World war ii

World War II World War II was a global conflict It had separate origins in both Asia and Europe. An extension of World War I Japanese, Italian, and German aggression triggered it first in Asia and the Pacific then in Europe, North Africa, and the North Atlantic The Axis Powers Germany, Italy, and Japan The Allied Powers the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union

Origins of the war Japan, Italy, and Germany were all dissatisfied Post World War I international arrangements All three felt disrespected All three sought empires All three felt Britain & the US stood in their way

Japanese aggression in Asia In 1931 Japan seized control of Manchuria Establish puppet state -- Manchukuo The invasion infuriated Western powers Japan withdraw from the League of Nations Japan broke politically with its Western allies Japan aligns with Germany & Italy

World War II Begins in Asia, 1937 Japan launched full-scale attack into China Japan felt isolated and threatened by West Japan sees West as racist, anti-Japanese Japan not being treated equally by the West International agreements – Naval treaties US Immigration policies Japan dependent on foreign imports US scrap iron, machine tools, oil, and copper Resources in Southeast Asia controlled by West

War expands into Southeast Asia 1940 and 1941 invades Western colonies French, British, Dutch, and American Malaya, Burma, Indonesia, Indochina, the Philippines Present themselves as “modernizers” Present themselves as “liberators” “Asia for Asians” Japan really interested in natural resources Brutal occupiers

Japan attacks the United States On December 7, 1941 US Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii United States enters war in the Pacific War ends with the use of atomic bombs Hiroshima and Nagasaki August of 1945

Germany in the 1930’s Germany held deep resentments after World War I Harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles Hitler and the Nazi’s took advantage of resentments Promised to make Germany great again and punish Germany’s enemies

German aggression 1930’s World War I -- accidental and unintended World War II – deliberate, planned, desired By Hitler and other the German leaders Nazis celebrated war and the warrior An idea at the core of Nazi ideology Mid-1930s Hitler began his preparing for war 1935 - Rebuilds German military 1936 - German forces entered the Rhineland 1938 - Annexes Austria & part Czechoslovakia

War Begins -- 1 September 1939 German forces invaded Poland. Britain and France declare war on the Axis powers Germany quickly defeats France Germany launches an air war against Britain Germany invaded the Soviet Union. By early 1942, Nazi’s control most of Europe

World War I vs. World War II World War I -- greeted with mass enthusiasm World War II -- dreaded by all but the fascists World War I -- trench warfare World War II -- rapid movement infantry, tanks, and air power blitzkrieg -- lightening war

Germany had success early in the war The took control of most of Europe Outskirts of Moscow and Stalingrad Conquered most of North Africa With the help of their Italian allies

Allied counter offensives 1942 - Soviet Union counterattacks 1942 - United States enters war The US had enormous resources material and human June 6, 1944 – D Day US, British and Canadian forces invade France 8 May 1945 Germany surrendered

World War II – Most destructive War Most destructive war in world history An estimated 60 million died Most were civilians New technologies of warfare made it so deadly Heavy bombers and jet fighters Missiles and atomic weapons Blurred the line between civilian and military Whole populations were defined as the enemy

The Soviet Union Soviet Union – 40% of the total deaths Approximately 25 million were killed Approximately 25 million left homeless Vast amount of property destroyed Thousands of towns and villages Thousands of industrial enterprises

China Approximately 15 million people died Massive number of refugees Japanese occupation was horrific Killing of every person in many villages along with all the animals The Rape of Nanjing in 1937–1938 200,000 to 300,000 civilians killed Countless women were raped

mobilization “Total war” Governments mobilized everything economies, people, propaganda Empires harnessed colonial resources British used colonial troops and laborers Japan forced women to become sex slaves Women from Korea, China, and elsewhere So-called "comfort women"

Women Women played a major role in the war Soviet Union women were essential to the war effort More than half of the industrial workforce Dominated agricultural production. Fought in combat 100,000 women won military honors Germany and Japan mobilized fewer women “Rosie the Riveter” the symbol of working women

The Holocaust Germans systematic mass murder of Jews Hitler’s “final solution” Approximately 6 million Jews were killed Most in concentration camps Nazis executed other “undesirables” Russians, Poles, Gypsies (Roma) The handicapped, homosexuals Communists, Jehovah’s Witnesses All killed to achieve “racial purification”

The global Political balance of power World War II altered the balance of political power Europe lost it’s dominance in world affairs Europe’s colonies achieved independence Europe too weak to hold them US and Soviet Union emerged as two superpowers The world divided Capitalist West vs. Communist East

A New Internationalism Leaders establish international institutions Designed to keep the peace Designed to provide economic stability The United Nations The World Bank The International Monetary Fund

Europe Rebuilds During the second half of the 20th century Europe rebuilds its economy Europe revives its political system Explaining Europe's recovery: ❶ The resiliency of an industrial society ❷ Europeans cooperate with one another ❸ Help from the United States

postwar America The center of gravity in Western civilization shifted relocated across the Atlantic Ocean to the USA The United States physically untouched by the war 1945 – An economic superpower US produced 50% of the world’s goods US controlled most of the worlds food surpluses US had large financial reserves US had access to key raw materials – notably oil

US Becomes a Military superpower US military strength was unmatched most powerful navy and air force in the world sole possessor of atomic weapons World War II ends American isolationism United States exercised global leadership Helps to rebuild western Europe and Japan Provides allies with political and military security