Challenges and Triumphs in Early WWII: American Neutrality to Pearl Harbor

1. Unit 6, Section 2 Early Course of the War and American Involvement

2. American Neutrality • Following WWI, America tried to return to isolationism • Bitterness towards “Merchants of Death” – blamed for US involvement in WWI • 1935, Neutrality Acts passed to keep US from selling weapons to warring nations • Good Neighbor Policy in Latin America – removed US troops • 1937, Quarantine Speech by FDR – speaks out against dictators seizing territory

3. Blitzkrieg in Europe • Germany invades Poland, September 1st, 1939 • World War 2 begins – France and Britain declare war on Germany • Germans use “Lightning warfare” – blitzkrieg, rapidly conquer Poland • “Phony War” begins as France and Germany sit on respective lines, “Maginot Line”, and “Siegfried Line”

4. Soviet Expansion / Fall of France • The Soviet Union under Stalin takes Eastern Poland, invades Finland • Hitler invades the Netherlands and Belgium • France falls, June, 1940 • General Charles de Gaulle flees; sets up “Free French” government in exile • British army narrowly escapes at Dunkirk

6. Battle of Britain • After the surrender of France in summer of 1940, Britain stands alone against the Nazis. • German air force attacks in the Battle of Britainfrom July – October, 1940 • Because of the heroic actions of the RAF pilots and stubborn will of the British, Hitler gives up plan to invade England. • Winston Churchill*, Prime Minister, holds country together – first time Nazis had been stopped *click for a short speech by Churchill

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8. 10 things to know • Battle of Britain

9. The Mediterranean and the East Giving up Britain, Hitler turns to other targets: • The Mediterranean: Italians and British battle in Egypt for control of the Suez Canal • British win early but Hitler sends in his Afrika Corps led by "The Desert Fox", Erwin Rommel 2

10. The Mediterranean and the East • The fighting in the desert goes back and forth with Rommel in control by June of 1942 Germany turns East • June 22, 1941 Germany attacks the Soviet Union • Fatal mistake, Russian winter halts advance; war now on two fronts

11. America Prepares Roosevelt knows that if Allies lose, the US will probably have to deal with Hitler...begins to aid the Allies. 2 Policies: • 1939 - "Cash and Carry"- The Allies can buy US weapons. They must pay cash and carry the weapons to England on their own boats. • 1941 - "Lend Lease"- The president can lend or lease arms to any country vital to US security. “Arsenal of Democracy”

12. America Prepares • Japan joins the Axis powers • Selective Service Act – Begins draft process • Roosevelt elected for 3rd Term in 1940 • State of the Union, 1941, explains “Four Freedoms” • US signs Atlantic Charter with Britain – alliance in principle between nations • US navy and German U-boats fighting undeclared war in Atlantic

13. America and Japan • 1930’s Japan invades China – fierce resistance backed by US and horrible atrocities • US cuts off oil sales to Japan • Japanese see US Navy as main threat to dominating Pacific – decide on pre-emptive attack • December 7th, 1941, Japanese surprise attack on US naval base – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

15. Aftermath and Japanese Victories • Japan sunk or damaged 19 ships and killed more than 2300 Americans. • Enraged, Congress declares war on the Japanese... US Navy struggles to recover • Early on, Japan rolled across the Pacific -Take Bataan in the Philippines, April of '42 • American General MacArthur is forced to flee - vows "I Shall Return.“ • Japanese Capture over 70,000 Americans and Filipino troops • Force them on a brutal march where over 10,000 are killed including hundreds of Americans– “Bataan Death March.”

17. War Looks Bleak for the Allies 1942 – • Russia has been invaded, • the US Navy has been crippled, • the British are bogged down in North Africa, • and the Nazi flag flies over the Eiffel Tower. • In the spring of '42, the war seemed very losable!

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