World War II
Germany Faces Economic Collapse
A troubled Germany after the Treaty of Versailles Lost territory Limited military Pay war reparations Extreme inflation Spirit of revenge Weak gov’t: Weimar Republic
US Response US involvement in WWI a mistake Isolationism towards new problems in Europe Forced Germany to continue to pay war reparations
Rise of Adolf Hitler
Early years Born in Austria High school drop out/ failed artist Soldier in World War I-Germany Extreme nationalist
Hitler and the Nazi Party National Socialist German Worker’s Party Blamed Weimar Republic and Treaty of Versailles for economic woes Led uprising in Munich/arrested/imprisoned/wrote Mein Kampf: proclaimed Germans as Master Aryan race
Hitler becomes Dictator Rebuilt Nazi Party after imprisonment Nazis regained control of German Government (Reichstag) Hitler becomes Chancellor Hitler becomes “Fuhrer” (leader of leaders) when German President dies
Anti-Semetic Policies Hitler expels German Jews from government jobs and teaching positions Nuremburg laws deprive Jews of German citizenship, Star of David to be worn on clothes Kristallnacht: Anti-Jewish campaign in retaliation to a German ambassadors death at the hand of a Jew. Synagogues, homes, businesses destroyed.
Hitler’s policies Promised economic recovery Territorial expansion Military build up Defend Germany from Soviet Union
US policies Focus on New Deal Disarm aggressive Nations
Fascism in Italy
Turmoil in Italy Italy facing Political and economic problems Mussolini gains favor with ruling family and suggests turning to a fascist form of Government Mussolini takes control of Italian Government promising economic recovery by using a cooperative system Mussolini encourages an aggressive foreign policy and promises territorial expansion
US response Neutrality Acts of 1935, 36, 37 Forbade sales of arms to militarily aggressive nations Prohibited Americans from traveling on ships of countries at war No loans to countries at war
Spanish Civil War
Spain under Francisco Franco Franco fights socialism and communism and establishes Fascism in Spain after a civil war Spain enters an alliance with Germany and Italy known as the Rome-Berlin Axis
Militarism in Japan
Japan under Hideki Tojo Military leaders rise to power seeking to expand Japanese Empire Attacked Manchuria for coal and iron deposits to support industry Joined Germany, Italy, and Spain to create the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis (Axis Powers)
US response Stimson Doctrine: moral lecture Cancelled commercial treaty with Japan Quarantine Speech: FDR invites peace keeping nations to keep aggressive nations in check
Violation and Appeasement Hitler Violates Treaty of Versailles Rebuilds military in Rhineland (French Border) Claims territory in Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) Claims all of Czechoslovakia - even after Munich Agreement with Britain to stop aggression
US response Praises British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain for using peaceful measures British leader Winston Churchill disagrees with decision made by Chamberlain
Invasion! Nazi Soviet Pact: Germany promises not to invade Soviet Union if they do not oppose Germany when she tries to take Poland Hitler and Nazis invade Poland
WWII begins! Hitler invades Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 Great Britain and France declare war on Germany Sept 3, 1939 War continues with Submarine warfare, air raids, navy battles
US response Cash and Carry policy to prevent war from spreading to US. Allies could come and pay for supplies and take them home
US is Pro British Britain isolated and Germany controls Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, France, and Eastern Europe Britain and US sign Atlantic Charter outlining war aims: defeat Germany first, and go after Japan full force Lend Lease Act: US to lend or lease supplies to allies Germans begin attacking US ships
Bombing of Pearl Harbor Japan and US attempting Peace Negotiations Japan secretly planned to attack US and Japanese leader General Tojo ended Peace talks Japanese attack Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 FDR asks Congress to Declare war on Japan on Dec. 8, 1941…they do US enters war