890 likes | 1.42k Views
World War II 1939-1945 1941-1945 (US). Europe on the verge of WWII. Mussolini and Hitler. Events Leading Up to WWII. The terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed upon Germany at the end World War I sowed the seeds of World War 2 by: stripping Germany of territory
E N D
Events Leading Up to WWII The terms of the Treaty of Versailles imposed upon Germany at the end World War I sowed the seeds of World War 2 by: • stripping Germany of territory • requiring her to pay huge reparations to the victorious powers • Could not have a navy or army • Depression and chaos in Ger. gov’t (called the Weimar Republic)
Events Leading Up to WWII….. • Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party came to power in January 1933
By early 1939 Germany had thrown off the restrictions of the Versailles treaty by: • Remilitarization of the Rhineland • introduced conscription (the draft) • annexed Austria and occupied Czechoslovakia
Events In Germany • Hitler came to power with a plan for German dominance of Europe. He led with blatant contempt for human life • Hitler took back the Rhineland, (between Fr. And Ger.) March 1936
then takes Austria and Czechoslovakia without a fight -1938 *Appeasement (giving in or pacify)
- Hitler made a treaty with Stalin (Russia) to divide Poland * However, Hitler invades Poland taking the entire nation for Germany which starts WWII Sept. 1, 1939- Hitler invades Poland Sept. 3-Great Britain declares war on Germany
Allied Powers Great Britain France Soviet Union United States –after Dec. 7, 1941
Axis Powers Germany Japan Italy- until Mussolini is killed
The Blitzkrieg(Lightning War) • Germany sends in air and ground attack • Germany’s invasion of Poland – Poland was captured and a large portion was destroyed in less than a month • Many Polish were forced to do slave labor and the Germans were determined to wipe out Polish culture (destroyed libraries, churches, museums, and killed Polish clergymen, teachers, etc. . .)
America was dealing with the effects of the Great Depression - FDR was elected to his 3rd term-1940 - FDR passes the Selective Service Act in 1940 (US was aware that they needed to be better prepared) - US passed the Lend-Lease Act to help Allied countries fight the Germans
The Holocaust • Nazi Germany’s systematic murder of European Jews (@ 6 million killed) • Hitler first separated the Jews into Ghettos (biggest in Warsaw) and made them wear a Star of David where it was visible. • Hitler builds Concentration Camps (work camps) for Jews, prisoners of war, and political opponents
The Holocaust • In 1942 the Nazi government announced their “Final Solution to the Jewish Problem” ** DEATH CAMPS or extermination centers* EX. Auschwitz was the worst of the death camps killing 1.25 million
Nazi Dominance in Europe • By 1940 Germany had taken over most of Europe including France and Hitler set his sights on Britain (the only opposition in Western Europe) • Battle Of Britain – Every night through the summer and fall the Germans bombed London (Luftwaffe) trying to break the British will to resist and destroy the RAF (Royal Air Force) ** 30,000 Londoners were killed, but Hitler finally stopped the constant bombardment **
Winston Churchill • “We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills: WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER.”
America Enters WWIIPearl Harbor • December 7, 1941 – Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor “a date which will live in infamy”
In less than 2 hours around 2,400 Americans had been killed. - 300 US planes destroyed - 18 warships sunk or badly damaged including 8 battleships * Japan lost 29 planes in the attack *
Life on the Homefront • Huge amounts of war goods were needed so the War Production Board and the Office of War Mobilization were created to oversee war production efforts. • Factories stopped making consumer goods and converted to war production. EX. Ford made tanks NOT cars “Liberty Ships” – Henry Kaiser ** FDR called America the “great arsenal of democracy” we supplied ALL Allied forces
Life on the Homefront • Office of Price Administration was created to fight inflation and ration goods - food, clothing, tires, gas, etc. . . were all rationed - Americans were issued ration books with stamps used to purchase set amounts of certain food.
The Office of War Information was created to generate propaganda • EX. Victory gardens, recycle drives, Liberty bonds, ** “Rosie the Riveter” became the symbol of the patriotic American woman helping out in the war effort by taking non-traditional jobs. **
1941 – FDR and Churchill met and formed the Atlantic Charter establishing a basis for the United Nations • GI – Government Issued • Women in Service: Women are allowed to serve for the first time during WWII in noncombat roles. EX. WASP (Women Air Force Service Pilots) WAC (Women’s Army Corps)
Contributions of Minorities during WWII • African-Americans- Tuskegee Airmen were all black squadron of fighter pilots that successfully protected every single bomber they escorted during WWII *fought for the “double V” • Hispanics – won 17 Congressional Medals of Honor • Native Americans – Navajo marines were used as “code talkers” • Japanese-Americans- couldn’t serve until 1943, the 442nd fought so bravely that it became the most decorated unit in US history • ** Internment Camps** Korematsu v. US