World War II

Years: 1930’s-1945Sides: Axis-Germany, Italy, JapanAllies- U. Kingdom, S.Union, U.StatesCause: Rise of aggressive totalitarian governments in Japan, Germany and ItalyOutcome: Great defining and transforming moment in world history during 20th century

European WarEuropean War

► 1930’s Italy and Germany Fascist govts. Advance 1930’s Italy and Germany Fascist govts. Advance through Europe and N.Africathrough Europe and N.Africa

► League of NationsLeague of Nations puts economic sanctions on puts economic sanctions on Germany and Italy but no military Germany and Italy but no military

► U. States stays out of argumentsU. States stays out of arguments► British and French stand by and threaten but do not British and French stand by and threaten but do not

act-act-appeasementappeasement► Munich conference (1938) Chamberlain and Hitler Munich conference (1938) Chamberlain and Hitler

meet -British allow Germany to occupy Sudetenland meet -British allow Germany to occupy Sudetenland in Czechoslovakiain Czechoslovakia

► Final straw is German invasion of Poland in Sept. 1939Final straw is German invasion of Poland in Sept. 1939► War declared Italy and Germany vs. U.K and FranceWar declared Italy and Germany vs. U.K and France

Beginning of European WarBeginning of European War► Germans invade Poland armored tank divisions against Germans invade Poland armored tank divisions against

cavalrycavalry► Early 1940 Germans smash northward into Denmark and Early 1940 Germans smash northward into Denmark and

Norway and westward into Netherlands, Belgium and FranceNorway and westward into Netherlands, Belgium and France► French invest in French invest in Maginot Line- Maginot Line- elaborate trenches built of elaborate trenches built of

concreteconcrete► BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg- German lightning war use of tanks and planes - German lightning war use of tanks and planes

effective new fighting tacticseffective new fighting tactics► Alarming how quick to see German troops marching down Alarming how quick to see German troops marching down

Champs D’ElyssesChamps D’Elysses► Germans and Italians conquer EuropeGermans and Italians conquer Europe► Miracle at Dunkirk- retreating British and French troops escape Miracle at Dunkirk- retreating British and French troops escape

across English channelacross English channel► Spain, Switzerland, S.Union are exceptions Spain, Switzerland, S.Union are exceptions

Britain AloneBritain Alone

►British alone against Axis onslaughtBritish alone against Axis onslaught►Fall 1940 Battle of Britain- Air Force battle Fall 1940 Battle of Britain- Air Force battle ►New British P. Minister Winston Churchill New British P. Minister Winston Churchill

“never in human history have so many “never in human history have so many depended on so few” RAFdepended on so few” RAF

►The Blitz- The Blitz- German bombers pummel German bombers pummel London every night for two monthsLondon every night for two months

►U.S. sends supplies and assistance to U.S. sends supplies and assistance to British including Lend-Lease act- Destroyers British including Lend-Lease act- Destroyers to help with sub destroying missionsto help with sub destroying missions

1941 Europe1941 Europe

► Italians in S.E. Europe need assistance Italians in S.E. Europe need assistance from Germans in Greece and Yugoslaviafrom Germans in Greece and Yugoslavia

►Operation Barbarossa-Operation Barbarossa- Axis attack Axis attack against S. Union in June 1941against S. Union in June 1941

►Axis push deep into S. Union almost Axis push deep into S. Union almost reach Moscowreach Moscow

►Winter slows down advanceWinter slows down advance►Axis eventually stopped on outskirts of Axis eventually stopped on outskirts of

Leningrad, Moscow, and StalingradLeningrad, Moscow, and Stalingrad

Pacific WarPacific War 1930’s Japanese on move into Manchuria and 1930’s Japanese on move into Manchuria and

China looking for an empire and raw materialsChina looking for an empire and raw materials Hope for Asian empire only threat United States Hope for Asian empire only threat United States

navy in Pacificnavy in Pacific League of Nations threatens but only economic League of Nations threatens but only economic

sanctions sanctions U.S. issues ultimatum to leave China or U.S. U.S. issues ultimatum to leave China or U.S.

will stop shipments of oilwill stop shipments of oil Japanese response Pearl Harbor attack Dec. 7, Japanese response Pearl Harbor attack Dec. 7,

1941- a day that will live in infamy1941- a day that will live in infamy Japan vs. United States, China, etc.Japan vs. United States, China, etc.

1942 Pacific War1942 Pacific War

Japan successes when war begins Japan successes when war begins Advancing empire throughout S.E. Asia and Advancing empire throughout S.E. Asia and

Indonesia, and PhilippinesIndonesia, and Philippines Major air and naval battle at Major air and naval battle at Midway Midway is is

turning point of warturning point of war Japanese lose four aircraft carriers and Japanese lose four aircraft carriers and

hundreds of planes- tide of war turnshundreds of planes- tide of war turns

Europe 1942/1943Europe 1942/1943

U.S. and British hit Axis powers in U.S. and British hit Axis powers in N.AfricaN.Africa

U.S. and British hit Axis up through ItalyU.S. and British hit Axis up through Italy Turning point #1 in European war is Turning point #1 in European war is

Stalingrad-Stalingrad- largest battle in history of largest battle in history of world lasts several months-Germans world lasts several months-Germans lose entire army of 300,000 men dead lose entire army of 300,000 men dead or capturedor captured

Soviet army starts to push westwardSoviet army starts to push westward

Europe 1944Europe 1944

Big Three?Big Three? Stalin wants U.S. and British to open up Stalin wants U.S. and British to open up

Western or 2Western or 2ndnd front front Invasion of France planned- Invasion of France planned- D-DayD-Day June 6, June 6,

1944 attack onto beaches of France1944 attack onto beaches of France Soviets make progress moving westSoviets make progress moving west U.S. and British make progress moving north U.S. and British make progress moving north

through Italy and west through Francethrough Italy and west through France Summer 1944 assassination attempt on Summer 1944 assassination attempt on

HitlerHitler How would world be different?How would world be different?

Pacific War 1942-1944Pacific War 1942-1944

U.S. plan known as U.S. plan known as island hoppingisland hopping moving toward Japan skipping islandsmoving toward Japan skipping islands

Naval battles and tough fighting on Naval battles and tough fighting on Pacific islands- Marines heroes of Pacific Pacific islands- Marines heroes of Pacific warwar

Asian belief in surrender?Asian belief in surrender? Bataan Death March evidence of Bataan Death March evidence of

treatment of P.O.W.’streatment of P.O.W.’s

Europe 1945

• Yalta Conference Big Three meet to plan end of war- Stalin promises free elections in Poland and E.Europe

• Last gasp Axis strike against western Allies in Battle of the Bulge in the winter

• U.S. troops enter Western Germany in Feb. 1945 and Soviets enter Eastern Germany in March 1945

• Why is Hitler still confident?• Last major battle in Berlin April 1945- Hitler hears battle

going on in streets shoots himself April 30, 1945 • V.E. day May 8, 1945

Pacific War 1945Pacific War 1945

U.S. troops fighting onward towards JapanU.S. troops fighting onward towards Japan Iwo Jima Feb. and Okinawa April terribly Iwo Jima Feb. and Okinawa April terribly

costlycostly Volcanic islands 22,000 Japanese troops Volcanic islands 22,000 Japanese troops

dug in dug in Iwo story of flag raisingIwo story of flag raising KamikazeesKamikazees- Suicide planes- Suicide planes

U.S. Homefront

Arsenal of Democracy-

Rosie the Riveter-

Manhattan Project-

Drop Bomb on Japan? YesDrop Bomb on Japan? Yes

Roosevelt dies in April 1945 Roosevelt dies in April 1945 question falls to Harry Trumanquestion falls to Harry Truman

Drop Bomb on Japan? NoDrop Bomb on Japan? No

End of War

August 1945 Enola Gay drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, three days later on Nagasaki

20th century divided by that moment Japan surrenders, V.J. day end of war, Japan

occupied by U.S. Military of Japan paid for by U.S. still has been solid

ally of U.S., great economic success story Germany divided in four sections, Berlin divided in

four sections

Outcomes

End of European power in world Colonialism dies soon after war- India, Africa, Asia Two superpowers arise out of WWII United Nations created in 1945 1942 Germans officially make decision for Final Solution

purposeful extermination of “undesirables” Jews, Slavs, gypsies, homosexuals, etc

Nuremburg Trials held at end of war for Nazi leaders for crimes during war

Can’t blame superiors, also leads to calls for Jewish homeland

Ten Pictures to represent War