Transcript Intro to World War II

“Prelude to Global War”
Significant Facts
1. Total War: war fought not only by armed forces at
the battlefront but by civilians in factories and
homes
2. Global War: was fought on all major seas and in
Africa, Asia, and Europe- involved over 60 nations
3. Three Major Battle Areas
1.
2.
3.
Africa = North African Theater
Asia = Pacific Theater
Europe = European Theater
Sides..Who fought who?
Axis Powers
Italy
Germany
Japan
Allied Powers
France
Great Britain
Soviet Union (USSR)
Leaders
Italy = Fascist Leader Benito Mussolini (1922)
2. Germany = Dictator Adolf Hitler (1933)
3. Japan = Emperor Hirohito (1926)
1.
1.
General/Prime Minister Hideki Tojo (1936)
4. France = Charles de Gaulle
5. Great Britain = Winston Churchill
6. Soviet Union = Joseph Stalin (1924)
7. U.S. = FDR (1932-1945) Harry Truman (1945)
Axis Nations Philosophy
 Imperial Japan controlled by military looking to
expand empire
 Fascist Italy led by Dictator Mussolini “return to glory
days”
 Nazi Germany led by Dictator Hitler “superior
mentality”
Early Axis Aggression (1930-1939)
 Withdrew from the League of Nations
 Joined together to form a military alliance = AXIS
POWERS
 Engaged in one act of aggression after another without
any opposition
 Violated major international peace agreements =
Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations
Basic Causes of WWII/ Axis Goals:
MINT!
Militarism:
1.
Built up military: arms and techniques; psychologically prepared
their people for war or would use military on their own people to
maintain power
1.
Imperialism
2.
Axis Nations claimed they were have-not nations
1.
Nationalism:
3.
Considered themselves superior and destined to rule over lesser
people
1.
4.
Totalitarianism:
1.
2.
3.
Totalitarian dictatorships scorned ideas of democracy
Types of leaders were about to come to power because of World
Depression (economic upheaval leads to political upheaval)
Axis countries openly declared their intent to destroy Democracy.
Italy – Fascist Leader
Benito Mussolini
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
WW I Soldier
Political Activist
Teacher and Journalist
Felt Italy was shortchanged after WWI – all the spoils
of war went to England and France
Founded a revolutionary Fascist Political Party.
FASCISM – a political philosophy that puts a nation or
race above the individual party……The Nation must look
to the past……Try to restore the grandeur the nation once
was…..ROMAN EMPIRE
1922 – Mussolini – nicknamed “IL duce” the leader
2. He became Prime Minister of Italy
3. Set up his secret police “black shirts”
1.
Germany – Adolph Hitler (1933)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Poorly educated painter from Austria
Wounded twice in WW I
Enraged by German defeat in WW I and the terms of
the Treaty of Versailles
1919 became the leader of the German Workers Party
which became the NAZI Party
1923 tried to overthrow the republic government of
Germany……failed…..and was sent to jail…..while in
jail he wrote “Mein Kampf”
Mein Kampf – “My Struggles”…. Booked explained the
problems of Germany and what he would do to solve
them…..over I million copies sold in Germany
Promised – new economy – revival of the German
Empire prior to WW I
2. Became Chancellor of Germany – Nazi party took
control of the parliament
3. He created the Third Reich
1.
Domestic Policy
1. Suspended all civil liberties
2. Blamed the Jews for all the economic problems
3. “Anti – Semitism”
4. Boycott all Jewish owned shops – all books burned
5. Jews paced in concentration camps – “Yellow Star”