What do you think is a good World War II essay for US History?

Question

I have to write a 5 paragraph essay on World War II using a individual, a group of people, or an event as my subject. There is so much to write about like the massacre of 6 million Jews, bombing at Hiroshima, D-Day, and so forth. I would like to know which subject on WWII you think is interesting, exciting, perhaps mysterious to many people, pivotal, and contraversal or argueable. If possible, please provide links or sources to your topic. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Answer 1

I'd say the siege of Stalingrad. It involved many ordinary people, civilians, fighting for their lives against the German invaders. It's considered to be one of the bloodiest battles in history, and also was the point where the Germans started to lose the battle for Russia. It was arguably the turning point of the war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stalingrad
http://zhukov.mitsi.com/Stalingrad.htm
http://www.schicklerart.com/auto_exh/Stalingrad
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSstalingrad.htm

Answer 2

I would say the cause of the 2WW (I don't know if that counts)

Here is a basic plan in bullet points you might want to research them a bit more:

LONG TERM CAUSES
1) The Treaty of Versailles - huge discontent, £6 600million pounds reparation as a result of having to accept the War Guilt Clause, loss of economy (loss of colonies) which lead to hyperinflation, harsh conditions

2) All those lead to the rise of Hitler who rode in to power through the discontent and high unemployment

3) The fear of another world war (therefore appeasement was used)

4) The failure of the League of Nations (appeasement) - ie Manchuria and Abyssinian Crisis, the fact that America (a leading power) didn't join, Germany wasn't allowed to join until 1936 nor Russia

5) The Nazi-Soviet Pact


SHORT TERM CAUSES
1) Remilitarisation of the Rhineland

2) Anschluss (the reuniting of Germany and Austria which was forbidden by the treaty)

3) Invading Czechoslovakia (this was the height of appeasment) and this was the start of Germany gaining "Lebensraum" at the expense of non-German people (and therefore not covered by "self-determination")

4) Final spark is the invasion of Poland

CONCLUSION
Many of these extend from the failures of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer 3

How about the Battle of Britain? For a period of less than 6 months, the RAF (Royal Air Force) was all that stood before Hitler's war machine and the possible invasion of Britain. Less than 1000 pilots successfully fought off overwhelming odds and a veteran German Luftwaffe, inflicting severe losses of both material and men. Hard to condense in 5 paragraphs, but a heroic story nonetheless.

Answer 4

Some historians believe that World War 2 was inevitable even if Hitler never rose to power. The nature of the war would have been different (most likely less of a racial or ethnic cleansing aspect without Hitler). The great economist John Maynard Keynes believed that because of the extremely punitive aspect of the Treaty of Versailles against Germany and other World War 1 axis powers a second war was inevitable. Mr. Keynes expressed his opinion just after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles long before the world heard of Adolf Hitler.

Answer 5

Here's a good one but much research needed to be done on. Do one on why we let the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. What was the reason behind it that's worth sacrafice our own troops. Then here's a really good third of the way part that will really closed your essay with strong reasons of how we ended winning the war. Don't try to use two themesthat included why we used the A-bomb on the Japenese to win the war. Just stick to prior story, because it gets confusing and lengthy when you try to combine to themes in one essay. Good enough, yes?

Answer 6

The ANZAC divisions fighting in France....or the Japaneese Army Island hopping their way to Australia....the Japaneese bombing of Darwin Australia (first mainland attack on Australian shores) or the sinking of Japaneese midget subs in Sydney Harbour or the tough Kokoda Trail where many Aussie soldiers died defending Australia and nearby Islands( eventually pushing the Japs back)
The movie " Kokoda" is a new Australian movie that will give you a good insight of what our young soldiers had to endure during WW2... good luck with essay...oops just saw American History maybe Guadalcanal then in the pacific theatre of war

Answer 7

The Battle of the Bulge, the 101st Airborne Div. was surrounded by several Nazi Div. and somehow managed to repel them after several brutal attacks. This happened in the winter and is considered pivotal in the battle for Europe.

Answer 8

The International red cross said that the number of Jews lkilled from all causes was 300,000 not 6 million, some people came up with the number in 1941 in washington dc as apart of wartime propaganda.

Answer 9

YES! I was named after my grandfather who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge.Just to give you an idea , I'll tell you this.He was shot and killed in the Arden dec. 16th 1944.The US could not collect the dead until the spring because they were frozen and covered with snow!He was awarded 2 purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star for gallantry and bravery under fire. Thanks for asking ...Robert Lee Ison II (former Marine 1984).

Answer 10

5 paragraphs? That's it?!?

Thesis: By entering WWII, the United States essentially killed millions more people due to our alliance and post-war agreements with the communist monster, Stalin.