WWII & End of European World Order Ch. 30 Pg

Old & New Causes Economic disaster creates the right conditions for fascist & militarist groups to gain power Economic disaster creates the right conditions for fascist & militarist groups to gain power Prospect of united China threatened Japanese imperialism ambitions Prospect of united China threatened Japanese imperialism ambitions Fascist nationalistic ambition fueled expansion & intervention against liberal republics Fascist nationalistic ambition fueled expansion & intervention against liberal republics Uniting German-speakers, Spanish civil war Uniting German-speakers, Spanish civil war Inability of international organizations & Western powers to stop aggression Inability of international organizations & Western powers to stop aggression

Unchecked Aggression Local conflict raged long before official start to war in 1939 Local conflict raged long before official start to war in 1939 Japan: Japan: Efforts to control Manchuria → then China through brutal bombardment of coastal cities Efforts to control Manchuria → then China through brutal bombardment of coastal cities Germany: Germany: Rearms & gains control of German-speakers in Central Europe; divides remaining states with USSR – all w/o strong Western reaction Rearms & gains control of German-speakers in Central Europe; divides remaining states with USSR – all w/o strong Western reaction ↳ WWII begins w/ invasion of Poland

Conduct of WWII Nazi Blitzkrieg Lightning war of air force & tanks rapidly gained control of much of Europe & Mediterranean Lightning war of air force & tanks rapidly gained control of much of Europe & Mediterranean Western campaign stagnates with Battle of Britain Western campaign stagnates with Battle of Britain Germany turns eastward to capture Soviet industries & natural resources Germany turns eastward to capture Soviet industries & natural resources USSR incurred heavy losses but repelled Germans starting long slow retreat USSR incurred heavy losses but repelled Germans starting long slow retreat

The Holocaust 12 million undesirables exterminated 12 million undesirables exterminated 6 million Jews 6 million Jews Others included homosexuals, gypsies, Polish intellectuals, political opponents Others included homosexuals, gypsies, Polish intellectuals, political opponents Characterized by persecution, forced labor, inhumane medical experiments Characterized by persecution, forced labor, inhumane medical experiments “Final solution” intensified w/ mounting battle losses “Final solution” intensified w/ mounting battle losses

End of Reich U.S. supported allied cause long before entering war U.S. supported allied cause long before entering war Once in the war, U.S. provided key forces Once in the war, U.S. provided key forces German shift to the east gives western allies space to launch offensive German shift to the east gives western allies space to launch offensive N. Af → Italy N. Af → Italy D-Day invasion of Normandy beaches → Battle of Bulge D-Day invasion of Normandy beaches → Battle of Bulge Allied victory inevitable Allied victory inevitable

Japan & Pacific Theater After China, Japan captured SE Asia & European colonial possessions for raw materials, oil, food stuffs After China, Japan captured SE Asia & European colonial possessions for raw materials, oil, food stuffs 1941 – Pearl Harbor attack draws U.S. into war 1941 – Pearl Harbor attack draws U.S. into war U.S. initially engaged in “island-hopping” pushing Japan from outer island fortresses U.S. initially engaged in “island-hopping” pushing Japan from outer island fortresses U.S. later strikes at core (Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Tokyo) U.S. later strikes at core (Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Tokyo) 1945 – Atomic bombs brought dramatic end to war 1945 – Atomic bombs brought dramatic end to war

WWII Ends… Superpower Standoff Begins Germany & Japan forced to accept unconditional surrender (although Japan maintains emperor) Germany & Japan forced to accept unconditional surrender (although Japan maintains emperor) Sought to avoid vengefulness of WWI Sought to avoid vengefulness of WWI United Nations created international diplomacy rather than one dominated by West United Nations created international diplomacy rather than one dominated by West Labor protection, famine relief, women’s rights, environmental protection, peacekeeping Labor protection, famine relief, women’s rights, environmental protection, peacekeeping

Cold War Tension b/t 1945 & 1990, but no direct conflicts b/t emerging Soviet & U.S. superpowers Tension b/t 1945 & 1990, but no direct conflicts b/t emerging Soviet & U.S. superpowers Tensions rise at a series of conferences as USSR sought to maximize gains vs. West Tensions rise at a series of conferences as USSR sought to maximize gains vs. West Yalta Yalta Potsdam Potsdam Korea divided into 2 zones—US & Soviet occupied Korea divided into 2 zones—US & Soviet occupied Colonies restored to European control, but nearly immediate decolonization heightened Cold War politics as each colony gets independence Colonies restored to European control, but nearly immediate decolonization heightened Cold War politics as each colony gets independence