Learning about individual battles of the war and their impact WWII Unit Objective Learning about individual battles of the war and their impact

Early years of the war Germany used Blitzkrieg (“Lightning War”): quickly striking an enemy hard, often by surprise Despite being an Ally, the Soviets took the other half of Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, & Lithuania

Fall of France (1940) Fall of Maginot Line: LINE OF FRENCH BUNKERS AND FORTS ALONG GERMAN BORDER MEANT TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST GERMAN INVASION; IT WAS OVERUN BY THE GERMANS VERY EASILY

One week after Battle of Dunkirk, France surrendered (many French continued to fight for Allies) Vichy France: German satellite state in Southern France that was given some local control; Northern France was ruled directly by Germany and had no local control

North Africa was dominated by Germany (Erwin Rommel, Afrika Korps) & Italy   Japanese continued to expand empire unchecked in S.E. Asia & Pacific Germany invaded Soviet Union (1941) Hitler wanted more “living space”, oil, & wheat Soviets used Scorched-Earth Policy to lure Germans deep into Soviet Union -Just like in WWI, Germans were stranded without supplies when Russian winter hit & were unable to finish off the Soviets

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941—This is an ID) U.S. role in war before the attack: OFFICIALLY NEUTRAL; AIDED ALLIES Why did the Japanese attack?   SAW U.S AS LAST OBSTACLE TO DOMINATING PACIFIC; U.S. HAD CUT OFF JAPAN’S OIL

Impact of Pearl Harbor Isolationism ended overnight FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan Germany and Italy declared war on America, so America declared war on them Japan was seen as devious for attacking America while negotiating for peace U.S. Pacific Fleet was destroyed, but its air craft carriers were out to sea at the time

U.S. mobilized much quicker than AXIS Powers thought it would (equaling AXIS war production within a year by itself, doubling it by the end of the war) U.S. sent troops to Europe first, not Japan—Why?

EUROPE WAS ABOUT TO FALL, NEEDED TO HELP THEM FIRST   -Dwight Eisenhower: LED U.S. FORCES IN EUROPE

U.S. & British troops pushed back Germans & Italians in North Africa & eventually invaded southern Italy (1943)   Prompted Italian people to overthrow Mussolini & surrender Once progress was made in Europe, U.S. began War in the Pacific

Douglas MacArthur: LED U.S. FORCES IN PACIFIC Island Hopping: U.S. STRATEGY OF CONQUERING ONE ISLAND IN A CHAIN & THEN MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ISLAND

Victory over Germany Following successful Allied invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day, June 6, 1944) U.S. & British invaded Germany from west, Soviets invaded from east Also led to the invasion of Italy from the north Italy and then Germany eventually surrendered   -V-E Day (May, 1945): VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY

Victory over Japan   As U.S. pushed closer and closer to Japan, Japanese fought even harder to protect their homeland   President Truman (FDR had died) decided to use atomic bomb to force Japanese surrender (would have cost too many American lives to invade) Hiroshima & Nagasaki (August, 1945) V-J Day (August, 1945): VICTORY IN JAPAN DAY

Which Ally actually took over other countries during the early years of WWII? Britain France Soviet Union Germany Italy

What was different about French resistance during WWII from what it had been in WWI? It was stronger and France never fell It was weaker and France fell very early in the war France fell very early in the war but a French resistance force continued to fight an the Allied side

What was “Vichy France”? The name Germany gave to France after taking it over The name for the Southern part of France that was run by a puppet government controlled by Germany The name for Northern France which was ruled directly by Germany

Who used the “Scorched Earth Policy”? Soviets Germans Italians Americans Japanese

What was the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Why did U. S What was the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor? Why did U.S. troops go to Europe first? Who led U.S. forces in Europe? The Pacific? What was “Island-Hopping”?

What was the objective of the D-Day Invasion? To liberate France from German control To liberate Belgium from German control To force Mussolini to surrender To force Japan to surrender

What was the “official” reason the U. S What was the “official” reason the U.S. used the atomic bomb to end WWII? To save American lives To save Japanese lives To send a message to the Soviets Revenge for Pearl Harbor