World War II

1. World War II 1939-1945

2. Causes in Europe • Territorial expansion by the nations of Germany and Italy • Both nations were ruled by Fascist dictators • Adolf Hitler in Germany • Benito Mussolini in Italy • Italy had taken over Ethiopia and Albania • Germany had violated the Treaty of Versailles by building up its military and creating an air force • Germany had taken over an area next to France called the Rhineland, Austria, and was planning a move on neighboring Czechoslovakia • In September, 1938, Hitler demanded the right to annex the Sudetenland, the western border region of Czechoslovakia, next to Germany, where 3.5 million Germans lived.

3. Causes in Europe • To avoid a war over Czechoslovakia, the British and French prime ministers met with Hitler at the MUNICH CONFERENCE (Sept. 29-30, 1938) and followed a policy of APPEASEMENT—giving in to Hitler’s demands. Hitler was to be given the Sudetenland, and he pledged to claim no more land in Czechoslovakia or anywhere else. • The British and French were relieved to have avoided war, but Hitler will soon prove he cannot be trusted • In less than 6 months, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia • In August 1939, Hitler signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union, in which the countries agreed to split the country of Poland between them.

4. Causes in Europe • Hitler then became more forceful in his demands for land from Poland. • Alarmed by Hitler’s demands, Great Britain agreed to aid Poland if Germany attacked. • On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded an unsuspecting and unprepared Poland, BEGINNING WORLD WAR II

5. Causes in Asia • Territorial expansion by Japan, which needed land and resources for its growing population and industry • Japan was controlled by the Japanese military, which favored expansion. • Japan had invaded and controlled much of neighboring China by 1938. • Japan was also establishing military bases in French Indochina (now Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) • To protect Japanese expansion, the US placed an embargo on scrap metal, oil, and aviation fuel to Japan—these were items desperately needed by the Japanese military. • Meanwhile, the Japanese were planning a surprise attack on our major Pacific naval base at PEARL HARBOR in Hawaii. • The surprise attack took place on DECEMBER 7, 1941, AND BROUGHT THE US INTO WORL WAR II • The attack sank or damaged 8 battleships, destroyed almost 200 airplanes, and killed or wounded over 3,000 military personnel.

6. Axis Powers--Opponents • Germany • Italy • Japan • The so-called Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

7. Allied Powers--Allies • Great Britain • France • Soviet Union • United States

8. Homefront

9. Women • More than 200,000 women served in the military • As men went to war, women took their places in offices and factories—this provided women with job opportunities in new areas.

10. Rationing • Limited the use of certain important foods and materials by civilians—first priority for these items was given to military • People could not purchase certain items without a government-issued coupon

11. War Bonds • Sold to help pay for war • Movie stars and entertainers help to sell war bonds • Government also raised taxes to finance war.

12. Japanese Internment • The attack on Pearl Harbor led to suspicion and dislike of Japanese immigrants • Under the authority of Executive Order 9066, signed by FDR on Feb. 19, 1942, the military forced 110,000 Japanese-Americans from their homes and placed them in interment camps on federal lands. • Much of the land was in desert or swamp areas with primitive housing • 2/3 of those interned were American citizens

13. Tuskegee Airmen • Trained at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama • First black combat unit in the Army Air Corps • Flew over 500 missions over France, Germany, North Africa, and Eastern Europe • The unit earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for their heroism

14. Wartime National Leaders • President Franklin D. Roosevelt—US • President Harry S. Truman—US—after FDR’s death in 1945 • Prime Minister Winston Churchill—Great Britain • Communist Dictator Joseph Stalin—Soviet Union • Nazi Dictator Adolf Hitler—Germany • Fascist Dictator Benito Musso—Italy • Emperor Hirohito—Japan • Prime Minister General Tojo Hideki—Japan • General Charles de Gaulle—leader of French forces-in-exile (Free France) after France surrendered to Germany

15. Turning Point Battles/Allied Victories • MIDWAY (June, 1942)—US sinks 4 Japanese aircraft carriers and destroys 253 Japanese planes; first major battle fought by planes launched from aircraft carriers; first US victory in Pacific; Japanese navy never recovered from these losses. • STALINGRAD (Fall 1942-January 1943)—Germans attacked and surrounded key city of Stalingrad in Soviet Union; Soviet army launched a counterattack and eventually forced German army to surrender. • North Africa—EL ALAMEIN (November 1942)—British troops defeat Germans. • OPERATION OVERLORD—INVASION OF NORMANDY, FRANCE (June 6, 1944) better known as D-DAY

16. US Military Leaders • General Dwight D. Eisenhower—will eventually become commander-in-chief of all Allied Forces in Europe and will head up D-Day invasion. • General George Patton—famous American tank commander in Europe. • General Douglas MacArthur—Allied commander-in-chief in Pacific area.

17. Key Pacific Battles • Guadalcanal—1943 • General MacArthur’s return to the Philippines—Oct. 1944 • Iwo Jima—Feb. 1945; 25,000 American casualties • Okinawa—April to June 1945; American ships were attacked by KAMIKAZES (Japanese suicide pilots); over 2,000 kamikaze attacks on landing fleet.

18. Atomic Bomb • Manhattan Project—the top secret project to develop an atomic weapon begun by President Roosevelt. • After FDR’s death, President Truman decided to drop atomic bombs on Japan rather than risk the estimated 1 million US causalities that were predicted in an invasion of the Japanese homeland. • On August 6, 1945, the B-29 bomber ENOLA GAY dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of HIROSHIMA • On August 9, 1945, the Japanese city of NAGASAKI was bombed.

19. Victory • V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day)—May 8, 1945 • V-J Day (Victory in Japan Day)—August 15, 1945

20. Holocaust • This refers to Hitler’s attempt to kill the Jews • 6 million European Jews died in Hitler’s network of concentration camps and death camps. • Many died in gas chambers and had their bodies cremated. • The most famous death/extermination camp was at Auschwitz in Poland • Over 2 million Jews were killed there • 6 million other people whom Hitler and the Nazis considered inferior were also killed • Gypsies • Slavs • Prostitutes • Handicapped (mentally and physically) • Terminally Ill • The Old • Homosexuals • Political Protestors

21. New Weapons/Technology of World War II • Aircraft Carrier • Parachutes • Atomic Bombs • Long-range bombing by airplane • Radar • Amphibious landings—from boats onto land (Pacific island landings and D-Day landing) • Antibiotics—to prevent infections • Jet planes • Rockets

22. United Nations • Its purpose was similar to the League of Nations founded after WWI—to be a peacekeeping organization, settling disputes among nations peacefully • The US did join the UN • Its headquarters is in New York, New York