WWII Erupts in Europe

A Brief Period of Prosperity

Some countries, like the U.S., were strong during the post-WWI era

Europe after WWI

WWI caused the deaths of millions and destruction of property

The Treaty of Versailles left many Europeans unhappy France thought treaty too easy on Germany Italy felt they should have been given land

since they were on the winning side German government (Weimar

Republic) was weak

Ensuring Peace & Protecting New Nations?

The League of Nations is weak It cannot convince countries

to disarm Why might that be the case?

It cannot help all of the new, struggling nations that were created

It does not include the U.S., Germany, or the newly created Soviet Union Why would this make it

weaker?

Adolf Hitler

Austrian- entered German politics because angry over Treaty of Versailles

Joined small political party called National Socialists (Nazi)

Became German Chancellor in 1933

Set up totalitarian dictatorship

Secretly began to build up German Military

The Situation in 1929

Germany relied on American money under the Dawes Plan to be able to pay for the Reparations.

When the American Stock Market crash on Wall Street, the USA stopped lending money to Germany.

The German economy went into recession.

Germany 1933

By January 1933, unemployment had reached 6,000,000.

No one would loan Germany money. The Weimar Government couldn’t do anything to help the unemployed.

Hitler was elected on a promise to give the German people ‘Bread & Jobs.’

Impact of Hitler’s Policies on Unemployment

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4000000

5000000

6000000

7000000

Series1 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

Series2 6,014,000 3,773,000 2,974,000 2,520,000 1,853,000 1,052,000 302,000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

How did Hitler put Germany back to work?

RAD – The National Labour Service

Gave men jobs in public work schemes

Men in RAD had to wear a uniform & live in camps.

They were given free meals and pocket money.

Built: drainage ditches, schools, a new network of motorways and planted new forests.

What was the aim of Hitler’s Public Works

Programme?

Kick start the Cycle of

Prosperity

To improve the public transport network for

industrial & military use

To improve the living conditions of the German

people

To build impressive buildings so that the

German people would feel proud

Autarky – National Self Sufficiency

Hitler wanted to Germany a strong independent country that was sufficient in food and materials.

Germany had lost the WWI because it had run out of food and war materials.

German scientist developed all sorts of artificial substitutes such as petrol from coal and coffee from acorns.

These new substitutes were made in Germany and gave the unemployed jobs in new industries.

Hitler also encouraged the growth of the car industry.

The Car Industry

Designed by Porsche and nicked named ‘The Peoples Car’, known today as the ……?

The Car Industry

Recognise the design of this German Jeep called a Kubelwagen?

Car Industry

Created Jobs in other industries because of

the need for standardised parts.

Car Production could easily be switched to the

production of military vehicles

Produced low cost cars which helped to keep the German people

happy

Steel

Glass

Rubber

Leather

Cycle of Prosperity

What other measures did Hitler introduce in order to reduce unemployment?

By 1934 all Jews were fired from civil service jobs which were then given to German workers.

Unemployed Jews were not registered.

Women lost their jobs which were given to men.

People who refused jobs offered by the labour service were arrested and put into concentration camps.

Benito Mussolini

In control in Italy by 1922

Founded Nationalist Fascist Party

Established a dictatorship that allowed no other political parties

Had total control over daily life of citizens

Other Totalitarian Regimes

Spain Francisco

Franco took control after Spanish Civil war of 1930’s Fascist

Soviet Union Joseph Stalin

Crushed political

opposition

Japan Torn by

political conflict

Military leaders used violence to

gain control of govt.

Tojo

Adolph Hitler Increases Power Hitler takes steps to increase German

power1. Tries to unite Germany and Austria. Invades

when Austria refuses (Anschluss-1938)2. Sends troops into the Rhineland (1939)

Munich Conference: September 1938 Britain, France, Italy and Germany meet Britain and France agree to Hitler’s demands for

land in exchange for peace (Appeasement) Allowed to annex German speaking portions of

Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland)

Hitler Invades

In 1939, Hitler will move into other countries March- Hitler sends troops into what

remained of independent Czechoslovakia Establishes a pact with Italy, and a non-

aggression treaty with Stalin - Stalin won’t stop Hitler, and Hitler won’t attack Soviet Union

September 1st- Invades Poland Uses Blitzkrieg (Lightning War)

Poland falls within a month

War Declared

September 3, 1939- Great Britain and France declare war on Germany (Allies)

April 1940- Hitler invades Denmark and Norway

May 1940- Germans invade France June 1940- Most of France falls to

Germany French leaders flee to Great Britain

American Neutrality

Neutrality Legislation Isolationist ideals became stronger in 1930’s

because many European countries could not pay debts to US.

Congress will pass the Neutrality Act of 1935 Made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any

country at war (many believed this was what brought the US into WWI)

After further violent escalation in Europe, Congress passes the Neutrality Act of 1937 Added to the 1935 Act- required anyone who

wanted to purchase non-military supplies from US had to do so on “cash and carry” basis

Destroyers for Bases Deal

Roosevelt officially proclaimed the US neutral two days after Britain and France declared war on Germany

1940- Britain asked US to transfer old US Destroyers to Britain, who had lost nearly half of

theirs

• Roosevelt used loopholes in American neutrality acts that required cash for purchases.

• Exchanged the right to build bases on British controlled islands (Newfoundland, Bermuda, and Caribbean) in exchange for 30 old American destroyers

The Lend-Lease Act

Proposed by Roosevelt in December 1940 Allowed the US to lend or lease arms to any

country It considered “vital to the defense of the United States”

Allowed the US to send weapons to the British if British promised to pay rent after the war was over.

Passed- By end of program- US had lent more than $40 Billion in weapons, vehicles and supplies to the Allied war effort

The Atlantic Charter

August 1941 Roosevelt and Churchill met on American

and British warships anchored near Newfoundland

Agreed to Atlantic Charter Committed both nations to a postwar world of

democracy, nonaggression, free trade, economic advancement, and freedom of the seas

By late September, an additional 15 non-Axis nations had signed

The United States Enters World War II

• Between August, 1939, and December, 1941, Roosevelt’s primary goal was to help Britain and its allies defeat Germany– Knew Britain had to keep

much of its navy in Asia to protect British territories from Japanese attack.

– When German submarines began sinking British ships in the Atlantic, British had to move warships from Southeast Asia to the Atlantic

– This left the British Empire vulnerable to attack by Japan

• Roosevelt introduced policies to Roosevelt introduced policies to discourage the Japanese from discourage the Japanese from attacking the British Empireattacking the British Empire– Japan relied on the US for many key materials

(scrap iron, steel, and oil- 80% of Japan’s oil came from U.S)

– July 1940- US Congress passes Export Control Act which restricts sale of strategic materials

• Roosevelt immediately blocked sale or airplane fuel and scrap iron to Japan.

– Japan immediately signs alliance with Germany and Italy, becoming part of the Axis power

Additional Action Against Japan

• In 1941, Roosevelt also begins sending lend-lease aid to China– Japan had invaded China in 1937, and

controlled much of the Chinese coast– Roosevelt hoped that the lend-lease aid would

tie up the Japanese and prevent them from attacking elsewhere

– Failed- Japan sends troops into southern Indo-China, and were threatening British ports

– Roosevelt froze all Japanese assets in the U.S, reduced the amount of oil being shipped to Japan, and sent General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines to build up American defenses there.

• Roosevelt made it clear that he would lift the oil embargo ONLY if Japan left Indochina and made peace with China

• Japanese oil resources are running low– Japanese military began making

plans to attack resource-rich British and Dutch Colonies in SE Asia

– Decide to seize the Philippines– Make plans to attack the

American fleet at Pearl Harbor– Could not risk leaving the US

navy viable to stop their plans for conquest

• Negotiations continue, but neither side would back down– November 26, 1941- 6 Japanese

aircraft carriers, two battleships, and several other warships set sail for Hawaii

Japanese Japanese ResponseResponse

• Nov. 27, 1941– American

intelligence decodes a Japanese communication that makes clear that Japan is planning to go to war with the United states

– US commanders at Pearl Harbor receive a warning about attack from Washington

– Hawaii not mentioned as a target

– Washington doubted Japan would launch such a long-range attack

• Japan attacks on the morning of December 7, 1941– Sank or damaged 21 ships of

the US Pacific Fleet which included

• 8 battleships• 3 cruisers• 4 destroyers• 6 other vessels• 188 airplanes

– Killed 2,403 Americans- Injured 1,178

Roosevelt asks Roosevelt asks Congress for a Congress for a

declaration of war declaration of war on the next dayon the next day

Roosevelt’s Request

to Congress

Play: Roosevelt’s Speech

(4:49)

Germany and Italy both declare war Germany and Italy both declare war on the United States on December on the United States on December

1111thth, 1941, 1941

Mobilizing for War

• American industrial output was astounding- workers were more productive

• US converted the economy to war production– Was able to do so quickly because the

US economy had already started converting to war production even before a declaration of war

– Preventative measure when Germany began to invade

Tanks Replace CarsTanks Replace Cars• Following the attack on Pearl Harbor,

even more factory owners were willing to switch to war production

– American car producers began to produce trucks, jeeps and tanks

– Automobile factories also produced artillery, rifles, mines, helmets, pontoon bridges, and cooking pots.

– Automobile industry produced nearly 1/3 of the military equipment manufactured during the war

Building an Army

• Within days of Germany’s attack on Poland, Roosevelt expanded the army to 227,000 soldiers

• When France surrendered in June 1940, Congress introduced the Selective Service and Training Act– Plan for the first peacetime draft in

American history– Approved in September by a wide margin

Non-Traditional Soldiers• African American

Soldiers– Still segregated– “Double V” Campaign

• Women– Enlisted for first time but

barred from combat– Mostly assigned to

administrative and clerical positions

The The AmericaAmerican Home n Home FrontFront

World World War IIWar II

Women and Minorities Gain Women and Minorities Gain GroundGround

• In contrast to Europe, WWII had a positive effect on society in America

• Put an end to the Great Depression• Created almost 19 million new jobs•At the start of the war, defense factories wanted to hire white men• Lack of white men caused factory owners to recruit women and minorities to work in factories

Women in the Defense Women in the Defense PlantsPlants

• During the Depression, many people believed married women should not work, especially if it meant taking jobs away from men

• Due to the wartime labor shortage during WWII, married women were recruited to do industrial jobs that were traditionally reserved for men

“Rosie the Riveter” was the symbol of the campaign to hire women

- 2.5 Million women will work in industry

African Americans Demand African Americans Demand War WorkWar Work

• Factories continued to resist hiring African Americans

• A. Philip Randolph informed Roosevelt that he was planning a large march on Washington to secure jobs

• Roosevelt issued Executive order 8802 on June 25, 1941– Declared “There shall be no

discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color or national origin

Japanese American Japanese American RelocationRelocation

• Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, many West Coast Americans turned their anger against Japanese Americans– Mobs attacked business and homes– Banks would not cash their checks– Grocers wouldn’t sell them food

Japanese American Japanese American RelocationRelocation

• Newspapers printed rumors about Japanese spies in the American community

• Many members of Congress, mayors, and business leaders demanded that all people of Japanese ancestry be removed from the West Coast– Did not believe

Japanese Americans would remain loyal to the US when at war with Japan

Japanese American Japanese American RelocationRelocation

• February 19, 1942– President Roosevelt

issues Executive Order– Ordered all people of

Japanese ancestry to evacuate to 10 internment camps

– Forced to sell businesses and could only take what they could carry

Japanese American Japanese American RelocationRelocation

Daily Daily LifeLife• Demand for raw

materials and supplies created shortages

• The government began rationing or limiting the availability of materials to make sure there was enough for the military– Meat– Sugar– Gasoline

Victory Gardens

• Americans planted gardens to produce food

• Any food they could grow would be less they needed to take from the soldiers

Scrap Drives• Certain raw

materials were so vital to the war effort that the government organizes scrap drives– Spare rubber, tin,

aluminum and steel

• Oils and fats were vital to production of explosives– Americans would

exchange bacon grease and meat drippings for extra ration coupons

War BondsWar Bonds

• To raise money for the war, the government raised taxes• To raise the rest of the money, the government sold bonds

which could be cashed in in the future• Sold at $18.85, could be redeemed after 10 years for $25• Raised nearly $150 Billion

PropaganPropagandada

“Der Fuhrer’s Face” and “The Spirit of ’43”