World War IIFrom Isolation to Involvement

Chapter 10, Sections 2

War Begins

• Britain and France realize Hitler’s next move against Poland.

• They sign an alliance with Poland.• Hitler is more concerned over war with S.U. than

Britain or France• Signs Nonaggression Pact with S.U. – both agree not to

attack each other• They agree to invade and divide Poland between them.• War begins Sept. 1, 1939 when Hitler invades Poland.• Blitzkrieg – “lightning war” – new style, emphasized

speed and firepower

Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact signed 1939 – Later Hitler breaks the pack and attacks the Soviet Unioncreating a two front war.This was his greatest blunder.

• Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan(Tripartite Pact) and 6 others

It was not a formal alliance. Each nation went to war on its own initiative, and not to assist each other. Little sharing of technology or cooperative strategic planning.

• Allies: Britain, France, and eventually the Soviet

Union, United States, China and 48 others• Neutral: Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland,

Sweden

Victorious German troops march through Paris

Air battle over English Channel and Britain between Germany’s Luftwaffeand the British RAF. Hitler’s plan to invadeBritain “Operation Sea Lion” dependedon destroying their air force. When theydidn’t surrender, Hitler postpones invasion indefinitely.

“The Blitz” went on for 11 months.1,000 planes a day flew over London30,000 dead120,000 injured

Winston Churchill – Prime Ministerof Britain. During Battle of Britain he said, “This was their finest hour.”

Americans Oppose Intervention

• Great Depression was more of concern• W.W. I was a senseless slaughter and became either a pacifist or isolationist• Many Americans from Germany or Italy• Believed US drawn into WW I by bankers and

arms makers for profit• Rise of fascism in Europe made sacrifices of WW I pointless

Actions Taken by Isolationists1933-1937

• Neutrality Acts passed (1935-36) prevented arms sent to nations at war or loans given

• Traveled at own risk on ships of nations at war• Would not join World Court (League of Nations)• Philippines would be given independence in 12 yrs.• Cash and Carry Law – nations at war must pay cash

before goods leave country and carry on own ships• Proposed amendment requiring popular vote for war

(75% of US approved)

Roosevelt Assists Allies Without Going to War – 1939-1941

• Convinces Congress to lift arms embargo. Can now sell to Britain

• US sends 50 old destroyers to Britain in exchange for use of 8 British naval bases along Atlantic coast

• Lend-Lease – gave British and Soviets war materials without immediate payment. Economic declaration of war against the Axis Powers.

• Selective Service Act – peacetime draft• Calls for 50,000 planes a year• Asks for billions to create two ocean navy• Orders merchant ships armed – shoot German subs

on sight

Reinforced America’s support of Britain. Endorsed nationalself-determination, internationalsystem of general security (UN)

Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” Speech

“We look forward to a worldfounded upon four essentialfreedoms….

America Enters the War

Section 3

Japan Attacks the U.S.

• America’s presence in Guam and Philippines and support of nationalist China threatened Japan’s authority in region

• But Japan relied on trade with US for natural resources it did not have

• To stop Japanese expansion US places embargo on oil, steel, fuel and rubber

• Slowed down, but did not stop their expansion• Prime Minister General Hideki Tojo gives up on

peace negotiations with US and decides on surprise attack on Pearl Harbor

• Pearl Harbor – US main Pacific naval base• Included 6 aircraft carriers, 360 airplanes• December 7, 1941: Attack killed 2,500 Americans,

destroyed/damaged 288 planes, 14 ships• Battlefleet knocked out of commission for 6 months• Aircraft carriers out at sea, 7 cruisers, submarines

and fuel supplies, maintenance facilities safe• Japan cancelled 3rd attack – feared US counterstrike• FDR asks Congress for Declaration of War – only 1

person opposed• “A date which will live in infamy”

• 16 million served in war• Mexican Americans, Native Americans in

integrated units• African Americans in segregated units – at first

only supporting roles, as casualties rose allowed to fight in white combat units

• Only after WW II did the armed forces become desegregated

• Women’s Army Corps – 350,000• Army Nurse Corps – 57,000• Also served in Navy and Coast Guard

Mobilizing Industry

• 1942 government sets up War Production Board to oversee the conversion of peacetime industry to war industry

• Office of War Mobilization: allocate scarce materials, regulate production of civilian goods, establish production contracts, negotiate with organized labor, control inflation

• Massive defense spending ended the Great Depression

• Shipyards turned out merchant ships in 4 ½ days

“Arsenal of Democracy”• FDR referred to Detroit, Mich. as “the great arsenal of

democracy” because of its rapid conversion from the auto industry to production of armaments

• He promised to help the British and Russians fight the Germans without actually getting into the war

• German bombing of England created new support for Allies – FDR triples military budget

• CEO of General Motors in charge of military production• 20 firms received 60% of $11 billion in defense

contracts• Labor agrees not to strike• Government banned civilian auto production

• 1st 18 mos. after Pearl Harbor 350,000 people came to Detroit to work in defense plants

• Ford Motor Co. built huge factory in Ypsilanti, Mich. (Willow Run) – 3.5 mill. sq. ft. – largest in world - built one bomber every hour, 42,330 workers

• New highway (1st freeway I-94) and train track built between Detroit and Willow Run

• Workers brought in from South (200,000 Southern and Appalachian whites and 50,000 blacks)

• Women hired (same wage as men)• Housing projects, dormitories, trailers built for

workers• Willow Run built 8,685 B-24 Liberator bombers• Chrysler and General Motors produced jeeps, tanks,

bombs, guns, etc.

Racial Tensions/Riots• Simmering social conditions, poor housing available to

blacks, 85% of private housing closed to blacks; attempts to leave their ghetto were met with resistance from whites

• Influx of black workers from South created tensions• Race riot of 1943 – Began on Belle Isle, Detroit• 100,000 blacks gathered on island, fight broke out with

200 sailors, 5,000 whites joined in• Spread throughout city of Detroit• Police beat blacks and shot and killed 17• 34 people killed, hundreds wounded• Blacks blamed and their newspapers for motivating them

Fighting in the Pacific• On December 7 and 8, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor,

Wake Island, Midway Island, Guam, the Philippines, and Hong Kong

• General Douglas MacArthur – commander of the US Army forces in Asia

• Bataan Death March: US forced to retreat from Manila (capital) to the Bataan Peninsula – trapped and surrender (75,000 Americans and Filipinos), but he alone is ordered to evacuate to Australia (too important to become POW)

• Japanese forced sick and malnourished Allied soldiers to march 55 miles to POW camp – 7,000 die

Doolittle Raid• After Pearl Harbor, FDR wanted to bomb Japan to

boost public morale.• Lt. Col. James Doolittle led the operation• Planned to launch 16 bombers off aircraft carrier,

USS Hornet, 400 miles from Japan, bomb and land in China.

• Only time bombers launched from aircraft carriers• 16 total ships involved in operation for support• Meet enemy ship – forces launch 650 miles out –

planes run out of fuel and crash land along China’s coast or bail out over ocean

• Japan kills 250,000 Chinese who helped shelter the downed pilots

• 3 of 8 pilots captured were executed• Doolittle thought he would be court-martialed due

to loss of all planes and little damage done to Tokyo. Instead received Medal of Honor

• Boosted US morale• Strategic Impact: Japan recalls some fighting units

and carriers back to home islands for defense. Provided relief to other theatres of war and fear. Battle of Midway will be 1st defeat for Japan

Battle of Coral Sea

• Japan hopes to take New Guinea and then Australia.• US and Japan engage in battle with carriers, but first

sea fight in which enemy warships never sighted each other.

• US and Japan used airplanes to attack each other’s ships

• No victory for either side – a draw, but forced Japan to call off attack on New Guinea/Australia

• Pacific theatre of battle would be won or lost on the strength of aircraft carriers and planes