WWII Leaders
Great Britain – Neville Chamberlain Allied Powers British Prime Minister “Architect” of Appeasement Accepted Hitler’s claim to the Sudentenland (Czech) in Munich Pact Honored pledge to defend Poland and entered WWII. “Peace for our time.”
Great Britain – Winston Churchill Allied Powers British PM May Predicted appeasement would lead to war Rallied British citizens in Battle of Britain Member of “Big Three” “We shall never surrender!”
France – Charles DeGaulle Allied Powers Leader of the “Free French” Worked to liberate France from Axis control Created the Provisional Government of the French Republic Le General or "le Grand Charles"
U.S. - Franklin D. Roosevelt Allied Powers U.S. President America=Isolationist but he sympathized with Britain March 1941:Lend-Lease Act Aug 1941: Atlantic Charter Dec 1941: Pearl Harbor= “Day of Infamy” Member of “Big Three” “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
U.S.S.R.- Stalin Axis/Allied Powers Soviet Premier: Nazi-Soviet Non- Aggression Pact Joins Allies after German invasion of USSR Member of “Big Three”
Germany - Hitler Axis Powers German Fuhrer: Violates treaty Aggression leads to outbreak of WWII Aims to conquer/world domination Holocaust
Italy - Mussolini Axis Powers Il Duce: Rebuilds “Roman Empire” Waits to enter WWII until June 1940 Italian army weak and ineffective Sept 1943: Italian surrender to Allies
Japan – Emperor Hirohito Axis Powers Emperor of Japan: Seen as a living god His role in WWII unclear: Pawn of the Japanese militarists OR Informed participant on the expansionist policies?