The Depression and World War II

The Depression and World War II By Ian Densford Featuring James E. Horn Glenn Whitman, AP History Densford 2 Table of Contents I. Contract Not included online II. Statement of Purpose 3 III. Biography 4 IV. Historical Contextualization 6 V. Transcript 21 VI. Analysis 39 VII. Works Consulted 47 Densford 3 Statement of Purpose The purpose of this interview is to learn about the depression and World War II era through what Mr. Jmnes Horn has experienced. It is important to know about this period because it directly preceded America at a time when it was about to drastically change its foreign policy. Densford 4 Biography: James E. Horn James Eden Horn was bom on December 4, 1921 in a small town in Arkansas. His parents moved to Washington DC in 1924; they had found life in Arkansas "limited." His father worked for the government and had a steady income of $1200 a year. His mother worked at a department store and earned $12 a week. Their first area of residence was in Southwest DC, in an efficiency apartment near where the current Agricultural Depmtment building is located. It had, what Mr. Horn referred to as, a "Murphy Bed," which was a bed in the wall that folded down. After living there for a short while, they moved to the 2100 block of F Street, Northwest DC, an area that is called Foggy Bottom. James attended high school at Western. He was put on the Second All-High Team for basketball by the school newspaper. Hitler invaded Poland when he was seventeen in 1939, but he knew or heard little about it. He won a French competition that same year, and was awarded with a third place metal by the French Ambassador. James was in his second year of college when the Japanese attacked Pearl Hmbor; he was listening to a Red Skins gmne when the announcer interrupted and reported what had happened. James went to college at the University Maryland, mid graduated with a degree in Chemistry. During those four yems, he played basketball, football, and he boxed. He played basketball in his freshman year, then took two years off to catch up with his schoolwork. When he returned to the team as a senior, he mostly played the bench. HE played football for one year under Clark Shawnasee, who cmne up with the T-formation. He boxed in the ROTC Tournament and made it to the semi-finals, but had to withdraw from an arm injury. He graduated from Maryland in 1943 and signed up for the draft. Densford 5 He took Qumtermaster basic training at Fort Lee, Virginia. Afterwards he took an aptitude test, earning a 144 out of 165. As a result, he was invited to pmticipate in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP). He then was sent to Cincinnati to take courses in engineering. The ASTP was abolished because ofthe need for every man in the war, so Jmnes went to Missouri to continue his courses in engineering. He left New York on June 30, 1944. He spent a few weeks in England before he went over to France. He was part of a replacement depot, but ended up with his own outfit because he spoke fluent French. He never ran into any combat, mid just missed the Battle ofthe Bulge in late 1944. He returned home in March of 1946. He lived with his pments until he could support himself. He was pmt ofthe 52 20 Club, a program in which the government gave veterans twenty dollars a week for a year. After deciding not to work for the government, James got involved in business, mid selling Real Estate later on. He got married in January of 1951 to one Conelia Ruth Hoffman. She was from Waynesburrow, Pennsylvania. They moved into a new three- floor house in 1957. Their house was 9512 Crosby Road, Silver Spring, Marylmid. They had five children together. Mr. Horn has lived on Crosby Road since his house was built in 1957. He lives a fairly busy life, exercising and attending dances regulmly. Densford 6 America in World War II World War II officially began in 1939 with Hitler's invasion of Poland. It has been considered both the best mid worst wm. Some thought it was a "good war" because it ended the depression in America and established it as a world power. Others thought it was one ofthe worst wars because it was a wm America really did not belong in, mid it brought about new massive weapons of destruction. In either case, America became involved in the war. Up until America entered the war. Hitler was fighting a successful war throughout Europe. It was not until the summer of 1944 that Hitler began to face significant loses. America's entrance into the Second World War was necessary because ofthe vital role it played in obtaining victory for the Allies. Fifty three million people were killed in the Second World War. Most of these deaths can be blamed on one man, Adolph Hitler, who was determined to restore Germany's pride and strength, which had been destroyed by World War Is treaty. As said by Hitler, "the Treaty of Versailles was the document of German humiliation," and he wanted revenge for the disgrace his country had to bear. The treaty had split the Austro-Hungarian Empire; Hitler wanted to rejoin it, establishing a Third Reich. In order to achieve this, he needed to reinstate strong nationalism and have the complete support ofthe German people. The National Socialist German Worker, or Nazi, Pmty gave him a position that allowed him to speak out against the current government and be heard, even supported. The First World War gave him propaganda, something that would stir the hearts of German citizens. After the depression hit Europe, shortly after WWI, Hitler took the opportunity to win the people over and shut down the failing Weimm Republic, which had little support because ofthe extreme economic decisions it had made. Hitler Densford 7 blamed the Treaty of Versailles as the cause of Germany's depression; some six million voters backed him. His popularity grew and he became Chmicellor of Germany in 1933, the same year Franklin Roosevelt (FRD) became president, and eliminated all opposition. He won the support ofthe people the same way FDR did, by establishing government funded public projects, such as the construction ofthe Autobahn, Germmiy's super highway. After rallying enough support. Hitler began to make his moves in building his empire. In 1935, he announced that Germany would no longer have a small military, which was a violation of WWI's Treaty of Versailles. In 1936, he moved his Nazi troops into the demilitarized zone of Rhineland and began to fortify the area. He took over Austria without firing a shot in 1938, mid allied himself with the fascist dictator of Italy, Benito Mussolini. That same year, representatives of Germany, Italy, France, and Britain held the Munich Conference. America's isolationist views prevented an American representative from attending. The meetings participants agreed on allowing Germany to keep the countries it had taken if it would stop expanding westward. In 1939, Germany signed the Non-Aggression Pact with Russia, ridding Hitler's fem of a two-front war. On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland, using his new Stuka dive-bomber planes and tanks to his advantage mid putting Blitzkrieg, or lightning warfare, into effect. Two days later, Frmice and Great Britain declared war on Germany. Though war was declared, no fighting occurred on the western front until 1940 because German mid Russian forces moved north, invading both Norway and Finlmid. On May 10, 1940, this "Phony War" ended, as the western front became active. Churchill became the Prime Minister the same day, after Chamberlain's retirement. Densford 8 In a month, Nazi forces had taken control ofthe countries surrounding the English Channel, besides Britain, having only been slowed down by a Imge resistance at The Hague. Hitler occupied Paris on June 13. On the twenty-second, France signed an armistice with Germany, permitting the Nazis to occupy half the country as well as the coast, while the French mmy was demobilized with a still existent government in unoccupied zones. Once Hitler had France, he planned to t^e Britain, code named Operation Sea Lion. The British Royal Air Force, the RAF, was greatly helped by the invention ofthe radar during the Battle of Britain. The Nazi Air Force, the Luftwaffe, commanded by General Hermmin Goring, began relentless assaults on the RAF bases in August, nearly wiping out their radar mid devastating their plmies. The Luftwaffe soon switched to civilimi tmgets. The Blitz, before the RAF bases were completely wiped out. The Blitz was a failure, it only made the British more determined to fight and made America more aware and interested in the wm. In December 1940, seeing that the western front was a stalemate. Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion and tumed to expanding eastward. The British had won the Battle of Britain. The Nazi forces now moved straight through Yugoslavia mid into Greece; both countries surrendered in April of 1941. Hitler's plan was to now invade Russia, strongly believing that the defeat of Russia would bring the fall of Britain. It was called Operation Barbarossa, and it began in June of 1941. Many believe that if Hitler had not fought in the Balkans, Germany might have been able to capture Russia (Ambrose 101). The only thing that really hindered the Germans was the hmsh Russimi winter; a second assault could have been organized if America had not entered the wm.

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