History 171C The United States and the World

World War II and U.S. Neutrality

Germany’s claim to Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland

Britain and France agreed to German annexation of Sudetenland on condition that this would be Hitler’s last territorial demand Munich Agreement, September 1938 British PM Neville Chamberlain with Hitler

Neville Chamberlain The Legacy of Munich

November 1938—Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) Late 1938—Hitler stepped up persecution of Jews

November 1938—Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

Late 1938—Hitler stepped up persecution of Jews November 1938—Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

Roosevelt was sympathetic to their plight but did little to ease immigration restrictions Kristallnacht caused major exodus of Jews out of Germany

Early 1939—Hitler reneged on Munich Agreement, dismembered rest of Czechoslovakia

Early 1939—Hitler demanded that Danzig and Polish Corridor be returned to Germany

Spring 1939—Britain and France pledged to defend Poland against German aggression British PM Neville Chamberlain French PM Edouard Deladier

Non-aggression treaty between Germany and USSR Secret agreement to divide up Poland and much of rest of Eastern Europe August 1939—Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact

Non-aggression treaty between Germany and USSR Secret agreement to divide up Poland and much of rest of Eastern Europe August 1939—Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact

September 1939 German invasion of Poland

September 1939— Soviet invasion of Eastern Poland

Britain and France declared war on Germany Chamberlain announcing war decision, Sept. 3, 1939

but was determined to aid struggle against Nazi Germany Roosevelt announced US would remain neutral

World War II and U.S. Neutrality

The War in Europe Hitler and lebensraum (“living space”)

Neutrality Act of 1939

“Phony War,” September April 1940 British propaganda poster, c. 1940

April-May 1940— Germany defeated Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg

France’s Maginot Line

May-June 1940—Germany defeated France Attack mounted via Ardennes Forest— bypassing Maginot Line

British and French forces escaped via Dunkirk

Remainder nominally independent (but subservient to Germany) under Vichy government Northern part of France occupied

Remainder nominally independent (but subservient to Germany) under Vichy government Northern part of France occupied

June 1940—Italy entered war on side of Germany

Summer 1940— “Battle of Britain”

—Germany launched air raids against British cities

but failed to break Britain’s morale

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

FDR’s efforts to help Britain

“Destroyers for Bases” deal, 1940

What to do?

Debate Between “Internationalists” and “Isolationists,” What to do?

Internationalism Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies

Isolationism Committee to Defend America First Charles Lindbergh

Dr. Seuss on Charles Lindbergh, 1941

Wendell Willkie Republican Presidential Candidate in 1940

November 1940— Roosevelt elected for third term

Lend Lease Act Proposed December 1940 Enacted March 1941

Spring 1941— Germany attacked British forces in Libya Irwin Rommel

Spring 1941— Germany conquered Yugoslavia and Greece

Summer 1941—Germany attacked Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa)

U.S. Lend-Lease aid extended to Soviet Union

Summer 1941—FDR and Churchill met in Newfoundland, issued Atlantic Charter

Anglo-U.S. friction over open trade proposal

1941—U.S. and Germany wage undeclared naval war in the Atlantic

October 1941—FDR and the “Secret Nazi map”

The War in Asia “ The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”

Linkage between Axis victories in Europe and Japanese moves in Asia: Dutch and French holdings now more accessible to Japan

September 1940—Japan moved into Indochina; signed Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy

U.S. reacted by embargoing scrap metal to Japan

April 1941—Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Pact

Summer 1941—Japan seized rest of Indochina

Japanese troops entering Saigon, Vietnam Summer 1941—Japan seized rest of Indochina

Japanese troops entering Saigon, Vietnam U.S. imposed oil embargo Summer 1941—Japan seized rest of Indochina

Fall 1941—Japanese government decided to move against Malaya and Dutch East Indies

To secure these gains, decided on preemptive strike against U.S. & British forces in Pacific

December 1941 —Japan attacked U.S. positions at Pearl Harbor and Philippines, and British positions in Malaya and Hong Kong

December 1941—U.S. declared war on Japan; Germany declared war on U.S.