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World War II. The U.S. Role The End of the War Outcomes. Major Events and U.S. Role in WWII. German Invasion of Poland BLITZKRIEG—”Lightning War” September 1, 1939—this event marks the beginning of WWII. Fall of FRANCE
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World War II The U.S. Role The End of the War Outcomes
Major Events andU.S. Role in WWII • German Invasion of Poland BLITZKRIEG—”Lightning War” September 1, 1939—this event marks the beginning of WWII. • Fall of FRANCE France surrendered on June 22, 1940—this victory left Germany in control of western and central Europe
France • Fall of FRANCE (France surrendered on June 22, 1940) • Germany vs. France (& UK) • May 10, 1940 – June 22, 1940 • AXIS Victory • Importance: Germans capture Paris, Britain stands alone, left Germany in control of western and central Europe
Battle of BRITAIN August 1940-June 1941 • With the goal of invading Great Britain, Hitler bombed the country focusing first on the southern coast and then on cities such as London. This German offensive proved to be a failure. • The British Prime Minister during the Battle of Britain was Winston Churchill.
U.S. • Lend-Lease Act (1941) • America can sell, lend, or lease weapons and supplies • For countries “vital to the defense of the United States”
German invasion of the SOVIET UNION • Hitler and Stalin had signed a Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in August 1939. • Hitler surprised Stalin in June 1941 when he violated this pact and invaded the U.S.S.R. • Hitler wanted access to the raw materials of the Soviet Union, and he wanted to crush communism in Europe. • Ultimately, this offensive was a disastrous defeat for Hitler.
Japanese attack on PEARL HARBOR • The U.S. tried to stop Japanese aggression in the Pacific after Japan seized French Indochina in 1940. • The U.S. angered the Japanese and hurt their plans to seize more lands in Asia and the Pacific by banning trade of war materials, such as iron, steel, or oil. • Militarists grew in power in Japan during this crisis and ordered a surprise attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Cont’d • The attack took place on December 7, 1941, a “date which will live in infamy” as U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt put it. • The U.S. declared war on Japan and a few days later Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy, declared war on the U.S. The U.S. was officially at war.
Bataan Death March • Philippines, 1942 • Japanese soldiers forced 78,000 prisoners of war to march more than 55 miles • Killed more than 600 Americans and over 10,000 Filipinos
D-DAY (Allied Invasion of Europe) • June 6, 1944 at Normandy, France. • This invasion opened up a second front in Europe. • The Allies were able to liberate France by August 1944. • Germany was defeated. The war in Europe officially came to an end on May 8, 1945—VE Day.
Battle of the Bulge • Winter 1944/1945 • Located in Belgium • Last major German offensive • Allied Victory
VE Day (Victory in Europe) • May 8, 1945 • Hitler died a few days earlier • Unconditional surrender offered by the President of Germany • World War II IS OVER IN EUROPE!
Island Hopping • Allied strategy to defeat Japan: Focused on defeating poorly defended islands first; chose islands that would later aid in invading the Japanese mainland
Iwo Jima and Okinawa • Feb. and April 1945 • Allied victories • Set up for invasion of Japan
End of the War • Japan continued to fight on with fierce determination. More people (soldiers and civilians) died in the Battle of Okinawa than from the atomic bombs . Casualties: Almost 220,000 killed --38,000 Americans wounded, 12,000 killed or missing, --more than 107,000 Japanese and Okinawan soldiers killed, --perhaps 100,000 Okinawan civilians killed
The End of the War • The Allies issued an ultimatum demanding the Japanese surrender or face complete and utter destruction. The U.S. had successfully developed the world’s first atomic bomb (Robert Oppenheimer’s Manhattan Project). Robert Oppenheimer
Atomic Bombs Dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki • On August 6, 1945, an American plane, the Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. (80,000 killed.) On August 9, 1945, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. (40,000 killed) These bombs caused unbelievable devastation and death. • The Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945, a day known as V-J Day. WWII was over.
V-J Day • The Japanese surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, a day known as V-J Day General MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito
After the War • 50 million people died in World War II. • Europe was in ruins. • European powers lost their EMPIRES. • Countries such as India and Israel gained their independence in the aftermath of WWII.
WAR CRIMES TRIALS The Allies had agreed to hold trials for crimes against humanity that had been committed during WWII. War Crimes trials—of Nazi officers responsible for the Holocaust, at Nuremberg (also spelled Nürnberg), Germany in 1945. Trials were also held in Italy and Japan.
Yalta Conference • Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin • January 1945 • Met in Russia at Yalta to make plans for end of war • Agreed to divide Germany
After the War U.S., Britain, France took control of West Germany USSR controlled East Germany
Establishment of Superpowers • A superpower is a nation that is very strong (politically, economically, and militarily) and is able to use that power to influence other nations. • The two superpowers were the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union). • Cold War (1945-91): --No direct fighting between US, USSR --constant threat of nuclear war
Superpowers: Democracy vs. Communism United States responded to communism in East Germany with • Truman Doctrine: the U.S. will do all it can to fight communism. • Marshall Plan: U.S. gave $12 billion to help Europe rebuild after World War II. They did not want communists to get control.
Division of Europe—IRON CURTAIN In 1946, Winston Churchill said it was like an “iron curtain” divided Europe between free countries and communist countries.
International Organizations • United Nations—formed after a conference at Potsdam, Germany, 1945 • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)—formed in 1949 to defend Western Europe • Warsaw Pact—formed in 1955 to defend communist countries in Eastern Europe
RECONSTRUCTION IN GERMANY • Democratic government was installed in West Germany and West BERLIN. • Emergence of WEST GERMANY as an economic power in post-war Europe • Konrad Adenauer—West German chancellor immediately after WWII • Willy Brandt—next chancellor after Adenauer
Berlin Wall • Built by the Soviets • Nobody could travel between East and West Berlin (1961). • Torn down in 1989. • Soon after, East and West Germany joined.
RECONSTRUCTION IN JAPAN • After the war, Gen. MacArthur became the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers (SCAP) • He was more powerful than Japanese emperor. • Photo of MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito made Japanese people upset. They thought the emperor was a god.
U.S. Occupation of Japan • U.S. Army stayed in Japan 1945-1952. • Japan faced famine after WWII—MacArthur’s first job was food.
Democratic Japan Japan got a new democratic constitution. Also, • Public schools • Women could vote. • No secret police
Independent Japan • Japan became free in April 1952 • They agreed to support the U.S. in the Korean War. • They became the 3rd largest economy in the world. (Sony, Toyota, Honda, etc.)
