World War II

1. World War II SOC 20-1

2. Prelude Appeasement Spanish Civil War The Munich Agreement The Sudetenland Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact Invasion of Poland

3. Appeasement • Appeasement – an attempt to avoid conflict through compromise. • Many European countries began to feel that the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were too harsh – willing to negotiate with Hitler • Other Factors: • USA isolationism • France rearming the Maginot line • Western countries unwilling to stand against Hitler and Germany

4. Appeasement • 1935: Rome-Berlin Axis • 1936: Hitler reoccupies Rhineland • 1937: Hitler declares Germany needs Lebensraum • 1938: Anschluss – political annexation of Austria

5. Appeasement

6. Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) • In 1936, General Francisco Franco leads a fascist coup d'état • Supported by Hitler and Mussolini • Leading the Nationalists • Western European nations were unwilling to get involved

7. Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) • Spain becomes a testing ground for Nazi technology and military strategy • Britain and France still believed in appeasement

8. “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso Created in response to the bombing of Guernica by German & Italian warplanes at the behest of Spanish Nationalist forces Shows the suffering that war inflicts on individuals, particularly civilians

9. The Munich Agreement • Signed on Sept. 29, 1938 • Details: • Permits Nazi Germany’s annexation of Czechoslovakia’s territory surrounding Germany • The term: “Sudetenland” is coined • Strongly supported by British PM Chamberlain • “…Originally seen as a great diplomat • Later seen as naïve and shortsighted

10. The Munich Agreement Quote by Chamberlain ...”the settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem, which has now been achieved is, in my view, only the prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace. This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and here is the paper which bears his name upon it as well as mine. Some of you, perhaps, have already heard what it contains but I would just like to read it to you: ' ... We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again” Later, he said: …”I believe it is peace for our time.

11. The Munich Agreement Response by Winston Churchill In the House of Commons “We have suffered a total and unmitigated defeat... you will find that in a period of time which may be measured by years, but may be measured by months, Czechoslovakia will be engulfed in the Nazi régime. We are in the presence of a disaster of the first magnitude...we have sustained a defeat without a war, the consequences of which will travel far with us along our road...we have passed an awful milestone in our history, when the whole equilibrium of Europe has been deranged, and that the terrible words have for the time being been pronounced against the Western democracies: "Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting". And do not suppose that this is the end. This is only the beginning of the reckoning. This is only the first sip, the first foretaste of a bitter cup which will be proffered to us year by year unless by a supreme recovery of moral health and martial vigour, we arise again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time."

12. The Sudetenland • Hitler demanded the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in 1939 • Chamberlain and Daladier (France) agreed to appease Hitler • Both Britain and France desired to avoid war at ALL costs • Following the fury of Kristallnacht, Hitler claimed the rest of Czechoslovakia • Severe Jewish persecutions came with German expansionism • War was imminent

14. Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression pact • The world was surprised when Hitler and Stalin created this pact (were bitter enemies) • Germany: avoid a two-front war • Soviet Union: time to mobilize their armies • Hitler and Stalin agree to split Poland between themselves • This non-aggression pact will be broken by Germany two years later

15. Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression pact • Poland had been created through the Treaty of Versailles • Purpose • Poland was granted independence (after centuries of foreign rule) following WWI • It was an independent nation • Poland successfully resisted Soviet aggression under Lenin – but this gave them a false sense of power • On Sept. 1, 1939, Germany rolled into Poland • But Poland had previously entered into a pact with Britain • On Sept. 3, Britain declared war. WWII had begun

16. Military Actions Walkthrough WWII Technology Nazi Blitzkrieg in the West War in the Pacific Allies open up a second front

17. Total War Through Technology • Aircraft & Terror Bombing • Since WWI, aircraft technology had greatly expanded • Hitler recognized this, thus he was very careful to rebuild his air force • Called the “Luftwaffe” • Who was targeted? • Civilians – both the Axis and Allies sought to undermine each other’s industrial capability through civilian attacks • Not to mention the psychological effect

18. Total War Through Technology

19. Total War Through Technology • Mechanized Infantry • Having learnt from WWI, the Germans mechanized their infantry units • German method of attack • Devastating aerial bombardment by the Luftwaffe • A tank line rolls through any remaining fortifications • The mechanized & mounted infantry mop up the remaining enemy • Total War – all resources of a country devoted to destroy everyone and everyone of the enemy

20. The Invasion of Poland

21. The Invasion of Poland • German blitzkrieg (lightning war) • Method: • Aerial & tank assaults to overwhelm the enemy • Western nations were surprised and didn’t expect this speed • Invaded on Sept. 1, but by the end of September, Germany controlled Poland • In fact, Warsaw surrendered after 10 days! • Hitler set up Poland as a worker state to supply the German war machine

22. The “Phony” War • While European nations were busily mobilizing, Germany and the USSR were eating up Eastern Europe • On May 15 1940, Hitler attacked Western Europe • The Netherlands – defeated in 4 days • Belgium – held out for two weeks with British & French support

23. The Fall of France • Happened quickly – by June 1940 • Why? • French communists undercutting support • Too much reliance on the Maginot line • Old war tactics • Britain is now alone • Germany now controlled all of Western Europe • USSR controlled the East

24. The Miracle @ Dunkirk • Allied troops had to be evacuated from the mainland following the fall of France • Altogether, 338,228 soldiers are saved when only 45,000 were expected to be saved! • Fog hampered the Luftwaffe • A calm English channel helped all kinds of boats to save soldiers • A massive civilian armada volunteered • Churchill emerged as a great leader

26. The Battle of Britain • Hitler tried to force a peace agreement with Britain • Did not want to fight them • But he had to issue Operation Sea Lion • An all-out air war • Purpose is to break the morale of the British • Around 50,000 civilian casualties on the island • Britain developed RADAR in response • Hitler switched targets from the airfields to London itself • By September, Hitler felt the operation was taking too long, so he ended it and turned his attention to the East

27. The Tripartite Pact • Signed in September 1940 between Germany, Italy, and Japan • Romania, Hungary & Slovakia also included • Italy had attacked Greece and failed miserably • Forced Hitler to commit 500,000 of his best soldiers in a Mediterranean campaign he had not planned

28. Operation Barbarossa • The Nazi campaign against the USSR • Lebensraum in the East • Hitler wished to annihilate the Soviet populace. He demanded absolute cruelty • This Soviet campaign marks the beginning of the end for Hitler • He expected the campaign to last 6 weeks

29. Operation Barbarossa

30. The Nazi Empire

31. Operation Barbarossa • German mistakes • Supply lines spread too thin • Cold winter & difficult terrain • Hitler pauses close to Moscow, but not in Moscow, to pursue the Ukraine • Winter hits • Soviet counterattack • General Zhukov led a massive counterattack which inspired the Soviet soldiers both militarily and psychologically

32. The War in the Pacific • The Sino-Japanese War had been going on for several years • Japan wanted to establish its own sphere of influence in the Pacific • Japan looked to China as a big prize

33. The War in the Pacific • The Rape of Nanking (December 1937) • Japan entered the city with a fury • Estimated 20-80,000 women were raped by Japanese soldiers • Infants were used as bayonet target practice • 300,000 killed in total • The Japanese government has never apologized

34. Attack on Pearl Harbor • Britain was pre-occupied in Europe, this left Japan freedom to act in the Pacific • They were watching as the USA built up its navy • On Dec 7, 1941around 350 Japanese aircraft suicide-bombed the American fleet docked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii • Had the US aircraft carriers been in port, the attack would have been even more devastating • The USA was now at war

36. Attack on Pearl Harbor • Although Japan had attacked the USA, Roosevelt knew Nazi Germany was his first priority • American not only wanted to win the war, but wanted to reshape the post-war world in a democratic capitalist model • He would have to be careful to balance differing ideologies in Europe

37. The Dieppe Raid • An attack on a German port by Canadian forces • 6000 Canadians are the core of this assault • They attacked the shore and were massacred by German troops • Losses • Allies: 3367 Canadians + 1000 others • Axis: 600 Germans • Why? • Appease the Soviets • Test run for a later attack

38. 1942: The Casablanca Conference • Western nations began to make progress in the war • Churchill’s strategy • The allies should attack Germany on the periphery to weaken them – rather than attempt an all-out assault at the heart of Germany • Those eager for battle were the inexperienced Americans

39. 1943: The Teheran Conference • The “Big Three” met in Persia too start planning for the defeat of Germany • Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill • Roosevelt & Stalin pushed for a Western attack, Churchill continued Mediterranean policy • Stalin wanted Poland • He wanted to punish Germany

40. 1943: Hitler stopped at Stalingrad • Critical Juncture: Stalin demanded a second front in the West to help draw pressure off his nation • The war now shifts in favour of the Allies • Hitler tried to cut off oil in the Southern USSR near Stalingrad • But Germany was bogged down, cut off • By January 1943, the German army of 650,000 was down to 90,000 • Ultimately, only 5,000 make it back! • Was a major German loss

41. 1945: Operation Husky • The allied invasion of Sicily & Italy • In a clever plan of deception, Allied troops surprised Hitler by attacking Italy • Canadians & Allies fought a very determined German force in 1945, but were ultimately victorious

42. Operation Overlord • Planning of a cross-channel campaign began after the Teheran Conference • Dwight D. Eisenhower (later an American President) was the Supreme Allied Commander • On June 6, 1944 (D-Day) 1.3 million Allied troops landed assaulted Normandy (Northern France). By nightfall, they had won the beaches • Enormous sacrifice: • 120,000 Allied casualties • 500,000 German casualties

43. Operation Overlord

44. Operation Overlord

45. Hitler’s Last Stand • He refused to admit defeat • An attempt to assassinate him caused vengeful repercussions • 5000 officers & conspirators executed • In January 1945, Hitler was defeated by the Soviets in the East, and British, American, Canadian and other Allied troops on the West

46. Hitler’s Last Stand • Hitler boasted about a 1000 year Reich, but it crumbled in 1945 • On April 30th, Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun committed suicide • On May 8, (VE Day) German forces surrendered unconditionally

47. Japanese Surrender • Although Germany had surrendered, the war in the Pacific continued for several more months • Now, it was primarily an American offensive • The American strategy was to gradually conquer the little islands around Japan • Become aircraft bases

48. Japanese Surrender • However this strategy was extremely costly on both sides • Especially in terms of manpower • The Japanese always fought to the last man • On Feb. 3 1945, the Soviet Union agreed to enter the Pacific conflict • Eventually the Americans showed a new hand which was guaranteed to break the morale of the Japanese

49. Dawn of the Nuclear Age “Twin Shocks” wore out Japanese forces 1) Soviet invasion 2) Atomic bombing Japan surrenders on August 15, 1945

50. Dawn of the Nuclear Age • The world changed when the USA dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki • The first wartime use of a weapon of mass destruction • 146,000 were killed instantly when both bombs were dropped • This will prompt Soviet paranoia and fuel the USSR’s drive to create WMD’s • Ultimately, the ability of the USA and USSR to annihilate each other (and the whole world) through WMD’s will shape the Cold War