Transcript Unit 1: From Pre-History to Early Civilizations

Section III: The War Expands
Pages 672-676
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This section is about:
Hitler’s campaigns in the
Soviet Union and in North
Africa.
How the United States
entered the war in Asia
and how it began to
experience success on
the Pacific front.
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There are two maps in
this section – on pages
673 and 674.
What do these maps
show about WWII?
Look at “Then and Now”
on the left of page 674.
And, the main ideas on
page 672: letter “B”
Hitler Moves East
Hitler Invades the Soviet Union
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Hitler had that agreement with
Stalin (not to invade each
other).
But Hitler hated communism –
and had always planned to go
after Stalin.
In June, 1941, German soldiers
moved toward the Ukraine
(good farmland) and Leningrad
and Moscow (industrial
centers).
Hitler thought he could force a
Soviet surrender by the fall.
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As the Russians retreated, the
did something odd: they
burned/destroyed everything
that was in the path of the
Germans (a “scorched-earth”
policy).
That way, the Germans had to
rely on their own food,
clothing, and weapons – and
the further they advanced, the
farther they were from their
supplies.
The campaign took longer than
the Germans planned – and
winter was coming.
The Germans didn’t have
proper clothing or shelter from
the Russian winter.
In 1941, more than 500,000
Germans died or were
captured.
The Siege
of Leningrad
(the 900 day siege)
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In 1941, German troops
also began an attack on
Leningrad.
They surrounded the city
and for months kept
supplies from reaching
the people (food and
military equipment).
The people barely stayed
alive – until 1944 when
more troops showed up
from the west.
The War in Africa
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Another place the war hit:
Africa.
In 1940, Mussolini sent his
troops into Egypt
(unsuccessfully), and Hitler
had to send him help.
By 1942, General Rommel,
Hitler, and Mussolini had the
British cornered.
In 1943, the British (and U.S.
by that time) sent in more
Allied troops and helped gain
control of northern Africa.
The War in Asia
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Remember: the Japanese had
invaded China (Manchuria).
The United States was working
with Japan to find a peaceful
solution in Asia.
But Japan wanted resources –
and also invaded Vietnam,
Cambodia, and Laos (French
territories).
So the U.S. and Britain stopped
trading with Japan – cutting off
goods such as oil, iron, and steel.
Japan realized if they wanted to
keep expanding in the Pacific,
they’d have to deal with the
United States.
Pearl Harbor
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On December 7th, 1941, the
Japanese began to come after
the United States (even though
peace talks were going on).
They launched a surprise attack
on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
More than 3000 soldiers were
killed and many ships were
destroyed.
The next day, FDR asked for a
declaration of war. Congress
took 40 minutes to say yes.
Three days later, Japan’s allies
(Italy and Germany’s ally)
declared war on the United
States.
Relocation of
Japanese Americans
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A lot of Americans were furious
with the Japanese.
Many were afraid the Japanese
just couldn’t be trusted – even
those who were born in the U.S. to
Japanese parents.
The U.S. Government relocated
Japanese Americans living on the
west coast to internment camps,
with temporary housing, little
privacy, and no permission to
leave.
Many who didn’t get put in a
camp volunteered to serve in the
U.S. military.
Some were among the most
decorated of all American soldiers
in WWII.
Early Struggles in the Pacific
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It takes a while to get completely
ready to get involved in a war.
The Japanese won many of the
early battles in the Pacific (often
over key islands).
One Japanese victory was in the
Philippines.
75,000 Americans and Filipinos
were forced to surrender, were
taken captive and forced to
march to Manila (68 miles away).
More than 11,000 died during this
“Bataan Death March” through
the Philippine jungles.
By 1942, Japan controlled much
of the Pacific.
American Successes in the Pacific
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Eventually, Americans began
bombing Tokyo.
The Japanese were shocked –
they didn’t think an enemy would
be able to invade their country.
In 1942, Americans learned of a
Japanese attack on Midway and
were ready for it.
Four Japanese aircraft carriers
were sunk, with hundreds of
planes on board.
This was a turning point for the
Americans in the war in the
Pacific.
The United States started taking
some of the islands in the Pacific
and began a bigger attack on
Japan.