What have we learned?

~Today in Number the Stars we found out the Annemarie's friend Ellen is Jewish.  The Hirsch family has disappeared and we inferred they are probably hiding.  The Nazis are beginning to dehumanize the Jews by closing Jewish owned businesses.  Lise dies a week before she was to marry Peter.  Mama and Papa will not talk about Lise.... we think because it is too painful and will bring up bad memories.

~In Social Studies, we learned that The United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945 to speed up the end of World War II.  Hundred of thousands died, but most historians agree that it saved million of lives in the long run.  No country has used atomic or nuclear weapons since.

~VE Day is Victory over Europe Day.  VJ day is Victory Over Japan Day.

~The United States learned a valuable lesson from the Treaty of Versailles.  When you are the victor (winner) you do not punish and humiliate the loser like France and England did to Germany at the end of the Great war (WWI).  The Unites States pumped millions and millions of dollars and men into Japan and Germany after the war to rebuild both countries.  The results are that Japan and Germany are two of America's best and most trusted allies today!