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51. America in the Second World War

Strategy, the home front, D-Day, the war in the Pacific, Japanese American internment, and the decision to drop the bomb.

51. America in the Second World War

The fear of an Axis victory drove production levels to new heights during World War II. To help motivate American workers the U.S. Government commissioned post…

51a. Wartime Strategy

Three days after Congress declared war on Japan, Germany responded by declaring war on the United States. Japan had an advance pledge of support from Hitler in…

51b. The American Homefront

"Rosie the Riveter" served as both a symbol of women's contributions to the war effort as well as a call to others to join. America was the largest military po…

51c. D-Day and the German Surrender

Hitler's refusal to surrender to the Allies led to "Operation Overlord" on June 6, 1944. British, Canadian, and American forces managed to take key points on t…

51d. War in the Pacific

Located in Arlington, Virginia, this sculpture depicts the raising of the American flag over Iwo Jima and is dedicated to all Marines who have given their life…

51e. Japanese-American Internment

Many Americans worried that citizens of Japanese ancestry would act as spies or saboteurs for the Japanese government. Fear — not evidence — drove the U.S. to…

51f. The Manhattan Project

This once classified photograph features the first atomic bomb — a weapon that atomic scientists had nicknamed "Gadget." The nuclear age began on July 16, 1945…

51g. The Decision to Drop the Bomb

While most people think of Churchill, Stalin and Truman at the Potsdam conference, Churchill was actually replaced as Prime Minister by Clement Attlee (picture…