World War II (1939-1945)

World War II(1939-1945) Unit 12

I. America and the World • Rise of Dictators • The Treaty of Versailles and the economic depression that followed WWI contributed to the rise of dictatorships in Europe and Asia

I. America and the World • Benito Mussolini • Founded the Fascist Party in 1919

I. America and the World • Fascism: a kind of aggressive nationalism -characteristics… 1) The nation is more important than the individual 2) Strong dictator is needed to impose order on society 3) Nation becomes great by expanding its territory and building up its military 4) Strongly anti-communist

I. America and the World • Promised to restore Italy to the glories of the Roman Empire • Backed by the militia, known as the Blackshirts, Mussolini became the premier of Italy and set up a dictatorship in 1922

I. America and the World • Strikes, riots, and economic struggles allowed Mussolini to gain the support of most Italians, including the Roman Catholic Church • Mussolini took the title Il Duce, or “the leader” • 1935: Invaded Ethiopia for resources (oil) -League of Nations condemned the invasion -Italy withdraws from the League of Nations and allies itself with Germany

I. America and the World • Joseph Stalin • 1922: Russia renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) • 1926: Stalin became the new Soviet dictator • Executed many of his rivals and political opponents

I. America and the World • 8-10 million peasants who resisted the Communist policies were killed • Strictly limited the Soviet peoples’ freedom • Began a massive effort to industrialize his country

I. America and the World • Hideki Tojo • The Depression after WWI devastated the Japanese economy • Many of Japan’s military leaders blamed the country’s problems on corrupt politicians • Many believed democracy was “un-Japanese” and bad for the country

I. America and the World • Military leaders argued that Japan needed to seize territory for resources • 1920s: Japan began to expand its territory -Conquered regions in China, Korea, and other parts of Eastern Asia • Sept. 1931: the military invaded the resource-rich northern Chinese province of Manchuria without the gov’ts permission

I. America and the World -The prime minister was assassinated after he tried to end the war – from that point on the military was in control • 1941: a military officer named Hideki Tojo became Japan’s prime minister

I. America and the World 4) Adolf Hitler • Born in Austria (April 20, 1889) • Had an unhappy childhood – beaten by his father – but, loved his mother • Mother died from breast cancer – her doctor was Jewish

I. America and the World • Moved to Vienna, Austria (very anti-Semitic) to become an artist, but failed • Fled Vienna in May 1913 to escape military service – moved to Munich, Bavaria (German province) • Arrested by the Austrian gov’t for fleeing – failed his military physical – found “unfit…too weak…and unable to bear arms”

I. America and the World • Joined Bavarian Army (German) when WWI started and served as a “runner” (delivered messages) • An excellent soldier – earned 2 Iron Crosses for bravery • Wounded twice during the war…in the hospital when the war ended (blinded by mustard gas)

I. America and the World • Recruited by a military intelligence unit to keep tabs on the German Workers Party (hated Jews, Treaty of Versailles, Weimar Republic, communist) • Eventually joined the party and became it’s leader – party later called Nazi Party

I. America and the World • 1923: Led a revolt against the democratic gov’t – it failed – sentenced to 5 years in prison (served only 9 months) • Wrote Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”) while in prison – blamed Germany’s loss in WWI on Jews and communists

I. America and the World -called for the uniting of allGermans under one gov’t -claimed that Germans (specifically blond, blue-eyed) belonged to a “master race” called Aryans -argued Germans needed more lebenscraum, living space (Polish, Russian territory)

I. America and the World • After prison: changed tactic from taking power by force to getting Nazis elected to the Reichstag, lower house of German Parliament • Helped build up the Nazi Party during the Depression (desperate Germans turned to radical parties) • Nazis promised food, jobs, and a strong military • The swastika became the symbol of the Nazi Party

I. America and the World • Jan. 1933: named Chancellor (2nd in command) by Pres. Hindenburg • Became the sole leader, the “fuhrer”, in 1934 after Hindenburg’s death • SA Brownshirts: military group that supported Hitler during his rise to power -led by Ernst Rohm

I. America and the World • SS: a new elite group hand-picked from the SA -led by Heinrich Himmler -followed the army during invasions (captured Jews, communists, gypsies, “sub-humans”)

I. America and the World • “Night of the Long Knives”: 1934 - Rohm arrested for being disloyal to Hitler - executed along with 200 other Brownshirts • Hitler Youth: students who helped round-up “un-German” books to be burned

I. America and the World • Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan

I. America and the World • America Turns to Neutrality • The rise of dictatorships and militarism after WWI discouraged many Americans • Sacrifices they made during WWI seemed pointless • Once again, Americans began to support isolationism (avoid all foreign entanglements)

I. America and the World • Many Americans supported isolationism because of two reasons… 1) European countries refused to pay war debts to the US following WWI 2) 1934 Nye Committee findings: Senate committee said huge profits were made by arms factories -gave the impression that businesses influenced the US to go to war

I. America and the World • Neutrality Act of 1935: made it illegal to sells arms to any country at war • Neutrality Act of 1937: continued the ban of selling arms to countries at war -now required warring countries to buy non-military goods from the U.S. on a “cash and carry” basis (pay in cash…come and get it) • 1937: Japan attacked China - FDR authorized sale of weapons to China, saying neither had actually declared war

II. World War II Begins • “Peace in Our Time” The Austrian Anschluss • Feb. 1938: Hitler threatened to invade Poland • March 1938: Hitler announced the Anschluss, or unification, of Austria and Germany

II. World War II Begins The Munich Crisis and Appeasement • Hitler claimed the Sudetenland in Czech. because of a large German-speaking population • France, USSR, England threatened to fight Germany if they attacked Czech.

II. World War II Begins • Munich Conference: Sept. 1938 – Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demands (appeased him) and let him have the Sudetenland - Why? trying to avoid war -appeasement: policy of giving concessions in exchange for peace -British P.M. Neville Chamberlain promised his people… “a peace with honor…peace in our time”

II. World War II Begins • March 1939: Hitler invaded the rest of Czech. violating the Munich agreement

II. World War II Begins Danzig and the Polish Corridor • Oct. 1939: Hitler demands the return of Danzig to German control -given to Poland following WWI (access to sea) • Hitler requested land in northern Poland (Polish Corridor) for a highway and rail line to connect Germany to East Prussia

II. World War II Begins • Appeasement had failed! • March 31, 1939: Poland refuses Hitler’s demands after Britain and France promise to help Poland if Germany attacked

II. World War II Begins Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact • Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact: Aug. 1939 – USSR and Germany agreed not to attack each other -removed the threat of a two-front war for Germany -a shock to Britain and France -Soviets and Germans also secretly agreed to divide Poland between them

II. World War II Begins • The War Begins • Sept. 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland from the west and USSR invaded Poland from the east (WWII begins!)

II. World War II Begins Blitzkrieg in Poland • Germans used blitzkrieg, or lightning war, to attack Poland (defeated in a month) • Sept. 3, 1939: Britain and France declare war on Germany

World War II (1939-1945)