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World War II

World War II. Crisis in 1938. In the 1930s, Nazi Germany blatantly and openly defied portions of the Treaty of Versailles Germany re-militarizes, but European countries mostly ignore this

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World War II

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  1. World War II

  2. Crisis in 1938 • In the 1930s, Nazi Germany blatantly and openly defied portions of the Treaty of Versailles • Germany re-militarizes, but European countries mostly ignore this • Many British & French now considered the terms of the Treaty of Versailles to have been too harsh on Germany • European public opinion seemed to favor Hitler as being good for Germany & Europe

  3. In March 1938, Germany peacefully annexed Austria; many Austrians were ethnic Germans & welcomed the Nazis • By September 1938, Hitler was demanding the “Sudetenland” in Czechoslovakia • Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy meet to defuse crisis; strangely they didn’t invite Czechoslovakia...

  4. The Munich Pact, 9/29/38 • Britain & France allow Hitler to seize the Sudetenland rather than risk war • Many observers believe this is a positive development that avoided war

  5. Germany by 1939

  6. Outbreak of War in Europe • In March 1939, Hitler invades the rest of Czechoslovakia, completely betraying the Munich Pact • Britain & France soon realize war is probably imminent; they warn Hitler not to invade Poland • Germany & the USSR signed a non-aggression pact in August 1939 • Germany invaded Poland in Sept 1939, prompting Britain & France to declare war on Germany

  7. War in the Pacific • Japan had had troops in Manchuria (China) since the 1890s • In 1937, Japan renewed its attack, seeking to dominate China politically and control its natural resources • In 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact, forming the Axis Powers • By 1941, Japan knows its biggest threat to power in the Pacific is the US; they attack Pearl Harbor on Dec 7th

  8. World War II: Axis vs. Allies Axis Powers: Ger, Italy, Japan Allies: US, UK, France, USSR

  9. 1940-1943 • Nazi Germany initially does well in the war, conquering France with ease (very shocking at the time) • Hitler then tries to force Britain into a peace agreement through aerial bombing, but fails • Frustrated, Hitler invades Russia in summer 1941 (is that a good idea)? • British & American forces defeat German forces in North Africa by summer 1943

  10. D-Day & Midway • D-Day: a combined British & American invasion of France on June 6, 1944 is successful and signals the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany • By May 1945, Germany surrenders • In June 1942, the US Navy decisively defeated the Japanese Navy just 6 months after Pearl Harbor; Japan would never recover • Japan surrenders in Aug 1945 after the US drops atomic weapons on Hiroshima & Nagasaki

  11. WWII Stats • 100million people served in uniform, from over 30 different countries • 50-75million deaths, by far the deadliest war EVER! • 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust • Only use of nuclear weapons in warfare

  12. Pop Quiz! • Name a political, social, or economic cause of World War II. • What was the Munich Pact? • Name two battles that were turning points of World War II. • What two nations did Hitler try to conquer, but failed? • How did the US ultimately defeat Japan in 1945?

  13. Results of WWII • Japan & Germany unconditionally surrender; both are occupied by Allied forces after the war • The power of Western Europe ends, 2 world wars & a depression were too devastating • The US & USSR emerged as the only true world powers, initiating the Cold War • The scary “nuclear age” began • The United Nations was founded • Decolonization began

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