Transcript WWII Notes
World war ii World History Mr. Nettleton Axis powers Allied powers Appeasement to war • Japan—invades and occupies Manchuria—Chinese province with valuable resources…League of Nations…no action. • Italy—invades Ethiopia…League of Nations…no action • Germany—Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles • Builds up the army (Rearmament) • Sent troops into the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland • France & Great Britain—followed the policy of appeasement— keep the peace • Ignored the actions of Germany to avoid military conflict. Appeasement to war • Keep the peace • Why? Pacifism: a nations sentiment of opposition to all war • Western democracies struggled due to depressions • No one could take on the Germans (Fear of Military Power) • Spanish Civil War—Dress Rehearsal for WWII • Hitler and Mussolini sent arms to help Francisco Franco • Stalin sent troops to fight against Franco • Political Interest? • Fascism (Military) vs Communism/Socialism (Rebels) • Hitler tested out new weapons Appeasement to war • German aggression continues • Hitler wanted to make more “living space” for Germans in Eastern Europe • Hitler believed the Germans were the superior Aryan race • Hitler annexed Austria: Anschluss • Violated Tr. Of Versailles creating a brief war scare. • Czechoslovakia—one of only two remaining democracies in Europe (Finland was the other) • The Sudetenland is a region in Czechoslovakia occupied by 3 million Germans • Hitler annexes the Sudetenland—violation of the Treaty of Versailles…no military action from League of Nations. Appeasement to war • Nazi-Soviet Pact—agreement not to fight each other in the event of war. (Hitler/Stalin) • Both nations agreed to divide up Poland and other areas of Eastern Europe. • Invasion of Poland—one week after the Nazi-Soviet pact was signed, Hitler invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 • Two days later, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany • WWII had begun The axis advances • German Luftwafe launches a blitzkrieg “lightning war” on Poland • Germany invades France and takes over • In southern France, a “puppet state” is set up-unofficial government • Capital of “Vichy” France • Germany sets their sights on Britain • Operation Sea Lion—Germany launches a major air strike on Britain—London was bombed The HOlocaust • Systematic killing of millions of Jews during WWII • Hitler had a plan to create a “superior” race—Aryan • Sent Jews, gypsies, Slavs to concentration camps • Forced labor, poorly fed, worked to death • 6 million Jews were killed • 5 million others were also killed Japan vs. united states • U.S. declared themselves neutral when war broke out • Neutrality Acts • Lend-Lease Act: U.S. agrees to sell or lend war goods to any country that was considered vital to the safety of the U.S. • When war broke out, Japan saw an opportunity to take lands in southeast Asia to expand their empire • U.S. bans sale of war materials to Japan • Dec. 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor • The U.S. officially enters WWII the next day Allies turn the tide • Total War—nation puts all resources into war time • Women go to work in factories to help support the war effort • Convert factories into making war goods • Airplanes, tanks, ships, • Rationed goods • Regulated wages and prices Allies turn the tide • The Big 3 leaders plot strategies • Roosevelt (FDR), Churchill, and Stalin • Decide to end the war in Europe before dealing with Asia • Tehran, Iran conference: • FDR and Churchill give in to Stalin. • However, they decide not to launch a second front on Germany. Stalin sees this as a deliberate policy to weaken the Soviet Union. • Let the Nazi-Soviet borders stand • Stalingrad—major turning point for Russia—stopped the German advance into Russia. • Hitler wanted “incalculable store of treasures and raw materials” Allies turn the tide • D-Day Invasion—June 6, 1944—p. 584-585 • Allied bomber missions • Yalta—Big 3 agree that Russia will attack Japan within 3 months of Germany’s surrender • Agreed to divide Germany into four zones controlled by the Allied forces Victory in Europe and the pacific • V-E Day—Victory in Europe Day—March 1945 • Germany surrenders—war is over in Europe • Why did the Allied forces win? • • • • Location of Germany: fighting multiple fronts Underestimated SU ability to fight Productive capacity of US Scarcity of resources. • Allied Forces concentrate on Japan the pacific • Struggle for the Pacific • Bataan Death March • Japan forced U.S. and Filipino POW’s to walk 68 miles • Tortured, starved, or killed • Island hopping campaign—led by Gen. MacArthur • Recapture islands from Japan • U.S. Navy blockaded Japan and U.S bombers hit cities and strategic targets • Gradually moving north towards Japan The pacific • Japanese soldiers were willing to die for their country in kamakaze missions • Allies were preparing to invade Japan when the Manhattan Project was developed • Atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima End of wwii • Japan finally realizes defeat is imminent • Japan surrenders on the USS Missouri • September 2, 1945 • WWII is over • War crimes trials—Nuremberg Trials • Hold Axis leaders accountable for crimes against humanity Formation of united nations • United Nations is formed • Idea of collective security: if one member nation is attacked it is considered an attack on ALL member nations Cold war • Truman Doctrine: Contain the spread of communism • Allies and Axis powers disagreed on what to do with Europe after the war • Both wanted to divide Germany into 4 zones controlled by each of the Allies • Russia wants Poland and eastern Europe to be communist • US wants them to be democratic