Transcript WWII
World War II German Aggression Germany wanted to expand its “living space” Germany began to occupy lands that were theirs before WWI Germany and Italy formed the Rome Berlin Axis France and Britain would appease Hitler Declaring war Germany violates the Munich pact by taking Czechoslovakia Germany signs Non-aggression pact with USSR Germany invades Poland France and Britain declare War USSR takes half of Poland Fighting Germany waits out winter “phony war” Attacks and conquers Denmark Netherlands Luxembourg Belgium France is easily taken by the Blitzkrieg South France becomes Vichy France Britain and USSR Battle of Britain – 3 month long air battle Britain wins and defends their country Germany turns on USSR in operation Barbarossa Superior German army is stopped by the Severe Russian winter Japan 1930’s Japan begins imperialistic expansion Manchuria Parts of China Island country needs natural resources 1936 joins Axis powers (Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis) B/c of expansion USA threatens sanctions on Japan Not to send them metal and oil USA enters WWII Isolationist, but passed the Lend-Lease Act – authorized Pres to aid any nation whose defense was vital to the safety of the US Japan continues expansion USA sanctions Japan Relations Break down Pearl Harbor attack DEC 7th 1941 2400 American killed 1939-1942 Germany and Italy are in control of Europe Japan controls much of SE Asia USA has a damaged fleet in the Pacific Britain unable to impose much damage on Europe Turning points Battle of Britain Pearl Harbor El Alamein Battle of Midway Invasion of Italy Stalingrad D-day Turning Points Battle of Britain- Able to hold out versus Germany Pearl Harbor- USA enters WWII El alamein- The surrender of German General Rommel in North Africa Battle of Midway- USA defeats Japan wins naval superiority in Pacific Italy- Allies Invade Italy and Italy overthrows Mussolini Stalingrad- German advance into USSR is halted and defeated by the Soviet Union D-day- Invasion of France opened another front against the Germans (June 6, 1944) USSR Soviet Union begins to turn the tide against Germans Superior troop numbers along reinforcements of weapons from the allies make the Eastern Front a strong defense D-day June 6, 1944 Allied successful attempt to invade France Opened another front against Germans Ending the War in Europe Germany now has war on 2 fronts Italy joins Allied powers Mussolini is Killed by own people Race to Berlin by allies Hitler commits suicide VE day (May 8th, 1945) FDR dies in April Ending the war in Japan US able to fully focus on Japan Truman becomes President Island hopping campaigns take Japanese strongholds in the Pacific To avoid massive loss from possible invasion, atomic bombs are dropped Hiroshima and Nagasaki VJ day, (August 14, 1945) Holocaust The Holocaust Mainly against Jewish People Originally packed into Ghettos and starved Later “Final Solution” was implemented Jews were sent to concentration Camps Exposed to harsh treatment, Medical experiments, hard labor, and extermination Jews had to dig their own mass graves before being killed The death toll The mass slaughter of European civilians 5 – 6 million Jews 2out 3 jews that were in Europe 400,000 Roma (Gypsies) 4 million Slavic leaders 4 million Soviet prisoners of war