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World War II

World War II. The Greatest Generation. Prelude to Global War. “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”--Winston Churchill. Overview.

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World War II

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  1. World War II The Greatest Generation

  2. Prelude to Global War “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”--Winston Churchill

  3. Overview By the 1930s, Italy had fallen to fascism, Germany to Nazism, and Imperial Japan was looking to expand. The ambitions of three leaders will bring the world to war.

  4. Fascism and Nazism • Italy and Fascism • Benito Mussolini felt Italy was shortchanged in the Treaty of Versailles. • 1919 He and other war vets organized the Revolutionary Fascist Party • Called himself Il Duce =the leader • Used Fascist thugs called “Blackshirts” to terrorize opponents.

  5. 1922 Threatened to march on Rome and the Kind made him prime minister. • As PM he: • Suspended elections • Outlawed other political parties • Established a dictatorship • Declared, “The Country is nothing without Conquest” • Oct. 1935--Invaded Ethiopia

  6. Germany and Nazism • Adolf Hitler • Discontented Austrian Painter • 1919 Joined the National Socialist German Worker’s Party or the Nazi Party • 1923 Beer Hall Putsch--Tried to overthrow the Weimar Government • Wrote Mein Kampf =“My Struggle” during 9 mo. Prison term. • Blamed the Jews for Germany’s loss in WWI • Proposed strengthening the military • Called for expanding territory • Called for purifying the “Aryan” race (blonde, blue eyed) by removing the Jews from Germany

  7. Conditions • Germany was in Economic and Social ruin • High unemployment • Massive inflation • Shortages • Lawlessness • Nazi Promise • Order • Stabilization of the country • economic recovery • Restoring the Empire--The Third Reich

  8. Nazi Rise • Jan 1933 Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag • Hitler was appointed Chancellor • After the Reichstag fire, Hitler was given emergency powers. • After President Von Hindenberg’s death, Hitler consolidated his control over the country and the military.

  9. Europe Goes to War • German Aggression • March 9, 1936 German troops reentered the Rhineland. • 1936 Germany and Italy signed an alliance and became the Axis Powers (later joined by Japan) • March 1938 Anschluss--Hitler approved the “voluntary” annexation of Austria.

  10. Sept. 1938 Munich Conference • Hitler had demanded the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia (GR pop) be given to Germany • Appeasement • Neville Chamberlain (UK) and Edouard Daladier (France) agreed to give the land to Hitler in exchange for his promise to not seek more territory. • “Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonor . . . They chose dishonor. They will have war.”--Churchill

  11. March 1939 Hitler annexed the rest of Czechoslovakia. • Soon after Hitler signed a treaty of non-aggression with Russia

  12. War!! • September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland • Used blitzkrieg tactic • UK and FR declared war 2 days later. • Mid September--Russians seized East Poland as per their agreement. • April 9, 1940 GR attacked Denmark and Norway • May 10, 1940 GR attacked the Maginot Line and overwhelmed Belgium, the Netherlands and FR.

  13. Evacuation at Dunkirk • As France fell, UK forces retreated to this coastal city • 900 UK vessels (tug boats, yachts, and other private craft) evacuated 340K across the English channel to Britain. • Despite constant Luftwaffe attacks, the UK pulled off one of the greatest rescues in history.

  14. The Battle of Britain • After the fall of FR Hitler turned on Britain • 1,000 Luftwaffe Planes bombed Britain daily • Royal Air Force (RAF) outnumbered, flew 6-7 missions per day • Dec. 1940 “The Blitz”--The bombing of London started 1500 fires in the city. • June 1941 the bombing ended. Hitler’s effort to crush the UK had failed. • 30K Londoners died 120K injured.

  15. The Empire of Japan • 1931 Japan seized the Manchuria region of China • By 1940 Japan controlled most of Eastern China • Sept 1940 Signed the Tripartite pact w/ GR and Italy. • April 1941 Signed a neutrality pact with Russia.

  16. The American Response • Most Americans favored neutrality and isolationism. • Early Neutrality Acts • US would w/hold weapons and loans from all nations at war. • Required that all non military goods be paid for w/ cash and transported by the purchaser-- “cash and carry” • Neutrality Act of 1939--permitted UK and FR to buy weapons on a cash and carry basis

  17. Increased Involvement • 1940 FDR proposed providing war supplies to the UK w/o payment: • “If your neighbor’s house is on fire, you don’t sell him a hose. You lend it to him and take it back after the fire is out.” • March 1941--congress passed the Lend-Lease Act which authorized the President to aid any nation whose defense was vital to US interests

  18. Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941“A date which shall live in infamy.” • Mid 1941--Japan took French Indo-China • FDR responded by freezing Japanese assets in the US and cutting off trade with Japan • For weeks the US and Japan negotiated to avoid war. • Japan’s leaders decided that they could not conquer Asia with the US Pacific fleet in Hawaii.

  19. Dec 7, 1941--Japanese attacked the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor. • <2 hrs. 2,400 Americans died and 1,200 wounded; 300 planes damaged or destroyed; 18 warships sunk • Japan lost 29 planes • Dec 8, 1941 FDR asked Congress to declare war. • Dec. 11 Germany and Italy declared war on the US.

  20. The Road to Victory in Europe

  21. American Mobilization • Thousands volunteered after Pearl Harbor • The draft began immediately • The Force • 16.1 Million Served • Majority--white, male Americans • 300K Mex-Amer • 300 Navajos as Code Talkers • 17K Japanese-Amer • 1 Million African Americans • 275K Women (volunteers)

  22. Atlantic War • US ships had to travel in convoys • Germans used “Wolf Packs” (sub groups of 30) to systematically attack convoys

  23. North Africa • Germans under the command of FM Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox) had been very successful. • 1942 Turning Point--UK Gen. Bernard Montgomery won a decisive victory at El Alamein Egypt • May 1943 American Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Gen. Montgomery trapped Rommel’s forces in Tunisia.

  24. Rommel escaped to Europe and Africa was under Allied control.

  25. Italy • July 1943 American General George s. Patton attacked Sicily. It fell in 38 days. • Mussolini was overthrown and the New Italian gov’t surrendered. • German forces stiffly defended Italy.

  26. Turning Point--Anzio • Jan 1944 American troops landed behind GR lines at Anzio (just S. of Rome) • Fighting to advance was slow, but the Allies won in May 1944. • 72K American casualties • The Allies quickly took Rome • April 1945 German forces in Italy surrendered. • 190K American casualties in the Italian Campaign

  27. Germany and the Soviet Union • June 1941--3.6 million German and Axis troops attacked the USSR • The 3 millions Russians were overwhelmed and their air force quickly destroyed • The soviets burned everything as the retreated.

  28. Turning Point--Stalingrad • The Red Army chose to take a stand • Fighting was house to house • The Russian winter wet in and in mid November the Red Army counterattacked and surrounded the Germans. • Jan 31, 1943--A final assault resulted in the German force surrendering • 90K Germans had survived • Fighting would continue

  29. Allied Invasion of Western Europe • Air War • Allied bombers began to soften GR for the attack • Methods such as carpet bombing were used daily. • US bombed by day; the RAF by night (3K planes per day).

  30. Preparation • Allies amassed troops, weapons and warships in UK • Germans under Rommel strengthened the Atlantic Wall

  31. D-Day June 6, 1944 • Largest landing by sea in history • 4,600 invasion craft and warships • 23K UK and US Airborne dropped behind lines the night before. • Warships pounded the coast • 2K planes (1K at a time) bombed the GR lines • 150 K Allied troops landed on 60 mi. of coast • Hitler failed to order an immediate counterattack. • GR resistance was fierce and casualties were high

  32. By late July the Allies had 2 million troops in FR • August 1944--Americans liberated Paris

  33. Battle of the Bulge • Dec. 1944 GR launched a fierce counter attack. • Allied forces were thrown back and the line almost broke • W/ reinforcement, the Americans held and stopped the GR advance. • Casualties--80K US 100K GR

  34. End of the War in Europe • The American Advance • March 1945 • Allies continued to bomb GR • American forces crossed the Rhine River • The Soviet Advance • Heavy losses • 13.6 million soviet and 3 million GR had died in fighting • Soviet civilian and military deaths totaled 27 million

  35. Soviets wanted to capture Berlin and the US allowed it. • April 25, 1945--Soviet and US forces met at the Elbe River

  36. German Surrender • May 1, 1945--GR announced Hitler had committed suicide • VE DAY--May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered. • Yalta Conference • The Big 3 met--FDR, Churchill, and Stalin • Agreed to split Germany into occupation zones. • Berlin (in the Soviet zone) would also be divided. • Stalin promised to allow elections in the countries they had liberated and to enter the war against Japan.

  37. The War in the Pacific

  38. Overview When Japan attacked Pearl harbor, they simultaneously attacked several other American bases in the Pacific. The American Pacific outlook was grim.

  39. The Japanese Advance • Philippines • US and Filipino forces fought valiantly and managed to hold the Bataan Peninsula for 4 mos. • Gen. Douglas MacArthur was ordered to leave the islands and his troops behind. “I shall return.” • May 6, 1942--the last of the US and filipino forces surrendered.

  40. Bataan Death March • 76K US and Filipinos became POWs • They were forcibly marched 60 miles to a railway and shipped to work camps • 10K died during the 12 day march.

  41. The Sea War • The Japanese had been steadily advancing in the Pacific and hoped to take Australia. • Battle of the Coral Sea • May 1942 • 1st Naval combat carried out entirely by aircraft. • The ships never saw each other. • Militarily--a draw Strategically--stopped the Japanese advance on Australia.

  42. Turning the Tide • Battle of Midway • Midway Island was vital to the protection of Hawaii • Japanese under Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto hoped to lure the US into battle and destroy the remainder of the Pacific fleet. • Admiral Chester Nimitz caught the Japanese at a vulnerable time (loading bombs) and attacked • Fought entirely from the air. • Destroyed all 4 Japanese carriers

  43. Battle of Guadalcanal • Located in the Solomon Islands • Intense jungle warfare • Captured by Feb 1943 • Casualties • US 6K of 60K • Japan 24K of 36K

  44. Island-Hopping Strategy • US began to attack islands strategically • Some were bypassed • Goal was to get close enough to attack the main Island of Japan • Casualties were staggering

  45. Philippines • Oct. 1944--160K US troops invaded the island of Leyte. • MacArthur “People of the Philippines, I have returned.” • Simultaneously--3 day naval Battle of Leyte Gulf • Greatest naval battle in history • Japan threw all their ships into it. • Japan used Kamikaze attacks • Japan was badly beaten and their navy destroyed • June 1945--The Philippines were completely liberated.

  46. Iwo Jima Nov. 1944 • For 74 days US planes and warships poured 7K tons of bombs and 20K shells into the island • Feb 1945--Marines stormed the beaches and fought 3 days to gain 700 yds. • 110K US vs. 25K Japanese • 25K US casualties; 216 Japanese surrendered.

  47. Battle of OkinawaApril - June 1945 • 100K Japanese defended the Island • US--1300 warships; 180K combat troops • Japanese used Kamikaze attacks and Bonzai charges to inflict maximum casualties. • 7,200 Japanese surrendered • 50K US casualties

  48. The Manhattan Project • 1939--Jewish physicist Albert Einstein wrote FDR suggesting the possibility of a new weapon---the Atomic Bomb • Einstein knew the Germans were already working on it. • FDR authorized the work. • July 16, 1945, US detonated the first atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert.

  49. Dropping the Bomb • April 1945--FDR died • Harry S. Truman had to make the decision. • Estimated 1 million US deaths to conquer main island Japan. • August 6, 1945--1st bomb dropped on Hiroshima. • 135K casualties • 90% of the infrastructure destroyed

  50. August 9--2nd bomb dropped on Nagasaki • 64K casualties

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