Adolf Hitler…

The Story of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis impacted me more than any other part of World War II. The hatred inside this man for other humans of one race and complete love for another just scared me. To think that someone could be that evil and destroy those people because "he didn’t like them" was frightening. It was pure evil, just pure evil. To let people go around on one "special night" and kill any Jewish citizen they could find. Also to come up with "The Final Solution" was horrible! This man was very smart. So why didn’t he use that intelligence to help the world instead of destroying it!?! He has impacted me by showing me how much one person could do to others without another thought about it. I am more sensitive of how one person treats another now.

The Germans…

The Germans were the saviors and destroyers of the Jewish. They were the extreme saviors by the way that some protected the Jewish people by hiding, sheltering, feeding, and caring for the Jewish people while risking their own lives and families in the balance. That situation changed my views because someone could be so caring for someone they practically didn’t know as to risk their own life to save them! On the other hand the Germans were one of the most cruel and evil people I’ve ever heard of. They killed, torched, taunted, and forgot about the Jewish people without a single care of any sort except hate. This inspired me to help and be a friend to others without the matter of race, color, anything about them that’s different because everyone in the whole world is different!

The Japanese…

The Japanese were very loyal to their king and would literally fight to the last man if it came down to it. I was astonished that the whole country was so loyal to the king that I now am more loyal to my friends and family. My friend Rebecca and I were kind of not really friends anymore but it turned out that all she wanted was for me to be a little more loyal and pay more attention to her. It kind of saved my friendship!

The Inventions of World War II…

I was completely amazed at how the world would be completely different if the "Inventions of World War II" weren’t invented! The world would be a totally different place if no one invented these "Inventions of World War II", so many things were invented in the time of World War II like plastic bottles, canned food, aerosol cans, jet engines, the internet, penicillin, RADAR, the Jeep, the computer, 707 airplane, microwaves, rockets, Nylon, Silly Putty, Synthetic Rubber and Synthetic Plastic, mobile weapons, nuclear bombs, tin cans, Bug Spray, satellites, orange juice containers, and many, many more. This inspired me to try to invent something to help the world ( to help world peace ).

The Americans…

The Americans weren’t in World War II until later in the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor but they truly pulled their own weight and other peoples’ too. When Germany declared war on the USA they were determined to finish the war once and for all and that’s just what they did! The Americans fought a long and extremely difficult battle and played a main role in the defeat of Germany but after that they helped to rebuild Germany as to say," We do what we have to but sometimes we don’t like it but we get the job done". My country inspired me by showing me that I need to be tough and I may lose the battle but in the end being kind will win the war! The Americans were also very strong in the fight against the Japanese. A monumental accomplishment was designing and building of the first atomic bombs in history, which won them victory in Japan. This inspired my to face my challenges facing forward with my head held high, and if I don’t succeed the first time to try again and never to give up.

The United States had very, very strong leaders and they were determined to win. Franklin Roosevelt was the main reason America was so strong in the war but after he died Harry S. Truman was Vice President but now the President, he lead the United States going with memories of their former leader and encouraging words. He gave them courage when there was none and was there for them the whole way without backing down no matter how hard the battles were he kept them going! Therefore the citizen’s of America took the responsibility of keeping the country together like the women taking care of everything and doing the men’s jobs! These situations kept me going by telling me in the bad of my head saying," you can do it keep on trying, you can do it keep on trying, you can do it keep on trying, you can do it keep on trying" over and over again when I would think that I couldn’t!

The U.S.S.R. …

This country put up a great fight and protected itself with all it had. They may have lost the battle but they won the war! The U.S.S.R. was hit very hard by the Germans but recovered as to say we are a strong country that may weaken but will never fall and keep rebuilding itself. This was the country that had a goal, went for it, and kept going without giving up and discouraging itself and also, in the end won.

Interviews with two of many veterans of this perilous war…

My class was lucky enough to even learn about World War II but then we got to actually interview real live veterans about their time in the war! I was thinking can this be true me; Hayley Utter; is going to interview a veteran about World War II, Wow! I was so lucky I got to interview two veterans! The first one was a woman; Evelyn Slayman; she was a decoder for the USA and worked to decode the Japanese code! She actually trained to be a secretary and was sure she would be on of the "top-dogs" secretary when she went to Washington D.C.! She had a very interesting story and I really enjoyed it! Then the next week I interviewed a man; George Kolb; he was a Merchant Marine. The Merchant Marines are in an extremely short version is the "Sea-going civilians" that bring supplies to the battle. One of the ships Mr. Kolb was struck by a kamikaze. His story was amazing! This changed my views about veterans totally and completely! I realize now how important it is to spread the stories of the veterans! I have told so many people about these amazing men and women of World War II and I plan on telling even more! I will never forget my time with the veterans and my study of World War II.

The Past Study of World War II…

This past study of World War II has forever changed me in so many ways. It has inspired me and gave me courage when I had none. I now take war more seriously-- I thought people went to war, shot some guns and we always won and we were the good guys. Now I totally understand what happens. War is bloody, deadly, horrifying, and some many other things that I can’t put in words! I am now more aware of the happenings around me that go on everyday and some that come out of a clear blue sky. My life has changed course with the end of the class study of World War II because this has inspired me in so many ways. I plan on doing my own study on World War II. I used to not really like to study history but now I love it and want to learn more, not just about World War II but all of history. I think I am a better person overall-- more careful about how and what I say and treat others. I am more accepting of others and more willing to interact with them.

A Short Thank-You