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World War II Begins 1939 - 1941. Causes of World War II. Political instability and economic devastation in Europe resulting from World War I Rise of Fascism in several countries Fascism is a type of government where total power is given to a dictator and freedoms are denied to people.
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Causes of World War II • Political instability and economic devastation in Europe resulting from World War I • Rise of Fascism in several countries • Fascism is a type of government where total power is given to a dictator and freedoms are denied to people
1. Economic Devastation • Worldwide depression (even though the depression began in the U.S., its effects were felt throughout Europe) • Massive unemployment throughout the world like in Italy, Germany, and Japan
Economic Devastation (cont.) • High inflation was occurring in countries like Germany and Italy • Inflation means that money was not worth as much as it used to be, and the prices of items were higher • Reparations – Germany owed a high war debt of $33 billion from World War I • Both the Allies and the Central Powers from WWI owed huge debt from the cost of the war
Appeasement at Munich: • Hitler was taking over many weaker countries around Europe. • A meeting was called between Britain, France, and Germany (Hitler) in the German city of Munich.
Appeasement at Munich:Continued • In the end, Germany was allowed to have the countries it took over without a fight. • This was known as the Munich Pact. • This agreement between the countries was known as appeasement (pleasing someone to avoid a fight or war), which did not work
Allied Powers • Democratic nations were known as the Allies. • These nations included the United States, Great Britain, and Canada. • The Soviet Union joined the Allies after being attacked by Germany.
Allied Powers • Great Britain (led by Winston Churchill) • United States (led by Harry S. Truman) • Soviet Union (after Germany attacks) (led by Joseph Stalin) • Canada
World War II Begins Germany Starts the War: • Hitler soon broke the agreement he made in Munich and conquered (took control of) Czechoslovakia. • He also said he was going to invade Poland. • GreatBritain and France warned that an attack on Poland would mean WAR.
Pact - Germany and Soviet Union • Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact that said they would not declare war on or attack one another. • Germany then invaded Poland and Great Britain and France declared WAR on Germany. • World War II had begun.
Germany and Soviet Union attack Poland • Germany attacked Poland from the west and the Soviet Union invaded from the East. • Poland soon fell to the invading armies.
Germany invaded other countries • Germany invaded with speed and surprise, called blitzkrieg, or “Lightening War” • They used tanks, troops, and planes to conquer other countries like Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and Luxemburg. • The British and French troops could do little to stop the Germans.
Germany attacks France • In June 1940, the Germans attacked France and in less than 2 weeks they captured Paris (the capitol city). • Days later France surrendered.
Germany attacks Britain • Hitler believed that the British would quit after France fell. • The British, led by Winston Churchill, had no intention of surrendering. • Hitler made plans to invade Britain.
Germany attacks Britain (continued) • There was a huge air battle between the German Air Force and Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF). • Germany bombed London in the Battle of Britain. • The British won the air battle and did not surrender as Hitler had hoped
Hitler betrays Stalin and invades Soviet Union • After failing to defeat the Royal Air Force (RAF), Hitler turns his attention elsewhere. • He sees a chance to expand his empire by invading the Soviet Union and having access to it’s vast resources. • Hitler breaks his non-aggression pact with Stalin and invades the Soviet Union by surprise.
December 1941 • By the end of 1941, things look bad for the Allies. • Germany initially rolls rapidly through the Soviet Union and threatens to take Moscow the Capitol. • However, things are about to change!
United States Aids the Allies • Prior to December 1941 the U.S. was not a part of the war at this time. • President Roosevelt tried to help the Allies • He proposed the Lend – Lease Act • This allowed the U.S. to lend or lease war materials to Allied Nations. • The U.S. was still not physically fighting in the war.
Germany Attacks the Soviet Union • Hitler did not trust the Soviet Union and invaded (attacked) Leningrad in June 1941. • The Soviets held them off and the Germans never took the city.
Germany Attacks Moscow • In December 1941, they ran into the harshest Russian winter in decades. • Many soldiers died and their tanks and weapons broke down in the cold. • The German advance had come to a halt, (stopped) and driven back.
Battle of Stalingrad • The Germans attacked Stalingrad, a major industrial city, in September of 1942. • The Soviets defeated the Germans. • In February 1943, the German troops surrendered and Hitler’s hope of conquering the Soviet Union was gone. • The Battle ofStalingrad, marked the turning point of the war in Eastern Europe.
Japan in need of resources • In 1940, Japanjoined the Axis alliance with Germany and Italy. • Japan was led by Hideki Tojo • Japan needed more resources (oil, metals, grains), so Tojo decided to invade other countries to get it. • The only thing in his way was the United States Navy because the U.S. warned Japan to stop invading other countries.
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor • On December 7, 1941, Japanese warplanes bombed the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. • 2,400 Americans, both (military) servicemen and civilians died during this attack.
U.S. declares War • President Roosevelt and the U.S. government declared WAR on Japan. • A few days later, Germany and Italy declared WAR on the U.S. because of its alliance with Japan.
U.S. Involvement • Now, the U.S. is in direct fighting in WWII. • They went from being neutral (not on the side of anyone), to giving economic and military aid, to now direct fighting in the war.
