Major Events of WWII and Changes in American Policy

1. Major Events of WWII and Changes in American Policy

2. Central Themes • As conflict grew in Europe and Asia, American foreign policy evolved from neutrality to direct involvement. • Despite initial Axis success in both Europe and the Pacific, the Allies persevered and ultimately defeated Germany and Japan.

3. American Policy: Isolationism • After WWI the United States wanted to remain isolated from European problems • They passed the Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1937 to outlaw selling or loaning weapons to nations

4. Rising Tension: USA vs. Japan • Japan was aggressively taking over parts of East of Asia, leading to tension between the US and Japan

5. Germany Begins Aggression • Germany began to build up its military - in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles • Many of Austria’s people wanted to unite with Germany, so when Germany invaded, it was unopposed • Hitler then put troops on the western border of Czechoslovakia where 3 million German-speaking people lived, prepared to invade…

6. Appeasement • Britain and France did not want to engage in another war • They created a policy of “appeasement” • Giving in to Germany in hopes that another war would not occur

9. Next Target: Poland • Many didn’t believe that Hitler would actually invade Poland because it would bring Europe into war • Then he signed the Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin • Fascist Germany and Communist Soviet Union vowed to never attack each other Poland Invasion

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11. Blitzkrieg in Poland • On the morning on September 1, 1939, the German Luftwaffe (air force) roared over Poland, raining bombs on airfields, military bases, railroads, and cities • German tanks raced across the Polish countryside SAFARI Montage

12. The Soviet Union Invades • The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on September 17, 1939, and continued to invade the Baltic nations.

13. Fall of France • Germany wanted to eliminate a powerful rival as quickly as possible • They invaded France and captured Paris in June, 1940. • On June 22, France signed an armistice agreeing to German occupation of the north and coast. • Britain was left alone to defend Europe.

14. Europe in 1940 KEY Red - Nazi controlled Purple - Nazi controlled under Mussolini Blue - Free country, supported by the United States Green - Under the control of Stalin of Russia who sided with the Nazis in 1939 Yellow - Neutral, but greatly influenced by Nazis, for example, Spain was under the dictatorship of General Franco who was controlled by Hitler

15. Battle of Britain • In the summer of 1940 Germany launched an air attack on England • The goal was to bomb England into submission • Every night for two months, the Luftwaffe bombed airfields, military bases, and cities

17. Britain Fights the Blitz • The British Royal Air Force bought back with e new device called radar • Radar allowed the British to spot German planes in the dark • Six weeks later, Hitler called off the attack on England

18. “The Few”: Winston Churchill • Read the excerpt and answer the accompanying questions on the back.

19. American Policy: Lend Lease • As Germany became more aggressive, the United States began to send economic aid to the allies • 1940: “Cash and Carry” • Allied ships could buy and transport weapons in their own ships • 1941: “Lend Lease • Allowed sales or loans to any country whose defense FDR believed was important to the defense of the United States • The United States gave Britain war supplies and old naval warships in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean

20. Germany Invades the Soviet Union • Germany committed a big mistake: • Breaking the Non-Aggression Pact, Germany invaded the Soviet Union • He wanted to end Communism and gain oil and gas • On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, sending 4 million soldiers into the Soviet Union • Unfortunately for him, 90% of German deaths would happen on the Eastern Front

21. Yertle the Turtle: Hitler? YertleClip

22. Japanese Aggression SAFARI Montage

23. The U.S. Punishes Japan • In response to Japan’s aggression in East Asia, the United States started an embargo on Japan (a refusal to sell goods) • Japan was cut off from 80% of its oil source • The United States demanded an end to the aggression on November 26, 1941

25. PEARL HARBOR • On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor without warning. • The U.S. was caught unprepared • 2400 sailors died, 1200 were wounded, 18 ships were destroyed, 200 aircraft were destroyed, and 160 aircraft were damaged • Only the aircraft carriers, by chance on maneuvers, escaped the worst naval defeat in American history. Lost Evidence

26. 5 PHASE ATTACK BY JAPANESE (as noted by the U.S. Navy) • PHASE 1: Combined torpedo plane and dive bomber attacks lasting from 7:55 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. • PHASE 2: Lull in attacks lasting from 8:25 - 8:40 a.m. • PHASE 3:Horizontal bomber attacks from 8:40 – 9:15 a.m. • PHASE 4: Dive bomber attacks between 9:15-9:45 a.m. • PHASE 5: Warning of attacks and completion of raid after 9:45 a.m.

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28. Commander Mitsuo Fuchida • “Veering right toward the west coast of the island, we could see that the sky over Pearl Harbor was clear. Presently the harbor itself became visible across the central Oahu plain, a film of morning mist hovering over it. I peered intently through my binoculars at the ships riding peacefully at anchor. One by one I counted them. Yes, the battleships were there all right, eight of them! But our last lingering hope of finding any carriers present was now gone. Not one was to be seen.”

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31. USS Arizona: 1,100 Casualties

32. USS Arizona

33. Total Casualties • Japan • Less than 100 men killed • 29 planes • 5 midget submarines • United States • 68 civilians killed • 2,335 servicemen killed • 1,178 servicemen wounded • 188 plans • 8 battleships • 3 light cruisers • 3 destroyers

34. American Policy: The United States Declares War • “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” - FDR • The US declared war on Japan on December 8th, 1941. • Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. • The United States directly entered the war against the Axis powers. SAFARI Montage

35. Primary Source Activity • “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” • Read the passage and answer the following question on a separate piece of paper: • What was President Roosevelt implying when he said that “this form of treachery shall never again endanger us”? • You are an American teenager learning of this declaration of war. Write an entry in your diary dated December 8, 1941.

36. Fighting in the Pacific • The strategy of fighting in the Pacific front was to “island hop”, or to gain control of each island one at a time as your army moves across the Pacific • Many bloody battles were fought, sacrificing lives of soldiers for control of tiny islands barely visible on a map.

37. Turning Point of the Pacific: Midway • The turning point of the war in favor of the United States was in June of 1942 • The Japanese were experiencing a shortage of materials, but had their sights set on Midway Island, northwest of Hawaii • As the Japanese prepared to take over the island, American Admiral Chester Nimitz sent his forces to defend it • The US had a significant victory that turned the tide in our favor after destroying 4 Japanese carriers and 250 plans • News of defeat was kept from the Japanese public

38. Turning Point of the Eastern Front: Stalingrad • Hitler wanted to wipe out Stalingrad, a major industrial center • In the summer of 1942, the Germans took the offensive in the Southern Soviet Union

39. Stalingrad U.S. II 7 a, b, c; 1c, d, h, i

40. Turning Point of the Eastern Front: Stalingrad • The German Army had already lost 2 million men on the Eastern Front • Winter set in while the Germans were still in summer uniforms • In 1942-1943, 300,000 Germans were defeated and captured at the Battle of Stalingrad – the rest began to retreat back toward Germany • The Soviets lost more than 1 million men in the battle (more than 2x the number of deaths the US suffered in the whole war)

41. Turning Point in the Western Front: D-Day • On June 6, 1944, American and other Allied troops landed in Normandy, France, on what is known as “D-Day” to begin liberation of western Europe • It was known as “Operation Overlord”

42. D-Day: Operation Overlord • The Allies needed to establish a second front • The largest land-sea-air operation in military history was led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower • 4,000 ships • 150,000 soldiers (57,000 Americans) • The victory allowed the Allies to gain a foothold on the continent to push Germany back • 5,000 killed and wounded Allied troops • Within a month, the Allies had landed 1,000,000 troops and 567,000 tons of supplies

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44. “Veterans Day”:A Poem by Peter Thomas

46. Turning Point Battles of WWII • Use the American Journey textbook to help complete the chart. Make sure you locate and color them on the map.

47. Capture of Berlin • The western Allies and the Soviets raced toward Berlin, Germany, to capture Hitler and end the war • On May 8, 1945, the Allies celebrated V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) SAFARI Montage

48. Truman Becomes President • FDR passed away in April, 1945, before VE Day • Harry S. Truman was sworn in as the new President Safari Montage

49. Truman’s Dilemma • As a new President, Truman had to decide how to continue fighting against Japan • After D-Day, General MacArthur believed it would cost 1.5 million Allied deaths to fight • Truman saw only one option…

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