Transcript The Second World War

The Coming of the Second
World War
Pres. Roosevelt & PM Churchill on the HMS Prince of Wales 1941
Past IB Questions--Paper 2
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“Wars may be started by a single incident. They
are never caused by such an incident.” With
refrence to any ONE twentieth century war show
how far you agree with this statement.
How comprehensively are the characteristics of
“total war” illustrated by the 2nd World War?
“20th century wars have been won by the side with
the most money, men and material.” Using at least
two examples, each chosen from a different region,
show how far you agree with this assertion.
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What were the most frequent causes of 20th
century wars? Specific evidence from at least three
wars should be used.
How and why did technological developments play
an important part in 20th century wars?
Assess the social and economic causes of one 20th
century war.
Past IB Questions—Paper 3
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For what reasons could it be argued that the 2nd
World War in Europe was “total war”?
In what ways, and with what results for Europe
between 1939 and 1949, was the 2nd World War a
“total war”?
With reference to the 2nd World War in Europe,
explain the main features and effects of “total war”.
Prelude to War in Europe
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Versailles Treaty terms, particularly German
reparations and “war guilt” clause
Nazi ideology
Ineffectiveness of the League of Nations in
political & diplomatic matters
French began building Maginot Line 1929,
long line of defensive forts promoted by
General Petain
Germany withdrew from disarmament talks
and from the League in 1933
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Germany & Poland signed 10-year nonaggression pact 1934; Germany recognized
Polish borders; Poland more worried about
Soviet Union than Germany
1935 Germany announced compulsory
military service and revealed existence of
the Luftwaffe
Messerschmitt
ME 109
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1935 Nuremburg Laws make Jews secondclass citizens in Germany
1935 Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual
Assistance; against Nazi Germany; Hitler
used it as an excuse to occupy the
Rhineland
1936 Anti-Comintern Pact between
Germany & Japan; Italy joined in 1937
Hitler broke the Pact when he signed the
Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939
1936 Neville Chamberlain
became PM of Great Britain;
followed British govt. policy
of nonintervention in
Spanish Civil War; believed
Germany had been badly
mistreated after WW I, so
therefore followed a policy
of appeasement; signed Munich Agreement
(1938) which was popular in Britain; people
believed war with Hitler had been avoided
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Germany pledged to respect Belgian
neutrality 1937
Italy joined Anti-Comintern Pact 1937
1938 Kristalnacht against German Jews;
20,000 taken to concentration camps
March 1939 invasion of the rest of
Czechoslovakia
1939 Japanese attack USSR from
Manchuria into Siberia; USSR defeated
Japanese army
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Italy took over Albania 1939
Germany & Italy sign “Pact of Steel” 1939
committed both countries
to support each other in
case of war
Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression pact 1939
Invasion of Poland; start
of the Second World War
in Europe
Prelude to War in Asia
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Japanese army believed that Chiang Kaishek’s Northern Expedition (1926-1928)
was a threat to Japanese security
1930 London Naval Conference; made
some changes to the Washington Naval
Conference; continued idea of limiting ship
construction and avoiding naval race;
attended by UK, USA, France, Japan, Italy
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Mukden Incident 1931 Japan took control of
Manchuria
Manchuria was an important industrial area;
hoped Japanese would move there to alleviate
population problems in Japan; also important as
a defense against the Soviet Union; military
goods were manufactured for the army; rice &
cotton from Manchuria were used to take care of
the army
1932 Japanese planes bombed Shanghai WITH
consent of the Japanese Emperor and Chiang
Kai-shek; in response to Chinese boycott of
Japanese goods; Japanese nationals in Shanghai
“feared for their lives”
1932 Manchukuo
established with Pu-yi
as puppet emperor;
Pu-yi as Emperor of
Manchukuo
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Japan withdrew from the League of
Nations (1933) after the Lytton Report
condemned Japanese invasion of
Manchuria & demanded Japan withdraw
1935 Second London Naval Conference;
Japan withdrew when the US and UK
rejected Japanese demands for equality in
naval power; by 1938 all powers were
constructing naval ships in violation of the
naval agreements
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Marco Polo Bridge Incident (July 1937);
resulted in full-scale attack on Beijing;
beginning of Second Sino-Japanese War
US Neutrality
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Several Neutrality Acts were passed in
1935, 1936 & 1937. These acts made no
distinction between the victim or the
aggressor.
In 1935, all sales of arms & war material
were forbidden.
The US did not help Abyssinia against
Mussolini due to this Act.
US Neutrality
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After the start of the Spanish Civil War,
companies sold Franco trucks, oil and
other non military equipment. So…
In 1936, other types of trade was
forbidden.
1937 act extended previous provisions to
include Civil Wars
US Neutrality
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FDR favored the Chinese in the their
struggle against Japan
British ships carried US arms to China
FDR did not invoke the Neutrality Act,
since there was no formal declaration of
war between China and Japan
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FDR’s idea became to take measures to
deter aggressors
FDR speech in Chicago October 1937…
Quarantine Speech
http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/3310
Lend-Lease
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November 1939, arms trade was allowed on
a “cash & carry” basis… no credit or loans.
National Munitions Control Board issued
licenses to import/export arms
Britain began paying for supplies from the
US, but by 1941 was running out of cash
Lend-Lease Act was passed March 1941.
The US would sell, lend or give war
materials to whomever they wanted to
support
Prelude to War
US involvement
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1940 US partial oil embargo; shortage led
to Japanese decision to take over
Indonesia & plan attack on US
Japanese invasion of northern IndoChina
1940 Tripartite Pact with Germany & Italy
1941 Neutrality Pact with USSR
July 1941 US full oil embargo and freeze
of Japanese assets
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Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor Dec. 1941
brought US into World War II
Second World War as Total War
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Characteristics of Total War
Importance of homefront
economy geared to war; rationing
civilians in war related jobs
increased role for women
censorship & propaganda to keep
morale high
Attacks on civilians… bombing cities
New and more destructive technology
Blockades
Bibliography
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Pictures
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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt
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2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-487-306604,_Flugzeug_Messerschmitt_Me_109.jpg
3. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRchamberlain.htm
4. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/italy_and_germany_1936_to_1940.htm
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puyi
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lugouqiao2.jpg
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pearl_Harbor_looking_southwest-Oct41.jpg
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http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/maginot_line.htm
http://www.worldwar-2.net/prelude-to-war/prelude-to-war-index.htm
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/PTO/IMTFE/IMTFE-5.html
http://www.american.edu/TED/ice/japan-oil.htm
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERanti.htm