World War II Begins EQ: What were the early events of World War II and why did the United States remain out of those events?

War in Europe Germany occupies Czechoslovakia Demand Danzig from Poland Germany signs non-aggression pact with Russia in August (pg 736) September 1 st – Germany invades Poland

Poland Germany takes one half USSR takes the other half

Blitzkrieg April 1940 – Panzer divisions Take Norway Take Denmark

Blitzkrieg cont… May 1940 Take Belgium Holland Luxembourg France Crossed Maginot Line (pg737) Pushed to Dunkirk Paris falls

Battle of Britain Summer and fall German Luftwaffe attacks Followed by bombing of London Round the clock bombing and terror U-boats Smashed British ships

FDR and American reaction Used the conflict as a springboard towards a 3 rd election Amended the Neutrality Acts Lend-Lease Act (pg737)

Cont… Spring of 41 U.S. planes help spot German ships Few months later Merchant ships are armed “shoot on sight” Join the convoy

Atlantic Charter U.S. and Britain would forego territorial expansion Every nation has the right to choose their own gov’t. Called for freedom of international trade Once war is over aggressors must disarm and the world should work for peace.

Threat from Japan

Japanese expansion Map on page Why did Japan’s military leaders want to conquer neighboring lands?

FDR’s response to Japan Put on pressure to stop them NOT provoke them Neither side would compromise

U.S. halted sale of gas and scrap metal Negotiations with Japan -Japan occupies northern Indochina -Sign a Tripartite pact with Germany and Italy U.S. embargo of products vital to Japan Japan overran all of Indochina U.S freezes all Japanese assets in the U.S. and halts all trade Japan’s two choices

Japan’s Options Submit to U.S pressure and back off expansion Conquer new lands in search of resources

Deadline – 1 st week in December U.S. must yield Or Japan will attack