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Unit IX. WWII. Leading up to the war….. Dictators. Italy - Mussolini’s Fascist Party believed in the supreme power of the state; 1922 he threatened to march on Rome and the King made him the premier.
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Unit IX WWII
Leading up to the war….. Dictators • Italy- Mussolini’s Fascist Party believed in the supreme power of the state; 1922 he threatened to march on Rome and the King made him the premier. • Germany- Hitler’s Nazi Party believed in an all-powerful state, expansion and ethnic purity; wanted to expand east into Russia and Poland; Invaded Poland in 1939, France in 1940 and USSR in 1941. • Japan- Military expansion; attacked Manchuria in 1931; China in 1937; attacked Pearl Harbor 1941.
Causes of WWII • European nations gave in to Hitler’s demands to try to prevent war. • Munich Conference- Hitler wanted to take over the Czechoslovakia area Sudetenland; Czech resisted and France, USSR and England opposed him. Met and agreed to give it up. • Appeasement- agreement to give up something to get peace; this failed.
The War Begins in Europe • Blitzkrieg- “lightning war;” using tanks, infantry and planes to quickly attack • Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland; Poland had horses and lances vs German tanks • France and Britain sat and waited, allowing Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to be taken by Germany. • France fell June 22, 1940, surrendering • London gets bombed and enraged Britain
The Holocaust • Nazi laws stripped Jews of citizenship and all rights • Immigration restriction made it difficult to leave Germany • Germany persecuted Jews, disabled, gypsies, homosexuals and Slavic people. • Nuremberg Laws- took Jews’ rights and forbade marriage between Jews and Germans • Nazis published propaganda against Jews which led to anti-Jewish violence and Kristallnacht • Gestapo- Secret police of Nazis; hunted Jews
America Enters the War • FDR favored changes in American neutrality • America was split on American involvement • Lend-Lease Act- give arms to countries considered vital to defending U.S. interests • Hemispheric defense zone- Western half of Atlantic was a neutral zone • U.S. embargoes Japan, especially war goods • December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked
Mobilizing the Economy • U.S. quickly pumped out war goods • Factories built tanks, airplanes, trucks, jeeps and ships • War Production Board- set priorities and production goals and control raw materials • Minorities and women played key roles • Segregation stayed during the war • Tuskegee Airmen- all black pilot unit • Women’s Army Corps- women soldiers and pilots
Early Pacific • Japan won the Pacific until the Battle of Midway • Douglas MacArthur- U.S. commander in Pacific • Bataan Death March- 64 mile forced march by the Japanese; 78,000 POWs; 10K died • Midway- U.S. was ready and won the battle creating a turning point in the war.
Life on the Home Front • Women and minorities found factory and other jobs open to them (Rosie the Riveter) • Roosevelt signed order 8802, stating “no discrimination in employment dealing with defense or the government.” • Bracero Program- Mexican farmworkers in the Southwest helped harvest food for war • Another migration took place, to where jobs and less racism could be found. • Zoot Suit Riot- CA racial tensions erupted around Mexican Americans due to an attack on sailors
Pushing Back in Europe • Allies step up the bombing of Germany and invade Sicily and Italy • Tehran Conference- Stalin met with Churchill and Roosevelt in Iran to discuss fighting Germany • D-Day- Allies invade France in the largest amphibious invasion in History on June 6, 1944
The Home Front Marches on • Americans bought over $150 Billion in War Bonds to support the government • Due to potential attacks on our West coast, many Japanese were interned out of military zones • “Double V”- victory over Hitler’s racism and racism at home. • American ships used convoy system bc of attacks on American ships by Germany • Roosevelt disregarded G.W. by running for a 3rd term • Office of War Information- inform public about the war • Neutrality Act ‘35-illegal to sell arms to country at war.
End Game: Europe • 1st country that Germany unified with them was Austria. • Nazi’s “final solution” = kill Jews; Auschwitz killed all elderly, sick, kids and women immediately • Allies attack Sicily=Italian King arrests Mussolini • Roosevelt and Churchill attack the outlying countries of German territory bc they weren’t ready for a full invasion of Europe yet; invaded Africa to help British • Battle of Stalingrad- put Nazis on the defense • 761st Tank Battalion- Black unit commended for Battle of the Bulge • V-E Day- May 8, 1945 Allied accept Nazi surrender.
End Game: Pacific • Japan invaded Manchuria for resources • Japan attacked the American fleet at Midway; US broke their secret code and won. • Iwo Jima- important bc we could bomb Japan • US causes fires in Tokyo by dropping napalm • US used Navajo language as a code • Manhattan Project- secret US project to build nukes • Nuclear Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki • VJ Day- Victory in Japan August 9, 1945
After the War • African Americans in WWII fought so well, Truman fully integrated the Army in 1948 • USSR and USA rise as superpowers and immediately start butting heads • New countries form in Europe • United Nations begins • Cold War becomes a focus for the next half century.