 1920s- Good times for most countries (U.S.A).  1930s- Worldwide economic depression.  Result- Many people turned to Fascism.  Fascism- political system that stresses nationalism, dictatorship, and military/economic strength of the state above individual rights.  Japan-Run by warlike generals who want land.  Italy-Benito Mussolini, first Fascist leader.  Communist Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin

The Third Reich

 New countries such as Italy, Germany, Japan need to expand empires to gain resources to complete economically with the United States, Great Britain, and France.

 Western Democracies try to preserve the peace and adopt the policy of appeasement.  Appeasement giving in to the demands of the aggressor in order to keep the peace.)  Result- The Aggressors view peace as an act of weakness and respond with new acts of aggression.  1939 Germany and the Soviet Union signed an nonaggression pact which makes things worse.

 Nazi Germany invaded Poland from one side, while the Soviet Union came from the other.  France and Britain had no time to help.  Then Germany attacked France from the north, and Italy invaded from the south.  When France fell, only Britain stood against the Axis powers.  A Nazi bombing campaign against London and other cities only strengthened British resolve.  Meanwhile, Axis armies also pushed into North Africa and the Balkans.

 With most of Europe his and Great Britain no threat to invade. Hitler began to plan for war against the Soviet Union.  This was a war that Hitler had always wanted.  Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 in the hopes of gaining its natural resources and putting down communism.  Hitler’s advance was stalled by the brutal Russian winter.  Over the next four years, the fighting on the Eastern Front will be brutal.  Millions of soldiers and civilians will be die.

 The people who lived in lands occupied by the Nazis and the Japan often suffered brutal treatment.  Hitler’s forces sent Polish and Soviet Slavs to work as slave laborers. (Many were worked to death).  The Jewish people got the same and worse in Nazi “death camps.”  The Holocaust- Germany’s plan for Genocide of all the Jews and other undesirables in Europe.  German Jews/Polish were forced to live in Ghettos.  1941-Many Eastern Jews were murdered by execution squads.  Final Solution to the Jewish Question begins.  Millions of Jews/undesirables die in death/concentration camps.  The Japanese killed and tortured Asians whom they claimed to help free from Western colonial rule.

 Isolationism-Americans were bitter about the human and dollar cost of WWI.  Congress is completely opposed to war/Roosevelt wants in.  Lend-lease Act- Gave Britain supplies on credit and 50 destroyers. “Cash and Carry”

 Pearl Harbor (December 7 th, 1941)  Japan bitter from embargo of American goods  Japan felt they could not expand without war with the United States.  Japanese strategy was a “shock and awe” strike at the most important naval base in our Pacific empire to knock the US out of the war or delay the US until the war was over.  Adm. Yamamoto led secret Japanese assault.  All 8 battleships sunk/damaged,149 aircraft destroyed, 2,403 dead.  3 aircraft carriers not in Pearl Harbor  US declares war on Japan on December 8, 1941.

 The U.S. and Great Britain directed economic resources into the war effort and limited the rights of citizens and freedom of the press.  Japanese Americans and German refugees in Britain suffered for their heritage.  Women filled many war industry jobs as men joined the military.

 In 1942 and 1943, the Allies won victories in the Pacific, North Africa, Italy, the Soviet Union, and France.  Both Japan and Nazi Germany were put on the defensive as the U.S. pushed across North Africa and into Italy and also island-hopped across the Pacific  Soviet troops began advancing into Eastern Europe.

 Battle of Stalingrad: USSR survive siege/win battle.  This changed everything in Europe. (Hitler’s fault)  USSR now thinks it can win.  Battle Kursk: USSR wins largest tank battle ever.  Soviet Advance is a sign to open a 2 nd front with Germany.

 The Allies invaded the coast of Normandy on June 6, 1944, and after a costly battle headed toward Paris.  The Germans retreated and France was soon free.  An intensive bombing campaign crippled Germany’s industries and devastated many of its cities.  Because Churchill and Roosevelt needed Stalin’s help to win the war, they agreed to many of his demands regarding the annexation and determination of lands in Asia and Eastern Europe.

 The war in Europe neared its end by the spring of  The Axis powers were defeated for several reasons:  1. they could not wage war successfully on several fronts;  2.Hitler underestimated the Soviet army;  3. the U.S. was able to produce more than the combined Axis powers;  4.oil became too scarce to feed Luftwaffe planes.

 Unlike 1918, Germany fought to the end and was destroyed.  Soviet Union got to capture Berlin.  Hitler committed suicide on April 30 th  On May 7 th, Germany officially surrendered.  The war in Europe ended the next day.

 In the summer of 1942, the U.S. went on the offensive in the Pacific.  Victory on Guadalcanal started a campaign of “island-hopping” that would move U.S. bases closer to Japan.  The Japanese however, continued to resist and the fighting was brutal.  However, the U.S. continue to make retake islands and began to heavily bomb Japan.

 While the war in Europe was ending. Japan showed no signs of surrender.  The Battles of Two Jima and Okinawa proved that Japan would fight to the death and kill as many as Americas as possible.  Meanwhile, American scientists had successfully tested the world’s first atomic bomb.  New U.S. President Truman decided to use an atomic bomb to save American lives.  Two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Japanese surrendered.

 After the war, people around the world came to realize the full extent of the Holocaust.  The Allies put many Axis leaders on trial for “crimes against humanity.”  Western Allies also built new governments in Germany and Japan that would give more power to the people.

 The United Nations was established after the war to help keep peace among nations.  The Security Council has the power to apply sanctions or send peace-keepers to try to resolve disputes.  The UN has also worked to improve health and offer relief aid around the world.

 After the war, the Soviets wanted to determine the fate of the Eastern European lands that it occupied.  Stalin wanted communist governments installed in these countries as a protection against Germany.  The U.S. and Britain were against the idea and wanted free elections in Eastern Europe.

 President Truman outlined a policy of resisting Soviet expansion around the world, which was called the Truman Doctrine.  To help keep communism from taking hold in Western Europe, the U.S. sent billions of dollars in aid under the Marshall Plan.  The Allies moved to strengthen the West German economy,  While the Soviets dismantled much of East Germany’s industry.  Tensions grew over the split within Germany, and distrust fueled the establishment of two alliances: NATO and the Warsaw Pact