The Great Depression
The Great War left every major European country nearly bankrupt. With this change in power, Europe's dominance over world affairs declined after the war. From 1914-1918, Europe's last absolute rulers had been overthrown, and the Provisional Government was set up. The new government aimed to establish constitutional and democratic rule over Russia, and within a few months, Russia quickly fell into a communist dictatorship. With this the government changed into a democratic one. This caused dozens of political parties opened. When no single party won a majority, a coalition government, or temporary alliance of several parties, was needed to form a majority vote. Coalitions lasted a long time, because parties disagreed on so many policies Governments were constantly changing their policies, making democracy unstable, and voters in several countries were willing to give up democracy for strong, authoritarian leadership. (1)
The Weimar Republic
In 1919 Germany set up a new democratic government called the Weimar Republic, named after the city where the National Assembly met. In the beginning the government was struggling because Germany didn't have democratic tradition, Germany had a lot of political parties and minor ones, and Germans blamed the Weimar Republic for the humiliating loss and the Versailles Treaty. (1)
Germany didn't raise wartime taxes during the Great War. To repay war expenses and the Allies, they prints paper money. Paper money dramatically dropped in value. In 1918, a loaf of bread would cost less than a mark, in 1922, a loaf of bread would cost over 200 billion marks! With the help of an international committee, Germany got out of inflation in 1923. Charles Dawes headed the committee, granting Germany $200 million to stabilize their economy. The plan included a realistic schedule for Germany to pay back the U.S. The plan was put in effect in 1924. By 1929, Germany had been producing much more in factories than they did before the war. (1)
Germany and France tried to improve their relationship, by having the Gustav Stresemann (Germany's foreign minister) and Aristide Briand (France's foreign minister) met in Locarno, Switzerland with officials from Britain, Italy, and Belgium. After a long discussion, they signed a treaty. It stated that they would never fight each other, Germany will respect the borders of France and Belgium, Germany was admitted into the League of Nations. Kellogg-Briand peace pact – U.S. Secretary of State Frank Kellogg. They pledged to "renounce war as an instrument of national policy." The League of Nations was looked at to enforce the treaty, but they had no armed forces. The U.S.' denial of entry to the league weakened the treaty. (1)
Financial collapse
Despite prosperity, several weaknesses in the U.S. economy caused serious problems. These weaknesses were uneven distribution of wealth, overproduction by business and agriculture, and the fact that Americans were buying less. The richest 5% of the population received 33% of all personal income in 1929, yet 60% of American families earned less than $2,000 a year. Majority of families were too poor to buy goods -> not able to sell all their goods, stores cut back on orders from factories -> factory workers laid off -> families buy fewer goods. Scientific methods for farming increased crop production. (1)
Wall Street was the financial capital of the world. At Stock Exchange, optimism about the booming U.S. economy showed in soaring prices for stocks. System worked well as long as stock prices were rising. However, if they fell, investors had no money to pay off the loan. September 1929 – some investors began to think that prices were unnaturally high. October 24, 1929 – the gradual lowering of stock prices had become an all-out slide downward. Prices plunged to a new low on Tuesday, October 29. 16 million stocks were sold, then the market collapsed. (1)
The Great Depression
People couldn't pay the money they owed on purchases and the stocks that they had bought at high prices were worthless. Soon after the crash unemployment numbers raised as industrial production, prices, and wages lowered and this led into a period known as the Great Depression. The stock market crash didn't cause the Depression alone but it did quicken the collapse of the economy. Factory production was cut in half, farmers lost their lands, and banks couldn't give people the money in their savings accounts. (1)
American bankers wanted people overseas to repay their loans. American investors withdrew their money from Europe. The market for European goods dropped due to high tariffs placed on them because Congress wanted Americans to buy American goods. A tariff is taxes charged by the government on imported and exported goods. This policy backfired and conditions worsened in the United States and also European countries that depended on Americans buying goods suffered. World Trade dropped by 65%. (1)
The Recovery From the Depression
Germany and Austria were hit hard due to their war debts and dependence on American loans and goods. Austria's largest banks failed. In Asia, farmers and workers suffered due to the value of exports decreasing. Latin America suffered because they depended on American and European demand for their goods, so their prices collapsed. British voters elected as multiparty coalition known as the National Government. It passed high protective tariffs, increased taxes, and regulate the currency. Lowering interest rate encouraged industrial growth. Britain preserved democracy and added political instability. By 1937, unemployment was cut in half, and production had risen. (1)
France had self-sufficient economy which was heavily agricultural and less dependent on foreign trade. By 1935, one million French workers were unemployed. Economic crisis front inured to political instability. 1933 – five coalition governments formed and fell. 1936 – moderates, Socialists, and Communists formed a coalition. The Popular Front, as it was called, passed a series of reforms to help the workers. Price increases offset wage gains and unemployment remained high. (1)
The Socialist governments in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway met the economic challenge successfully. They built their recovery program on existing tradition on helping out the community. In Sweden, the government sponsored public works projects that kept people employed and producing. The governments increased many welfare benefits and they payed for these by taxes, but Democracy remained intact. (1)
Recovery in the United States.
1932 – Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in the first election after the Depression began. He had a confident attitude that appealed to Americans who were rattled by the Depression. He created the, "New Deal" – a program enacted by FDR that provided work for the unemployed. People would get jobs in public works projects. Financial help was given to businesses and farms, and lots of public money was spent on welfare. Regulations were set on the stock market and the banking system. New Deal began to reform America and helped them recover from the Depression. (1)
The Rise of Dictators in Europe
Italy was thrown into a state of poverty, discontent and disorder after World War I. Though the Italians had won the war, their claims were not accepted at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. They were thus seeking a leader who would fulfill their ambitions. They found him in Benito Mussolini. (1)
Benito Mussolini
Thanks to the Treaty of Versailles (1919), Germany was physically mutilated, economically suffocated, emotionally humiliated and territorially encircled. Thus the German youth was filled with a sense of intense hatred and revenge against the Allied Powers. These popular sentiments were well exploited by Adolf Hitler. (1)
Washington Conference of 1921-22
Japan was forced to sign three treaties. She was thus looking for an opportunity penetrate into China. The Soviet Union also sought to fulfill its mission of a world communist revolution, after World War I, thus threatening the whole world. Democratic governments were not able to solve the social, political and economic problems of the post-war period. This exposed the evils in their functioning. The victorious powers such as Great Britain, the U.S.A. and France failed to enforce the Treaty of Versailles vigorously. This also encouraged the growth of dictatorships. The League of Nations was unsuccessful in its aim to preserve peace. Thus the path was paved for the growth of totalitarian dictatorships. (1)
The world economic crisis in 1929
This caused major frustration, despondency and despair all over the world. Forces of international anarchy were released in 1931. Italian dictatorship was called Fascism. It was started by a man named Benito Mussolini. Italy was a disappointed victor of World War I, for it gained much less than it expected. At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, war proved costly to Italy, since it's nation caused so much damage, their finances were draining. This caused the cost of living to go up exponentially. Italy was on the face of bankruptcy, starvation, inflation and unemployment. Strikes and lockouts were started by industrial workers, the middle class became poor, and the democratic Italian government failed to solve these diverse problems. Italy was tormented with disorder, confusion, economically crippled. (1)
The Russian Revolution of 1917
This greatly influenced the Italian socialists. They planned a revolution to transplant the Soviet system into Italy. Therefore strikes, lockouts and riots became more frequent. In March 1919, Benito Mussolini formed a political party, called ’Fascisti’. He named his party this, after the Roman rods that were carried by the officers attending upon the ancient Roman Consuls before the chief magistrate of the state. The party consisted of ex-soldiers, industrialists, landlords, professional men, middle-class people and the highly intelligent. A civil war in Italy lasted from 1920-1921, and was between the Fascists and the radicals. In October 1922, Mussolini gave the Congress of Fascists a choice, either the reigns of government should be handed to us, or we would seize it by marching in Rome. King Victor Emmanuel III then invited Mussolini to form a government at Rome. He did so on October 30, 1922. After becoming the Prime Minister, Mussolini demanded and obtained dictatorial powers from the National Parliament, which happened in 1923. (1)
Mussolini’s Domestic Policy
After coming to power, Mussolini restored order and stability in the state, and eliminated all kinds of opposition. Since Mussolini banned industrial strikes, Industrialists began to feel secure. At the same time, workers were benefited by a ’Charter of Labor’ which guaranteed basic rights to them. These included rights such as an eight-hour day, a weekly holiday, a compulsory employer’s contribution towards insurance against sickness, accidents and old-age benefits, and no dismissal of workers, on grounds of illness. (1)
Mussolini developed the concept of the ’Corporate State.’ In 1934, a National Council of Corporations was formed to replace the Parliament itself. Mussolini controlled all educational institutions by appointing only fascist teachers in schools, colleges and universities. He also revived and encouraged trade, commerce and industry. The greatest priority was given to the construction of railways and the shipbuilding industry. Banking and currency were regulated. Finally, Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaties with the Pope of Rome, in 1929. These created the new state of the Vatican in Rome. The Roman Pope was recognized as its sovereign ruler. (1)
Mussolini entered World War II on June 10, 1940. The Italian force suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Allies. Italy surrendered officially, on September 3, 1943. This was the end of the Fascist dictatorship in Italy. Benito Mussolini was captured and shot dead by anti-Fascist Italians. After World War I, Germany was filled with hatred and revenge, as the Treaty of Versailles literally destroyed Germany's physically, economical, and emotional image. (1)
The Treaty of Versailles
Currency inflation created several problems in the country. Before the war, the value of a dollar was 4.2 German marks. By November 1923, it became worthless at 2.52 trillion to one dollar. The government issued a new currency which had the same rate as the old currency, 4.2 marks to one dollar. The government fixed the currency, which caused life savings, in the form of bank deposits, insurance, provident funds, pensions and cash, to be wiped out. The result was, that all industries, factories, workshops and mills were stopped. There was a widespread of unemployment, starvation, and desperation. The introduction of the Dawes Plan in 1924, created prosperity in Germany. When the world economic depression came in 1929-1930, Germany faced economic chaos. After World War I, communist ideas were spreading all throughout Germany. Millions of jobless workers went to join the Communist Party. The middle classes looked forward to the Nazis, to save their country, from a communist revolution. (1)
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler joined the German army during World War I, and won an Iron Cross for his bravery. In February 1925, he rebuilt and revitalized the Nazi party. Elections to the Reichstag (German Parliament) took place on March 5, 1933, in which 44% of the total seats were won by the Nazi Party. Thus Hitler formed a coalition government with the nationalists who won 8% of the total seats. (1)
After becoming chancellor, Adolf Hitler began a campaign of repression against Jews and Communists. On June 30, 1934 he massacred thousands of socialists for treason, this day was forever known as ’Bloody Saturday.’ He centralized all the powers of the central and local governments, coordinated all the labor and youth organizations, and controlled all the aspects of national life, including the Press, educational institutions, the stage and the cinema. When President Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, Hitler became the president. (1)
The Nazi Party adopted three goals in its foreign policy:
Union of all the people of the German race by the right of self-determination, in one great Germany, The cancellation of the Peace Treaties of Versailles and St. Germain and, The acquisitions of further territory for the support of the people. Hitler took a series of measures to repudiate the Treaty of Versailles. On October 14, 1933, Germany gave notice of withdrawal from the League of Nations and the Disarmament Conference. On March 19, 1935, Germany violated Part V of the Treaty of Versailles by re-introducing military conscription. (1)
On March 7, 1936, Hitler dispatched troops to remilitarize the Rhineland. To expand German territory and power, Hitler followed a policy of naked aggression. Germany entered into a pact with Japan against Russia, which was known as the Anti-Comintern Pact and was signed in November 1937. With the help of Italy, Hitler annexed Austria on March 11, 1938. On March 15, 1939, Hitler invaded and annexed Czechoslovakia. Germany then signed the Non-aggression Pact with the Soviets, on August 23, 1939. Hitler launched an armed attack on Poland, on September 1, 1939. This was followed by the declaration of war upon Germany by Britain and France on September 3, 1939. This initiated World War II. However, the Germans surrendered on May 7, 1945 and Hitler committed suicide. This brought Nazi dictatorship in Germany to an end.(1)
Adolf Hitler, a harsh dictator
Japan's Role In WWII
Japan was part of the Axis powers. Their plans were to conquer European colonies in Southeast Asia. The U.S. feared this would interfere with their control over Guam and the Philippines, so they stopped sending oil to Japan. Despite the oil shortage, Japan planned to take European colonies and the United States by surprise by launching attacks on them. The attack launched on the United States took place at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The U.S. was aware an attack would come, but they didn't know when or where. 19 ships were sunk and 2,300 lives were lost. At the same time, bombing raids were being launched on Hong Kong, Guam, and Wake Island. The Japanese had begun their campaign on making a Pacific empire. [1]
Japan easily took control of Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines. They invaded Hong Kong and made their way across SE Asia. Once taking over Burma, they were going to launch an attack on India. They were extremely cruel to the Allied prisoners of war. The Bataan Death March is the perfect example of their cruelty, in which they made prisoners march the Japanese peninsula. The U.S., hungry for revenge, decided to bomb cities in Japan. Though damage was very little, the fact that Japan was vulnerable to attack made a psychological impact on both sides. [1]
The U.S. and Australia intercepted an attack headed to New Guinea. In this battle, the Battle of the Coral Sea, a new kind of naval warfare was used. [1] The ships didn't fire at each other. As a matter of fact, airships were launched from the ships and attacked each other. American ships sank the carrier Shoho, and the Japanese lost the carrier Lexington. The Japanese lost air cover, so they had to turn back, resulting in an Allied victory. [2] After this, the Japanese targeted an important American airfield on the island of Midway. [1]
In the Battle of the Coral Sea, planes were launched from ship carriers
Allied codebreakers found out that a large fleet was headed for Midway. On June 4, 1942, Japanese planes attacked the island. When this happened, American forces hiding beyond the horizon sent planes to attack the Japanese. All four of the Japanese aircraft carriers were destroyed. This was known as the Battle of Midway, and it turned the tide for the Allies. After loosing many forces at the Battle of Guadalcanal, it was evident the Japanese became very weak. [1]
The end of the Japan's role in World War II was coming. President Truman approved the use of the A-bomb to stop the war. He warned the Japanese that a "rain of ruin" would come from the sky if they didn't surrender. After the Japanese didn't reply, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, killing around 80,000 people. Three days later, the city of Nagasaki, killing around 70,000 people. The radiation from the bomb continued to kill people after the bombings. On September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered. The war was now over, but Japan remained in ruin and despair. [1]
The aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing was catastrophic. Nagasaki suffered the same fate.
U.S. Involvement in WWII
Pearl Harbor
In the early morning of December 7 1941, Pearl Harbor--an American Air Force base--was attacked by the Japanese. The US military leaders knew an attack might be coming, but they ignored all the signs. Before the attack, the US said they would not join the war. After losing 19 ships and over 2,300 Americans, they felt it was necessary to join the war and defend themselves. Here marks the start of the US' involvement in the World War. (1)
In May of 1944, the US was ready to fight. They had many different weapons to use: planes, ships, tanks, landing air craft and more. They also had over three million troops ready to fight as soon as they get the right away. General Dwight D. Eisenhower planned to attack the coast of Normandy. The only problem was, the Germans knew they were coming. The US knew that the Germans knew, so they decided to trick Hitler and the army. They set up a smaller, fake army to show up at Calis, a British sea port. June 6, 1944, they were ready to fight. The British, American, French, and Canadian armies started their voyage to the beach in Normandy. When they arrived they quickly noticed that the Germans were set up all over the place with machine gun, cannons, and rocket launchers. (1) Over 4,413 men of the Allied forces died on this horrific day of tragedy and despair. Out of the total killed, Americans suffered the most loss with 2,499 of their own men dead. (8)
The USS Arizona burning after being attacked by Japanese forces
D-Day
In May 1940, Germany invaded and occupied France. The Allies planned to invade the English Channel. When Hitler found out about this, he put Erwin Rommel in charge to build the Atlantic Wall and defend the beach line. The Atlantic Wall was a 2,400-mile fortifier filled with bunkers, land mines, and beach and water obstacles. General Dwight Eisenhower was put in charge of the invasion, code named Operation Overlord. The Allies deceived the Germans by sending fake radio transmissions, having a phantom army, and fake equipment. This made the Germans believe that Norway was the main target, not Normandy. While this was going on, the biggest amphibious attack in history was being planned. [1]
On June 5, 1944, 5,000 ships and landing craft left England and made its way to France. The next morning, parachutes made it behind enemy lines to secure bridges and exit routes. Good, Juno and Sword beach were easily captured, while Omaha Beach was very hard to capture. More than 2,000 American lives were lost there. On June 11, the beaches were secure. The Allies marched along Normandy. By August 1944, Paris was liberated from the Germans. This turned the tides. The Nazis began sending less troops, and they eventually surrendered in 1945. [5]
The five beaches the Allies stormed and Nazi-occupied France
Omaha Beach
Battle of Iwo Jima
In 1944, the Allies made their way to Japan. They landed on the Philippine island of Leyte. This wouldn't be easy for the Allies because the Japanese devised a plan to destroy the American fleet, causing the Allies not to receive any supplies. At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, almost the entire Japanese navy was lost. Now the only things standing in the way of the Allies were the Japanese army and the kamikaze, or suicide pilots. [1]
In March 1945, the United States took Iwo Jima. It took a month of fighting and death to take Iwo Jima. [1] 23,000 Japanese soldiers defended the island. A network of caves and underground installations were used by the Japanese. Three marine divisions, carrying 6,800 tons of bombs, charged to take over the island. The Japanese didn't defend the beach line, but focused more on the inland, which isn't their usual strategic plan. The entire garrison was wiped out. The only survivors were about 1,000 Japanese prisoners. The United States suffered about 5,900 deaths. After this battle, the Unite States moved to other Japanese islands. [3]
Although the U.S. suffered much death, a very iconic and patriotic moment took place after the battle. Photographer Joe Rosenthal was there on the battlefield when he captured the photo of American soldiers raising the flag on Mount Suribachi. The photo was restaged so Rosenthal could get a proper photo. This photo has been replicated for postage stamps and for a memorial statue at Arlington National Cemetery. The image is very patriotic and has endured over the years. [3]
Soldiers raise the U.S. flag after winning the battle of Iwo Jima
The Holocaust
Hitler was anti Semitic and wanted people to accept his racist ideas. People accepted his racist ideas when he began blaming the Jews for the defeat of World War I. Hitler believed that in order to complete his conquest of Europe, he had to eliminate the gypsies, Russians, Poles, homosexuals, the insane, incurably ill, the disabled, and mainly the Jews. At first, the Nuremberg Laws were passed, that deprived Jews of German citizenship. Hitler's plans to eliminate the Jews started off soft, but there was worse to come. [1]
In November 1938, an act of revenge triggered something terrible. A 17-year old boy, Herschel Grynszpan, received a postcard from his uncle that said his father was deported from Germany. Angered, the 17-year old Jew killed a German diplomat. When the Nazis heard about this, they attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Germany and Austria. 30,000 Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. Jewish shops were broken into and shattered glass was all over the floors of the towns. This led to the attack becoming known as Kristallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass." A number of Jews feared the violence would increase, so they emigrated to France, Britain, the United States, and other countries. Hitler thought that their emigration would eliminate the "Jewish problem," but these countries stopped immigration. To complete his conquest, Hitler had to turn to more inhumane methods. [1]
A group of people surround a shop that was destroyed by Nazis
Hitler's next move was to isolate the Jews into small towns called ghettos. These were segregated areas that were overcrowded and sealed off with barbed wire and stone walls. They hoped the Jews would starve to death or die from disease. Some Jews still hung on. Many ghettos preserved Jewish tradition, such as performing plays in local theaters. Hitler grew impatient with their resistance, so he turned to the "Final Solution," which was to kill all of the Jewish people. [1]
German officers keeping order in a Jewish ghetto and assisting in the deportation and segregation of the Jews
At this point, Jewish people had two possible fates: either they were captured by the SS and killed in an isolated spot, or they were taken to concentration camps and out to hard labor and death. Concentration camp conditions were brutal. Food was scarce and Jews were forced to work as slaves seven days a week. In these concentration camps, there were large gas chambers that could kill lots of Jews at once. Auschwitz was the largest of the concentration camps. Doctors would separate the strong from the weak. The weak were sent to "showers" and then gassed to death. [1] As many as 12,000 Jews were killed on a daily basis. When Germany began losing power, Jews were evacuated from the death camps and sent on death marches. More than six millions Jews died during the Holocaust. It was very difficult for survivors of the Holocaust to return to ordinary lives. This remains one of the most horrifying events in human history. [6]
Auschwitz, the largest of the concentration camps, trapped Jewish people in these gas chambers and killed them in mass numbers
Battle of Stalingrad
This was one of the bloodiest battles in world history. The Germans were marching when their army was halted in Leningrad and Moscow. The Sixth Army was sent by Hitler to seize oil fields in the Caucasus Mountains and to seize the city of Stalingrad. The battle began on August 23, 1942, when the Luftwaffe went on nightly bombing raids and nearly destroyed Stalingrad. Joseph Stalin told his troops to stay in the city and defend it to the death. The Germans captured 90% of the city, but the oncoming winter weakened them. This gave the Soviets an advantage, and they used it to win the battle. [1]
The Soviets that were outside the city launched a counterattack on the Germans. The Germans were trapped inside and couldn't reach their supplies. [1] The Germans would've fought back, but Hitler told them to keep their ground at all costs, for he wanted the city at all costs. German Air Marshals attempted to bring them supplies, but they were unable to do so. The Germans began to die by freezing and starving. General Friedrich Paulus had no choice but to surrender his 91,000-men army. About 150,000 Germans died in the battle. The battle was a great humiliation to Hitler, while Stalin rejoiced and gained confidence. [4]
Soviets defend Stalingrad
Europe and Japan In Ruins
By the end of World War II, the world had seen much death and despair. About 40 million Europeans died, two-thirds of them civilians. Since there were so many bond raids, many cities were reduced to rubble. Major cities such as France remained unharmed, while cities such as London we partly reduced to rubble. Prisoners of war and from concentration camps wandered the roads of Europe looking for new homes. Agriculture in the countryside was disrupted. Famine and disease plagued the countryside. While the people of Europe were suffering, governments were planning to reform. [1]
The Communist Party gained popularity in France and Italy after they promised change. Trials were held for war crimes. The Nuremberg Trials charged Nazis with waging a war of aggression. Hitter and the SS chief committed suicide before the trials began. The Nazis were also charged with crimes against humanity, for they were responsible for killing 11 million people. Rudolf Hess, Hitler's former deputy, was alive to receive the charged. When found guilty, he spent life in jail. Ten Nazi leaders were hung on October 16, 1946. While this was going on, Japan was suffering just as much as Europe was. [1]
Japan was left in ruins. Tokyo and other major cities were destroyed due to bombing raids, and over two million lives were lost. General Douglas MacArthur took charge of the U.S. occupation of Japan after they unconditionally surrendered. To make sure peace would last, MacArthur ordered the Japanese army to disband. MacArthur also brought war crime trials. 25 defendants survived, and six of them were hung. The beliefs of the Japanese also changed. Throughout history the emperor was looked upon as divine, but now he had to declare himself non-divine. Japan instituted a new constitution. It guaranteed the people that they would have real political power. A two-house parliament called the Diet was elected by the people, and it could include women. In September 1951, a formal peace treaty was signed with the U.S. and 47 other nations. The U.S. kept their army in Japan since they had no army. The U.S and Japan had become allies. [1]
The Nuremberg Trials
World War II and Other War Movies
World War II was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Since then, over the decades, movies have been made to glamorize not only WWII, but battle in general. Movies such as Full Metal Jacket, 300, and Inglourious Basterds have shown and glorified battle, mainly to appeal to an action-loving audience. With World War II, a movie such as Fury is made just to show great action scenes and appeal to people who love action. In the media, it is rare that we are given a look at the emotional impact on the soldiers. This is done so in Steven Spielberg's critically acclaimed Saving Private Ryan. [7]
Scene from the movie "Fury" (2014)
Said director Steven Spielberg, "I wasn't going to add my film to a long list of pictures that make World War II 'the glamorous war,' 'the romantic war.'" (Spielberg, 1998) Spielberg did his best to stay true to the story and focus in depth on the characters. He wasn't going to make the battle scenes filled with useless action, but only with what really happened. [9] A few years before Saving Private Ryan was released, Spielberg directed Schindler's List, a movie about Oskar Schindler, a German who helped save over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust. He won an Academy Award for Best Director in 1994 for Schindler's List, and in 1999 for Saving Private Ryan.
Steven Spielberg on Saving Private Ryan
It is very hard to capture the reality of World War II for many reasons. The main reason is because directors don't know what the war looked like back then. Since there was no technology capable of filming live war until the Gulf War, they have to use their imaginations; therefore, war is depicted as action-packed. In the 1940s, war movies were different. They focused more on national spirit, which is still seen today in movies such as American Sniper. WWII troops have criticized war movies for falsely portraying war and glamorizing battle. Movie makers tend to not show the horrors of war in order to get more young people to enlist. [7]
No matter how the movies are made, war movies are made to show what war is like and what people think war is like.
Sources
(1) Beck, R. B., Black, L., Krieger, L. S., Naylor, P. C., & Shabaka, D. I. (2012). World history: Patterns of interaction.
The Great Depression
The Great War left every major European country nearly bankrupt. With this change in power, Europe's dominance over world affairs declined after the war. From 1914-1918, Europe's last absolute rulers had been overthrown, and the Provisional Government was set up. The new government aimed to establish constitutional and democratic rule over Russia, and within a few months, Russia quickly fell into a communist dictatorship. With this the government changed into a democratic one. This caused dozens of political parties opened. When no single party won a majority, a coalition government, or temporary alliance of several parties, was needed to form a majority vote. Coalitions lasted a long time, because parties disagreed on so many policies Governments were constantly changing their policies, making democracy unstable, and voters in several countries were willing to give up democracy for strong, authoritarian leadership. (1)
The Weimar Republic
In 1919 Germany set up a new democratic government called the Weimar Republic, named after the city where the National Assembly met. In the beginning the government was struggling because Germany didn't have democratic tradition, Germany had a lot of political parties and minor ones, and Germans blamed the Weimar Republic for the humiliating loss and the Versailles Treaty. (1)
Germany didn't raise wartime taxes during the Great War. To repay war expenses and the Allies, they prints paper money. Paper money dramatically dropped in value. In 1918, a loaf of bread would cost less than a mark, in 1922, a loaf of bread would cost over 200 billion marks! With the help of an international committee, Germany got out of inflation in 1923. Charles Dawes headed the committee, granting Germany $200 million to stabilize their economy. The plan included a realistic schedule for Germany to pay back the U.S. The plan was put in effect in 1924. By 1929, Germany had been producing much more in factories than they did before the war. (1)
Germany and France tried to improve their relationship, by having the Gustav Stresemann (Germany's foreign minister) and Aristide Briand (France's foreign minister) met in Locarno, Switzerland with officials from Britain, Italy, and Belgium. After a long discussion, they signed a treaty. It stated that they would never fight each other, Germany will respect the borders of France and Belgium, Germany was admitted into the League of Nations. Kellogg-Briand peace pact – U.S. Secretary of State Frank Kellogg. They pledged to "renounce war as an instrument of national policy." The League of Nations was looked at to enforce the treaty, but they had no armed forces. The U.S.' denial of entry to the league weakened the treaty. (1)
Financial collapse
Despite prosperity, several weaknesses in the U.S. economy caused serious problems. These weaknesses were uneven distribution of wealth, overproduction by business and agriculture, and the fact that Americans were buying less. The richest 5% of the population received 33% of all personal income in 1929, yet 60% of American families earned less than $2,000 a year. Majority of families were too poor to buy goods -> not able to sell all their goods, stores cut back on orders from factories -> factory workers laid off -> families buy fewer goods. Scientific methods for farming increased crop production. (1)
Wall Street was the financial capital of the world. At Stock Exchange, optimism about the booming U.S. economy showed in soaring prices for stocks. System worked well as long as stock prices were rising. However, if they fell, investors had no money to pay off the loan. September 1929 – some investors began to think that prices were unnaturally high. October 24, 1929 – the gradual lowering of stock prices had become an all-out slide downward. Prices plunged to a new low on Tuesday, October 29. 16 million stocks were sold, then the market collapsed. (1)
The Great Depression
People couldn't pay the money they owed on purchases and the stocks that they had bought at high prices were worthless. Soon after the crash unemployment numbers raised as industrial production, prices, and wages lowered and this led into a period known as the Great Depression. The stock market crash didn't cause the Depression alone but it did quicken the collapse of the economy. Factory production was cut in half, farmers lost their lands, and banks couldn't give people the money in their savings accounts. (1)
American bankers wanted people overseas to repay their loans. American investors withdrew their money from Europe. The market for European goods dropped due to high tariffs placed on them because Congress wanted Americans to buy American goods. A tariff is taxes charged by the government on imported and exported goods. This policy backfired and conditions worsened in the United States and also European countries that depended on Americans buying goods suffered. World Trade dropped by 65%. (1)
The Recovery From the Depression
Germany and Austria were hit hard due to their war debts and dependence on American loans and goods. Austria's largest banks failed. In Asia, farmers and workers suffered due to the value of exports decreasing. Latin America suffered because they depended on American and European demand for their goods, so their prices collapsed. British voters elected as multiparty coalition known as the National Government. It passed high protective tariffs, increased taxes, and regulate the currency. Lowering interest rate encouraged industrial growth. Britain preserved democracy and added political instability. By 1937, unemployment was cut in half, and production had risen. (1)
France had self-sufficient economy which was heavily agricultural and less dependent on foreign trade. By 1935, one million French workers were unemployed. Economic crisis front inured to political instability. 1933 – five coalition governments formed and fell. 1936 – moderates, Socialists, and Communists formed a coalition. The Popular Front, as it was called, passed a series of reforms to help the workers. Price increases offset wage gains and unemployment remained high. (1)
The Socialist governments in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway met the economic challenge successfully. They built their recovery program on existing tradition on helping out the community. In Sweden, the government sponsored public works projects that kept people employed and producing. The governments increased many welfare benefits and they payed for these by taxes, but Democracy remained intact. (1)
Recovery in the United States.
1932 – Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in the first election after the Depression began. He had a confident attitude that appealed to Americans who were rattled by the Depression. He created the, "New Deal" – a program enacted by FDR that provided work for the unemployed. People would get jobs in public works projects. Financial help was given to businesses and farms, and lots of public money was spent on welfare. Regulations were set on the stock market and the banking system. New Deal began to reform America and helped them recover from the Depression. (1)
The Rise of Dictators in Europe
Italy was thrown into a state of poverty, discontent and disorder after World War I. Though the Italians had won the war, their claims were not accepted at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. They were thus seeking a leader who would fulfill their ambitions. They found him in Benito Mussolini. (1)
Benito Mussolini
Thanks to the Treaty of Versailles (1919), Germany was physically mutilated, economically suffocated, emotionally humiliated and territorially encircled. Thus the German youth was filled with a sense of intense hatred and revenge against the Allied Powers. These popular sentiments were well exploited by Adolf Hitler. (1)
Washington Conference of 1921-22
Japan was forced to sign three treaties. She was thus looking for an opportunity penetrate into China. The Soviet Union also sought to fulfill its mission of a world communist revolution, after World War I, thus threatening the whole world. Democratic governments were not able to solve the social, political and economic problems of the post-war period. This exposed the evils in their functioning. The victorious powers such as Great Britain, the U.S.A. and France failed to enforce the Treaty of Versailles vigorously. This also encouraged the growth of dictatorships. The League of Nations was unsuccessful in its aim to preserve peace. Thus the path was paved for the growth of totalitarian dictatorships. (1)
The world economic crisis in 1929
This caused major frustration, despondency and despair all over the world. Forces of international anarchy were released in 1931. Italian dictatorship was called Fascism. It was started by a man named Benito Mussolini. Italy was a disappointed victor of World War I, for it gained much less than it expected. At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, war proved costly to Italy, since it's nation caused so much damage, their finances were draining. This caused the cost of living to go up exponentially. Italy was on the face of bankruptcy, starvation, inflation and unemployment. Strikes and lockouts were started by industrial workers, the middle class became poor, and the democratic Italian government failed to solve these diverse problems. Italy was tormented with disorder, confusion, economically crippled. (1)
The Russian Revolution of 1917
This greatly influenced the Italian socialists. They planned a revolution to transplant the Soviet system into Italy. Therefore strikes, lockouts and riots became more frequent. In March 1919, Benito Mussolini formed a political party, called ’Fascisti’. He named his party this, after the Roman rods that were carried by the officers attending upon the ancient Roman Consuls before the chief magistrate of the state. The party consisted of ex-soldiers, industrialists, landlords, professional men, middle-class people and the highly intelligent. A civil war in Italy lasted from 1920-1921, and was between the Fascists and the radicals. In October 1922, Mussolini gave the Congress of Fascists a choice, either the reigns of government should be handed to us, or we would seize it by marching in Rome. King Victor Emmanuel III then invited Mussolini to form a government at Rome. He did so on October 30, 1922. After becoming the Prime Minister, Mussolini demanded and obtained dictatorial powers from the National Parliament, which happened in 1923. (1)
Mussolini’s Domestic Policy
After coming to power, Mussolini restored order and stability in the state, and eliminated all kinds of opposition. Since Mussolini banned industrial strikes, Industrialists began to feel secure. At the same time, workers were benefited by a ’Charter of Labor’ which guaranteed basic rights to them. These included rights such as an eight-hour day, a weekly holiday, a compulsory employer’s contribution towards insurance against sickness, accidents and old-age benefits, and no dismissal of workers, on grounds of illness. (1)
Mussolini developed the concept of the ’Corporate State.’ In 1934, a National Council of Corporations was formed to replace the Parliament itself. Mussolini controlled all educational institutions by appointing only fascist teachers in schools, colleges and universities. He also revived and encouraged trade, commerce and industry. The greatest priority was given to the construction of railways and the shipbuilding industry. Banking and currency were regulated. Finally, Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaties with the Pope of Rome, in 1929. These created the new state of the Vatican in Rome. The Roman Pope was recognized as its sovereign ruler. (1)
Mussolini entered World War II on June 10, 1940. The Italian force suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Allies. Italy surrendered officially, on September 3, 1943. This was the end of the Fascist dictatorship in Italy. Benito Mussolini was captured and shot dead by anti-Fascist Italians. After World War I, Germany was filled with hatred and revenge, as the Treaty of Versailles literally destroyed Germany's physically, economical, and emotional image. (1)
The Treaty of Versailles
Currency inflation created several problems in the country. Before the war, the value of a dollar was 4.2 German marks. By November 1923, it became worthless at 2.52 trillion to one dollar. The government issued a new currency which had the same rate as the old currency, 4.2 marks to one dollar. The government fixed the currency, which caused life savings, in the form of bank deposits, insurance, provident funds, pensions and cash, to be wiped out. The result was, that all industries, factories, workshops and mills were stopped. There was a widespread of unemployment, starvation, and desperation. The introduction of the Dawes Plan in 1924, created prosperity in Germany. When the world economic depression came in 1929-1930, Germany faced economic chaos. After World War I, communist ideas were spreading all throughout Germany. Millions of jobless workers went to join the Communist Party. The middle classes looked forward to the Nazis, to save their country, from a communist revolution. (1)
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler joined the German army during World War I, and won an Iron Cross for his bravery. In February 1925, he rebuilt and revitalized the Nazi party. Elections to the Reichstag (German Parliament) took place on March 5, 1933, in which 44% of the total seats were won by the Nazi Party. Thus Hitler formed a coalition government with the nationalists who won 8% of the total seats. (1)
After becoming chancellor, Adolf Hitler began a campaign of repression against Jews and Communists. On June 30, 1934 he massacred thousands of socialists for treason, this day was forever known as ’Bloody Saturday.’ He centralized all the powers of the central and local governments, coordinated all the labor and youth organizations, and controlled all the aspects of national life, including the Press, educational institutions, the stage and the cinema. When President Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, Hitler became the president. (1)
The Nazi Party adopted three goals in its foreign policy:
Union of all the people of the German race by the right of self-determination, in one great Germany, The cancellation of the Peace Treaties of Versailles and St. Germain and, The acquisitions of further territory for the support of the people. Hitler took a series of measures to repudiate the Treaty of Versailles. On October 14, 1933, Germany gave notice of withdrawal from the League of Nations and the Disarmament Conference. On March 19, 1935, Germany violated Part V of the Treaty of Versailles by re-introducing military conscription. (1)
On March 7, 1936, Hitler dispatched troops to remilitarize the Rhineland. To expand German territory and power, Hitler followed a policy of naked aggression. Germany entered into a pact with Japan against Russia, which was known as the Anti-Comintern Pact and was signed in November 1937. With the help of Italy, Hitler annexed Austria on March 11, 1938. On March 15, 1939, Hitler invaded and annexed Czechoslovakia. Germany then signed the Non-aggression Pact with the Soviets, on August 23, 1939. Hitler launched an armed attack on Poland, on September 1, 1939. This was followed by the declaration of war upon Germany by Britain and France on September 3, 1939. This initiated World War II. However, the Germans surrendered on May 7, 1945 and Hitler committed suicide. This brought Nazi dictatorship in Germany to an end.(1)
Japan's Role In WWII
Japan was part of the Axis powers. Their plans were to conquer European colonies in Southeast Asia. The U.S. feared this would interfere with their control over Guam and the Philippines, so they stopped sending oil to Japan. Despite the oil shortage, Japan planned to take European colonies and the United States by surprise by launching attacks on them. The attack launched on the United States took place at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The U.S. was aware an attack would come, but they didn't know when or where. 19 ships were sunk and 2,300 lives were lost. At the same time, bombing raids were being launched on Hong Kong, Guam, and Wake Island. The Japanese had begun their campaign on making a Pacific empire. [1]
Japan easily took control of Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines. They invaded Hong Kong and made their way across SE Asia. Once taking over Burma, they were going to launch an attack on India. They were extremely cruel to the Allied prisoners of war. The Bataan Death March is the perfect example of their cruelty, in which they made prisoners march the Japanese peninsula. The U.S., hungry for revenge, decided to bomb cities in Japan. Though damage was very little, the fact that Japan was vulnerable to attack made a psychological impact on both sides. [1]
The U.S. and Australia intercepted an attack headed to New Guinea. In this battle, the Battle of the Coral Sea, a new kind of naval warfare was used. [1] The ships didn't fire at each other. As a matter of fact, airships were launched from the ships and attacked each other. American ships sank the carrier Shoho, and the Japanese lost the carrier Lexington. The Japanese lost air cover, so they had to turn back, resulting in an Allied victory. [2] After this, the Japanese targeted an important American airfield on the island of Midway. [1]
Allied codebreakers found out that a large fleet was headed for Midway. On June 4, 1942, Japanese planes attacked the island. When this happened, American forces hiding beyond the horizon sent planes to attack the Japanese. All four of the Japanese aircraft carriers were destroyed. This was known as the Battle of Midway, and it turned the tide for the Allies. After loosing many forces at the Battle of Guadalcanal, it was evident the Japanese became very weak. [1]
The end of the Japan's role in World War II was coming. President Truman approved the use of the A-bomb to stop the war. He warned the Japanese that a "rain of ruin" would come from the sky if they didn't surrender. After the Japanese didn't reply, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, killing around 80,000 people. Three days later, the city of Nagasaki, killing around 70,000 people. The radiation from the bomb continued to kill people after the bombings. On September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered. The war was now over, but Japan remained in ruin and despair. [1]
U.S. Involvement in WWII
Pearl Harbor
In the early morning of December 7 1941, Pearl Harbor--an American Air Force base--was attacked by the Japanese. The US military leaders knew an attack might be coming, but they ignored all the signs. Before the attack, the US said they would not join the war. After losing 19 ships and over 2,300 Americans, they felt it was necessary to join the war and defend themselves. Here marks the start of the US' involvement in the World War. (1)
In May of 1944, the US was ready to fight. They had many different weapons to use: planes, ships, tanks, landing air craft and more. They also had over three million troops ready to fight as soon as they get the right away. General Dwight D. Eisenhower planned to attack the coast of Normandy. The only problem was, the Germans knew they were coming. The US knew that the Germans knew, so they decided to trick Hitler and the army. They set up a smaller, fake army to show up at Calis, a British sea port. June 6, 1944, they were ready to fight. The British, American, French, and Canadian armies started their voyage to the beach in Normandy. When they arrived they quickly noticed that the Germans were set up all over the place with machine gun, cannons, and rocket launchers. (1) Over 4,413 men of the Allied forces died on this horrific day of tragedy and despair. Out of the total killed, Americans suffered the most loss with 2,499 of their own men dead. (8)
D-Day
In May 1940, Germany invaded and occupied France. The Allies planned to invade the English Channel. When Hitler found out about this, he put Erwin Rommel in charge to build the Atlantic Wall and defend the beach line. The Atlantic Wall was a 2,400-mile fortifier filled with bunkers, land mines, and beach and water obstacles. General Dwight Eisenhower was put in charge of the invasion, code named Operation Overlord. The Allies deceived the Germans by sending fake radio transmissions, having a phantom army, and fake equipment. This made the Germans believe that Norway was the main target, not Normandy. While this was going on, the biggest amphibious attack in history was being planned. [1]
On June 5, 1944, 5,000 ships and landing craft left England and made its way to France. The next morning, parachutes made it behind enemy lines to secure bridges and exit routes. Good, Juno and Sword beach were easily captured, while Omaha Beach was very hard to capture. More than 2,000 American lives were lost there. On June 11, the beaches were secure. The Allies marched along Normandy. By August 1944, Paris was liberated from the Germans. This turned the tides. The Nazis began sending less troops, and they eventually surrendered in 1945. [5]
Battle of Iwo Jima
In 1944, the Allies made their way to Japan. They landed on the Philippine island of Leyte. This wouldn't be easy for the Allies because the Japanese devised a plan to destroy the American fleet, causing the Allies not to receive any supplies. At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, almost the entire Japanese navy was lost. Now the only things standing in the way of the Allies were the Japanese army and the kamikaze, or suicide pilots. [1]
In March 1945, the United States took Iwo Jima. It took a month of fighting and death to take Iwo Jima. [1] 23,000 Japanese soldiers defended the island. A network of caves and underground installations were used by the Japanese. Three marine divisions, carrying 6,800 tons of bombs, charged to take over the island. The Japanese didn't defend the beach line, but focused more on the inland, which isn't their usual strategic plan. The entire garrison was wiped out. The only survivors were about 1,000 Japanese prisoners. The United States suffered about 5,900 deaths. After this battle, the Unite States moved to other Japanese islands. [3]
Although the U.S. suffered much death, a very iconic and patriotic moment took place after the battle. Photographer Joe Rosenthal was there on the battlefield when he captured the photo of American soldiers raising the flag on Mount Suribachi. The photo was restaged so Rosenthal could get a proper photo. This photo has been replicated for postage stamps and for a memorial statue at Arlington National Cemetery. The image is very patriotic and has endured over the years. [3]
The Holocaust
Hitler was anti Semitic and wanted people to accept his racist ideas. People accepted his racist ideas when he began blaming the Jews for the defeat of World War I. Hitler believed that in order to complete his conquest of Europe, he had to eliminate the gypsies, Russians, Poles, homosexuals, the insane, incurably ill, the disabled, and mainly the Jews. At first, the Nuremberg Laws were passed, that deprived Jews of German citizenship. Hitler's plans to eliminate the Jews started off soft, but there was worse to come. [1]
In November 1938, an act of revenge triggered something terrible. A 17-year old boy, Herschel Grynszpan, received a postcard from his uncle that said his father was deported from Germany. Angered, the 17-year old Jew killed a German diplomat. When the Nazis heard about this, they attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Germany and Austria. 30,000 Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. Jewish shops were broken into and shattered glass was all over the floors of the towns. This led to the attack becoming known as Kristallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass." A number of Jews feared the violence would increase, so they emigrated to France, Britain, the United States, and other countries. Hitler thought that their emigration would eliminate the "Jewish problem," but these countries stopped immigration. To complete his conquest, Hitler had to turn to more inhumane methods. [1]
Hitler's next move was to isolate the Jews into small towns called ghettos. These were segregated areas that were overcrowded and sealed off with barbed wire and stone walls. They hoped the Jews would starve to death or die from disease. Some Jews still hung on. Many ghettos preserved Jewish tradition, such as performing plays in local theaters. Hitler grew impatient with their resistance, so he turned to the "Final Solution," which was to kill all of the Jewish people. [1]
At this point, Jewish people had two possible fates: either they were captured by the SS and killed in an isolated spot, or they were taken to concentration camps and out to hard labor and death. Concentration camp conditions were brutal. Food was scarce and Jews were forced to work as slaves seven days a week. In these concentration camps, there were large gas chambers that could kill lots of Jews at once. Auschwitz was the largest of the concentration camps. Doctors would separate the strong from the weak. The weak were sent to "showers" and then gassed to death. [1] As many as 12,000 Jews were killed on a daily basis. When Germany began losing power, Jews were evacuated from the death camps and sent on death marches. More than six millions Jews died during the Holocaust. It was very difficult for survivors of the Holocaust to return to ordinary lives. This remains one of the most horrifying events in human history. [6]
Battle of Stalingrad
This was one of the bloodiest battles in world history. The Germans were marching when their army was halted in Leningrad and Moscow. The Sixth Army was sent by Hitler to seize oil fields in the Caucasus Mountains and to seize the city of Stalingrad. The battle began on August 23, 1942, when the Luftwaffe went on nightly bombing raids and nearly destroyed Stalingrad. Joseph Stalin told his troops to stay in the city and defend it to the death. The Germans captured 90% of the city, but the oncoming winter weakened them. This gave the Soviets an advantage, and they used it to win the battle. [1]
The Soviets that were outside the city launched a counterattack on the Germans. The Germans were trapped inside and couldn't reach their supplies. [1] The Germans would've fought back, but Hitler told them to keep their ground at all costs, for he wanted the city at all costs. German Air Marshals attempted to bring them supplies, but they were unable to do so. The Germans began to die by freezing and starving. General Friedrich Paulus had no choice but to surrender his 91,000-men army. About 150,000 Germans died in the battle. The battle was a great humiliation to Hitler, while Stalin rejoiced and gained confidence. [4]
Europe and Japan In Ruins
By the end of World War II, the world had seen much death and despair. About 40 million Europeans died, two-thirds of them civilians. Since there were so many bond raids, many cities were reduced to rubble. Major cities such as France remained unharmed, while cities such as London we partly reduced to rubble. Prisoners of war and from concentration camps wandered the roads of Europe looking for new homes. Agriculture in the countryside was disrupted. Famine and disease plagued the countryside. While the people of Europe were suffering, governments were planning to reform. [1]
The Communist Party gained popularity in France and Italy after they promised change. Trials were held for war crimes. The Nuremberg Trials charged Nazis with waging a war of aggression. Hitter and the SS chief committed suicide before the trials began. The Nazis were also charged with crimes against humanity, for they were responsible for killing 11 million people. Rudolf Hess, Hitler's former deputy, was alive to receive the charged. When found guilty, he spent life in jail. Ten Nazi leaders were hung on October 16, 1946. While this was going on, Japan was suffering just as much as Europe was. [1]
Japan was left in ruins. Tokyo and other major cities were destroyed due to bombing raids, and over two million lives were lost. General Douglas MacArthur took charge of the U.S. occupation of Japan after they unconditionally surrendered. To make sure peace would last, MacArthur ordered the Japanese army to disband. MacArthur also brought war crime trials. 25 defendants survived, and six of them were hung. The beliefs of the Japanese also changed. Throughout history the emperor was looked upon as divine, but now he had to declare himself non-divine. Japan instituted a new constitution. It guaranteed the people that they would have real political power. A two-house parliament called the Diet was elected by the people, and it could include women. In September 1951, a formal peace treaty was signed with the U.S. and 47 other nations. The U.S. kept their army in Japan since they had no army. The U.S and Japan had become allies. [1]
World War II and Other War Movies
World War II was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Since then, over the decades, movies have been made to glamorize not only WWII, but battle in general. Movies such as Full Metal Jacket, 300, and Inglourious Basterds have shown and glorified battle, mainly to appeal to an action-loving audience. With World War II, a movie such as Fury is made just to show great action scenes and appeal to people who love action. In the media, it is rare that we are given a look at the emotional impact on the soldiers. This is done so in Steven Spielberg's critically acclaimed Saving Private Ryan. [7]
Scene from the movie "Fury" (2014)
Said director Steven Spielberg, "I wasn't going to add my film to a long list of pictures that make World War II 'the glamorous war,' 'the romantic war.'" (Spielberg, 1998) Spielberg did his best to stay true to the story and focus in depth on the characters. He wasn't going to make the battle scenes filled with useless action, but only with what really happened. [9] A few years before Saving Private Ryan was released, Spielberg directed Schindler's List, a movie about Oskar Schindler, a German who helped save over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust. He won an Academy Award for Best Director in 1994 for Schindler's List, and in 1999 for Saving Private Ryan.
Steven Spielberg on Saving Private Ryan
It is very hard to capture the reality of World War II for many reasons. The main reason is because directors don't know what the war looked like back then. Since there was no technology capable of filming live war until the Gulf War, they have to use their imaginations; therefore, war is depicted as action-packed. In the 1940s, war movies were different. They focused more on national spirit, which is still seen today in movies such as American Sniper. WWII troops have criticized war movies for falsely portraying war and glamorizing battle. Movie makers tend to not show the horrors of war in order to get more young people to enlist. [7]
No matter how the movies are made, war movies are made to show what war is like and what people think war is like.
Sources
(1) Beck, R. B., Black, L., Krieger, L. S., Naylor, P. C., & Shabaka, D. I. (2012). World history: Patterns of interaction.
(2) History. (n.d.). Battle of coral sea - world war ii - history.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-coral-sea
(3) History. (n.d.). Battle of iwo jima - world war ii - history.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima
(4) History. (n.d.). Battle of stalingrad - world war i - history.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad
(5) History. (n.d.). D-day - world war ii - history.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
(6) History. (n.d.). The holocaust - world war ii - history.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaust
(7) Muller, M. (n.d.). War films: History or propaganda. Retrieved from http://ux.brookdalecc.edu/fac/writing/jvarone/amsocmov/muller-war_film_as_propaganda.html
(8) Portsmouth Museum Services. (2014). D-day museum and overlord embroidery. Retrieved from http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/d-day/d-day-and-the-battle-of-normandy-your-questions-answered
(9) Vercammen, P. (1998, July 23). Cnn - spielberg aims to tell truth about war in 'saving private ryan' - july 23, 1998. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9807/23/private.ryan/