World War II [1939 - 1945]

Major Causes Militarism Alliances – Allies vs. the Axis Powers Imperialism Germany – “Lebensraum” – expansionism for living space “Irredentism” – wanting to recover territory that was taken in the past – Germany and USSR wanting territory in Poland, Germany taking territory in Czechoslovakia Japan – expansionism for resources on Pacific Islands Nationalism

Treaty of Versailles 1919 - discontent Effects of the Economic Depression Failure of League of Nations

Sides in the War Axis Members- Germany [Hitler] Italy [Mussolini] Japan [Hirohito]

Allied Members- USSR [Stalin] USA [Roosevelt, Truman} Britain [Chamberlain, Churchill, Atler] France [Daladier] Canada [Mackenzie King]

Important Battles Sept 1, 1939-Invasion of Poland July-Oct, 1940-Battle of Britain [code name Operation Sea Lion] June 22, 1941-Invasion of Russia [code name Operation Barbarossa] Dec 7, 1941-Pearl Harbor attack

1942-Dieppe Raid [summer] 1942-43 -Battle of the Atlantic (Navies) June 6, 1944-D Day [codename Operation Overlord] Normandy, France May 1945 -Germany surrendered Aug 6, 1945-bombing of Hiroshima, Japan Aug 9 1945-bombing of Nagasaki, Japan Aug 14, 1945-Japan surrendered

Results of W.W.II Millions dead property and land damage Germany and Japan blamed for the wars in Europe and in the Pacific formation of the United Nations – product of the “Atlantic Charter” (1941) – nations should live in peace and should enjoy self-determination Germany divided up, Japan occupied

Rise of two superpowers [USA and USSR] forces of Nationalism increased – “bipolar politics” -US and its allies vs. USSR and its allies Form of a new power which could destroy civilization

WW2 Issues Exploitation and brutality aimed at the Slavic territories of Eastern Europe – Hitler’s plan was to rid these areas of their populations to allow for German Lebensraum Slavic peoples for forced and slave labour for the Nazis Western Europe not envisioned for this Japan was guilty of brutality against the people of the territories it conquered, and of the brutal treatment of POW’s Soviet Union retained control of the Eastern European nations it liberated from Nazi control – for its own national security reasons

This war was viewed as a “just war” by the western allies because they fought for freedom against tyranny and aggression War crimes tribunals were set up to judge nations for crimes against humanity – ie – Nuremberg Trials to charge the Nazis for the Holocaust – civilian populations were targeted by aggressor nations Controversy surrounded the dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan “Marshal Plan” created by the Americans to rebuild West Germany, Western Europe and Japan in an attempt of dissuade the spread of communism - American allies offered support

Impact of War on Canada Increased our economy United and divided the country (conscription crisis) Internment of Japanese Canadians Women increased in the workforce We achieved “Middle Power” status