World War II and Post-War Europe

1. World War II and Post-War Europe

2. Wilson’s Vision of a rebuilt, unified, peaceful Europe never realized. Direct relationship to failed military disarmament agreements A Failure of CollectiveSecurity

3. redrawing the map of Europe based on the vengeful objectives of Britain, France, and Italy. Paris Peace ConferencePlayers and Results

4. Revising the Treaty of Versailles • Allies came to believe that the Treaty was unworkable by the mid-1930’s • Rebuilding of German army (March, 1935 radio address) --formation of German airforce --reinstating draft to form an army of 36 divisions—500,000 men • Remilitarization of the Rhineland (March, 1936) • French merely lodged a protest with the League of Nations

5. League often mocked for its inability to seriously curb aggression … others looked to new methods to secure peace. Increasingly IrrelevantLeague of Nations

6. Japanese Invasion of Manchuria, 1931 • First obvious, major failure of the League to invoke article X of the League Charter • Upon the Lytton Commission criticizing the agression of Japan, the Japanese merely leave the organization

7. Italian Invasion of Ethiopia 1935 • Successful assessment of the League by the Fascists … no military action, only weak economic sanctions be SOME member states … excluding petroleum and iron

8. The Rome-Berlin Axis 1936 • To include Japan by 1939 … to be the opponents of the Allies after Poland

9. Key Player: Adolf HitlerForeign Policy Goals • Made clear in Mein Kampf • More than just revision of the Treaty of Versailles • The need for “lebensraum” • related to Austria, Czechoslovakia, and ultimately, Poland • The vast spaces of Russia were his ultimate target

10. Economic and Social Stability through Expansion • Territorial expansion came to be seen as an economic “safety valve” • Aggressive foreign policy was undertaken to avoid domestic difficulties

11. The “Anschluss” • The unification of Austria and Germany • German troops marched into Austria in March of 1938 • Seems to many as an example of Wilsonian self-determination • No European power was willing to risk war over such a popular invasion • Germany now included new territory that had never been a part of the whole Reich • Hitler was triumphant and more confident than ever

12. Czechoslovakia and the Policy of Appeasement • Hitler eyed the Sudetenland with desire • Czechoslovakia has a treaty with France • Policy of appeasement was especially tragic in the case of Czechoslovakia • Very tense moment for Europe in September of 1938 • The Munich agreement—September 30, 1938

13. Chamberlains’ misguided trust in Hitler’s long term goals “Peace in our Century, Peace in our Time.” Sudetenland suffers of Nazi Invasion. Munich Pact: Failure of Appeasement

14. Why did the Western Democracies Appease Hitler? • Widespread pacifism • Increasing guilt over the harshness of the Treaty of Versailles • Hitler and Mussolini seen as protection against further communist advances • Britain was far too weak internally to oppose Hitler … France too confident in their Maginot Line • The UnitedStates remained isolationist

15. Complicated, yet flawed based on political and economic reasons … Blitzkreig to prove this to be brutally true. France’s White Elephant: The Maginot Line

16. Massive radical changes in the Map of Europe to occur over the next 6 years … to be readjusted after WWII. Europe: Eve of WWII

17. The Invasion of Poland • British and French abandon appeasement • Polish corridor especially upsetting to the Germans • Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (August, 1939) • British announce support for Poland and Hitler drew back for 5 days • German armies marched into Poland on September 1, 1939—the beginning of World War II

18. A Brief Look at World War II • Nazi “Blitzkrieg” • The “Sitzkrieg” or Phony War (winter of 1939-1940 • The Russo-Finnish War (November, 1939-March, 1940) • German attack on France (May 10, 1940) • The miraculous evacuation at Dunkirk

19. Over 350 000 allied troop evacuated … to fight another day. Turning Point #1: Miracle of Dunkirk, 1940

20. World War II (cont.) • The Fall of France -- “Vichy” France in the south -- Charles de Gaulle escapes to London • The Battle of Britain (June-December, 1940) -- Leadership of Winston Churchill • Crucial Delay of Invasion of Russia to help out Italian forces in Greece

21. Turning Point #2: Battle of Britain Provided for the potential for a second front later in the war … Britain as the western base of Operations.

22. air superiority essential to an invasion of Britain ... Key Participants

23. World War II (cont.) • Invasion of Russia—June 22, 1941 (“Operation Barbarossa”) • The Battle of Stalingrad (September, 1942-January, 1943) • U.S. entry into the War and the progress of the War in the European Theater • Opening of a Second Front—the Invasion of Normandy (“Operation Overlord”) • From D-Day to the Final Surrender of the Germans

24. Strategic disaster for the Axis Japan’s “victory” hollow … key targets at Pearl Harbor missing … aircraft carriers Yorktown, Enterprise, and Hornet. Hitler and Mussolini forced to support Japan’s action … forced to fight a foe they hoped to avoid. AMERICAN WAR PRODUCTION TRULY COULD GET GOING. Turing Point #3: US entry into the War: Pearl Harbor

28. #4) Battle of Stalingrad: European Theatre’s Turning Point

29. reality of urban warfare evident in this battle and future battles of WWII.

30. British/American Forces invade North Africa … their compromise for a “Second Front” demanded by the Soviet Union. Long term objective: eliminate Italy from the war. Ultimately, use Africa for the launch of the invasion of Sicily, then Italy. Often forgotten, but essential to the Allied war effort. Turning Point #5: North Africa

31. North Africa

32. Further movement toward a true second front … Soviets demanded a direct attack of Germany … Italy was to be dealt with first … a promise for a REAL second front by Spring of 1944. Africa to Sicily to Italy heavy resistance, but primarily for the German Afrika Corp and other reinforcements. Invasion of Sicily and Italy

33. Invasion of Sicily

34. Invasion of Italy

35. Mussolini’s Demise

36. After Years of Demands by the Soviet Union … Allies commit to a Second Front … the Invasion of Europe, via Normandy in France Turning Point # 7: D-DayThe Second Front

37. D-Day: Canada’s Contribution at Juno Beach

39. Big Three Allied Commanders: Patton, Eisenhower, Montgomery • These three Generals essential to the overall direction of all troops in Normandy, and later throughout the whole of France. • Eisenhower … Supreme Commander • Montgomery … British Commander of D-Day • Patton … intitial espionage diversion … commanded later within France.

40. European Theatre of War

42. Asian Theatre of War

43. World War II (cont.) • ETHICS OF TOTAL WAR • Treatment of Occupied Peoples • The importance of “orderly reproduction” or scientific breeding • “The Final Solution” --Warsaw Ghetto—October, 1940 --Auschwitz—most famous of 5 Nazi death camps • Resistance movements to Nazi Terror

44. World War II (cont’d) • Aerial Carpet Bombing of Civilians • Utilization of Nuclear Weapons on Humanity

45. Hitler’s Final Solution: The Holocaust • scenes from • Auschwitz.

46. Symbol of Evil: Auschwitz

47. Over 6 000 000 European Jews perished between, 1933-45 … primarily at the hands of the SS. Although not part of the Holocaust, an additional 14 000 000 Slavic people killed. 67% of all Jews killed, over 90% of all Jewish Children! NOTE: OF NO MILITARY ADVANTAGE … actually impeded the German war effort. The Holocaust

48. German Industrialist responsible for saving over 1500 Jews … lost entire war fortune doing so. Heroes: Oskar Schindler

49. technological limits forced the allies to utilize “Carpet Bombing” only slowed ememy production slightly Allied Bombing Campaign

50. In addition to over 1/2 million Europeans, over 1 million Asians perished from the air. The crews of the bombers had between a 60-80% casualty rate. (approx. 8 weeks) Allied Bombing Campaign (cont’d)