World War II

How did these guys come to power? Remember that Germany had to pay war reparations for losing WWI. The United States was a major lender of loans to rebuild Europe. However, our stock market crashed in 1929 and when we recalled the money for the loans no one could pay. German money was inflated because they were printing money like crazy. So these countries were hurting financially. People became desperate for someone to fix the problem. Out of this desperation came individual who same up through the political process and communicated that if elected they would fix the countries problems: Hitler and Mussolini. Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler in Munich, June 1940.

World War II – Causes and Effects German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, leads to Great Britain and France’s declarations of war on Germany; the invasion is also the first use of the German blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) that incorporates fast-moving airplanes and tanks. German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, leads to Great Britain and France’s declarations of war on Germany; the invasion is also the first use of the German blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) that incorporates fast-moving airplanes and tanks.

Once Germany invades Poland, the European powers begin to mobilize for war. The United States decides to stays out of this war and remains neutral. We do however, begin to sell war supplies which is helpful to us since our citizens need jobs as we are at the end of the Great Depression.

The United States does a good job at staying out of this war even though the Allies really want us to join in. Until the Japanese attack our naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. The United States does a good job at staying out of this war even though the Allies really want us to join in. Until the Japanese attack our naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) by Japan leads the United States to declare war on Japan. This results in a declaration of war on the United States by Germany and Italy. Japan also wanted to attack the Panama Canal because the canal was a center of world trade and traffic for Allied forces. Attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) by Japan leads the United States to declare war on Japan. This results in a declaration of war on the United States by Germany and Italy. Japan also wanted to attack the Panama Canal because the canal was a center of world trade and traffic for Allied forces.

What is going on in the relationship between Japan and the U.S.? The Japanese invaded China’s Manchuria. At the time we had a “Big Brother” relationship with China so we put economic sanctions on Japan and refused to trade with them if they did not leave China.

Japanese imperialism: Plans for a Pacific empire that included China that would allow Japan to solve its economic problems through the provision of raw materials and markets for its goods as well as providing more room for its growing population.

U.S. Mobilization Once the U.S. is attack we join World War II and send half of our military forces to fight the Nazi’s in Europe and the other half to fight the Japanese in the Pacific. World War II is a “Two Front War” for the U.S. Europe Pacific Two different locations, two different enemies, two every different experiences.

German invasion of the Soviet Union ( ) also known as Operation Barbarossa, results in the unsuccessful German sieges of Leningrad and Moscow. The harsh Russian winter halts further invasion in Russia. Germans besiege Stalingrad in 1942 and are forced to surrender the following year. The Soviet army then begins to push westward into Europe.

Normandy landings (June 6, 1944 – “D-Day”) by Allied forces on the coast of France lead to a German retreat. As a result, France and the Low Countries are liberated and able to re-establish Democracy. Allied troops push eastward into Germany that leads to German surrender in Normandy landings (June 6, 1944 – “D-Day”) by Allied forces on the coast of France lead to a German retreat. As a result, France and the Low Countries are liberated and able to re-establish Democracy. Allied troops push eastward into Germany that leads to German surrender in 1945.

Hitler and the Holocaust Hitler was part of the Nazi party that rose to power just before WWII. Poor German economy helped sell the idea of Nazism with the promise to fix and restore a once proud nation. Hitler was part of the Nazi party that rose to power just before WWII. Poor German economy helped sell the idea of Nazism with the promise to fix and restore a once proud nation. In his book, Mein Kampf, Hitler outlines his plans and his blame on the Jewish people for their problems. In his book, Mein Kampf, Hitler outlines his plans and his blame on the Jewish people for their problems.

The Holocaust – Genocide of over 6 million Jews and other groups throughout Europe considered by Germany to be inferior. Known as “The Final Solution” and resulted in the extermination of these people in death camps. (Genocide is extermination of entire race… Most of these camps took place in Germany and Poland.) The Holocaust – Genocide of over 6 million Jews and other groups throughout Europe considered by Germany to be inferior. Known as “The Final Solution” and resulted in the extermination of these people in death camps. (Genocide is extermination of entire race… Most of these camps took place in Germany and Poland.)

War in the Pacific

The U.S. military advancement through the Pacific Islands – known as “Island Hopping,” the goal was to attain a position close enough to mainland Japan to conduct an attack. This war strategy was time consuming and we were losing a lot of men. Injured Allied soldiers survived only because of the antibiotics used that were created years before WWII.

The war continued until 1945, when in an effort to wrap the war up quickly, the United States dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. The war continued until 1945, when in an effort to wrap the war up quickly, the United States dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. Dropping of atomic bombs (August 6 and 9, 1945) by U.S. on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki leads to Japan’s surrender. (Truman feared the number of American lives it would take to invade Japan.) – this is back up in causes and effects of WWII section in notes Dropping of atomic bombs (August 6 and 9, 1945) by U.S. on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki leads to Japan’s surrender. (Truman feared the number of American lives it would take to invade Japan.) – this is back up in causes and effects of WWII section in notes

HOW THE END OF WORLD WAR II LED TO THE COLD WAR Yalta Conference (1945) Yalta Conference (1945) Main Purpose: F.D. Roosevelt, W. Churchill, and J. Stalin address dealing with interim governments and borders of Europe at the end of the war in EuropeMain Purpose: F.D. Roosevelt, W. Churchill, and J. Stalin address dealing with interim governments and borders of Europe at the end of the war in Europe Stalin’s aims differ from the other Allied powers in that he wanted a buffer in Eastern Europe against invasion from the WestStalin’s aims differ from the other Allied powers in that he wanted a buffer in Eastern Europe against invasion from the West Eastern European nations would have communist-friendly governmentsEastern European nations would have communist-friendly governments Soviet satellite nations with communist governments installed in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and RomaniaSoviet satellite nations with communist governments installed in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania Germany divided into two sections with East Germany under communist controlGermany divided into two sections with East Germany under communist control Churchill – “….an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” (Europe)Churchill – “….an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” (Europe) Stalin – communism (east) and capitalism (west) cannot exist in the same world - Creating a political divideStalin – communism (east) and capitalism (west) cannot exist in the same world - Creating a political divide