World War II

Origins of World War II In 1941 two major alliances squared off against each other: The Axis Powers: Nazi Germany Fascist Italy Empire of Japan The Allied Powers: Great Britain France Soviet Union China United States

Road to War: Asia 1931-1945 Japan seizes Manchuria in September 1931 Japanese government controlled by militarists Mao’s Long March occurred in 1934 Japanese invaded mainland China in 1937 Rape of Nanjing occurred winter of 1937-1938 Chaing Kai-shek retreated into western China Mao’s communist forces led guerilla warfare in East Japan occupied French Indo-China in 1940

The Nanking Massacre or Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking was a six-week period following the Japanese capture of the city of Nanjing (Nanking) the former capital of the Republic of China Occurred on December 13, 1937 During this period, hundreds of thousands of civilians were murdered and 20,000–80,000 women were raped by soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army

Severed Heads: A Result of the Nanjing Massacre

Italian Invasion of Ethiopia October 1935 The war resulted in the military occupation of Ethiopia and its annexation into the newly created colony of Italian East Africa Ethiopia never surrendered. Illegal use of mustard gas by Italy On 18 November 1936, the Italian Empire was officially recognized by the Empire of Japan Italy in turn recognized the Japanese occupation of Manchuria Only five nations refused to recognize Italian sovereignty over Ethiopia and respected Ethiopian independence: The US was one of them

Road to War: Europe 1933-1939 Hitler withdraws Germany from the League of Nations in 1933 Hitler annexes German inhabited regions of Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 Europe follows policy of appeasement at Munich Conference in 1938 (BIG MISTAKE!) Nazi-Soviet Pact signed August 23, 1939 Stalin and Hitler secretly agree to divide Poland Germany invades Poland on Sept. 1, 1939

World War II: European Theater World War I was a defensive war; World War II was an offensive war Blitzkrieg led Germany’s easy conquest of Poland, Belgium, France, et al. Mobilized massive amounts of human and natural resources from around the globe Civilians viewed as legitimate targets for war War for oil? German army attempted to seize Suez Canal German army besieged Stalingrad

World War II: European Theater

World War II: Pacific Theater After Japan occupied French Indo-China, the U.S. and Britain stopped shipments of steel, iron, and oil to Japan Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 Japan quickly conquered Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands Battle of Midway marked a turning point Japan lost 4 of its 6 largest aircraft carriers Japan’s productivity was one-tenth of U.S.

World War II: Pacific Theater

End of War: European Theater Three major allied offensives After victory at Stalingrad, Soviets begin counteroffensive in 1943 Allies invaded Sicily in July 1943 Invasion of Normandy (D-Day) June 6,1944 Hitler commits suicide on April 28, 1945 Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945

End of the War: Pacific Theater U.S. strategy of “island-hopping” by-passed heavily fortified islands to get closer to Japan (Aircraft carriers very important) Bombing raids of Japan began June 1944 40% of Tokyo was destroyed U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9) Japan surrendered August 14, 1945

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Effects of War 60 million dead World flooded with refugees Six to eight times more than World War I Over half the dead were civilians victims of massacres, famines, and bombs Russia lost 25 million; China 15 million; Poland 6 million; Germany 4 million World flooded with refugees 90 million fled China Most refugees never returned home

War of Science New inventions: synthetic rubber, radar, antibiotics Military advances: airplanes, tanks, weapons, aircraft carriers. Nazi V-2 missiles Atomic bomb

The Holocaust Nuremburg Laws passed in 1935 German and Polish Jews eventually moved to ghettos or work camps Final Solution starts in 1942 Applied modern industrial methods to the slaughter of human beings (gas chambers) Killed 6 million Jews and millions of Poles, gypsies, homosexuals, physical and mentally handicapped

The Holocaust Warsaw Ghetto Riots Prison Labor Ovens at Auschwitz Liberation of Dachau

Home Front in Europe & Asia No clear distinction between “front” and “home front” Soviet Union dismantled 1500 factories and rebuilt them in Ural Mountains Russian women took over 50% of industrial jobs and 75% of agricultural jobs German women were encouraged to stay home and have children Imported 7 million “guest workers”

Home Front in the United States U.S. economy experienced prolonged BOOM after 1940 Women and minorities were recruited for factory jobs 6 million women enter workforce 1.2 million African-Americans migrate north looking for work Japanese were placed in internment camps (result of Pearl Harbor)

U.S. Propaganda

U.S. Propaganda