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The World At War. Hitler Strikes at Europe. The Failed Policy of Appeasement. “Honorable” Hitler violates Munich Pact - takes Czechoslovakia 3/39 Nazi-Soviet Pact 8/39 Why did they do it? Secret agreement to divide Poland Nazis invade Poland 9/1/39 GB & FR declare war 9/3/39
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The World At War Hitler Strikes at Europe
The Failed Policy of Appeasement • “Honorable” Hitler violates Munich Pact - takes Czechoslovakia 3/39 • Nazi-Soviet Pact 8/39 • Why did they do it? • Secret agreement to divide Poland • Nazis invade Poland 9/1/39 • GB & FR declare war 9/3/39 • Soviets invade Poland 9/17/39
FDR invokes Neutrality Acts • No U.S. arms to countries at war • No U.S. ships allowed in war zones • Belligerents could buy non-military supplies on cash-and-carry basis • 11/39 - Neutrality Act 1939 allowed arms sales to GB & FR on c&c basis • helping Allies but staying out of fight
“Sitzkrieg” or “Phony War” • 6 month lull in fighting • Broken by sudden attack on Norway and Denmark - 4/40 • Holland, Belgium & France - 5/40 • Dunkirk evacuation 5/26/40 • Holland surrenders 5/15, Belgium 5/28, Norway 6/1 • Italy declares war on GB & FR 6/10/40 • French armistice signed 6/22/40
The Battle of Britain 1940 • Operation Sea Lion • Planned invasion of GB • Luftwaffe first concentrated on aerodromes & shipping • Turned to bombing cities • To demoralize populace • “Coventration” & Ultra code • Britain desperate for U.S. help
British Spitfires Downed German Fighter & British Civil Patrolman
St. Paul’s Tower Bridge
The American Mood • Most favored supporting Britain • Some opposed on grounds that U.S. should look out for itself • Potential U.S. entry into war an issue in the 1940 election • FDR “drafted by Dems for 3rd run • Repubs choose Wendell Willkie (IN)
Campaign 1940 • Willkie favored aid to Britain - So did FDR • FDR stole Willkie’s thunder by appointing Republicans to cabinet • Henry Stimson (War), Frank Knox (Navy) • Approved 1st peacetime draft • 9/40 - “Destroyers for Bases” deal w/ GB • U.S. ships in exchange for U.S. use of British air & naval bases
Campaign 1940 • Anti-war critics of FDR say he will entangle U.S. in war • Isolationists form America First Committee • spokesman Charles Lindbergh • U.S. could stand alone against Hitler • FDR promises: • “I will never send an American boy to fight in a European war.”
An Unprecedented 3rd Term • 449 - 82 in Electoral vote • 55% of popular • Most favored FDR’s efforts to help Britain while avoiding fighting • With victory - FDR now free to actively support Britain
“An arsenal for democracy” • Lend-Lease Plan • Supplies for any nation deemed “vital to defense of the U.S.” • Isolationists condemn it as economic war against Germany • Approved in March 1941 • Aid to GB began immediately • Extended to USSR after German invasion
Fighting the Undeclared War 1941 • U.S. Navy assists in tracking U-boats • Convoy actions begin - Navy ordered to fire on German vessels if necessary • Aug. 1941 - FDR & Churchill meet aboard ship off Canadian coast • Atlantic Charter - based on 14 Points
British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill Churchill and FDR aboard
Provocations! • Several U.S. Navy vessels torpedoed by German Kriegsmarine • FDR orders Axis vessels shot on sight • Oct. 41 - sinking of the Reuben James - 115 U.S. sailors killed • Nov. 41 - FDR orders merchant ships to be armed • Neutrality Acts all but null and void
WAR WITH JAPAN • COMPETING INTERESTS IN THE PACIFIC • “YELLOW PERIL” PROPAGANDA BUILDS DISTRUST • JAPANESE AGGRESSION IN CHINA • LESS ISOLATIONIST OPPOSITION
AMERICAN POLICY TOWARDS JAPAN • 1939 U.S. BANS SALE OF AVIATION FUEL & METAL TO JAPAN • U.S. TIGHTENS TRADE SANCTIONS WHEN JAPAN INVADES INDO CHINA IN 1940
MORE… • JULY U.S. FREEZES JAPANESE ASSETS JULY 1941 • TOTAL TRADE EMBARGO • DEMAND JAPAN END ITS AGGRESSION & WITHDRAW FROM CHINA
NEW WAR MINISTER HIDEKI TOJO • OPPOSES COMPROMISE WITH THE U.S. • BY NOV. 1941 U.S. INTELLIGENCE KNEW WAR WAS IMMINENT • WASHINGTON PUT ALL U.S. COMMANDS ON FULL ALERT
“A DAY WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY..” • TOJO ORDERS ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR DEC. 7TH,1941 • PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE • JAPANESE SUCCESS • 188 U.S. AIRCRAFT DESTROYED, 8 BATTLESHIPS + OTHER SHIPS SUNK, 2400 KILLED • 29 OF 353 JAPANESE PLANES SHOT DOWN
CONSEQUENCES • U.S. IS UNIFIED AS NEVER BEFORE. • AIRCRAFT CARRIERS WERE AT SEA DURING THE ATTACK • BECOME THE KEY NAVAL WEAPON OF THE WAR • RALLYING CRT: “GET HIROHITO!”
THE GRAND STRATEGY • “GET HITLER FIRST!” • NAZIS DEFEAT RUSSIA HE CAN BUILD “FORTRESS EUROPE” • AMERICANS WANT TO GO AFTER THE JAPANESE.
CAN U.S. MOBILIZE FAST ENOUGH? • IN 1942 AXIS POWERS ARE WINNING EVERYWHERE. • PEARL HARBOR HAS ASSURE UNIFIED WAR EFFORT • GERMAN AND ITALIAN AMERICANS SHOW LOYALITY • NO WITCH HUNT AGAINST THEM.
JAPANESE RE-LOCATION • EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 • ALL JAPANESE LIVING ON THE WEST COAST ARE ORDERED TO BE REMOVED TO INLAND CAMPS. • APPLIES TO 120,000 PEOPLE. 70,000 OF WHOM ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS.