WORLD WAR 2

DICTATORS CHALLENGE WORLD PEACE  Japan seized Manchuria in 1931, League of Nations tried to punish and Japan left the organization.  Italy invaded Ethiopia, voted sanctions against Italy but had no power to enforce.

 Hitler sent troops into Rhineland in 1936, violating the Treaty of Versailles.  No real action was taken against him, instead they choose to appease the nations demads.

 Both Britian and France adopted pacifism, against war at all cost.  U.S. adopted the Neutrality acts. Couldn’t sell arms to war nations. Couldn’t travel on ships to war nations.

 Rome- Berlin- Tokyo Axis- agreed to fight Soviet communism. Not to interfere with ones another’s plans for expansion

SPANISH CIVIL WAR  1920’s- Spain was a monarchy, by 1931 the king had to leave the country.  Country tore into halves over political views called liberals and conservatives.  Francisco Franco led a revolt to start a civil war.

 Hitler and Mussolini sent arms and forces to Franco to win the war.  U.S. and Britain remained neutral.  Germany bombed a small community called Guernica and killed anybody that survived.

GERMAN AGGRESSION CONTINUES  Hitler pursued the goal of adding “living space” for the German people.  Germany annexed Austria and forced the country to place Nazi’s in government roles.

 Hitler demanded Czechoslovakia to give control of their land called Sudetenland.  Munich conference- Hitler received the land in promise that he would stop expanding.

EUROPE PLUNGES INTO WAR  Appeasement failed and democracies had to protect Hitler’s next target.  Nazi- Soviet Pact- Not to fight if the other went to war, divide up Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe.

 Both countries prepared to betray the other in expansion.  Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany starting WW2

EARLY AXIS GAINS  German planes bombed Germany while tanks took out civilians.  Soviets also invaded to get the land they were promised.  Poland ceased to exist.

 Hitler also took over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania while Russia took Finland.  Hitler then took over Norway and Denmark heading towards France.

 France falls after Italy attacks from the South and Germany attacks the East.  Germany sent Rommel to North Africa to push the British forces to Egypt.  Italy invaded Greece and Northern African Nations.

 Hungary and Bulgaria join the Axis powers to save their countries.  Luftwaffe- German Airforce, perfected bombing of civilians.  Scientist produced deadlier bombs than ever before, Radar, sonars.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN AND THE BLITZ  Operation Sea Lion- Germany’s plan to invade Britain.  London Blitz- 57 days of bombing from the Germans, thousands losing their lives.  Failed to take Britain, Germany decided to try and take the Soviet Union.

OPERATION BARBAROSSA  3 million Germans poured into Russian catching Stalin off guard.  Scorched Earth policy helped the Russians a little.  Germans were not prepared for the temperatures and many Germans froze to death.

 Germans began a two and a half year siege of Leningrad.  Russians would ration food to almost nothing.  Britain would agree to work with Russia to help defeat Germany.

AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT GROWS  U.S. found a way to provide aid to Britain who stood alone against Germany.  Lend- Lease act- Could provide arms to whoever could help keep America safe.  Atlantic Charter- Final destruction of the Nazi tyranny.

JAPAN ATTACKS  1930’s Japan would take most of Eastern China.  Japan took Indonesia, and U.S. agreed to stop selling arms to them.  General Tojo Hideki- took power in Japan and wanted to deal with the U.S.

 December 7, Japanese airplanes damaged or destroyed American Naval Ships at Pearl Harbor.  Killed 2400 American soldiers and their families.  U.S. would declare war on the Axis powers.

 Japan would go on to conquer all the islands in the pacific and all the settlements of the European nations in Asia.