World War II

1. World War II Chapter 31

2. Overview • An unparalleled challenge to the United States • Two capable and determined enemies faced America simultaneously • Germany and Japan (and allies) • Highly evil foes • They were not just interested in balance of power or maintaining colonies—they were out to literally conquer the world

3. Overview • Although much will be said about government and military leaders in defeating these foes, much more needs to be said about the oft forgotten heroes—the business leaders--who buried our enemies in planes, ships, tanks, trucks, bullets, bombs, etc.

4. Overview • America will emerge from the war as the dominant world power • Military force • Economic might • Moral certainty of cause • The United States—with its allies--stood firm in democracy’s finest hour

5. The Path to War Section 1

6. Read to Find Out • Main Idea: World War II was partially a product of World War I • Terms to Define: collective security, sanctions, appeasement • People to Meet: Chiang Kai-shek, Benito Mussolini, Haile Selassie, Francisco Franco, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Neville chamberlain • Places to Locate: Manchuria, Ethiopia, Spain, the Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia

7. Overview • Military dictatorships come to power in Europe and Asia • Britain, France, and the United States could not agree on how to conduct collective security • Much of the unrest in Europe and Asia was the result of the settlements made after World War I

8. Japan’s Expansion in Asia • Japan was the first of the non-democratic powers to reveal its territorial ambitions in the interwar period • Japan had limited natural resources • To acquire more materials and markets, Japan sought new territories for conquest • In 1931, Japan overran Manchuria, renamed it Manchukuo and set up a puppet government

9. Japan’s Expansion in Asia • Japan responded to a League of Nations order to return Manchuria to china by withdrawing from the League • The incident revealed the League’s powerlessness • The incident boosted the expansionist ambitions of Italy and Germany—they became more confident about the lack of fortitude of the rest of the world

10. Japan’s Expansion in Asia • Early 1930s, the Japanese military wanted to acquire the rich oil reserves of the East Indies to supply ships and airplanes • But Japan needed to acquire Chinese ports • 1937, Japanese forces invaded China and captured major eastern and southern cities • The Chinese Nationalist government of Chaing Kai-shek retreated inland and allied with the Western powers

11. Japan’s Expansion in Asia • In the capital of Nanjing, the Japanese engaged in mass brutality, killing over 200,000 Chinese civilians • From 1937 to 1945, the Nationalists, the Chinese Communists, and the Japanese fought each other for control of China

12. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia • Ease which Japan acquired Manchuria encouraged Italy to make a move • The League of Nations could not satisfy differences between Ethiopia and Italy in earlier clashes in Africa • Mussolini wanted an Ethiopian colony • Believed it would enhance Italy’s world image

13. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia • In October 1935, Mussolini ordered the Italian army to invade Ethiopia • In a dramatic appearance at the League of Nations, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie appealed for help • The League condemned the Italy’s action • Voted to impose economic sanctions • The League forbade members to sell Italy arms and certain raw materials • Sanctions did not include crucial materials oil, coal, or iron

14. Italy’s Conquest of Ethiopia • Once again the League’s actions were ineffective • Mussolini completed his conquest of Ethiopia • In May 1936, he formally annexed the African nation

15. Spanish Civil War • A civil war in Spain further inflamed the international situation in the 1930s • After much chaos in Spain, King Alfonso abdicated the throne • Government began reforms to end Catholic Church’s role in education and redistribute the land from nobles to peasants • From 1936 to 1939 the conservative Spanish Nationalists and the left-wing Loyalists battled for control of Spain

16. Spanish Civil War • As a result of reforms, conservative groups wished to restore the old order • Right wing army groups staged uprising and it spread • For three years, conservative Spanish nationalists groups led by Francisco Franco, and left wing Loyalists, or Spanish Republicans, battled for control of Spain

17. Spanish Civil War • Several powers—Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union—intervened in the Spanish war • The governments of the western democracies, however, refused to intervene because they feared a general European war • Adolf Hitler saw his participation as strengthening ties with Italy and to secure supplies of Spanish ore and magnesium

18. Spanish Civil War • Goering, head of the German Luftwaffe, used the opportunity to test his weapons and tactics • Spanish towns were used for this purpose • Combined use of fire and high explosive bombs • Civil war ended1939 with Franco as victor • Half a million Spaniards dead, the Nationalists emerged victorious; Spain now joined Italy and Germany as countries headed by fascist dictators

19. Hitler on the Offensive • In March 1936, Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles and seize the Rhineland • From Mein Kampf, “…to secure for the German people the land and soil to which they are entitled” • France had the right to take military action and Britain had the obligation to back France • Neither took action because they feared war • Were they being wise or merely putting off the inevitable? Was this appeasement?

20. Occupying the Rhineland • The Rhineland was off limits to Hitler • The Treaty of Versailles forbade it • The Rhineland was a buffer to protect France • Hitler gambled France and Britain would do nothing and he was right • Another sign of appeasement Hitler had counted on

21. Occupying the Rhineland • In October 1936, Hitler and Mussolini created an alliance called the Axis Powers • To be the “axis” the world turns around on it • Germany and Italy later joined with Japan to form the Anti-Comintern Pact • Though Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin urged the West to unite in opposition against the Axis, the West refused • The West didn’t trust Stalin

22. Seizing Austria • Hitler wanted to add Austria to Germany • “Germany-Austria must return to the great mother country” • In 1934, Hitler tried to seize Austria, but Mussolini mobilized Italian troops • Now they were allies, however • Hitler bullied the Austrian Chancellor into placing Nazis into key government posts

23. Seizing Austria • Bullied by Hitler, the Austrian Chancellor appealed to Britain and France for help • Again, the two major democratic powers, France and Great Britain did nothing • In March 1938 Hitler sent troops into Austria and proclaimed it part of Germany • Hitler said he was promoting stability in Central Europe by uniting German peoples • No Western powers took military action

24. Tension Builds in Europe • Czechoslovakia was the only democratic nation in Central Europe • Created by treaty at the end of WW I • Key strategic position • High standard of living • Strong army • Alliances with France and Russia

25. Tensions Build in Europe • Czechoslovakia had many minority peoples—besides Czechs and Slavs • Hungarians; Ruthenians; Germans • During the 1930s, minorities began to demand more freedom • Hitler took advantage of minority problems to destroy the country

26. Tensions Build in Europe • In September 1938 Hitler demanded the Germans of the Sudetenland be given the right of self-determination • Czechoslovakia responded with martial law • To avert an international crisis, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain suggested he and Hitler meet to discuss the matter

27. Tensions Build in Europe • Hitler takes advantage of Chamberlain’s appeasement approach • Chamberlain met with Hitler in Germany where Hitler demanded Czechoslovakia be turned over to Germany • Chamberlain accepted Hitler’s offer because he felt appeasement would stabilize Europe • Hitler then raised his demands, stating the Sudetenland must be united with Germany

28. The Munich Conference • On September 29, 1938, Chamberlain met with Hitler for a third time • Also attending were French Premier Edouard Daladier and Italy’s Benito Mussolini • Mussolini offered compromise which gave the Sudetenland to Germany; in return Hitler would respect Czechoslovakia’s sovereignty. Hitler also promised not to take anymore European territory and settle disputes peacefully in the future

29. The Munich Conference • Still hoping to avoid war, Great Britain and France accepted the terms • On September 30, Czechoslovakia reluctantly accepted the terms • Chamberlain returned home to cheering crowds—hailed as a hero • He said he ensured “peace in our time” • He said he trusted Hitler and the Nazis would cause no more trouble

30. The Munich Conference • On March 15, 1939, Hitler sent his troops into Czechoslovakia • Took control of western part of the country • The eastern part became a puppet state • Western nations could no longer maintain their illusions about Hitler’s plans • Western nations began to prepare for war

31. The Coming War • More German demands followed the Munich agreement • Hitler forced Lithuania to give up city of Memel • Hitler pressured Poland threatening to take over the port of Danzig and some land • Great Britain and France promised to help Poland • The Polish government accepted the help and rejected Hitler’s demands

32. The West and the Soviets • To defend Poland, the Western powers had to consider the Soviet Union and Stalin • The West (particularly Chamberlain) didn’t trust Stalin; they suspected he wanted to extend Communism throughout Europe • Stalin suspected the goal of the Munich Agreement was to direct German attention toward the Soviet Union

33. The West and the Soviets • Trying to determine who was the greater enemy, Fascism or Communism, was a problem for the West • Chamberlain asks the Soviets to fight on the side of the West • Stalin said “yes” if the Soviets could occupy large stretch of European land; Chamberlain refused • Stalin thought the West would like to see Germany and Soviet Union destroy themselves

34. Nazi-Soviet Talks • Because he doubted that the West would come to his country’s aid if Germany threatened it, Stalin signed a Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact in August 1939 • Germany and the Soviet Union pledged never to attack each other and to remain neutral if the other became involved in war • They secretly agreed to create spheres of influence in Europe

35. Nazi-Soviet Talks • Stalin and Hitler had no illusions about their talks • Long time enemies; this was a short-term arrangement needed for both nations • Soviets needed time to prepare for war • Germans could secure the Eastern border • The Pact shocked Western leaders • West lost Soviets as ally • Hitler free to pursue Poland

36. Nazi-Soviet Talks • Hitler was convinced the West would do nothing if he invaded Poland • “The men of Munich will not take the risk” • Hitler sent his armies across the Polish frontier on September 1, 1939 • Two days later, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany, beginning World War II

37. War in Europe Section 2

38. Main Idea: Hitler took over most of Europe, sparking responses from Great Britain and the United States Terms to Define: Blitzkrieg, blitz, cash-and-carry policy, lend-lease People to Meet: Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Franklin D. Roosevelt Places to Locate: Finland, Norway, London, Libya Read to Find Out

39. Overview • Blitzkrieg into Poland, Sept 1, 1939 • Planes, tank divisions (panzers), then troops • Troops in motorized vehicles • One and a half million troops • Great Britain and France sent forces immediately • The Soviet Union moved forces to its Eastern border

40. Overview • Stalin forced Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to accept Soviet military bases • Finland refused to let Soviets in • War broke out, Finns fought bravely but lost and were forced to accept Soviets • Soviets now had 70 more miles west to help defend them and making Leningrad less vulnerable

41. Hitler Looks to the West • All through the winter and spring of 1939 and 1940, the western front was quiet • Germans called it “sit-down war”: Sitzkrieg • Many hoped all-out conflict could still be avoided • After Finland fell, British placed mines (underwater explosives) outside Norway to stop German shipping

42. The Invasion of Scandinavia • Hitler used the mining to deliver an ultimatum to Norway and Denmark • They must accept protection from the “Reich” • He told them the West would attack them • The Danes accepted his demands, the Norwegians declined

43. The Invasion of Scandinavia • The Germans began to seize major cities in Norway, including Oslo • On April 9, Hitler took control of both Denmark and Norway, winning the outlet to the Atlantic that he needed • Hitler’s German navy would not be bottled up in the Baltic Sea as it was in WW I

44. The Invasion of Scandinavia • The fall of Denmark and Norway caused an uproar in the British House of Commons • Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain lost the confidence of his party and the people • Chamberlain’s policy’s were strongly criticized as being ineffective • Chamberlain steps down from his position as Prime Minister

45. The Invasion of Scandinavia • With the resignation of Chamberlain • On May 10, 1940, King George VI summoned Winston Churchill to Buckingham Palace and asked him to form a new government • Winston Churchill had been one of the few politicians to warn of the Nazi danger in the 1930s, was now prime minister

46. The Fall of France • The Maginot Line was impressive but it was flawed • Had a gap of 50 miles in the Ardennes • An area of rolling hills, fast moving rivers, and thick forests stretching from Belgium, Luxembourg, and France

47. The Fall of France • Hitler carried out a massive attack on the Low Countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands • German troops parachute into the Netherlands • First large airborne attack in history • Dutch totally surprised • Five days later, the Dutch gave up

48. The Fall of France • On the same day that Germany invaded the Netherlands—May 10, 1940—Britain and France moved their troops into Belgium. • German panzers began to circle the Allies, while other German divisions raced toward France

49. Dunkirk • Although Belgium forces fought valiantly, they could not hold out • The Germans pushed westward trapping the Belgium, British, and French forces in the northwest corner of France • The only hope was an evacuation by sea from the French port of Dunkirk • For reasons never entirely understood, Hitler orders his forces to halt before they reached the coast; German forces in sight of the coast

50. Dunkirk • With 300,000 troops at Dunkirk surrounded by the Germans, a rescue operation is ordered on May 26 • Ragtag armada of 850 vessels • Destroyers, cruisers, trawlers, tugs, yachts, fishing boats • Mostly civilian operated • In 9 days of rescue operations, while under air and ground attack, the rescue was a success