WWII Leaders

Match the following:

• Joseph Stalin

• Elected democratically due to his charisma and passion he would later consolidate power as chancellor and blame the woes of his country on the Jewish population of Europe.

• Showa Hirohito

• Commander of the Japanese military seized control of the country in a dictatorship that saw Japanese expansionism in the Pacific colliding with China and U.S. interests, allied with Germany to ensure world-wide influence.

• Benito Mussolini

• Emperor of Japan, put on house arrest during his general’s dictatorship. Surrendered to U.S. and became a ceremonial figurehead. Lived decades longer than contemporary leaders.

• Adolf Hitler

• Fascist dictator of Italy. Joined the war in hopes of quick victory and rewards but became puppeted by Hitler in time.

• Hideki Tojo

• Born Jughashvili he changed his name to literally ‘Man of Steel’ in order to emphasize his vision for the Soviet Union. He allied with whoever gave his country the advantage and would turn on anyone to achieve it; he committed The Great Purge killing millions of his own people.

Match the following:

• Harry Truman

• Commander of U.S. and Allied forces in Europe. Masterminded the successful Operation Overlord on D-Day.

• Douglas MacArthur

• Commander of U.S. and Allied forces in the Pacific. Oversaw the occupation of Japan that transformed it into a democratic republic and ally protected by U.S. armed forces.

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Secretary of State from 1945-1951, he oversaw the European Recovery Program which directed billions of dollars in economic aide to Europe to rebuild following the devastation of World War II and prevent countries from being susceptible to Communism.

• George Marshall

• After serving for only three months as vice president he would be thrust into the presidency and only then become aware of the Manhattan Project. He gave the go ahead to drop the atomic bomb to hasten the end of World War II in the Pacific.

• Dwight D. Eisenhower.

• Elected president an unprecedented four times, suffered a bout of polio that left him wheelchair bound. Established the New Deal which created various government programs and established Social Security and the FDIC, increased presidential influence beyond previous limits.

Match the following:

• Charles de Gaulle

• Commissioned to oversee the Manhattan Project in Socorro, New Mexico. He is known as ‘The Father of The Atomic Bomb’.

• Winston Churchill

• Leader of the French resistance for the four years under German occupation. He would later reestablish the French Republic following WWII.

• Robert J. Oppenheimer

• Prime Minister of Britain for most of World War II, friendship with U.S. president ensured lend-lease of weapons and finances during the Battle of Britain. He would later return to his position and help establish NATO and the effort to oppose Communism.