Ch. 30: World War II and the End of the European World Order

1. Ch. 30: World War II and the End of the European World Order

2. The Path to War in Europe • Hitler’s rise to power • Jan. 30, 1933: Chancellor • Revise unfair Treaty of Versailles • March 9, 1935: formation of new air force • March 16, 1935: draft to increase army • Alliances: • Franco in the Spanish Civil War • Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia • Austria: Anschluss-threat of invasion forces chancellor to put Nazis in charge of government

3. European response: • Great Britain: appeasement • France: non-aggressive withoutsupport from Great Britain • Unwillingness to risk war

4. The Path to War in Japan • Manchuria • Seized by Japanese soldiers • “Mukden” incident • Need for resources • Desire for Siberia • Alliances • See Hitler as an ally • Russia-German Non-Aggression Pact • Southeast Asia • New source for resources • Roosevelt criticizes bombing of U.S. Navy ship in China

5. The War • Europe • Hitler invades Poland (1939) • Denmark and Norway (1940) • Netherlands, Belgium, and France (1940) • Rapid surrender to Luftwaffe • Troop trains • Great Britain: never gains a foothold • Bombs naval bases, harbors, communication centers, and war industrial complex • Hitler changes tactic: bombs civilian areas • RAF has opportunity to rebuild

6. Russian Front • Hitler turns attention to Russia in 1941 • Defeat before winter • 1,800 mile front • Fierce resistance • Defeat of Nazi troops for first time!

7. Back to Japan! • Plan for surprise attack…but where!?! • Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941 • Destruction of U.S. warships • Belief U.S. would surrender • Don’t want war • Cowardly • Undisciplined • Accept Japanese domination of the Pacific • U.S. declares war on Japan

8. Last Years of the War: 1943-44 • Italy • Strong German lines prevented Allied win until June, 1944 • Germany • Allied invasion of Normandy in June, 1944 • Paris free by August • Joined Soviet troops to liberate Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria

9. An End in Sight in Europe! • Mussolini killed April 28, 1945 by his troops • Hitler blames war on the Jews • Kills himself April 30, 1945

10. But no end in sight in the Pacific… • Battle of Midway • Turning point for Allied forces • June 1942: U.S. planes destroy 4 Japanese aircraft carriers • “Island hopping” • General MacArthur • Atomic bomb • Hiroshima: August 6, 1945 • Nagasaki: August 9, 1945 • Japanese surrender unconditionally!

11. It’s finally over…but the suffering goes on…and on!

12. Hitler’s Europe • German supremacy • Superiority of Aryans • Take land and resources as needed • Enslave or eliminate those in the way • Holocaust • Aryan supremacy threatened by Jews • Eliminate Jewish “problem” • Concentration camps • Extermination: 2 out of 3 Jews • Mass graves • One-half million Gypsies and Slavic people killed

13. Result of war on the home front: The Soviet Union • Suffered huge losses • 2 out of 5 killed were Soviet citizens • Stalin concerned with military readiness • Massive production of military machines • Shortages for citizens • Food and housing scarce • Little concern for production of consumer goods

14. Postwar U.S. • No war on U.S. turf • Boom towns • Economic boom • Fulfill industrial demands • Mass move to cities • Black migration leads to racial issues • Shortages of housing • Shortages of schools • Japanese-Americans • Internment camps

15. Postwar Germany • Early success • Rapid victories • Gain resources • No sacrifice on part of German people • Total mobilization • Eventual losses create need to mobilize • Economy • Military • Too late for success

16. Defeat for Japan • Tradition of obedience • Loyal to government • Obey emperor • Brings honor • Hierarchical society • Do what you are told • Respect those above you • Kamikaze : “divine wind” • Sacrificed their lives • Good of the whole society

17. Common thread…critical role played by women