -
THEY FOUGHT IN FORESTS AND ON FARMLAND / IN SWAMPS AND
DESERTS / IN THE AIR, ON AND UNDER THE SEA / GIVING OF
THEMSELVES -- AND OFTEN, OF THEIR LIVES. //
THINK OF THE CEMETERY IN ARLINGTON. THINK OF
OTHERS IN BOISE / BANGOR / NORMANDY / AND NETTUNO.
THINK OF WORLD WAR II's HONOR ROLL: MORE THAN 400,000
AMERICANS DEAD, AND TWO-THIRDS OF A MILLION WOUNDED.
OR THE COUNTLESS MILLIONS WORLDWIDE -- MANY HELPLESS
INNOCENTS. /
- 9 -
WORLD WAR II TAUGHT US THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN BERLIN AND
TOKYO COULD NOT BE DIVORCED FROM WASHINGTON -- JUST AS
EVENTS IN EUROPE AND ASIA AFFECT EACH AMERICAN TODAY.
//
WINSTON CHURCHILL ONCE SAID OF WORLD WAR II, "THERE
NEVER WAS A WAR IN ALL HISTORY EASIER TO PREVENT..."
TODAY, LET US RECALL WHAT THAT LION CRIED AS A VOICE IN
THE WILDERNESS: No ONE EVER WALKS AWAY FROM APPEASING
AN AGGRESSOR. HE ONLY CRAWLS. /
- 10 -
WEAKENING OUR DEFENSES DURING A TIME OF PEACE IS AN
OPEN INVITATION TO THOSE WITH THE POTENTIAL TO WAGE
WAR. //
As LONG AS I AM PRESIDENT, THE MILITARY'S
COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING FREEDOM WILL BE MATCHED BY MY
COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING THE MILITARY. // SOME SAY OUR
VICTORY IN THE COLD WAR ALLOWS US TO RETREAT BEHIND THE
WATER'S EDGE.
- 11 -
I SAY: JUST AS AMERICA'S VIGILANCE HELPED WIN THAT WAR
-- so A STRONG AMERICA CAN NOW HELP WIN THE PEACE. //
WE SEEK A WORLD WHERE DIFFERENCES ARE SOLVED
PEACEFULLY -- WHERE THE FORCE OF LAW OUTLASTS THE USE
OF FORCE. SACRIFICES MADE HEROICALLY FIFTY YEARS AGO
HAVE HELPED BRING ABOUT A NEW AND BETTER WORLD. /
- 12 -
IT IS A WORLD I THOUGHT OF LAST DECEMBER, WHERE ON THE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF PEARL HARBOR, BARBARA AND I LOOKED
AT THE SHRUNKEN WELL OF THE USS ARIZONA -- TOMB TO MORE
THAN A THOUSAND OF THE GREATEST HEROES ANY NATION HAS
EVER KNOWN. //
THERE, I THOUGHT OF THE WIFE WHOSE BEST FRIEND WAS
HER HUSBAND. OR THE LITTLE BOY WHOSE BROTHER -- HIS
IDOL -- ONCE VOWED TO TAKE HIM FISHING AFTER THE
FIGHTING STOPPED. /
- 13 -
I THOUGHT OF THE FATHER WHOSE SON OR DAUGHTER WOULD NOW
KNOW HIM AS A MARTYR, BUT NEVER AS A DAD. / AND I
RESOLVED ONCE AGAIN: WE MUST NEVER -- EVER -- LET
AMERICA'S DEFENSES DOWN. //
THE MEN WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II WOULD TODAY BE
PROUD OF AMERICA. PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BECOME AS A
NATION -- BECAUSE OF THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
PROUD OF HOW THEIR FATE -- AND FAITH -- STIR AND SHAPE
US STILL. /
- 14 -
So LET US HONOR THEM, REMEMBER THEM -- so THAT FUTURE
GENERATIONS WILL SAY OF US WHAT WE NOW SAY OF THEM:
GOD BLESS THIS WONDROUS LAND -- THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. //
WORLD WAR II WAS A FIGHT WE DID NOT SEEK, AGAINST
ENEMIES WE DID NOT CHOOSE, FOR A CAUSE THAT IS FIRST
AMONG ALL: THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE EVERYWHERE TO BE FREE.
- 15 -
IN THAT SPIRIT, IT IS MY HONOR TO SIGN THE PROCLAMATION
DESIGNATING THE NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR II.
# # # #
VOLUME 29
Wilmot Proviso to Zygote
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA
AMERICANA
INTERNATIONAL EDITION
COMPLETE IN THIRTY VOLUMES
FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1829
GROLIER INCORPORATED
International Headquarters: Danbury, Connecticut 06816
WORLD
As World War II
Nazi attack on Poland
1939, German troops
Warsaw. a deeply rutted, sandy read
Bibliothek für Zeitgeschichts,
WORLD WAR II, the name commonly given to
been overrun and transformed into a
the global conflict of 1939-1945. It was the great-
puppet state under the name of Manchukug
Polant
est and most destructive war in history. Whereas
un
Ge
military operations in World War I were con-
by friction and dissension among its member
As
League took no further action.
ducted primarily on the European continent,
In 1933 also, Adolf Hitler came to
move
World War II included gigantic struggles not only
dictator of Germany and began to rearm the
began
in Europe but in Asia, Africa, and the far-flung
try in contravention of the provisions of the
two
islands of the Pacific as well. More than 17 mil-
of Versailles. He denounced the provisio
They
lion members of the armed forces of the various
that treaty that limited German armament
atran
belligerents perished during the conflict. Its con-
1939
1935 reinstituted compulsory military
duct strained the economic capabilities of the
That year the Italian dictator Benito Mr
ever:
M
major nations and left many countries on the edge
began his long-contemplated invasion of Eth
of collapse.
eratic
which he desired as an economic colony,
The events leading to World War II, its mili-
was
League voted minor sanctions against Italy
tary operations, diplomacy, statistical data, and
its et
these had slight practical effect. British
results, are discussed under the following head-
Land
French efforts to effect a compromise settle
watch
ings:
failed, and Ethiopia was completely occupied
while
1. The War in Brief
10. War in the Central and
the Italians in 1936.
mom
2. Between World Wars
Northern Pacific
Alarmed by German rearmament. OR
N
3. Early Campaigns
11. War in Eastern Asia
4. Fall of the Low Coun-
12. Developments in Naval
sought an alliance with the USSR. Under
trug
tries and France
Warfare
pretext that this endangered Germany, Hithy
Grea
5. Recovery of France and
13. Developments in Air
militarized the Rhineland in 1936. It washed
Advance into Germany
Warfare
enge
6. German Invasion of the
14. Diplomatic History
gerous venture, for Britain and France could
attitu
USSR
15. Postwar World
overwhelmed Germany, but, resolved to
ficati
7. Balkan Campaigns
16. Chronology
peace, they took no action. Emboldened
8. Mediterranean Opera-
17. Costs, Casualties, and
mean
tions
Other Data
success, Hitler intensified his campaign for
their
9. War in the Southern and
18. Bibliography
ensraum (space for living) for the German,peo
both
Southwestern Pacific
He forcibly annexed Austria in March 1938.
ame:
1. The War in Brief
then, charging abuse of German minori
arm
threatened Czechoslovakia. In September,15
othe
Events Leading to War.-At the end of World
ler increased his demands on the Czechs and
War
War I the victorious nations formed the League
seemed imminent, the British and French arran
Allie
of Nations for the purpose of airing international
a conference with Hitler and Mussolini. No
deve
disputes, and of mobilizing its members for a col-
Munich Conference they agreed to German oc
and
lective effort to keep the peace in the event of
pation of the Sudetenland, Hitler's asserted
Sinc
aggression by any nation against another or of a
claim, in the hope of maintaining peace.
wer
breach of the peace treaties. The United States,
hope was short lived, for in March 1939
and
imbued with isolationism, did not become a mem-
took over the rest of Czechoslovakia and
em
ber. The League failed in its first test. In 1931
the former German port of Memel (Klaipeda)
tion
the Japanese, using as an excuse the explosion of
from Lithuania. There followed demands on/Po
a small bomb under a section of track of the South
land with regard to Danzig (Gdánsk) and (i)
que
Manchuria Railroad (over which they had virtual
Polish Corridor. The Poles remained adamant
du
control), initiated military operations designed to
and it became clear to Hitler that he could att.
194
conquer all of Manchuria. After receiving the
his objectives only by force. After surprising
mai
report of its commission of inquiry, the League
world with the announcement of a nonaggressio
Ma
adopted a resolution in 1933 calling on the Japa-
pact with his sworn foe, the Soviet Union,
its
nese to withdraw. Thereupon, Japan resigned
sent his armies across the Polish border on Sept.
driv
from the League. Meanwhile, Manchuria had
1939. Britain and France, pledged to suppo
bee
364
WORLD WAR II: 17
529
bombardm
17-British war on the United States and
and Soviet troops occupy Teheran, Iran.
June 15-Foreign ministers' meeting reconvenes in Paris,
reaching substantial agreement on treaties for Italy,
United States and Great Britain
Command
Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary, and Finland (ends
on
Great war on Japan.
July 12).
Manilaz
war on Japan, Germany, and Italy.
July 16-Peace conference opens in Paris (ends Oct. 15).
danao,
Italy declare war on the United
Nov. 4-Foreign ministers meet in New York to com-
declares war on them.
tox.
plete treaties (meeting ends Dec. 12).
aircraft
Brite British-American Arcadia conferences open in
1947
Washington (end Jan. 14, 1942).
Feb. 10-Italian, Bulgarian, Rumanian, Hungarian, and
Finnish peace treaties are signed in Paris.
of
Mandalay
1763
1-Declaration by United Nations is signed by 26
Sept. 15-Five peace treaties come into force.
countries. 8-Bolero Conference begins in London (ends April
1950
March
June 25-Korean War begins.
lands on
toward
with). 2-To clear way for Operation Torch (Allied in-
1951
Sea):
Oklnaw
at vasion of French North Africa), Maj. Gen. Mark W.
Sept. 4-Conference meets in San Francisco to draw up
from submarine for secret meeting with
Japanese Peace Treaty.
air
States Shiver
1952
April 28-Japanese Peace Treaty comes into force.
pro.
1953
drive
1743
-British-United States conference opens at Casa-
July 27-Armistice ends Korean War.
40.
blanca(ends Jan. 24).
1954
Conference opens in Washington (ends
MAY
25).
Oct. 5-Free Territory of Trieste is divided between
May 25-King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy proclaims
Italy and Yugoslavia.
mopping
july fall of Mussolini, replacing him with Marshal Pietro
1955
operations
Badoglio. 14-Quadrant Conference opens in Quebec, Canada
May 15-Austrian State Treaty is signed in Vienna.
mill
July 27-Austrian treaty comes into force.
los. (ends Aug. 24).
(ept.
3-Italian government signs armistice (effective Sept.
JOHN R. ELTING,
in
aircraft
preparation
Colonel, United States Army; Department of
8). 13-Italy declares war on Germany.
Military Art, United States Military Academy.
atomic
Oct. Yov. 22-Sextant Conference opens at Cairo, Egypt (re-
United
cesses Nov. 26).
17. Costs, Casualties, and Other Data
States
Nov. 28-Eureka Conference opens at Teheran, Iran
Hiroshima,
(closes Dec. 1).
World War II spread death and devastation
I-Cairo Declaration is issued.
Dec. Dec. 3-Sextant Conference reopens at Cairo (closes
throughout most of the world to an extent never
(effective Ave
Dec. 7).
before experienced. The loss of life can be only
Nagasaki
generally summarized; an attempt to express the
1944
Korea.
July 20-Attempt to assassinate Hitler fails.
value of property and livelihoods destroyed in
Aug. 21-Dumbarton Oaks Conference opens (ends Oct.
terms of money is futile: the resulting sums reach
7).
VELOPMENTS.OF
AUR. 23-Rumania surrenders unconditionally.
astronomical figures that have little if any prac-
Aug. 25-Rumania declares war on Germany.
tical meaning.
Aug. 26-Bulgaria opens negotiations for surrender with
Military Casualties.-Probably the best docu-
Allies.
Sept. 5-The USSR declares war on Bulgaria.
mented and most meaningful figures are the
war
Sept. 8-Bulgaria declares war on Germany.
battle casualties. Those for the United States,
Sept. 9-The USSR grants Bulgaria an armistice.
Great Britain, and the Commonwealth nations are
nonaggressios
Sept. 12-Rumania signs armistice: Octagon Conference
opens in Quebec (ends Sept. 16).
accurate; those for other nations, Allied or Axis,
Sept. 19-Allied-Finnish armistice is signed.
vary in reliability. Chinese figures are largely
Treaty
of
Moscow
Oct. 23-Great Britain, the USSR, and the United States
estimates because of the lack of documentation,
prime
minister sof
grant de jure recognition to French provisional govern-
ment headed by Gen. Charles de Gaulle.
information on Soviet losses has been given only
and
Great
Britals
1945
grudgingly and in very general terms, and many
Lithuania,
Jan. 30-Preliminary Anglo-American phase (Cricket)
records of the Axis nations were lost when those
Latvis,
of Argonaut Conference begins at Malta (ends Feb.
countries were overrun. The most accurate avail-
signed
2).
o-French
fighting
able figures are shown in Tables 1, 2, and 3.
Feb. 4-Second phase (Magneto) of Argonaut Conference
armistice
opens at Yalta (ends Feb. 11).
northern
March 3-Finland declares war on Germany.
Table 1-UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES TOTAL
Bucovina
March 10-Japanese place French Indochina under di-
STRENGTH AND CASUALTIES IN WORLD WAR II,
on
shipment
of
rect military administration.
DEC. 7, 1941-DEC. 31, 1946
April 5-The USSR notifies Japan that it intends to de-
for
navel
nounce their 1941 neutrality pact.
Deaths
Cap-
April 12-President Roosevelt dies.
from
tured
American
peace
April 23-Heinrich Himmler's offer to surrender German
Total
Battle
other
or
northern
forces to Western Allies is rejected.
Service
strength
deaths
causes
Wounds1
missing
French
April 25-San Francisco Conference opens (adopts United
Nations Charter June 26).
Army2
11,260,000
234,874
83,400
565,861
135,524
embargo
on
scrap
April 28-Mussolini is captured and killed by Italian
Navy
4,183,466
36,950
25,664
37,778
2,429
partisans.
Marine Corps
669,100
19,733
4,778
67,207
1,756
Pact).
April 30-Hitler commits suicide.
Coast Guard
241,093
574
1,345
955
May 7-German High Command surrenders all forces un-
Total
16,353,659
292,131
115,187
671,801
139,709
conditionally at Reims.
July 17-Terminal Conference begins at Potsdam, Ger-
1 Not mortal.
2 Includes Army Air Forces.
many (ends Aug. 2).
Act.
July 26-Terminal Conference issues Potsdam Declara-
tion, presenting surrender ultimatum to Japan.
In utilizing strength figures, it should be noted
place
in
Yugo-
July 28-Japanese announce that they will reject sur-
that total strength means the total number of per-
render ultimatum rejected July 30).
sonnel belonging to the armed forces during the
pact.
Aug. 8-The USSR declares war on Japan (effective Aug.
national
emer-
9).
entire war, whereas peak strength is the greatest
Aug. 10-Japan offers to surrender.
strength reached at any one time during the war.
he
United
States
Aug. 14-Japan surrenders.
Several methods of classifying and computing
Sept. 2-Japanese representatives sign instrument of sur-
declare
war
render aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
casualties are in use, and other variations result
on
Sept. II-Big Four foreign ministers' meeting opens in
from the differing periods covered by the various
London (ends Oct. 2).
computations. Consequently, different reputable
USSR.
Dec. 16-Foreign ministers' meeting opens in Moscow
(ends Dec. 26).
reference works sometimes show slightly different
are
frozen.
1946
figures even for United States casualties. Non-
Atlantic
Charter.
April 25-Foreign ministers' meeting opens in Paris
battle deaths include deaths from accidents and
(ends May 16).
disease.
530
WORLD WAR II: 17
Table 2-ARMED FORCES PEAK STRENGTHS AND BATTLE
DEATHS OF THE PRINCIPAL ALLIED POWERS
Industrial Conversion and War Production
Nation
Peak strength
Battle deaths
Allied powers' technological superiority-the abil. the
In the final analysis, victory was won by
Australia
ity to raise, arm, equip, move, and
680,000
23,365
Belgium
650,000
7,760
superior forces throughout the world supply
Canada
780,000
37,476
through them to break up and destroy the and
China
5,000,000
2,200,000¹
Denmark
25,000
3,006²
nological resources (as well as much of the armed
France
5,000,000
210,671
Greece
forces) of the Axis nations. Of all the Allies it
414,000
73,700²
was the United States that possessed the
India
2,150,000
24,338
Netherlands
410,000
6,238
materials, skilled manpower, and industries that raw
New Zealand
157,000
10,033
made their victory possible. This potential Amer-
Norway
45,000
1,000
Poland
1,000,000
320,000
ican technological power, however, required
USSR
12,500,000
7,500,000
precious time to change from peacetime to mili-
Union of South Africa
140,000
6,840
tary production. The process of conversion and
United Kingdom
5,120,000
244,723
United States
12,300,000
292,131
of reconversion at the war's end, is illustrated in
Yugoslavia
Table 4.
500,000
410,000²
1 Casualties beginning with the Japanese invasion in
Table 4-UNITED STATES BUDGET EXPENDITURES,
1937, 2 Most of these casualties were suffered in guerrilla
JULY 1, 1940-AUG. 31, 1945
warfare that followed German occupation of the country
(Billions of dollars)
In the case of Denmark they include more than 1,200
merchant sailors in the service of the Allied powers.
Expenditures
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
Defense expenditures:
Table 3-ARMED FORCES PEAK STRENGTHS AND BATTLE
War Department
$0.9
$
7.3
$29.5
$46.5
$49.2
DEATHS OF THE AXIS POWERS
Navy Department
0.9
4.2
24.6
$34.0
14.0
29.6
Other departments
0.1
2.7
19.4
8.9
14.1
12.1
6.4
Nation
Peak strength
Battle deaths
Total
1.9
14.2
52.4
85.2
90.9
59.8
Bulgaria
Nondefense expendi-
450,000
10,000¹
tures
Finland
3.4
6.0
5.4
5.0
250,000
82,000
6.3
6.2
Germany
10,200,000
Total
3,500,000
$5.3
$20.2
$57.8
$90.2
$97.2 $66.0
Hungary
350,000
140,000
Italy
3,750,000
77,4942
Japan
6,095,000
1,219,000
Rumania
600,000
Among the varied items purchased by United
300,000¹
States defense expenditures were 57,027 medium
1 A limited number of these casualties occurred after
tanks (9 different types), 676,433 two-and-one-
the country joined the Allies. 2 Of these, 17,494 were killed
half-ton, six-wheel-drive trucks (11 types), 1,054
after Italy became a cobelligerent with the Allies.
eight-inch howitzers (48 of them self-propelled),
476,628 2.36-inch rocket launchers (bazookas)
Civilian Casualties.-Casualties among civil-
4,014,731 Garand rifles, 106,658 gunner's quad-
ians were much less accurately recorded than
rants, 4,072,000,000 rounds of 45-caliber am-
military losses. In part, this was unavoidable
munition, 57,488,000 wool undershirts, 116,000,-
because of the population shifts that took place
000 pounds of peanut butter, 206,753 SCR-536
as civilians fled before invading armies or the
(Handie-Talkie) radio sets, 500,754 30-dose
continual air attacks on major industrial centers,
bottles of influenza virus vaccine, 7,570 locomo-
or were sent to Germany or the Soviet Union for
tives (48 types), 23,510,030 military gas masks
forced labor.
(2 types), and 3,898 B-29 (Superfortress) very
Civilian casualties in the United Kingdom,
heavy bombers. One of the best indications of
slightly over half of which were inflicted in the
the growing tempo of American military produc-
London area, were as follows:
tion during the war is the following datá on
machine-gun production, covering the period July
Seriously
Agent
Killed
injured
Total
1, 1940-Aug. 31, 1945:
Aircraft bombs
51,509
61,423
112,932
V-1 (flying bombs)
.50
.30
6,184
17,981
.50
24,165
V-2
2,754
Year
Caliber¹
Caliber
Year
6,523
Caliber
9,277
Caliber
Artillery fire
148
255
403
1940
5,155
3,633
1943
641,638
188,311
Total
1941
60,595
86,182
146,777
49,479
27,672
1944
677,011
121,771
1942
347,492
314,839
1945
239,821
62,977
Civilian casualties in the USSR have been
1 The increasing preponderance of 50-caliber machine
placed roughly at 2,500,000 killed. The loss of
guns reflects their growing use as aircraft and armored
population (including both military and civilian
vehicle armament.
casualties) caused directly or indirectly by the
war has been stated at 20,000,000. Air raids
Shipping Losses.-Allied merchant shipping
against Germany killed approximately 300,000
losses during the war were as follows:
Germans and seriously injured about 780,000
Year
Number of vessels
Tonnage
more. Numerous additional casualties occurred
1939
221
755,237
during the Soviet invasion of 1944-1945, but no
1940
1,059
3,991,641
1941
1,299
4,328,558
specific estimates are available. Japanese civilian
1942
1,664
7,790,697
casualties probably approached 500,000 killed
1943
597
3,220,137
and 625,000 seriously injured, plus a considerable
1944
205
1,045,629
1945
105
number reported as missing after the fire raids
438,821
Total
5,150
and atomic bombings. In addition, about 360,000
21,570,720
Japanese captured by the Russians in Manchuria,
Of the 5,150 Allied merchant vessels sunk, 2,828
Korea, and the Kuril Islands were still missing in
were victims of Axis submarines, principally Ger-
1950; a large number of them have never been
man. The parallel German submarine losses
accounted for. Chinese civilian losses are un-
(revised according to the latest British Admiralty
known but probably numbered several million.
assessment) therefore furnish an interesting in-
FACT-CHECK COPY
Due: wed. 9am
(Smith/Aarhus)
Draft Two
June 2, 1992
WAR
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: WW II ANNIVERSARY
ROSE GARDEN
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1992
Fellow veterans. Fellow Americans. Welcome to the White
observance
House -- and to the obserance of the 50th anniversary of an event
which linked American hearts, and minds. A just cause that was
democracy's cause: The monumental struggle known as World War
II.
Overnight, World War II transformed America from a people at
peace to a nation at war that would define the course of history
for the rest of this century. //
The attack on Pearl Harbor forced America to abandon
isolationism and take up the mantle of leadership. Yes, World
War II was fought for American soil and sovereignty. / It was
also fought to defend people who, hating war, sought only peace -
- people everywhere who yearn for freedom, then and now. /
The year 1942 was crucial to our history. Americans came
together. Each citizen sought ways to do their part. /
Factories designed to build the tools of peace produced the tools
of war -- ships, planes, tanks, and ammunition -- all crucial to
the Allied effort. / It wasn't easy -- but we did it. We did
the hard work of freedom.
//
few
I was seventeen on December 7, 1941. For the next six
X
months of the war, news from the Pacific was grim. Guam was
overrun. Bataan and Corregidor fell in the Philippines. / Yet X
2
the Battle of the Coral Sea foiled Japanese plans to invade Port
Midway
Moresby in New Guinea. And fifty years ago this week, our forces
began what may have been the greatest naval battle of all time.
X
I remember, even now. First, we broke the naval war code. S Then,
X
Admiral Nimitz sent his carrier task forces to intercept the
wredefore
fleet that had been sent to attack Midway
a
small
group
of
Japanese
islands just one thousand miles nor thwest of Honolulu.
thought they
For
were mounting
Jure3-6
four days the fighting raged. Finally, the invasion force was instead
asinprise of attach
driven off. While America lost the aircraft carrier Yorktown and an ambush,
heading into
destroy onedestroyer Hammann, four enemy carriers were sunk
250 downed. air aft
destroying their fleet. Exactly six months after Pearl, victory
was not imminent -- but inevitable. The enemy's tide was running
out. The Allies' tide was running in. //
Here is what history will say of the greatest war in man's
tide of times: When attacked, America's sons and daughters took
up arms, and bore our burden, for a cause larger than ourselves.
They fought at Bataan and (stet) fought in unknown lands,
amid the shroud of darkness, to illuminate the night. / They
fought in swamps and deserts / in the sea and air / giving of
themselves -- and often, of their lives. //
Think of the cemetery in Arlington. Think of plots of land
in Boise / Bangor / Dallas / Des Moines. Think of World War II's
honor roll: morethan Americans 400,000 dead, and wounded. Or the
600,000
45
million worldwide -- many helpless innocents. / World War II
taught us that what happened in Berlin and Tokyo could not be
3
divorced from Washington -- just as events in Europe and Asia
affect each American today.
//
will,
Winston Churchill once saida "Never was any conflict more
There was in all history
Churchill Chenchofthe James art c. themes preventable.
easier to prevent
"
Today, let us recall what that lion in winter
cried as a 1930s voice in the wilderness: No one ever walks
March, P: 1945
away from appeasing an aggressor. He only crawls. / Weakening
our defenses during a time of peace is an open invitation to
those with the potential to wage war. //
As long as I am President, the military's commitment to
defending freedom will be matched by my commitment to defending
the military. // Some say our victory in the Cold War allows us
to retreat behind the water's edge. I say: Just as America's
vigilance helped win that war -- so a strong America can now help
win the peace. //
I speak of a world where differences are solved peacefully -
- not violently -- where the force of law outlasts the use of
force. / It is a world I thought of last December, where on the
50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Barbara and I looked at the
shrunken well of the USS Arizona -- tomb to more than a thousand
of the greatest heroes any Nation has ever known. //
There, I thought of the wife whose best friend was her
husband. Or the little boy whose brother -- his idol -- once
vowed to take him fishing after the fighting stopped. / I
thought of the father whose son or daughter would now know him as
a martyr, but never as a dad. / I thought to myself: I will
never -- ever -- let America's defenses down. //
4
The men who died in World War II would today be proud of
America. Proud of how their fate -- and faith -- stir and shape
us still. / So let us honor them, remember them -- so that
future generations will say of us what we now say of them: God
bless this wondrous land -- the United States of America. //
World War II was a fight we did not seek, against enemies we
did not choose, for a cause that is first among all: The right
of people to be free. In that spirit, it is my honor to sign the
proclamation designating the national observance of the 50th
anniversary of World War II.
# # # #
The us WWII by Robert James Maddor
The 2nd WD by Martin Gibert
THE
ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF MILITARY
HISTORY
from 3500 B.C. to the present
R. ERNEST DUPUY and TREVOR N. DUPUY
Revised Edition
ington
Rtd.
Re-
1817
Rtd.,
HARPER & ROW, PUBLISHERS: New York
States
Cambridge, Philadelphia, San Francisco, London,
Mexico City, São Paulo, Sydney
Har-
cademy
1198
WORLD WAR II IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
ever, that there were only 2 or 3 planes
less. After brief negotiations by radio,
overhead, many people came out, and so
Japan accepted Allied terms for "uncondi-
most of the population was in the open,
tional surrender," which actually included
without protection, when the bomb ex-
conditions which the Japanese were eager
ploded over the center of the city. Two-
to accept. They were permitted to retain
thirds of the city was destroyed; 78,150
their imperial form of government, and
people were killed (most of them outright,
were assured of the integrity of the 4 main
in explosion or in fires, though some died
islands of the Japanese Empire.
later from radiation effects); nearly 70,000
1945, August 15. Cease-Fire. Japanese
others were injured and most of the re-
forces throughout Asia and the islands of
mainder of the population suffered some
the Western Pacific laid down their arms.
long-term radiation damage.
General MacArthur and American troops
1945, August 9. Nagasaki. The second
flew in to Japan to begin the occupation
bomb was exploded over this seaport and
(August 28).
industrial city of 230,000 people. Because
1945, September 2. The Official Surrender.
hills protected portions of the town, less
Representatives of the Japanese govern-
than half the city was destroyed; nearly
ment surrendered on board the battleship
40,000 people were killed, about 25,000
U.S.S. Missouri in the heart of the Pa-
injured.
cific Fleet, anchored in Tokyo Bay, while
American planes filled the air overhead.
THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN
General MacArthur, appointed by the Al-
1945, August 10. Japan Offers to Surren-
lied governments as Supreme Commander
der. The effect of the atomic bombs was
for the Allied Powers to initiate the occu-
what Stimson's group and the JCS had
pation of Japan, received the official sur-
expected. One can never tell how long a
render of Foreign Minister Mamoru Shi-
fanatically militaristic Japan, on the verge
gemetsu. Among the observers of the
of collapse, could have continued the war
ceremony were released prisoners Amer-
if the bombs had not been dropped. It is
ican General Wainwright and British Gen-
clear, however, that these weapons con-
eral Percival, whose respective commands
vinced the Japanese emperor and his gov-
in the Philippines and Malaya had been
ernment that further resistance was hope-
overrun at the outset of the war.
The Cost of World War II*
Economic
Total
and
Forces
Financial
Mobilized
Military
Military
Civilian
Costs
Nations
(million)
Dead
Wounded
Dead
($ billion)
United
States
14.9
292,100
571,822
Negligible
350
United
Kingdom
6.2
397,762
475,000
65,000
150
France
6
210,671
400,000
108,000
100
Soviet
Union
20
7,500,000
14,012,000
10-15,000,000
200
China
6-10
500,000
1,700,000
1,000,000
No estimate
Germany
12.5
2,850,000
7,250,000
500,000
300
Italy
4.5
77,500
120,000
40-100,000
50
Japan
7.4
1,506,000
500,000
300,000
100
All other
participants
20
1,500,000
No estimate
14-17,000,000ᵇ
350
Total°
100
15,000,000
No estimate
26-34,000,000
1,600
Many of these figures are approximations or estimates, since official figures are misleading, missing, or
contradictory in many instances.
b This includes approximately 6,000,000 Jews of Germany and all occupied European nations, and approxi-
mately 4,500,000 Poles.
e In economic and financial costs, World War II was about 5 times as expensive as World War I; in
military deaths alone, it was almost twice as costly; it was about 3 times as destructive in total deaths.