World War II Overview

What was World War II? Who was involved? Major war from 1939-1945 Fought between the Allies and Axis, primarily in Europe, North Africa, and Asia/the Pacific

Where did fighting occur? Primarily in Europe Asia North Africa Pacific Ocean

How & why was Asia involved? Military leaders took control of Japan in 1937 Invaded China Committed horrible atrocities (crimes) in the Rape of Nanjing “Kill all, burn all, loot all” policy Trading competition with USA Japan had an alliance with Germany; China had an alliance with the Soviet Union

What caused World War II? Rise of dictators (totalitarianism) Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Tojo (Japan) Militarism Japan, Germany & Italy increased their militaries to help solve their economic problems & show strength Policy of appeasement Appeasement: a policy of compromising in order to keep the peace & avoid conflict League of Nations lacked power to aggressively respond to Germany As Germany slowly invaded other places, the Allies made threats but never took action

Who were the Nazis? What were their beliefs? One former soldier, Adolf Hitler, was extremely angered by the Treaty of Versailles & the depression He created a small political party called the National Socialists (Nazis for short) that quickly grew powerful Nazi beliefs & goals: Restore German pride Fix the Germany economy Autarky: make Germany self-sufficient so they didn’t need to rely on others Germans (Aryans) were superior to other ethnic groups, especially Jews

How did the Nazis gain popularity & control? Promised the people what they wanted Hope for the future! Effective use of propaganda Provided jobs & improved economy Offered Jews as a scapegoat Scapegoat: a person or group who is blamed for a problem Discrimination against Jews = anti-Semitism Later in the 1930s, they used fear & intimidation

How did Hitler get control of Germany? Hitler & Nazis were elected to gov. positions The president, Paul von Hindenburg, appointed Hitler chancellor of Germany in 1933 Hindenburg thought he could control Hitler Instead, Hitler took total control Fear & intimidation used to convince people to elect Hitler He was now fuehrer of Germany with total control

How did the Nazis spread Anti-Semitism? In school, to reach the youth Taught that Jews were scientifically inferior Hitler Youth groups Slowly added anti-Semitic laws Jewish children = separate schools, no parks, no cinema No Jewish professors, only shop 3-5pm, star on clothing… Media & propaganda List of Jewish crimes, anti-Semitic movies & news Nazis also discriminated against many other groups of people, like the disabled, Roma, homosexuals, & Communists

What started the war? When? September 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland Great Britain declared war on Germany

What was the Holocaust? The Nazis “Final Solution”: plan to exterminate all the Jews in Europe System of work & death camps where Jews & other “offenders” against the Nazis were imprisoned Jews were arrested for no crime at all & sent across Europe as prisoners Horrible conditions- disease, torture, starvation common Certain extermination camps included gas chambers to more “efficiently” kill people

Forcibly transported to the camps in cattle car trains Separated by gender & age upon arrival All belongings taken Young, old, & ill typically killed right away Used as slave labor until death 12