World War II

1. World War II

2. Europe After World War I • Europe faced several challenges after World War I • 1) No one was really happy with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles • 2) Germans were outraged and humiliated and their economy was in shambles. Inflation hit Germany – 1 dollar = 9 trillion German marks • 3) Germany experienced political turmoil under a weak government known as the Weimar Republic

3. Totalitarian Leaders Arise • Because of the problems in Europe, several leaders were able to take total control of the governments in their nations • They promised a return to greatness and convinced people to give up their freedoms in return for future glory • In Italy a leader named Benito Mussolini founded the National Fascist Party. • Fascism – a system of government that stressed the glory of the state. “Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State” • In 1922 Mussolini became the leader of the government and established a dictatorship.

4. Totalitarian Leaders Arise • Adolf Hitler served in the German army during WWI. He soon became involved with the National Socialist Party, or Nazi Party • Hitler discovered his talent for public speaking and became a key figure in the Nazi Party • Hitler Speech • In October 1923 Hitler led a failed attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic. • While in prison Hitler wrote a book called Mein Kampf (My Struggle) that described Hitler’s ideas, including nationalism and his belief in the racial superiority of the German people, whom he called Aryans

5. Totalitarian Leaders Arise • Hitler is able to gain power thanks in part to the further collapse of the German economy. • Hitler promised to rebuild the military and create a new German empire • By 1933 he had gained enough support to be chosen as chancellor • Once in power Hitler crushed his opposition • He bullied the German legislature into giving him dictatorial powers • He referred to himself as Der Fuhrer (The Leader)

7. Totalitarian Leaders Arise • After Vladimir Lenin died in 1924 Joseph Stalin became the new Soviet leader. • Stalin desired to combine the government control of communism with the overall control of totalitarianism • Stalin’s forces executed thousands and sent others to exile in Siberia where they were forced to work in Gulags – labor camps • Totalitarian leaders took control of Japan and Spain as well.

8. Military Force • One of the major causes of WWII was the increased military action of the dictatorial governments of Europe • 1) In 1931 Japan invades the Chinese province of Manchuria • 2) In 1935 Italy invades Ethiopia • 3) Francisco Franco leads the Nationalists to victory in the Spanish Civil War and became the Fascist leader of Spain • 4) Hitler breaks the Treaty of Versailles by sending troops into the Rhineland • 5) Hitler forces the Austrian government to agree to an anschluss – union with Germany

9. Hitler and Germany • After the anschluss with Austria Hitler set his eyes on the Sudetenland • In an attempt to end the crisis and deal with Hitler, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain agrees to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland. • Chamberlain boasted of achieving “peace for our time” • Appeasement – giving into demands in hopes of maintaining peace • British politician Winston Churchill disagreed with the policy of appeasement and felt it was likely to lead to war.

10. Hitler and Germany • In March 1939 Hitler sent troops into Czechoslovakia • In August he announced a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Union – Hitler promised not to attack the Soviets, and the Soviets promised not to stop Hitler’s quest for more land • This news disturbed the French and English who had hoped the Soviets would join them if Hitler attacked • On September 1, 1939 WWII officially began when the Germans invaded Poland. • The Germans used a military tactic known as blitzkrieg – lightning war. Within a month Poland had been conquered.

11. Germany Turns to the West • After the invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany • Germany then swept through Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium before their May 10, 1940 attack on France. • The Germans quickly overtook the French, marching into Paris, and on June 22 France surrendered to Germany • Germany controlled France by setting up a part of France called the Vichy to be controlled by French people who cooperated with Hitler. Other French leaders, led by Charles de Gaulle, escaped to England.

13. Germany Turns to the West • Great Britain now stood alone against the Germans in Europe. • The new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, promised, “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender”. • Battle of Britain – between August and October 1940, Germany sent thousands of aircraft (known as the Luftwaffe) to attack the British Royal Air Force • For the first time Hitler was unsuccessful because of the British use of a technology: radar • Hitler continued to bomb British cities, including London, until finally calling off attacks in 1941.

14. Tension in East Asia • In 1940 Japan formed an alliance with Germany and Italy. The three nations became known as the Axis Powers. • In early 1941 Japan took control of French Indochina, which threatened the British and American interests in the area. • The Japanese minister of war, General Hideki Tojo pushed the Japanese not to compromise with the U.S. or Britain, and in October 1941 Tojo took control of the Japanese government.

15. I thought this was a US History class… • After being involved in WWI many Americans wanted to stay out of the affairs of Europe. • Many Americans considered themselves pacifists – people who do not believe in military force, or isolationists – desired to avoid involvement in foreign wars • FDR was more involved in domestic issues (the Great Depression) but he was not an isolationist • However, in 1935 Congress passed the Neutrality Act – meant to prevent the U.S. from being drawn into war. • In the late 1930’s the U.S. declared neutrality – not for one side or the other

16. Lead up to War • In 1937 when Japan invaded China, President Roosevelt spoke out against the Japanese and encouraged nations of the world to quarantine aggressive nations to stop the spread of war – this speech became known as his Quarantine Speech • However, many in Congress still believed in isolationism • After the invasion of Poland FDR got Congress to change its neutrality laws and established a new policy • Cash and carry – countries at war were allowed to purchase American goods as long as they paid cash and picked up their goods in American ports

18. Election of 1940 • FDR became the first President to seek a third term in office. He felt that given the world situation his experience would be helpful in the White House • His opponent was Wendell Willkie, a business man who was destroyed by FDR in the election • Soon after FDR’s election Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act – allowed the US to send weapons to Great Britain, even if they could not pay for them • In August 1941 FDR and Churchill secretly met off the coast of Canada and agreed to the Atlantic Charter – stated the goals of the two nations in opposing Hitler and his allies • Many isolationists, including pilot Charles Lindbergh opposed these meetings and felt it would lead to war

22. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor • By late 1941 many Americans felt that war with Japan was inevitable • American officials though continued to negotiate with the Japanese and were determined not to shoot first • However, during negotiations the Japanese were already planning their surprise attack at the American naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu • Due to confusion among the leaders at Pearl Harbor the Japanese were able approach Pearl Harbor unnoticed

24. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor • On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor early Sunday morning • The raid was a complete surprise to the Americans and most fighter planes never got off the ground • The attack lasted less than two hours, but by the time it was over the Pacific Fleet was a mass of smoking metal • All eight battleships were damaged, four were sunk • 200 aircraft destroyed • 2400 Americans died

25. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor • Americans obviously reacted with shock and anger • Rumors spread that the Japanese would next attack the West Coast of the United States • While FDR had expected a Japanese attack, he too was surprised by the sneak attack and no formal declaration of war • The next day FDR addressed Congress • FDR's Speech to Congress • America was now at war with Japan. Three days later Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. • The U.S. officially entered the war on the side of the Allies

26. Pearl Harbor • Days that Shook the World: Pearl Harbor

27. Mobilizing the Armed Forces • Starting in 1940 the government had already increased military spending, which led to more jobs making goods for the military, which helped end the Great Depression • The leader of the mobilization effort was General George Marshall • In order to get more soldiers the government expanded the draft and millions volunteered • More army bases were needed to house and train the many soldiers who joined the military

28. Women and the Armed Forces • Although women were not permitted to take part in combat, women played a vital role in the war effort • Worked in the military in clerical jobs • Served in the Women Airforce Service Pilot program, or WASP’s – tested and delivered aircraft • Women’s Army Corps – repaired military equipment, worked as electricians, and performed many other jobs

29. Mobilizing Industry and Science • At the outbreak of war the US government spent tens of billions of dollars on weapons, supplies, and equipment • 60,000 new planes in 1942 alone • 120,000 new tanks, thanks to the efforts of industrialists like Henry Ford • The supplies then had to be shipped overseas requiring new cargo ships • Women played a vital role in filling in the employment gaps caused by an increase in industry and a decrease in the number of available male workers • Working women of the war became symbolized by the fictional character Rosie the Riveter

31. Mobilizing Military and Science • Many new workers joined unions, which worried the federal government • After the bombing at Pearl Harbor FDR established the National War Labor Board to help settle labor disputes • In 1943 Congress passed the Smith-Connally Act which gave the president power to take over vital industries in the event of strikes

32. Mobilizing Industry and Science • Manhattan Project – a series of laboratories in Los Alamos, New Mexico where many brilliant scientists worked on secret projects, including the atomic bomb. • They were led by J. Robert Oppenheimer

33. Fighting for Freedom at Home • African-Americans • Hundreds of thousands served in the military • The first African-American marines and naval officers served during WWII • However, many still suffered discrimination and forced to serve in segregated units • No African-Americans won the Medal of Honor during WWII • Many worked industrial jobs, but were often forced to take the lowest paying jobs regardless of skill or experience • In 1941 President Roosevelt outlawed discrimination in government and defense jobs

34. Challenges for Hispanic Americans • Bracero Program – in 1942 allowed Mexican workers the chance to temporarily work in the U.S., mostly in agriculture • The arrival of so many Hispanics led to tension in California. • In June 1943 the zoot suit riots happened when a group of white sailors fought with groups of Mexican American youth. • Like many other minority groups many Hispanic Americans served in the military and were committed to US victory

35. The Battle of the Atlantic • Controlling the Atlantic Ocean was essential to an Allied victory • The Germans used u-boats (submarines) to attack American cargo ships even before WWII officially started and greatly increased during the war • Americans began using a convoy system to protect their boats from German u-boats • Another factor in the Allied success in the Atlantic was the cracking of Germany’s code system – allowed the Allies to know the location of the German u-boats

37. The War in the Soviet Union • In the summer of 1941 Hitler broke his nonaggression pact with the Soviets and invaded • The Germans were very successful at first using the same blitzkreig tactics, until… • German soldiers met Russia’s great weapon: winter • German troops froze to death and equipment could not operate in the bitter cold • However, the Germans did conquer huge amounts of territory and took the city of Leningrad, where over 200,000 Soviets died of starvation and disease

38. The War in the Soviet Union • In Spring 1942 the Germans restarted their attack on the Soviets • In August the Germans attacked the city of Stalingrad. • Battle of Stalingrad – one of the bloodiest battles in history in which the Soviets stopped Hitler giving Germany its first crushing defeat in WWII • The turning point of WWII for the Soviets. After BOS the Soviets pushed German forces back toward Germany • Germany lost 2 million soldiers while the Soviets lost 12 million

39. The War in Africa and Italy • The British and Italian forces began a battle for control of North Africa • Great Britain wanted N. Africa so they could protect trade routes through the Suez Canal which supplied oil to the British war effort. • The Germans were forced to send troops to help the Italians and they were led by General Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox.

40. The War in Africa and Italy • Battle of El Alamein – British forces defeated the AfrikaKorps – the German and Italian soldiers in Africa • Stalin wanted the Americans to invade Europe to divide Hitler’s attentions, but the other Allied leaders did not want to invade Europe until they were prepared • The first official American action in WWII took place in November 1942 when American General Dwight Eisenhower led troops into North Africa. • By May 1943 the Axis powers surrendered in North Africa.

41. The War in Africa and Italy • In July 1943 the Allies began their invasion of Italy by attacking the Italian island of Sicily • By the end of the month the Italian people turned against Mussolini and forced him from power • However, Hitler would not easily give up Italy to the Allies and sent German troops to battle the Allies • The Allies made progress against the German and included a group of soldiers known as the Tuskegee Airmen – a segregated unit of African Americans, the first to receive training as pilots in the US military • The fighting in Italy continued for over a year

43. D-Day: The Invasion of France • The planned invasion of France was given the code name Operation Overlord • To end the war as quickly as possibly the Allies planned a large scale invasion of France • The Allies spent months planning before settling on Normandy as their point of entry • Dwight Eisenhower commanded the mission and chose General Omar Bradley to lead the American troops • The Allies knew that speed was important because the Germans were developing a V1 flying bomb and the V2 rocket

44. D-Day: The Invasion of France • On June 6, 1944, 150,000 Allied troops landed at Normandy. • The plan had several phases • 1) Parachute troops land behind enemy lines • 2) Ships offshore shelled the coastline to destroy German defenses • 3) Aircraft used to provide cover and protection for the wave of troops • 4) Boats delivering equipment and soldiers to the beaches • 5) Thousands of troops bravely running through obstacles, gunfire, and barbed wire • Casualties were high but in the end D-Day was a success

50. The Battle of the Bulge • After D-Day the Allies began the march into France and appeared well on their way to victory over Germany • However, the Germans launched one final offensive • Battle of the Bulge – German troops pushed back the Allied lines, threatening to take back territory. At Bastogne in Belgium the Allies, thanks to the backup provided by General George S. Patton and his troops, stopped the German advances and allowed the Allies to move the lines back toward Germany