The Second World War and its Impact

1. The Second World War and its Impact The Great European Nightmare

2. Diplomatic Triumphs and Failures • Treaty of Versailles did not create an enduring peace by severely punishing Germany and triggering future resentment against the "dictated peace." • League of Nations, without (US & USSR) didn't have will nor support to maintain peace. • Washington Naval Conference, 1921-22: did not stop naval arms race • Five Power Treaty: created a 5-5-3 battleship ratio between U.S., Britain and Japan (others left out)

3. Diplomatic Triumphs and Failures • Locarno Pact, 1925: "spirit of Locarno" no longer relevant once Hitler took power • Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928: "war is illegal"; not enforceable • Japanese invasion of Manchuria, 1931: League of Nations condemned, but did little; Japan pulled out of League as a result

4. Hitler’s Foreign Policy • Hitler withdrew from League of Nations, 1933: secretly begins rearmament • Stresa Front, 1935: Mussolini and others concerned Hitler withdrew from Versailles Treaty • Italy, France, and Britain protested strongly, understanding the danger; agreed to use force to maintain status quo. • However only a year later, Mussolini allied with Hitler to help fascists win in Spain

5. Remilitarization of the Rhineland • German reoccupation of the Rhineland, 1936: violated Versailles Treaty and Locarno Pact • France unwilling to enforce the treaty without British aid; British didn't want another war. • Hitler knew of the allies desire to avoid war at all costs; took advantage of this.

6. Italian Aggression in Ethiopia • Italian invasion of Ethiopia, 1935: League of Nations ineffective in its actions and protests. • Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie appeals to League, who branded Italy an aggressor state. • Embargo placed on Italy, but it did not include oil, which Italy needed to continue its invasion. • Conquest complete in May 1936. Haile Selassie

7. Spanish Civil War, 1936 • Mussolini and Hitler use conflict as a testing ground for their military forces: Italy's army; Germany's airforce -- Luftwaffe • Fascism prevails under Francisco Franco • League ineffective in helping republicans (Loyalists) against Franco. • Rome-Berlin Axis formed ("Fascintern"): an alliance between fascist Italy and Germany

8. The Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis • Oct. 1936, Germany and Italy signed the Rome-Berlin Axis. • Anti-Comintern Pact, 1937: Italy signed with Germany and Japan to oppose communism • Japan invades China, 1937: world watches the destruction of Chinese cities like Shanghai and "Rape of Nanking," but does little. Marks the beginning of World War II in Asia.

9. Annexation of Austria • Anschluss: Germany annexes Austria, 1938 • Hitler bullies the Austrians into accepting German control of the nation. • Nazis in Austria put pressure on the government. • German troops moved in on March 13. • A plebiscite in April had a majority of Austrians favor the unification.

10. The Czechoslovakian Crisis • Sudetenland: Hitler demanded the German-speaking province in Czechoslovakia or else there would be war • Munich Conference, 1938 arranged by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain • Attended by Britain, France, Italy & Germany; Czechoslovakia and Russia not invited! • British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain adopted a policy of appeasement • Appeasement: making concessions to an aggressor in order to achieve peace

11. The Czechoslovakian Crisis • Pacifism is prevalent in Britain and France: memories of horrors of WWI; large segments of the populace don't want war • MunichAgreement: Czechoslovakia forced to give away Sudetenland • Chamberlain returns to Britain a hero, boasting: "we have secured peace in our time" • German invasion of Czechoslovakia, spring1939: Hitler double-crosses Chamberlain

12. The Polish Crisis • Hitler makes demands on port city of Danzig (Gdansk) in the Polish Corridor • Chamberlain says if Germany attacks Poland there will be war • Hitler does not want a two-front war against France & Britain in west and Russia in east

13. The Polish Crisis • Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, Aug. 1939 • World shocked that archenemies Hitler and Stalin would make such an agreement • Hitler sought assurances USSR would not attack Germany if Germany invaded Poland • Public agreement: nonaggression treaty • Private agreement: Germany and USSR would invade Poland and split the country in half.

14. The Outbreak of War • Germany invades Poland, Sept. 1, 1939: marks beginning of World War II in Europe • September 3, Britain & France declare war on Germany

15. Hitler’s Conquests • Blitzkrieg ("lightning war"): new form of warfare used by Germany to quickly defeat an enemy by poking a hole in enemy line and cutting off front lines from the rear thus surrounding enemy. • Used coordinated attack on one part of enemy line with airforce, tanks, and artillery • Poland defeated in about a month; partition occurred when USSR attacked from east. • Stalin invades Finland (1939) and annexes Estonia, Latvia, & Lithuania (1940) to create a buffer zone, believing Hitler will one day invade Soviet Union

16. Hitler’s Conquests • sitzkrieg(“Phony War”): After Poland, a 7-month lull ensued, causing some to say WWII was a myth. The world waited to see where Hitler might strike next. • Spring 1940: Hitler invaded Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg

17. The Fall of France • Fall of France, June 1940 occurred in less than six weeks • Dunkirk: thousands of French and British soldiers trapped on beaches of France • Before Germans came in for the kill, thousands were rescued by armada of British vessels • Vichy France: Hitler did not wish to waste time subduing all of France • Puppet gov't created in southern France • “Free French” led by General Charles De Gaulle,General Charles De Gaulle, who fled to Britain. DeGaulle

18. The Battle of Britain • Battle of Britain: one of most critical battles of the war • Hitler sought to soften Britain up for an invasion ("Operation Sealion") • Luftwaffe(led by Herman Goering, one of Hitler's inner circle) sent to destroy Royal Air Force (RAF) • Winston Churchill emerged as inspirational war leader of Britain. Churchill

19. The Battle of Britain • After almost defeating RAF, Hitler ordered bombing of London: fatal error • RAF and their Spitfire fighters recovered and ultimately defeated Luftwaffe: Hitler forced to call off invasion of Britain • Significance: Hitler had to guard against a future two-front war; (D-Day launched from Britain)

20. The Battle of the Atlantic • German U-Boats were an effective weapon against the British. • The British depended upon their fleet and their trade connections to feed their people. • German U-Boats sank thousands of allied shipping in 1940-41.

21. War in North Africa • Italy invaded British Egypt in Sept. 1940 and were repelled; the British took control of Italy’s East Africa possessions. • Hitler dispatched the Afrika Korps under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox” to aid the Italians. • The Germans renewed their advance into Egypt, meeting British General Bernard Montgomery. Rommel

22. Invasion of the Soviet Union • German invasion of Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa, June 1941: Hitler's attempt at "lebensraum" • "Scorched Earth": Soviets destroyed anything of value as they withdrew to deprive German army of resources; 1,000's of towns disappeared! • By winter, Germans at the gates of Moscow; lay siege to Leningrad in the North (lasted two years) and Stalingrad in the south. • In Soviet Union, WWII became known as “Great Patriotic War of the Fatherland”

23. The Holocaust • Holocaust resulted in deaths of 6 million Jews and 6 million others • Hitler's "Final Solution" to the Jewish problem • Formal plan came at Wanasee Conference in 1942 • Six death camps built in Poland in addition to hundreds of concentration camps. • Auschwitz was most notorious camp. Auschwitz

24. The Atlantic Charter • Churchill and FDR meet secretly after invasion of Soviet Union • Decide once Axis Powers defeated, there would be no territorial changes contrary to the wishes inhabitants (self-determination) • Called for “a permanent system of general security”: later became the United Nations • Stalin endorsed the agreement soon thereafter

25. U.S. Neutrality • Neutrality Acts in 1930s prevented FDR from drawing U.S. into the conflict earlier. • In general, a mood if isolationism prevailed in the United States, leading the U.S. to stay out of the conflict. • Lend-Lease Act (1941)gave large amounts of money and supplies to help Britain and Soviets; effectively ended U.S. neutrality.

26. U.S Entry • Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, resulted in U.S. entry into the war • Hitler declared war on U.S.: (another fatal blunder!) Instead of focusing on Japan, U.S. (along with Britain) would instead focus on defeating Germany first. • The Grand Alliance formed in 1942: Britain, Soviet Union and U.S. and 2 dozen other countries

27. The Soviet Counterattack • The Germans pushed toward the oil rich Caucasus region. • Stalingrad was the key. Dec. 1942: first Nazi defeat on land; Sixth army surrenders. • Soviets began the 2.5 year campaign of pushing the German army back to Berlin. • By the end of 1943, the Russians had taken back 2/3 of Soviet Territory.

28. War Diplomacy • Casablanca Conference,1943FDR and Churchill declared a policy of unconditional surrender for “all enemies” • Italy would be invaded first before opening 2nd Front in France (to Stalin's dismay) • Moscow Conference: 1943: US obtained Soviet agreement to enter the war against Japan after Germany was defeated and to participate in a world organization after the war was over.

29. Tehran Conference, 1943 • First meeting of the “Big Three”: Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin • Allies agreed to an invasion of the Western Europe in 1944. • Stalin reaffirmed the Soviet commitment to enter the war against Japan

30. Tehran Conference, 1943 • Stalin insisted on Soviet control of Eastern Europe and the carving up of Germany • Churchill demanded free governments in Eastern Europe and a strong Germany after the war to preserve a balance of power in Europe. • Roosevelt acted as a mediator and believed he could work with Stalin to achieve a post-world peace within the construct of the United Nations.

31. The Mediterranean • “Operation Torch”, 1943: U.S. and British forces landed on North Africa • El Alamein: British under Bernard Montgomery (“Monty”) drove the German Afrika Corps and General Erwin Rommel (“The Desert Fox”)out of Egypt • Germany eventually defeated and suffered mass casualties and surrenders. • Invasion of Sicily and Italy began in 1943

32. Allied Air Campaign • In 1944, the Allies began a directed aerial bombing campaign against Germany. • American air crews specialized in daylight precision bombing, while the British conducted nighttime raids. • During the following two years, German industry, railroads, and cities were destroyed.

33. Invasion of Western Europe • D-Day, Operation Overlord, June 6, 1944: invasion of Normandy (northern French coast) by American, British, Canadian, and other allied forces under he command of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. • Western front established; spelled end of Nazi domination of Europe; Paris liberated in August. • Hitler now fighting on three fronts: east against Russians, west against U.S. and Britain (& France) and Italy against U.S. and Britain

34. Allied Victories in the West • Battle of the Bulge, Dec. 1944: Hitler's last gasp offensive to drive Allies away from western German border; after it failed, Allies quickly penetrated deep into Germany in 1945.

35. Ending the War • V-E Day, May 8, 1945: Germany surrenders (Hitler committed suicide a few days earlier) • End of the war against Japan: U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Russia invades Manchuria

36. Results of World War II • About 55 million dead (including missing); 22 million in USSR alone. • Holocaust resulted in deaths of 6 million Jews and 6 million others. • Millions homeless and millions relocated (especially Germans living outside Germany) • Much of Europe lay in ruins: would take years to rebuild economy • Women played even larger role in the war economy than in WWI (gained more rights after war) • The U.S. and Soviet Union emerged as the two dominant powers in the postwar world.

37. Roots of the Cold War • Teheran Conference, 1943: USSR guaranteed to be only power to liberate Eastern Europe • Yalta Conference, 1945: • Stalin pledged to allow democratic elections in E. Europe (but later reneged) • Germany would be divided into four zones controlled by U.S., France, Britain and USSR • After war, Soviets dominated their zone and did not allow reunification of Germany

38. Securing the Peace • Yalta Conference, 1945: "Big Three" met again • Stalin agreed to enter Pacific war within 3 months after Germany surrendered • Stalin agreed to a “Declaration of Liberated Europe” which called for free elections. • Called for United Nations to meet in U.S. beginning in April 1945 • Soviets would have 3 votes in General Assembly • U.S., Britain, USSR, France & China to be permanent members of Security Council. • Germany to be divided into occupied zones and a coalition government of communists and non-communists was agreed to for Poland. • U.S.S.R. allowed to keep its pre-1939 territory. • FDR accepted Soviet control of Outer Mongolia, the Kurile Islands, the southern half of Sakhalin Island, Port Arthur (Darien), and partial operation of the Manchurian railroads.

39. Securing the Peace • Potsdam Conference, July 1945: Stalin, Harry Truman and Clement Atlee • Issued warning to Japan of unconditional surrender or face utter devastation • Stalin reversed his position on eastern Europe stating there would be no free elections • Approvals given to concept of war-crimes trials and the demilitarization and denazification of Germany. • Reparations from Germany could be taken from each respective zone. • During conference Truman ordered dropping of atomic bomb on Japan

40. International Cooperation • Following the war, nations met in San Francisco to sign the United Nations Charter (building upon the Atlantic Charter) and the UN was established in New York. • In 1945, the Nuremberg war crimes trials began, trying the Nazi leaders for crimes against humanity. Goering takes the stand

41. American Perspective • Stalin seemed intent on creating "spheres" of influence in Eastern Europe • Broke pledges at Yalta; refused to allow reunification of Germany • Churchhill's "Iron Curtain" speech in 1946 alerted Americans to a future conflict • U.S. wanted democracy spread throughout the world with a strong international organization to maintain global peace

42. Soviet Perspective • Democracies traditionally hostile towards communism and the USSR • e.g., Archangel expedition during WWI; non-recognition by U.S. until 1933 • US & Britain did not open western front in Europe early enough; millions of Soviet soldiers were dying fighting the brunt of Nazi armies alone until mid-1944. • The US and Britain froze Russia out of the atomic bomb project. • US terminated lend-lease to Moscow in May 1945 but gave Britain aid until 1946. • Wanted "buffer zone" for the Soviet western border esp. in Poland

43. Partition of Germany • USSR, U.S., Britain & France would each occupy a part of Germany but would allow for German reunification once she was no longer a threat. • Germany was to pay heavy reparations to USSR in form of agricultural and industrial goods.

44. Partition of Germany • Soviets dominated their Eastern German zone • Did not want revitalized Germany that could once again pose a threat. • Stripped E. Germany of much of its resources. • U.S. and W. Europeans felt German economy vital to recovery of Europe

45. Partition of Germany • 1949, West Germany became an independent country when US, France and Britain gave back each of their zones • Federal Republic of Germany – led by Konrad Adenauer • 1949, East Germany formally established – Democratic Republic of Germany led by Walter Ulbricht (1883-1973); communist regime influenced by Moscow Konrad Adenauer

46. Containment • By 1947, US pledged to prevent further spread of communism • Truman Doctrine, 1947: U.S. gave aid to Greece and Turkey to defeat communist forces there. • Marshall Plan, 1947: Massive aid package to help war-torn Europe recover from the war • Purpose: prevent communism from spreading into economically devastated regions • Result: Western and Central Europe recovered economically -- the "economic miracle" • Soviets refused to allow U.S. aid to countries in eastern Europe

47. Containment • Berlin Crisis (1948-49): Soviets attempted to remove Allies from Berlin by cutting off access • One of high tension points of the Cold War; close to World War III • U.S. instituted a massive airlift; Soviets lifted blockade in 1949

48. NATO • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed in 1949 • Collective security organization consisting of democracies in Europe, U.S. & Canada to prevent against Soviet expansion in Europe. • Radio Free Europe & Voice of America set up to send pro-democracy messages to countries behind the "iron curtain"

49. Eastern Bloc • Countries in Eastern Europe dominated by Soviet Union after WWII • Included Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Rumania, Bulgaria • Communist parties of eastern Europe established one-party states by 1948, with help of Red Army and KGB (Soviet secret police). • The Warsaw Pact was established in 1955 to counter NATO in west. • Only Yugoslavia, led by Marshal Tito, is not dominated by Soviets. Marshall Tito

50. Eastern Bloc • Postwar economic recovery in eastern Europe proceeded along Soviet lines. • Changes went forward at slow & uneven pace; came to almost a halt by the mid-1960s. • Five-year plans in USSR reintroduced to tackle massive economic reconstruction • Stalin reinstitutes oppressive rule • Great Patriotic War of the Fatherland had fostered Russian nationalism and a relaxation of dictatorial terror.