World War II: Fighting

New Leaders Emerge In Britain, after it is apparent Hitler is a threat to Europe, Winston Churchill becomes the leader of the British Government. In France, after the nation falls to Germany Charles de Gaulle becomes the de facto leader on the French Resistance.

Battle for France May 10th, 1940: France is invaded by Hitler’s army through a thick forest –the Ardennes. France believed the forest would protect them, but it couldn’t protect them from Hitler’s Panzer Division. On June 22nd, 1940: France Surrendered Germany.

Battle for Britain Britain helped to evacuate 300,000 soldiers from France escaping the German Army. Their plan was to weaken the will of the British. Germany bombed London for over 50 days, slaughtering civilians, destroying ancient buildings. After the use of Radar technology, German forces are unable to make many successful attacks on Britain. By 1941, Germany could not continue to lose planes/pilots on London Bombing Raids.

Battle Against the Soviets After failing in Britain, Hitler turned toward his old enemy Josef Stalin and the Soviet Union. In June, 1941 Germany invaded the Soviets with a force of 3 million troops. At first the assault is highly effective, but as winter sets in German machines and people are unprepared for Soviet Winter. After Winter, Stalin’s forces regroup and millions begin marching against the Germans

Pearl Harbor: Why? Japan needed a lot of oil for its War Machine to remain operational. America traded a lot of oil to Japan. America cut-off their oil supplies to Japan in response to their Militarism/Imperialism in Asia (i.e., China, Korea, Manchuria). Japan responded by planning a secret attack on the U.S. base in Hawaii: Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor: The Attack The attack begins early on the morning of Dec. 7th, 1941 (Day of Infamy) 2 waves of attack from planes/submarines Attack takes less than 2 hours. 2402 – Dead Japanese Losses 1282 – Injured 65 people 4 Battleships Sunk 5 Subs 128 Aircraft destroyed 29 aircraft

The Aftermath America was shocked and entered the war the very next day (Dec. 8th). America, upon entering the war, rounded up Japanese into Internment Camps. Germans and Italians also experienced severe mistreatment. Jingoism: patriotism in the form of warlike, aggressive, ethnocentric behavior