WWII Background
When did the world experience its most dramatic change in recent history? AFTER WORLD WAR II!
Germany, Italy, & Japan: The “ Axis Powers ” All three adopted forms of dictatorship (such as National Socialism (NAZI) in Ger. & fascism in Italy) that: – (1) said nation > individual – (2) called for expansion – (3) were anti-communist Q: Where was this time?
Axis Powers
Axis Powers “gain power” pre-WWII How? – Non-Axis democracies desired peace & reduced own militaries – League of Nations could not promote disarmament – Belief that WWI really would “ end all wars ” – APPEASEMENT Examples: –Japan taking Manchuria ( ) –Italy taking Ethiopia ( ) –Germany taking Czechoslovakia (1938)
Appeaseme nt ***important idea*** Associated with Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain prior to WWII
Mukden Incident, 1931
WWII: The most ‘Just War?’ 11
General WWII Overview I Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, & Japan Allied Powers: Almost everyone else!
Dark Green: Allies before Pearl Harbor (Dec ) Light Green: Allies After Pearl Harbor. Orange: Axis Powers Gray: Neutral Countries
General WWII Overview II Major “ Theaters ” of WWII – Pacific (Ocean) – Est. July 7, 1937 or Dec. 7, 1941 – European – Est. Sep 1, 1939 – Mediterranean – Est – Who is doing the majority of the fighting in each theater?
Axis Powers
2 Key Turning Points Axis Powers quite successful until… (1) Pacific: Battle of Midway (June 1942) (2) Europe: Battle of Stalingrad (Aug Feb 1943)
alog/Product.aspx?cid=352&pid=750 alog/Product.aspx?cid=352&pid=750 – European Theater alog/Product.aspx?cid=352&pid=741 alog/Product.aspx?cid=352&pid=741 – Pacific Theater
European Theater
2 Endings V-E Day (Victory in Europe): May 8, 1945 – Germany surrenders less than two weeks after Hitler commits suicide. V-J Day (Victory in Japan): Aug. 14, 1945 – Japan surrenders after atomic bombs drop on Hiroshima (Aug. 6) & Nagasaki (Aug. 9).
World War II: A Costly War Fatalities* (not casualties) – Russia: 25+ million – China: 11 million – Germany: 7.1 million – Poland: 6.8 million – Japan: 1.8 million – Yugoslavia, Romania, France, Hungary, Austria, Greece, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain: 1.7 million to 388,000 – United States: 295,000
War in the 20 th Century
Post-War Optimism in the USA
OTHER IMPORTANT IDEAS TOTAL WAR THE HOLOCAUST TECHNOLOGICAL, MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS THE POWER OF PERSONAL STORIES 24
WWII in a Nutshell h?v=1e_AZ3j2LbY - 7 min. h?v=1e_AZ3j2LbY 25