1 / 11

World War II and Its Aftermath: Events, Battles, and Settlements

Learn about the events leading to WWII, key battles, Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Germany's mistakes, and the peace settlements that shaped post-WWII world dynamics. Explore the rise of Axis Powers, Allied Powers, and the significance of the Cold War.

graiden-sykes
Download Presentation

World War II and Its Aftermath: Events, Battles, and Settlements

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. WWII 1939 - 1945

  2. The Great Depression – Post-WWI • Following WWI, economies devastated from costs of war. • Germany no longer could pay their debt from WWI to allies • Britain & France couldn’t pay their debts to U.S. • Agriculture suffered around the world • Overproduction leads to lower prices • Stock Market crash in US in 1929

  3. Events Leading to WWII • Rise of fascist governments • Nationalists, single-party authoritarian regimes • Examples: Adolf Hitler – Germany; Benito Mussolini – Italy • Rise of military rule in Japan • Japan invades Manchuria to create buffer zone between Soviet Union (Russia) • 1937 – Japan invade parts of China; beginning of WWII in Asia • Germany & Italy rising to power • 1935 – Hitler begins to re-arm Germany • 1935 – Mussolini invades Ethiopia

  4. Germany taking territories…again • 1938 – Hitler unifies Austria w/ Germany • 1938 – Germany annexes the Sudetenland (west portion of Czechoslovakia where they speak German) • 1938 – Munich Conference Hitler pledges NOT to take any more territory; France & Britain take his word…(fools!) • 1939 – Germany annexes all of Czechoslovakia • 1939 – Hitler signs a non-aggression pact w/ Soviet Union • September 1, 1939 – Hitler attacks Poland – marks the beginning of WWII in Europe

  5. Let’s go Round 2! • Axis Powers • Germany • Italy (didn’t they switch sides before?) • Japan • Allied Powers • Great Britain • France • Soviet Union • (later on…the U.S.)

  6. Why does Japan bomb Pearl Harbor? • Because Japan took territories in Southeast Asia and attacked other areas (not to mention what side they were on!)…the US imposed an embargo act against Japan • December 7, 1941 – Japan attacks US fleet stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii • This brings the US into WWII and joins the Allied powers. • Swings the momentum of the war from the Axis to the Allied powers

  7. Germany’s Mistake (Little Hitler’s mistake!) • Still fighting a “Two-Front War” (western & eastern front) • Hitler attempts to invade Russia…in the winter! • Cold, harsh Russian winter took its toll on German soldiers • Many lost their lives due to the weather • Germany forced to withdraw from Russia in 1942 • Soviet armies begin making their way through Eastern Europe and into Germany

  8. Ending the War • April 1945 - Allied Powers depose (forced to leave) Mussolini (Italy) from power • April 30, 1945 – Hitler commits suicide • May 1945 – Germany resigns • Ends the European “theater” of WWII

  9. What about Japan? • After Europe was won, Soviet Union assisted the US and the Allies against Japan • US uses the atomic bomb against Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki • August 1945 – Japan surrenders • Ends WWII in the Pacific “theater”…and for good!

  10. Peace Settlements • Yalta Conference – 1945 • Soviet Union agrees to join the war in exchange for territory in Manchuria & northern island of Japan • Divides Germany into 4 zones of occupation • Potsdam Conference – 1945 • Soviets control eastern Poland • Poland receives part of Eastern Germany • Divides Austria

  11. Post-WWII • United States occupied Japan • Korea divided into US & Soviet occupation zones • China regained most of its lost territory • Latvia, Lithuania, & Estonia became Soviet provinces • European world dominance ended • United Nations created in 1945 • US joins this time.  • World is left with 2 “superpowers” • United States & Soviet Union • This will lead to the “Cold War”

More Related