WORLD WAR 2Nathan B. GilsonSouthwest Middle School

AIR SUPREMACY

Technology had advanced from WW1 to promote the importance of aircraft

WW1: Aircraft used primarily as scouting and fought mostly against other aircraft

WW2: Bombing runs on enemy positions, cities, factories, etc. were a primary strategy employed by both Axis and Allied forces

Aircraft carriers replace battleships as primary naval powers due to longer range and effectiveness of aircraft launching from a carrier deck.

Radar becomes major invention, able to detect flying objects.

BLITZKREIG

The Soviet Union enters into non-aggression pact with Hitler, both Germany and USSR invade Poland in September, 1939

By the end of 1939, most fighting is over for the winter. France and Britain mostly trying to strategize how to prevent Hitler from expanding Westward

In April-June 1940, Hitler conquers most of continental Europe. British military barely escapes back to Britain, using merchant ships because transports were not available.

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Britain is an island nation, removed from the rest of Europe Difficult to attack without naval superiority, which the Germans did not

have.

Began a massive bombardment of British airfields, factories, and cities in late 1940 to try to prepare for Operation Sealion, which would be a large-scale ground invasion of Britain

British losses are minimal during the attack, and Hitler’s attack stalls in the Summer of 1941.

US provides economic support to Allied Forces through “Lend-Lease Act”

OPERATION BARBAROSSA

Hitler double-crosses Stalin and invades the Soviet Union. Consolidated power in Western Europe, and had no threat of a 2-fronted war, so by

mid-1941, Hitler was able to concentrate all efforts on the Soviets

Soviets very poorly prepared to fight the war, and get driven back very quickly.

Nazi supply lines get over-extended, and they are unable to take the major cities of the Soviet Union like Stalingrad and Moscow

Soviet Union officially joins the Allies due to having common enemy (Hitler)

PEARL HARBOR

Japan expansion in the Pacific is running into American interests, and the high command in Japan knows it’s only a matter of time before America enters the war.

Decides that a sneak attack “sucker punch” to the American navy might be enough to keep America from entering the War

Many ships destroyed (0 aircraft carriers were in harbor at the time) and thousands die.

American hatred and racism toward Japanese continues for decades among WW2 generation due to this attack.

United States becomes an Allied Power

AFRICAN CAMPAIGN 1942-1943

American and British forces work to drive Hitler out of Northern Africa.

Necessary to effectively bomb Italy

Needed to attack Italy, due to it’s inferior Airforce. Establishing airfields in Italy would allow Allies to bomb Austria and eventually Germany directly.

Nazis begin to use extermination camps to solve the “Jewish Question”

BATTLEFIELD 1944

By January, the Soviets have pushed Hitler back into Poland and out of the USSR.

D-Day (June 6th, 1944) Normandy beach landing US, British, and Canadian Forces establish a

beachhead in Northern France, which enables them to move troops from Britain to Mainland Europe.

Very high casualties on both sides “Island hopping” strategy in Pacific theater is

beginning to get Allied bombers close to range needed to strike Japan directly

END OF WW2--EUROPE

Yalta Conference takes place in February, 1945 Stalin, FDR, and Churchill meet to decide how to treat Allied

Occupied territories after WW2 Risk of War between Western Democracies (Britain, France, and

USA) and Soviet Union is high, so to avoid a longer war, Allies agree to allow Soviet Union to keep most of Eastern Europe

Significant leaders die April 12th, 1945—FDR (disease) April 28th, 1945—Mussolini (hanged) April 30th, 1945—Hitler (suicide)

May 8th, 1945 is Victory in Europe Day

MANHATTAN, TRINITY, FAT MAN, AND LITTLE BOY

Displaced German scientists had been working on the Manhattan Project since 1942

Einstein and Oppenheimer First nuclear test “Trinity” July 16th, 1945 in the Nevada desert

250 foot crater, shockwave felt 100 miles away August 6th, 1945—Hiroshima, Japan

70,000 people killed, 80,000 injured. 70% of city destroyed August 8th, 1945 the Soviet Union declares war on Japan. US officials

want unconditional surrender of Japan to be only to the USA due to increased tensions with the USSR

August 9th, 1945 Topography protected many people and buildings, but still killed 35,000

people and destroyed almost half of the city US expected to have 7 more bombs by the end of October, but Japanese

surrendered to US unconditionally

IMPACT OF WW2

United Nations takes place of League of Nations US and Soviet Union occupy Germany (divide Berlin in East

Germany) Cold War begins between US and USSR

Atomic weapons, aircraft begin to dominate warfare End of the British and French Empires (Imperialism) Holocaust

Many Jews leave Europe for newly created state of Israel, created by United Nations with British Land in Palestine in 1948