Road Map to Success: World War II World History II

1. "We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender!" –Winston Churchill Road Map to Success: World War IIWorld History II In many ways, World War II was simply a continuation of World War I. This war, however, was truly a world war, as fighting took place in Europe, Africa, Asia and on one infamous occasion on United States soil. On September 1, 1939, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany invaded Poland. The German war machine ravaged Europe; conquering almost the entire continent. Later, Germany’s Axis Power ally, Japan, would drag the United States into war when they attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. World War II became the deadliest conflict in modern world history. Human ingenuity had created the atomic bomb and other horrific tools of war. The death and destruction of the second world war made the “great war” (WWI) seem like walk in the park. Out of the ashes of World War II, came “the greatest generation of Americans”, the establishment of the United Nations and the birth of the Cold War – a new kind of conflict. You will master the following learning standards: WHII.24 Summarize the key battles and events of World War II. WHII.25 Identify the goals, leadership, and post-war plans of the allied leaders. WHII.27 Explain the reasons for dropping the atom bombs on Japan and its short and long term effects. WHII.28 Explain the consequences of World War II. WHII.29 Describe reasons for the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 and summarize the main ideas of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. WHII.26 Describe the background, course and consequences of the Holocaust, including its roots in the long tradition of Christian Anti-Semitism, 19th Century ideas about race and nation, and Nazi dehumanization of the Jews.