The Course of World War II

1. Chapter 26 Section 2 The Course of World War II Chapter 25 Section 1

2. Europe at War • Hitler will stun Europe with his Blitzkrieg (lightning war) attack on Poland • Called Panzer Divisions • Airplanes • 300 Tanks • Forces W/Supplies • September 28, 1939 Germany & Soviet Union divide Poland.

3. Hitler’s Early Victories • April 9th - Blitzkrieg attack on Denmark & Norway • May 10th – Netherlands, Belgium and France • France built a Maginot (MA-zhuh-NOT), a series of concrete and steel fortifications. • Germany decides to go around instead of breaking through • By September 22, 1940 Germany occupies 3/5’s of France

4. Hitler’s Early Victories • Germany now controls Western and Central Europe. • Brittan has yet to be defeated • Brittan appeal to the United States • President Franklin D. Roosevelt denounces the German aggression but refuses to help • United States remains an isolationist country • Series of Neutrality acts from the 1930’s prevent the United States from helping • United States will eventually appeal the Neutrality acts and send aid to Brittan, such as food, food, ships, planes, and weapons

5. The Battle of Britain • Hitler understands that a land and sea battle will not be successful unless he can first be successful in the air • August 1940 – Hitler launches attack in air • Bombs British naval bases, harbors, communication centers and war industries • British radar system helps with loss but still suffer critical losses to air force by late August • September – in retaliation for British attack on Berlin Hitler begins Bombing British cities • Britain quickly rebuilds air force and defeats Germany’s air force Luftwaffe (LOOFT-vah-fuh) • Late September – Hitler postpones British invasion indefinitely

6. Attack on the Soviet Union • Convinced Britain was remaining in the war because of Soviet support Hitler launces attack on Soviet Union • Hitler believes the Soviet Union has week army and will be defeated quickly • Hitler gains support from Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania • Mussolini’s lack of attack on Greece weaken Germany’s southern flank to British air bases • Hitler takes Greece and Yugoslavia in April • June 22, 1941, Hitler invades Soviet Union • Stretched 1800 miles • Soviet Union Holds of Germany due to harsh Soviet Winter

7. In Spring of 1941, What caused Hitler to delay his invasion of the Soviet Union? What halted his advancement once it had begun?

8. Japan at War • December 7th, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor • Destroyed over 350 Aircraft • Sunk 18 Ships • Killed or wounded 3500 Americans • Spring of 1942 – most of Southeast Asia and western Pacific had fallen to the Japanese

17. Japans New “Community” • Japan declares they have created a new community • Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere • The entire region will now be under Japanese control • Also declares all of Southeast Asia is no longer under Western Colonial rule.

18. Global War • Japan’s Prime minister had hoped the strike on Pearl Harbor would destroy the American naval fleet in the Pacific • Believed the Roosevelt administration would now accept Japans control over the Pacific • Japanese believe that Americans were soft because of the rich lifestyle and would be unable to fight • Japan was Wrong - Pearl Harbor would unite America • America decides to enter war and unite with Europe and China to defeat Japan

19. Global War • Hitler believes The United States effort in the Pacific will weaken them • 4 days after the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hitler declares war with the United States • This declaration turns the European conflict into the next World War.

20. By the Spring of 1942, which two territories did Japan control?

21. The Allies Advance • United States entry into the war creates a new coalition • The Grand Alliance – Great Brittan, United States, Soviet Union • Choose to ignore political differences to fight Germany, Italy and Japan, until all surrender unconditionally. • Requires the Axis nations to surrender without any favorable condition • Makes it impossible for Hitler to divide his foes

22. The European Theater • Japan will continue its advancement into Southwest Asia • Hitler and his European Allies continue the fight against Great Britain and the Soviet Union • Spring 1942 – Appears Hitler might win • Fall 1942 – The tide turns against the Germans

23. The Tide Turns • Summer 1942 – British forces turn back Germany in North Africa • November 1942 – soviets stop Germany in Stalingrad • The entire German sixth Army, Germany’s best army will be lost • Spring of 1943 – Hitler realizes he cannot beat the Soviets

24. The Asian Theater • May 7, 1942 – United States stop japan invasion of Australia • June 4 – Battle of Midway Island – United States planes destroy four Japanese aircraft carriers. • This establishes the United States as the Naval superiority in the Pacific • The Allied Forces led by United States General Douglas MacArthur • Move through the Pacific, Island Hopping to capture Japanese held Islands on their way to Japan

25. Why was the German assault on Stalingrad a crushing defeat for the Germans?

26. The European theater • June 4 1944 – Allies advance on Rome with heavy casualties they take Rome. • June 6 1944 – Allies land on Normandy, France (D-Day) • Considered the greatest naval invasion in history • Allies fight through hidden underwater mines • Treacherous barbed wire • Horrible machine gun fire • Germans respond slowly believing this was a decoy to another battle elsewhere • Within three months the Allies land2 million men and 500.000 vehicles • Allies then begin pushing forward breaking German’s defensive lines

27. The European theater • August 1944 – Allied troops liberate Paris • December 1944 – German’s launch a counter-offensive to retake the seaport of Antwerp • Called the Battle of the Bulge • Called this because of the Bulge it put in the allied lines • Both sides suffer high casualties, Allied lines hold • Soviets sweep through Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria

28. The Asian Theater • 1945 – allied Forces capture Iwo Jima and Okinawa • However both sides will suffer high casualties • Both hugely strategic both provided air support for Japan • Allies now have better access to Japan mainland • President Roosevelt Dies in office • Harry S. Truman becomes President • Dilemma – To utilize the new atomic bomb • Truman decides to drop two atomic Bombs • First on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6th • Second on Nagasaki three days later

29. The Asian Theater • Both bombs level both cities and kill thousands instantly • Thousands more will die in the months following do to radiation poisoning • The Emperor of Japan Hirohito accepts the Allied forces demands for unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945

30. World War II is Over • 17 Million soldiers dead • 20 Million civilians dead • Some estimate total loses at 60 Million

31. What was the “second front” that the allies opened in western Europe?

32. List the events that turned the War Against Germany , 1942-1943