World War II People

SS5H6 The student will explain the reasons for America’s involvement in World War II.  
c. Discuss President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  
d. Identify Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill, Hirohito, Truman, Mussolini, and Hitler.  
e. Describe the effects of rationing and the changing role of women and African-Americans; include "Rosie the Riveter" and the Tuskegee Airmen.  

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President of the United States during World War II. He made his famous "day of infamy" speech the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He would not live to see the final days of the war, but would instead die in his vacation home in Warm Springs, Georgia.
The video below gives a brief overview of FDR's presidency during World War II.

Rosie the Riveter

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Rosie the Riveter was a fictional woman used as propaganda during World War II. Rosie was used to get women involved in the war effort. Thousands of women became a "Rosie the Riveter" and began working in factories to help make war supplies.


Tuskegee Airmen

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The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black pilot in the United States military. They overcame racism and prejudice in the U.S. and successfully fought the Axis powers in Europe and North Africa. You can learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen by watching the videos embedded below.

Harry S. Truman

Harry Truman became President of the United States in 1945, just before the end of World War II. Truman was informed of the top secret  Manhattan project as soon as President Roosevelt had died. Just a few short months later, in August, Truman gave the highly controversial order to drop an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima in Japan. 

Adolf Hitler

Hitler was the mastermind behind the Holocaust and the dictator of Germany before and during World War II. Overall, he has become known as one of history's all time worst bad guys. You can visit the sites below to learn more about Hitler:

Joseph Stalin

Although Stalin ended up fighting with the Allies by the end of World War II, he certainly was not a very nice man. Originally he sided with Hitler, but when Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Stalin and the Soviet Union quickly joined the Allied forces. Stalin, like Hitler, was a ruthless dictator who was also a mass murderer.

Winston Churchill

Churchill was the Prime Minister (leader) of Great Britain during World War II. Despite Hitler's best effort and the attacks that were part of the Battle of Britain, England was the only European country to effectively resist Germany's attempt to invade.