World War II

1. World War II

2. Totalitarianism Governments and dictators with total control Germany – Adolf Hitler Italy – Benito Mussolini USSR – Josef Stalin

3. WWII Begins • Germany breaks Treaty of Versailles • Rebuilds military • Europe does nothing, hoping to avoid war • Germany annexes Austria – Anschluss – 1938 • Germany annexes Sudetenland (Czech) – 1938 • Germany signs non-aggression pact with USSR – 1939 • September 1, 1939 – Germany invades Poland • World War II begins

4. Sides • Axis Powers • Germany • Italy • Japan • Allies • Great Britain • USSR • USA

5. Germany Conquers Europe • Germany invades Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg) – Spring 1940 • Germany conquers France – Summer 1940 • Battle of Britain begins – Fall 1940 • German Luftwaffe bombs British cities

6. U.S. Pre-War • U.S. isolationist during 1930’s • Supports Allies once war begins • Specifically British • War materials and supplies • Cash and Carry Program • British pay now, come pick it up • Lend-Lease Act • British pay later, U.S. sends materials to British

7. U.S. Entry • Japan very dependent on imports • Esp. Oil • Expanding throughout Asia and SE Asia • U.S. places oil embargo on Japan • Japanese plans attack on U.S. to remove U.S. interference to expansion in Pacific • December 7, 1941 • Japan attacks U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii • “Day of Infamy” • U.S. declares war on December 8

8. Soviet Union • Joins Allies after Germany breaks non-aggression pact – 1941 • Germany advances east • Battle of Stalingrad - 1941-1942 • Turning point in East • Winter warfare, extreme cold • Soviets defeat Germans • Push West

9. War in Pacific (1942-1943) • Philippines fall to Japanese – 1942 • Bataan Death March – American POW’s marched to prison camps through jungle, massive loss of life • Battle of the Coral Sea – 1942 • 1st Major Battle – Carrier Battle • Importance of Aircraft Carriers is highlighted • Doolittle Raid -1942 • Small group of U.S. bombers bomb Tokyo • No significant damage, but moral victory for U.S • Battle of Midway – 1942 • Turning point of war in Pacific • U.S. victory, sink 4 Japanese carriers • Island Hopping • U.S. strategy in Pacific, take strategic islands • Guadalcanal – 1942-1943 • Land and sea battle • U.S. discovers Japanese will never give up

10. Pacific, cont. • Battle of Leyte Gulf – 1944 • Largest naval battle ever • 1st Japanese Kamikazes are used • Iwo Jima • U.S. needs island for emergency landing strip • Fierce fighting, Must kill every Japanese • Okinawa • Traditional Japanese home island • Starting point for Japanese invasion • Preview of resistance Japanese will give during invasion • Firebombing Japan • B-29’s bomb Japanese cities day and night • Incendiary bombs

11. War in North Africa / Italy (1942-1944) • Allies want to attack “soft underbelly” of Europe • Must secure North Africa before moving to Italy • Allies invade Italy – 1943 • Mussolini overthrown and killed • Italy surrenders, joins Allies - 1944

12. Europe, cont. • D-Day • June 6, 1944 • Largest invasion in history • Battle of the Bulge – 1944-1945 • Last desperate German counterattack • Carpet bombing of German cities • Blanket German cities with bombs, day and night • Massive destruction • Hitler commits suicide • April 30, 1945 • Germany surrenders • May 8, 1945 – VE Day

13. Homefront • Industrial production is up • Ends Great Depression • U.S. Industry wins the war • U.S. out produces Axis Powers • Rosie the Riveter – Women go to work in factories • Rationing • Japanese Internment Camps • Victory Gardens • Scrap Drives • Wage and Price Controls

14. Manhattan Project Project to build Atomic Bomb 2 labs – Oak Ridge, TN and Los Alamos, NM Project head – J. Robert Oppenheimer Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – August 6 & 9, 1945 Bombs dropped to save American lives Japan Surrenders