Possessing a navy and military powerful enough to challenge for control of the seas and territories and feeling very limited by the Versailles Treat form World War 1, Germany continuously wanted more land and to expand. As Hindenburg appoints Adolf Hitler as a chancellor of Germany, the German culture, economy, and laws now came under the Nazi Control. Hitler then invades Poland in September 1939. This event ultimately becomes the main cause of France and Britain declaring war on Germany, and in turn, starting World War II. After conquering Poland, Germany used quick strikes known as Blitzkrieg, to attack France, much of the Western Europe including the Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern France. Continuing with its attacks with a strong airforce, Germany launches an air attack in the Battle of Britain, focusing first on airfields and aircraft factories, and then into cities, especially London. Wanting to increase its power, Germany signs the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Japan, creating the Axis Alliance. However, in 1941, Germany soon faced the beginning of the end. As Germany contributed 4 million troops to take over Russia, the severe winter weather caused the Germans who were still in summer uniforms, to suffer in the brutal cold and impede the German offensive forces. Finally in 1944, the Germans desperately launched a large attack in the Battle of the Bulge and lose hopelessly to the Allies and soon surrenders.
German Soldiers Marching
I chose a song named “Blow” by Kesha to illustrate and describe how the enthusiasm and the strong determination the Germans had about taking over and controlling all parts of Europe. Lyrics from “Blow” like “we’re taking control, we get what we want, we do what you don’t” and “we don’t need a key, we get in for free” show German’s demanding power and the strong confidence the Germans had which for their actions and had a belief that nothing can stop Germany from invading and controlling Europe.
Japan
Prior to World War II, Japan had been successful at invading China which increased their confidence in their military and increased their control over territories. However, as Japan’s expansion in East Asia was prohibited by the United States, Japan decided to attack the United States and the British forces in order to remove them from being the dominant Pacific power and to further obtain resources and territories in Southeast Asia. In September 22, 1940, Japan also signs the Tripartite Pack and joins the Axis Alliance with Germany and Italy. Not much longer after joining the Axis Alliance, the Japanese attack the US Navy in Pearl Harbor on Oahu Island in Hawaii. This surprise attack was carried out on December 7, 1941 and caused the destruction of 200 aircrafts and the deaths of 2400 Americans. This caused the United States to officially declare war on Japan and an increase in the tension between the two countries. Nevertheless, similar to the Germans, the Japanese soon faced the end as America greatly defeated the Japanese in the Battle of Midway. Still unable to give up its dream about becoming the Pacific power, Japan finally surrendered to the US general Douglass MacArthur and the Allies on September 2, 1945, when the United States Air Force dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Japanese Soldiers holding up their flag during World War II
I chose a song named “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis to represent Japan’s desire to win and become the dominant power in the Pacific. Although Japan face numerous casualties and damages, the determination of the Japanese made the Japanese to fight until the end. The lyrics from the song, like “you cut me open and I, keep bleeding, keep, keep bleeding love” and “I’ll be wearing these scars for everyone to see, I don’t care what they say, I’m in love with you” show how the war keeps harming and causing damages to the Japanese, hence the bleeding and despite the scars and destruction done from the defeats, the Japanese will not care and will keep fighting.
The United States
Although determined to maintain its neutrality, the United States was eventually drawn closer and closer to the war by the force of events. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt met Winston Churchill, they formulated the Atlantic Charter which was a joint program of peace aims. The German submarines continued to attack the American navies and it gradually became harder for the United States to stand neutral in this situation, so to establish bases to protect its shipping from attacks by German submarines, United States occupied Greenland and expressed warnings. However, the attacks continued, and the tension between Germany and the United States became even worse. The United States’ efforts of reaching a peaceful settlement ended on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese forces attacked the Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, and Malaya. This caused the United States then finally declared war on Japan on December 8. As President Roosevelt and the Congress felt the need to improve America’s military, United States used propagandas to persuade the people to join the military and forces. Also, many women and children worked on the home front, producing many supplies and resources for the war, and decreased unemployment rates. During the initial stages of the war in the Pacific, the Allies which included the United States, faced disastrous defeats as Japan conquered the Pacific. However, the Battle of Midway became the first decisive blow against the Axis Powers by the Allies. As the Americans no longer wanted to continue with their sacrifice of their people, energy, and money, the Americans decided to use atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to end the war more quickly.
Pearl Harbor Attack in Hawaii
I chose a song named “Knock you Down” by Keri Hilson, Kanye West, and Neyo. As the lyrics of the song like “sometimes love comes around, and it knocks you down, just get back up, when it knocks you down” show how important perseverance is, this song perfectly describes how the United States faced hardships but did not give up and eventually became stronger. Love in the lyrics represents the hardships and consequences the United States faced, and just like the lyrics say, the United States kept fighting and saw success at the end.
Russia (Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union entered World War II allied with the Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers. As the representatives from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union met on August 23, 1939 to sign the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, this guaranteed that the two countries would not attack each other. However, after being attacked by Germany in June of 1941, the Soviet Union shifted to the side of the Allies throughout the rest of the war. The Soviet Union was able to experience a victory against the Germans in the Battle of Satlingrad, in which the cold Russian winter killed many Germans who lacked resources and supplies to survive through the bitter, cold winter. Experiencing a defeat which caused approximately two million soldiers to die, Germany surrendered to the Soviet Union on May 1945, acknowledging the Soviet Union’s victory.
Soviet Soldiers in WW2
I chose a song named “Friend of Mine” by Kelly Price. The lyrics of this song such as, “she was a friend of mine, I feel so lost, don’t know why this has happened to me” explicitly talk about her friend betraying her. Therefore, I thought this would be the perfect song to represent the Soviet Union’s situation as they were also betrayed by Germany, causing the Soviet Union to later change sides.
Rosie the Riveter
As the United States military needed all the men that were available at the war front in World War II, the vitally important factory, war production plant and civil service jobs left behind. In order to replace men who left for the war front, the US government’s War Advertising Council ushered women into the workplace. In order to convince women to work, the Women in War Jobs campaign came up with a character named, Rosie the Riveter, who was depicted as a pretty, strong, patriotic, independent, and efficient woman. Rosie the Riveter was used in many propaganda posters and soon became a symbol of all women who worked in the home front. Not only did she become popular through appearing on propaganda posters, but she also became more well known as Redd Evans and John Loeb wrote a song about Rosie the Riveter. The fictional character Rosie the Riveter, efficiently urged many women to work and help out in factories and contribute to the war at the home front.
Rosie the Riveter on a propaganda poster
I chose a song named “Run the World” by Beyonce. As the lyrics clearly state Beyonce’s desire of women to express their strength, this song is perfect to represent Rosie the Riveter. Lyrics such as, “Who run the world? Girls” show how similar Beyonce’s intentions initially when creating this song is similar to the United States’ government during World War II to encourage and promote women to work on the home front. Also, the songs lyrics emphasize how strong women can be, which more easily persuades women to join the work forces instead of men.
Adolf Hitler
Born in Austria in 1889, Adolf Hitler rose to power in German politics as the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party, also known as the Nazi Party. Soon Hitler become the chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 and also served as a dictator from the year 1934 to 1945. Under Hitler’s demanding ruling, Germany transformed into an totalitarian country, where all the power was given to Hitler. Hitler is also responsible for ignoring the Treaty of Versailles from World War I and invading Poland, which ultimately started the war. Not only is Adolf Hitler famous for his invasions and attacks during World War II, but he is also known for initiating and establishing the concept of Anti-Semitism, and causing Holocaust, the deaths of millions of innocent Jews.
Adolf Hitler
I chose a song named “C’mon” by Kesha. This song appropriately represents Hitler’s demanding personality and stubbornness as the lyrics state “C’mon C’mon C’mon” and “I don’t wanna sleep, I don’t wanna think about what’s gonna be after this, I wanna just live right now”. The first lyrics are similar to Hitlers demands and orders to his people, and the second part of the lyrics are similar to Hitler not minding the consequences and acting without thinking due to his careless personality. Due to Hitler’s careless personality, millions died because of the Holocaust and during the war.
The Holocaust
As the Germans constantly believed that they were racially superior and believed in the concept of Anti-Semitism, which is hostility toward or prejudice against Jews, there were many laws and restrictions that took away most civil and economic rights of the Jews, many violent attacks, and deaths. Due to the dissemination of the concept of Anti-Semitism, Hitler proposed his goal of abolishing all Jews in Europe. This caused Hitler to call for a genocide, killing 6 million Jews in extermination camps, in gas chambers, and through cruel medical experiments. The mass killing of the Jews made many European countries feel uneasy and devastated. This systematic and cruel persecution of Jews by the Nazi Germans during the World War II now is known as the Holocaust. Many today recognize the immoral nature, the cruelty, and the in justification of the Holocaust during World War II.
Corpses of The Jews killed in Extermination Camps
I chose a song named “Don’t Forget” by Demi Lovato. I thought that this song appropriately represented what the Jews had in mind and thought right before getting killed. Lyrics from the song like “I won’t forget, please don’t forget us” and “Did you forget that I was even alive?” show how desperately the Jews did not want to get forgotten, and their last messages to the ones they loved.
Japanese Internments
On February 19, 1942, soon after the beginning of World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Executive Order 9066. This order forced 120,000 Japanese Americans to one of the 10 internment camps that were located in California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arkansas. Initially, Roosevelt decided to establish this order as the citizens showed much hatred towards the Japanese Americans after the attack of the Pearl Harbor. As the Japanese American internments continued, the controversial debate of the real causes of the Japanese Internments are still prevalent today.
The Japanese American internments surrounded by barbed wires
I chose a song named “All By Myself” by Celine Dion. I chose this song to represent the Japanese Internment because the lyrics like “All by myself, don’t wanna be all by my self anymore” explain how lonely and distant the Japanese Americans interned must have felt, only living with a certain group of people and sometimes having to live away from relatives and families in confined, restricted areas, where it also restricted your choices and opportunities.
The Normandy Invasion
In June 6, 1944, General Dwight Eisenhower led the United States and Allied troops in an invasion of Normandy, France, which today is known as the Normandy Invasion or D-Day. During the invasion, the Allies launched surprise, massive air attacks and naval bombardments on the coast of Normandy, northwestern France, facing major casualties. Soon the German army was forced into retreat and by early 1945, Allied forces were closing in on Germany from both East and West as the Allies fought their way through France and Belgium and into Germany while Russian troops fought from the East. On Many 7, 1945, the Allies experienced victory, winning German defenses, capturing Paris, liberating France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and accepting Germany’s surrender. The Normandy invasion was said to be the largest invasion to have taken place during Operation Overlord.
Landing Supplies at Normandy
I chose a song named “A Moment Like This” by Kelly Clarkson. I thought this song would be a good song to represent the success of the Normandy Invasion because just like the lyrics say in the song, “A moment like this, some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this” and “oh I can’t believe it’s happening to me, some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this”, the lyrics show how the Americans and the Allies must have felt experiencing a huge success. Also, as the Allies and the Americans really faced many dangers and hardships, they in fact had to “wait a lifetime” to experience success.
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Even after Nazi Germany surrendered and signed the German Instrument of Surrender, the war was not completely over. The wars on the Pacific and the Japanese still fought hard for their desires and goals. As the war seemed to never end, President Truman decided to use the new atomic weapon, specifically the atomic bombs, to prevent further US casualties and costs, and overall, to stop the war quickly. The Americans had warned the Japanese that there will be an attack unless the Japanese surrendered, but with no reply in return, the United States used an atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan on August 6, 1945. Although the first bombing already caused tens of thousands of deaths and casualties, the Japanese did not seem to give up. Therefore, the United States dropped another bomb on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, killing many people immediately and from the radiation fallout. This then led to the Japanese surrendering, finally ending the war.
Damages caused by the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
I chose a song named “We Will Rock You” by Queen. This song represents the confidence and success the Americans would have felt to know that they could possibly end this everlasting war. The lyrics “We will we will rock you, we will we will rock you” show how the Americans while dropping the bombs would have felt sympathetic, but also would have felt successful and confident to carry out actions and knowing that these actions would end the war.
