WWII in Europe

As the Depression grew worse around the world, European nations were giving up rights to totalitarian governments with a

goal of expansion

Prelude to WarWhile the 1930s kept many Americans focused on their own hardships, politicians were watching as dictators in Europe and Asia expanded into other nations for resources and power.

Totalitarian RegimesGermany, Italy, and the Soviet Union all created Totalitarian governments. These nations controlled all aspects of their countries and people. To maintain control these countries suppressed individual rights, killed dissenters and created terror.

Germany and Italy became Fascist while the Soviet Union further developed communism.

Communism vs. FascismCommunism BOTH Fascism

All members of society equally own the means of production

TOTALitarian governmentsUse terror and secret police to maintain control

Private business for profit allowed, but union issues are shut down by the government

Fascist Italy and GermanyBoth Italy and Germany placed the interests of the nation above those of individual citizens. Rights and freedoms were lost as everyone works for the benefit of society.

Both leaders indoctrinated the youths to create a loyal population

Italy- Benito MussoliniItaly’s Fascist leader was Benito Mussolini, a.k.a. “Il Duce” or the leader. Mussolini’s black shirts terrorized Italian citizens to bring them under control. Mussolini suspended elections, outlawed political parties and used secret police to stay in control.

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Fascist Symbols in Italy:

BLACK- color worn by Fascists

Il Duce- Name given to Mussolini meaning The leader

Symbol: Sticks surrounding an AxThe sticks= unityThe ax= authority

Italy expandsLike the rest of the world, Italy was hurt by the Great Depression. Mussolini believed expansion was the only way to safeguard Italian interests. In 1935 Italy invaded Ethiopia. Italy was industrialized and Ethiopians used spears and rocks; the Italians easily defeated the Ethiopian nation.

Germany- Adolf HitlerHitler was still angry that Germany had lost WWI. He was enraged by the peace terms that forced Germany to pay reparations, cede land and limit their military. In 1923 Hitler tried to overthrow the government, but he was arrested.

Mein KampfWhile in prison Hitler outline his ideas in a book titled “Mein Kampf” or “My Struggle”. In the book Hitler explained how the Germans did not lose WWI, but were betrayed by different minority groups living within Germany, especially the Jewish.

Hitler’s planHitler declared the only way for Germany to restore its glory was to purify its citizens to the Aryan race, rebuild the military and expand Germany’s borders through conquest. Once Hitler gained control of the Reichstag (German Parliament) in 1933, he took moves to become Der Fuhrer, or The Leader. With complete control Hitler began expanding.

German ExpansionGermany saw expansion as a way to bolster National Pride and domination. Hitler started by taking over several areas, including the mineral rich Rhineland. Britain and France worried about Hitler’s aggression but did nothing to stop him. Soon Germany made an alliance with Italy called the Axis agreement.

AppeasementBritain and France were concerned about Hitler’s aggression, but reluctant to enter into another war. At a meeting in Munich, leaders from Germany, Italy, Britain and France meet. They agreed to give into Hitler’s demands for the Rhineland and Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia). Hitler promised to not expand further.

AppeasementGiving in to aggressive demands to avoid war

and keep peace

WAR! WAR! WAR! WAR! WAR!In 1939 Hitler invaded Poland, the last democratic nation in Eastern Europe. The British and France declared war.

BlitzkriegGermans attempt Blitzkrieg, or lightning war, against France. The goal was to quickly invade and capture France. They accomplished their goal in just over 6 months. With France occupied Hitler could focus on attacking Britain.

London BlitzEngland, an island nation, has natural protection from water. To attack Britain, Hitler had to rely on his Luftwaffe, German air bombers. Up to 1000 bombers attacked Britain a day. Over the course of 58 days Londoners slept in subway tunnels and over 15,000 were killed.

Japan’s EmpireJapan lacked resources and needed land for its growing population, so they began a process of Imperialism:

-1931 Japan takes over Manchuria-1937- Japan invades North China

This challenge American interests in the Pacific. To protect American interests Roosevelt began a Naval buildup and stationed the Navy at Pearl Harbor.

DisillusionmentAmericans were reluctant to enter into the conflict in Europe. After World War I many Americans began to examine the reasons for WWI and its effects on America. Soon, Americans were torn between Isolation and Neutrality.

Isolation Neutrality

Do not want any contact with the outside world, not even trade

Do not want to get involved in the politics of foreign nations, but still want to trade

Neutrality Acts 1935-1937In the end Congress settled on a policy of Neutrality. Congress declare that the US would withhold weapons and loans from all nations at war, including Britain and France. Also, all nonmilitary goods sold to warring nations must be paid for in cash, no loans would be allowed.

Cash and CarryAmerican policy to sell goods only for

cash

Lend-Lease ActsAs the war dragged on, Franklin Roosevelt pushed Congress to pass the Lend Lease Acts. These allowed the US to lend ships, tanks, planes and other military supplies to countries who defend democracy. After the war they would return the supplies or pay for anything destroyed.

“Arsenal of Democracy”- will sell supplies to democratic allies

The Atlantic Charter 1941As America became more and more involved in the war by trading, the British Prime Minister and Franklin D. Roosevelt met in secret. Together America and Britain determined their war goals: All nations should be safe in their own borders.

Leading to Pearl HarborWhen France fell from Germany’s Blitzkreig, the Japanese took its colony in Indochina. The US retaliated by cutting off all trade with Japan and freezing its assets in the US. The Japanese were angry about this, but both the Japanese Emperor and Roosevelt worked for peace, until intercepted messages indicated Japan was planning further expansion.

Pearl Harbor Lives in infamyRoosevelt pledged to stay out of the war because the US was not directly involved. However, the Japanese angry with the US for halting trade with them, bombed the Navy base at Pearl Harbor.

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Ultimatum to avoid war the US proposed resuming trade with Japan if they agreed to stop moving troops and expanding. Japan acted like they were entertaining the offer, but American intelligence discovered Japanese troop movements in SE Asia, but missed the fleet headed to Pearl Harbor.

Pearl HarborJapan attacked on the morning of Sunday Dec. 7th with 180 planes:-2400 Americans Killed-1200 Wounded-300 Planes damaged or destroyed -18 Warships sunk or damaged-8/9 battleships destroyed or damaged

Japan only lost 29 planes

Infamy Roosevelt declared Pearl harbor as the day that will live in infamy, an asked Congress to declare war. America officially enters the war on December 11, 1941.

Allies vs AxisAllies Axis

Britain- Winston ChurchillFrance- Charles de Gualle

Soviet Union- StalinAmerica- Franklin Roosevelt (Harry Truman)

Germany- HitlerItaly- Mussolini

Japan-Hirohito

The War at HomeWorld War II was another total war, with all the nation’s resources going towards the war effort. To get the nations through the war the US did many things:

-rationing-War bonds-Hollywood dramatizations-Japanese Internment-Women workers and army corps-Arsenal of Democracy

Hollywood goes to WarTo keep the Americans into the war effort, the American government worked with Hollywood to promote the war and create propaganda ads. These ads accomplished several purposes:

-Promote war effort and patriotism-Warn against “Loose Lips”-Created films favorable to the Communist Soviet Union

Executive Order 9066Roosevelt pushed Executive Order 9066 to protect the US. Japanese Americans were interned, or kept, in large camps to “protect” the United States from Japanese spies. Most of the Japanese Americans in the camps were born in America.

**In times of war, civil liberties may be limited**

Rosie the Riveters Just like WWI, Millions of women joined the workforce to work in factories to manufacture military supplies, ammunition and weapons. Many of these women were married mothers, a first for America. Even after the war many of these working mothers became the norm.

Arsenal of DemocracyThe Lend-Lease Act had America contributing military supplies long before Americans ever joined the war effort. Once America declared war, US factories had to turn out even more war supplies to satisfy the demand for American soldiers and from all the allied nations, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. Production ramped up to unprecedented levels.

Wartime production:300,000 planes100,000 tanks

5,600 “Liberty Ships”6 million rifles

41 billion rounds of ammo

Minorities in the WarWorld War I was one of the first wars where minorities made up large numbers of the fighting force. Not only were women admitted into the army, air force and marines in noncombat positions, but African Americans and even immigrants made up a large number of fighters.

Women’s Army CorpsThe WAC allowed women to join the army and war effort in noncombat positions. Many women served as radio operators, mechanics and repair shop workers, and as clerical staff. Thousands of women also served as nurses.

African American soldiersMany African Americans also joined the war effort. These men were trained and given weapons, however, they were kept segregated from the white divisions. In the beginning, African American soldiers were limited to support roles. As the war dragged on, many soon saw combat and earned medals for their roles.

Tuskegee AirmenThe most distinguished of the African units was the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black unit of military pilots. There were 994 African American pilots in the unit, winning many medals and awards. However, despite their heroism, they still dealt with racism and segregation. After WWII, the role of Africans in the war pushed President Harry Truman to sign Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in the armed forces.

Nisei soldiersDespite the injustice of Japanese internment camps and limited civil rights, thousands of Japanese Americans joined the military, proving their loyalty and will to fight. The 442nd Regimental Combat team, made up of only Japanese Americans, won more medals than any other unit of similar size.

Winning the WarWhen America joined the war we wanted to punish Japan, however, our allies were desperate for assistance in Europe. We agreed to help end the war in Europe before focusing attention on Japan.

1) American troops pushed Italy out of North Africa and invaded Italy, pushing the Axis powers North past Rome

2) British and American troops pushed Axis forces out of France starting with the D-Day invasion

3) American troops focused on the war in the Pacific against the Japanese

America’s Two Front WarAmerican troops helped turn the tide of the war in Europe, eventually ending the war after the Battle of the Bulge, capturing Berlin and accepting Germany’s surrender on May 8th, 1945. However, at the same time, American troops were fighting in the Pacific.

Turning Point: European Theater

Dwight Eisenhower planned an Allied invasion of France. To prepare the Allies constantly bombed German factories, aircraft sites and military supply warehouses.

The Allies stormed Normandy’s beaches on June 6, 1944 with 176,000 troops.

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Invasion 3:44

D-DaySPR

Pacific Island HoppingAfter suffering some major defeats to the Japanese in the Pacific, American troops, under the lead of General Douglas MacArthur, began a campaign of island hopping. The Americans selectively attacked specific enemy held islands. However, the Japanese fiercely defended their positions, causing massive casualties on both sides.

Battle of Iwo JimaOne of the bloodiest battles of the war, the Americans shelled the tiny, volcanic island for 74 days, dropping over 20,000 shells onto the island. However, the steep rocky terrain was honeycombed with caves and tunnels that largely protected the Japanese. An invasion of the island included 110,000 American troops and a month to secure the island.

Manhattan ProjectWhile the military island hopped the Pacific, scientists in the US were studying ways to harness the power of the atom. In July 1945 detonated first Atomic bomb test

President Truman ordered Japan to surrender of face “Utter and complete destruction”

Atomic bombs dropped:Hiroshima- 8/6/45- 70,000 killed instantly

Nagasaki- 8/9/45- 40,000 killed instantly

**many more die from radiation exposure over time**

Dropping the bombOnce the bomb was ready, President Truman had to decide whether dropping the bomb was right. His considerations included:1) Weapon may convince Japan to surrender2) Prevent further American casualties

Effects and surrenderThe estimated deaths exceed 140,000 from the explosion on Hiroshima, and thousands more died as a result of burns and radiation poisoning. Similar devastation was wrought on the city of Nagasaki a mere 3 days later. Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, the war had finally ended.

DebateFor Against

-Save American Lives-Bring a quick end to the war

-Japan was nearly ready to surrender-massive casualties as a result the bomb

Was dropping the bomb the Best option?

Yes NO

Japanese OccupationAfter the surrender, American troops led by General MacArthur occupied Japan. These troops forced democracy and a constitution onto Japan. This new constitution was nick-named the “MacArthur Constitution”. This constitution set up a democratic government, though emperor Hirohito remained, he was just a figurehead with little real power.

World War II Recap