KEY PEOPLE (including elections)
Adolf Hitler
Nazi dictator of Germany - His hatred for the Jews spawned the terrible “Final Solution” which included
death camps, sterilization, and human experimentation, and lead to the
extermination of about 6 million Jews and about 5 million other “undesirable”
persons, such as Slavs and gypsies. An Austrian by birth, he served in the
German army in WWI, never rising above the rank of corporal, and yet he took
command of the German wermacht, or armed forces, during the war. Before his
death by suicide in the wars final days, stress and paranoia had turned him into
a raving, suspicious wreck, with uncontrollable trembles, bordering on dementia
death camps, sterilization, and human experimentation, and lead to the
extermination of about 6 million Jews and about 5 million other “undesirable”
persons, such as Slavs and gypsies. An Austrian by birth, he served in the
German army in WWI, never rising above the rank of corporal, and yet he took
command of the German wermacht, or armed forces, during the war. Before his
death by suicide in the wars final days, stress and paranoia had turned him into
a raving, suspicious wreck, with uncontrollable trembles, bordering on dementia
Franklin D. Roosevelt
President of the U.S. when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Though the US was neutral at the war’s outset, Roosevelt did everything short of actual fighting to aid the allies. The Lend-Lease Act which provided Britain
with badly needed supplies and equipment and the oil embargo on Japan in
response to their aggression in Asia were major components of his policy. His
most controversial act as President was Executive Order 9066 which called for
the internment of those of Japanese descent on the West Coast. Met with
Churchill, Stalin, and China’s Chang Kai-shek on various occasions to discuss
strategy and post-war plans. Died after being elected to a fourth term in 1945
with badly needed supplies and equipment and the oil embargo on Japan in
response to their aggression in Asia were major components of his policy. His
most controversial act as President was Executive Order 9066 which called for
the internment of those of Japanese descent on the West Coast. Met with
Churchill, Stalin, and China’s Chang Kai-shek on various occasions to discuss
strategy and post-war plans. Died after being elected to a fourth term in 1945
Benito Mussolini
Fascist dictator of Italy - Mussolini was really the inventor
of fascism, though his brand was initially a much less racist version than
Hitler’s. Like Hitler, a talented orator and motivator. Il Duce, as he was
called, invaded Ethiopia and what is now Somalia in Africa. Italy was not a
strong military power, and had to be bailed out by Germany on several occasions.
After things deteriorated for Italy during the war, Mussolini was dismissed as
Prime Minister and arrested by order of King Emmanuel. He was later rescued by
German special forces and set up by Hitler as a kind of puppet ruler in northern
Italy. Captured by communist partisans while attempting to flee Italy at the
close of the war, he and his mistress were executed and their bodies hung upside
down from a gas station.
of fascism, though his brand was initially a much less racist version than
Hitler’s. Like Hitler, a talented orator and motivator. Il Duce, as he was
called, invaded Ethiopia and what is now Somalia in Africa. Italy was not a
strong military power, and had to be bailed out by Germany on several occasions.
After things deteriorated for Italy during the war, Mussolini was dismissed as
Prime Minister and arrested by order of King Emmanuel. He was later rescued by
German special forces and set up by Hitler as a kind of puppet ruler in northern
Italy. Captured by communist partisans while attempting to flee Italy at the
close of the war, he and his mistress were executed and their bodies hung upside
down from a gas station.
Joseph Stalin
Stalin initially made a pact with Hitler and jointly invaded Poland with the
Nazis. Pact ended when Germany invaded Russia. Suffering early reversals, in
no small part due to a depleted Red Army officer core due to his paranoid
purges, Stalin employed a scorched earth policy as his predecessors had done
when invaded by Napoleon and Charles XII of Sweden. Ironically framed the war
against the Nazis as the Great Patriotic War and this morale booster coupled
with the victory at Stalingrad helped to turn the tide. Stalin was a thorn in
the allies side immediately following Germany’s surrender, refusing to give up
territory his Red Army occupied to its rightful possessors. Tensions soon
escalated into the Cold War. Stalin died in 1953 as a result of a stroke.
Nazis. Pact ended when Germany invaded Russia. Suffering early reversals, in
no small part due to a depleted Red Army officer core due to his paranoid
purges, Stalin employed a scorched earth policy as his predecessors had done
when invaded by Napoleon and Charles XII of Sweden. Ironically framed the war
against the Nazis as the Great Patriotic War and this morale booster coupled
with the victory at Stalingrad helped to turn the tide. Stalin was a thorn in
the allies side immediately following Germany’s surrender, refusing to give up
territory his Red Army occupied to its rightful possessors. Tensions soon
escalated into the Cold War. Stalin died in 1953 as a result of a stroke.
Winston Churchill
Politically isolated before the war and one of the few who saw the danger of
Hitler early one, became First Lord of the Admiralty when the war broke out.
Not long after was appointed Prime Minister. Lead Britain with a steely resolve
in the face of seemingly hopeless times, including during the Blitz and the
Battle of Britain. Pressed President Roosevelt for help, which helped lead to
the Lend Lease Act. Kept Britain in the fight until the US finally joined the
war in 1941.
Hitler early one, became First Lord of the Admiralty when the war broke out.
Not long after was appointed Prime Minister. Lead Britain with a steely resolve
in the face of seemingly hopeless times, including during the Blitz and the
Battle of Britain. Pressed President Roosevelt for help, which helped lead to
the Lend Lease Act. Kept Britain in the fight until the US finally joined the
war in 1941.
Harry Truman
became president in the spring of 1945; .Taking office after Roosevelt’s death, Truman initially very little about FDR’s war policies. He had been largely kept in the dark. A hard worker and quick
learner, he rapidly got up to speed. Alone made the decision to drop two atomic
bombs on Japan to force their surrender.
learner, he rapidly got up to speed. Alone made the decision to drop two atomic
bombs on Japan to force their surrender.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Commander of all allied forces in Europe. Presided over D-Day invasion of
Normandy and was prepared to take full responsibility had it failed. Had to
manage enormous personalities and egos in the likes of Patton and Montgomery.
After the war, became NATO commander and then President of the United States in 1952.
Normandy and was prepared to take full responsibility had it failed. Had to
manage enormous personalities and egos in the likes of Patton and Montgomery.
After the war, became NATO commander and then President of the United States in 1952.
Leslie Groves
Leslie Groves, the son of a Presbyterian minister, was born in Albany in the
United States on 17th August, 1896. He served in the construction division of the QMG and by the Second World War had reached the rank of colonel. In 1942 he was promoted to brigadier general
and placed in charge of the Manhattan Project. Groves arranged the purchase of uranium and selected the Los Alamos site. He also recruited Robert Oppenheimer (USA), David Bohm (USA), Leo Szilard
(Hungary), Eugene Wigner (Hungary), Rudolf Peierls (Germany), Otto Frisch
(Germany), Felix Bloch (Switzerland), Niels Bohr (Denmark), James Franck
(Germany), James Chadwick (Britain), Emilio Segre (Italy), Enrico Fermi (Italy),
Klaus Fuchs (Germany) and Edward Teller (Hungary) to the project.
United States on 17th August, 1896. He served in the construction division of the QMG and by the Second World War had reached the rank of colonel. In 1942 he was promoted to brigadier general
and placed in charge of the Manhattan Project. Groves arranged the purchase of uranium and selected the Los Alamos site. He also recruited Robert Oppenheimer (USA), David Bohm (USA), Leo Szilard
(Hungary), Eugene Wigner (Hungary), Rudolf Peierls (Germany), Otto Frisch
(Germany), Felix Bloch (Switzerland), Niels Bohr (Denmark), James Franck
(Germany), James Chadwick (Britain), Emilio Segre (Italy), Enrico Fermi (Italy),
Klaus Fuchs (Germany) and Edward Teller (Hungary) to the project.