Revenge: Germany wanted revenge for everything lost in the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WWI. Appeasement: Great Britain and France gave Hitler land without fighting for it. Nationalism & Racism: Hitler and the Nazis thought Germany’s needs and wants came before the rest of the world. Hitler was racist; he killed the Jews in the countries he invaded.

Economy was bad in Europe WWI killed a lot of workers and customers After years of humiliation and starvation, Germans looked for a strong leader.

Nazis promised to build up Germany’s army and get revenge for WWI This is Adolf Hitler when he came to power in 1933.

Germany escaped the Depression by militarizing. This is Berlin 1936

In direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles Germany: Took over the Rhineland in 1936 Annexed Austria in March 1938 Occupied the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia) Took over the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939

Hitler surprised the world by signing a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union (Russia), Germany’s sworn enemy. In this way, Hitler could continue his take over of Western Europe without the threat of Soviet intervention.

Britain and France had promised to support Poland if the Nazis attacked and declared war on Germany two days later.

In no time, Germany conquered most of Europe. The UK was the only country in Western Europe not under Nazi control.

Poland conquered in 1 month Denmark and the Netherlands conquered in a matter of days Belgium conquered in 3 weeks France conquered in 6 weeks

Frenchman weeps as Nazis march into Paris Woman forced to heil Hitler

Americans wanted to stay out of Europe’s wars. FDR wanted to help Britain anyway

Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean

FDR sent war materials to Britain and the USSR. Sherman tank

Battle of Britain Britain now stood alone against the Nazi onslaught. Hitler had hoped he could bomb Britain into submission with his Luftwaffe (air force).

Air Raid London after bombing raid

Winston Churchill, their charismatic prime minister The efforts of the RAF (Royal Air Force) The determination and resolve of the British people Help from the US in the form of weapons and money, but not troops

English Channel protected England Britain resisted German air force

In June 1941 Hitler breaks his non- aggression pact with the Soviet Union and attacks. German troops were only stopped at the gates of Moscow because of bad weather and Russian reinforcements.

Russian people are tough! 21 million dead, yet no surrender!

Japan was conquering lands in Asia the way Germany was in Europe. The US was worried Japan was too much of a threat, and decided to cut off Japan’s supply of oil. Japan was conquering lands in Asia the way Germany was in Europe. The US was worried Japan was too much of a threat, and decided to cut off Japan’s supply of oil.

To get back at the US, Japan attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, sinking many US ships and killing over 2,000 people

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Germany, Italy, and Japan made a deal to help each other in case one was attacked. Germany and Italy declared war on the US immediately after Pearl Harbor Axis Powers Germany Italy Japan

Allies USA Great Britain Soviet Union (Russia) China France The Allies were the USA, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union (USSR). These are called the “big three.” China and France were also major allies. In addition were the colonies and territories of these countries. These include Canada, Australia, Poland and others.

Winston Churchill Prime Minister of England Franklin Roosevelt President of the US Joseph Stalin Premier of the Soviet Union

Stalin’s policy of “Not one step back,” brings victory for the Soviets at Stalingrad and begins the slow process of pushing the Germans out of Russia and across Eastern Europe toward Germany. Casualties in this one battle are estimated to be between 1 and 2 million.

US factories, in full war production, help the allies take the offensive both in Europe and the Pacific 1942 the US defeats Japan in the Battle of Midway, destroying much of it’s naval and air power British and Americans drive the Nazis out of North Africa and invade Italy. Sept 1943 Italy is forced out the war and Mussolini is killed.

After a massive build-up of troops, air power, and naval power, the allies storm the beaches of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 They establish a foot- hold in mainland Europe and begin to push the Germans across Western Europe back toward Germany.

US and British forces continued to push the Germans east, while the Russians pushed them west. The two sides met at Berlin, Germany’s capital. Hitler cannot take defeat and kills himself. Germany surrenders on May 7, 1945.

With Germany out of the way, the allies could concentrate on Japan

Island hopping became a fact of the war with Japan. Died: 6800 US Japanese. This flag raising was a serious morale boost to soldiers on the island.

Kamikaze Attacks Battle for Iwo Jima

After the death of President Roosevelt, Vice-President Harry Truman became president and had a big decision to make. Should he use a deadly new weapon on the Japanese to end the war?

The Japanese had shown they would fight to the last man, woman and child. The atomic bomb saved as many as 1 million U.S. lives, and possibly many Japanese. Harry Truman said he dropped the bomb to end the war.

The atomic bombs killed nearly 120,000 people instantly. In the months and years to follow, many more would die of radiation poisoning and leukemia.

USSR22 million China11 million Germany7 million Poland7 million U.S.0.5 million Great Britain 0.3 million Japan1.5 million Just as the end of WWI led to WWII, the end of WWII brought about the atomic age and a Cold War between two new world superpowers: The United States and Soviet Union.