October, 2001

World War II

Many things happened during World War II, and I would like to tell you about them. First of all, World War II started in Germany when Adolf Hitler wanted to be in full power of Germany, called a dictator. But Hitler was a terrible man, who made people listen to everything he said.

Next, Hitler and Benito Mussolini, the leader of Italy, signed a treaty called the Axis Pact after Hitler became the dictator of Germany. They would support each other in case of an attack by another country. Later on, the leader of Japan, General Hideki Tojo joined Hitler and Mussolini.

Since these three had so much power, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the United States naval base December 7, 1941. On December 8, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan. Luckily the U. S. had lots of allies, such as England, France, Canada, and well sort of, Russia. There were many, many more than just those four.

Finally, in early spring of 1945 after President Roosevelt died, American scientists invented the atomic bomb, which was the first nuclear weapon. The new president, Harry S. Truman, decided to drop the bomb on Japan in the city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japaneses surrendered on August 14, 1945. The war was over.

I hope that you have enjoyed and learned as much as I have.

by Sam
A-6
Petersen School

Site of WWII posters: http://www.nara.gov/exhall/powers/powers.html

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