World War II

1. World War II

2. I. Post-WWI Europe • WWI disrupted European economy, diplomacy, governments • End of German and Austro-Hungarian empires • Nations agree to never go to war again – Kellogg-BriandPact • Rise of fascism • Benito Mussolini creates fasciodicombattimeno(“union for struggle”) in Italy • Characteristics: nationalistic, absolute authority, violence • National unity trumps all other political/economic ideas • Don't want inefficient parliament or socialist class struggle, need authoritarian leader • Italian nationalists upset over little post-war gains, increased labor unrest

3. CHALLENGE QUESTION! I. Continued… • Rise of fascism (continued…) • Nazism • Arose partly from post-WWI anger, partly from results of Great Depression • Hitler’s National Socialist (Nazi) party argued for unity and removal of parliamentary politics • Promised to right the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles, bring Germany out of economic depression • Led to totalitarianism– direct control over the people • Used Gestapo (secret police) to arrest political opponents • Eastern European countries (Hungary, Yugoslavia, etc.) move towards authoritarian governments • Like Italy – nationalists upset over few territorial gains • Economic struggles made it difficult to maintain effective parliaments • Mostly agriculture-based economies affected

4. I. Continued… • Rise of fascism (continued…) • In Spain, threat of fascism led to theSpanish Civil War • Fascists vs. republicans (parliament/social reform supporters) • Even with volunteer support from many from U.S. and western Europe, fascists won in 1939 • Maintained authoritarian controls for next 25 years

5. I. Buildup To War • WWII officially began in 1939 after a decade of aggression: • Japan gradually became more militaristic andimperialistic • Claim Manchuria in China (1932) • Germany gave rise to fascism – Hitler and the Nazis • Ignore Treaty of Versailles (post-WWI) – military buildup, began reclaiming lands lost during war • Mussolini invades Ethiopia (1935) – wants to build Italian empire • England, France failed to unite a front against aggression • Nations could not agree on how to respond – some felt guilty over Treaty of Versailles

6. I. Continued… • US, Britain, France first favored appeasement • Willing to sacrifice small nations to protect themselves • Fear of another world war • Japan invades China (1937) • Led to horrific violence against Chinese population • Rape of Nanjing (December 1937) – murdered/tortured POWs and innocent civilians, raped thousands of women • Germany invades Poland (Sept. 1, 1939) • Typically thought of as beginning of WWII • France and Britain declare war, set up for defense • Lacked resources to directly attack Germany

7. EXIT TICKET! Answer the following questions using complete sentences: • What is fascism? Who is considered the “father” of fascism? • Why was Hitler popular in Germany? • Describe two important events or developments that led up to WWII. • How did Britain and France react to these developments?

8. III. War • German strategy centered on blitzkrieg, “lighting war” [video clip] • Quick, highly organized invasion of territories combining tanks, troops, aircraft • Severe punishment for populations that did not surrender • Persecution of “lower” races – Jews, Gypsies (Roma), homosexuals (see: Holocaust) • Within months, France defeated, British retreat • 1942 – Germany controlled most of W. Europe, Scandinavia, Mediterranean, N. Africa • Russians able to outlast Germans – Russian winter was brutal • Momentum shifts – Germany on the run by early 1944 as supplies dwindled • American involvement (after Pearl Harbor, 1941) helped turn the tide • Battle of the Bulge (winter 1944-1945) – Hitler’s last ditch effort to repel Allied forces

9. II. Continued… • After Pearl Harbor (1941), Japan takes over much of Asia • Hong Kong, Philippines, Siam (Thailand) • Allied forces won decisive victory at Midway Island, turned tide of war in Pacific • 1944 – U.S. begins firebombing Japanese cities, hundreds of thousands civilians killed • Atomic bombs used (August 1945) to ensure unconditional surrender • Cities of Hiroshima, Nagasaki

10. IV. Holocaust • Hitler and the Nazis proclaimed that they were the “master race” • Non-Aryans were inferior – Jews, Gypsies, handicapped, homosexuals • Eventually led to the Holocaust – systematic mass slaughter of Jews and other groups judged inferior • 1935 – Nuremburg laws passed in Germany – limited rights of citizenship, marriage, and work for Jews • Beginning of long-term oppression • November 9, 1938 – Kristallnact (“Night of Broken Glass”) • Nazis attacked Jewish homes, businesses, synagogues – almost 100 killed • Jews isolated from German society in ghettos – segregated Jewish areas • “Final Solution” • Beginning of genocide – systematic killing of an entire people • Use of concentration camps – gas chambers killed as many as 6,000 people a day • All told, almost 6,000,000 Jews (and others) killed during Holocaust

11. V. Aftermath • After Germany was defeated, allied nations wanted to avoid failed peace of WWI • Established United Nations– U.S., Britain, France, China (Taiwan), U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union: Russia and friends) • Way to negotiate international disputes • Has been important regarding human rights, environmental issues • Yalta & Potsdam Conferences (1945) • Territorial gains for Soviets • Divided Germany into four controlled territories • British, French, and U.S. sectors eventually became West Germany, Soviet sector became East Germany • Beginning of Soviet/Western tensions (Cold War)

12. CHALLENGE QUESTION! Watch the clip about Hitler’s popularity in Germany and answer the following questions, using complete sentences: • What reasons did the woman in the video give for supporting Hitler? • Why were the Jews being persecuted in Germany? What were they being blamed for? BACK