Who were the aggressors of the 1930’s? What was the primary goal of each?

Unite German-speaking people Lebensraum” “Lebensraum” Germany should take land and natural resources from the people of the East (ex. Poland). Domination of Europe and ultimately the world Revenge for the Treaty of Versailles Eliminate Communists Eliminate the Jewish people of Europe Achieve “racial purity” of his definition of a “master race”…the German people

Germany (Hitler) Disobeys military restrictions of T of V Re-occupies the Rhineland - Annexes Austria Seizes Sudetenland and then Czechoslovakia

Italy (Mussolini) invades Northern Africa Italy invades Ethiopia 1935

Obtain natural resources – on the mainland Dominate trade in the Pacific Secure trading and military access to the Middle East

The Japanese Invasion of China

Rome-Berlin Axis: 1936 Hitler and Mussolini form alliance Axis Powers Axis Powers 1 month later – Japan joins the alliance- Tripartite Pact

Poland Attacked: Sept. 1, 1939 Blitzkrieg [“Lightening War”]

Germany attacks Poland from the west Russia attacks from the east Great Britain and France Declare War Great Britain and France Declare War Poland collapses in one month Treatment of the Poles by Germans Dragged from homes Sent to concentration camps (2 of the largest are in Poland) Slave labor

German Troops March into Warsaw

Germans trapped Allied forces Allied Forces retreat to beaches of Dunkirk Great Britain sent out Rescue army= fleet of 850 ships across English Channel including Civilian craft (ie. yachts ) Daring rescue saved 338,000

France’s protection against Germany The Maginot Line Fortified border with Germany May 1940  Hitler sweeps through Netherlands/Belgium/Luxemberg

The German Panzer corps raced to the English Channel. Cut off British Aid

France Surrenders June 1940

Chamberlin is succeeded by Winston Churchill Opponent of appeasement Had warned of Hitler in the 1930s

With the fall of France, Britain Is Alone! With the fall of France, Britain Is Alone!

Germany saw the defeat of Britain as the last opponent to European domination Bombing raids on Britain increased Churchill refused a peace settlement Germany targets civilians to demoralize the population

Battle of Britain: The “Blitz”

Sept consecutive days Day and night Londoners evacuated to the Underground (subway)

The London “Tube”: Air Raid Shelters during the Blitz

Planes were better and more maneuverable than those in the Luftwaffe Radar prevented surprise attacks

The Royal Air Force

Germans are stunned by British Resistance Hitler calls off attacks on Britain Turned his attention to the Mediterranean and the Balkans Hitler’s ultimate Prize…the SOVIET UNION

German forces led by Erwin Rommel “The Desert Fox” North Africa Back up Italian troops Primarily Fought British troops Successful at first, in pushing British troops to Egypt, but eventually defeated Eventually, after the U.S. joined, North Africa would provide the Allies easier access into Europe The “underbelly’ of Europe

Hitler built bases in the Balkans to prepare to attack Soviet Union

Operation Barbarossa= Hitler’s plan to invade Soviet Union “lebensraum” Hitler looked at Russia as a supplier of food – the ultimate “lebensraum” for the German Empire in his “New World Order”

Size of Soviet Army was their advantage, but Germany held a tactical/weapons advantage Russia’s defense Scorched earth policy (same as used against Napoleon)

Operation Barbarossa: Hitler’s Biggest Mistake

Pearl Harbor – 7 December 1941 A date which will live in infamy!

December 1941 President Roosevelt Signs the U.S. Declaration of War on Japan Hitler Declared war on U.S. December 1941 President Roosevelt Signs the U.S. Declaration of War on Japan Hitler Declared war on U.S.

Axis Powers in 1942

Hitler’s Objectives Oil Control of the Volga River Soviets least expected this battle (secret of the Blitzkrieg) Luftwaffe went on nightly bombing raids that set most of the city ablaze and reduced to rubble

European Theater

Nov 1942 Germans controlled 90% of the ruined city Russian counterattack Trapped Germans inside and cut off their supplies

Feb 1943…90,000 frostbitten, half-starved German troops surrendered All that remained of an army of 330,000 Stalingrad cost the Soviets over 1 million soldiers City was 99% destroyed Germans on the defensive, Soviets pushing westward

Gen. Eisenhower Gives the Orders for D-Day [“Operation Overlord”]

D-Day (June 6, 1944)

The Battle of the Bulge: Hitler’s Last Offensive Dec to Jan. 1945

V-E Day (May 8, 1945)

The “Big Three” Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin

Yamamoto Japanese Naval Commander (Emperor Hirohito) Hideki Tojo Hideki Tojo – Prime Minister of Japan

USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor

Allied Counter-Offensive: “Island-Hopping”

Japanese Kamikaze Planes: The Scourge of the South Pacific Kamikaze Pilots Suicide Bombers

US Marines on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima [Feb. 1945]

Battle of Midway Island: June 4-6, 1942

Mushroom Cloud Over Nagasaki

V-J Day (September 2, 1945)