1. WWII Origins

2. Europe After WWI Despite winning, mainly ignored at conference
Germany
Italy
Germany was left weak, humiliated & economically devastated
Political turmoil led to a weak gov’t > Weimar Republic
Hitler’s rise to power
National Socialists (Nazis)
Mein Kampf
Lebensraum
Dynamic speaker
Despite winning, mainly ignored at conference
Mussolini also a dynamic speaker
Fascism: glory of the state
Sets up a dictatorship under Il Duce

3. Discussion Questions
Fascist Italy
Nazi Germany
Communist Soviet Union
Extreme nationalism
Militaristic expansionism
Charismatic leader
Private property with strong government controls
Anti-communist
Extreme nationalism & racism
Forceful leader
Create a sound communist state & wait for world revolution
Revolution by workers
Eventual rule by working class
State ownership or property
Which two systems of totalitarianism share similar characteristics?
At the time, which system do you think the U.S. was most concerned with? Why?

4. Post-WWI Developments
Japan
Limited islands
1931 army (without gov’t approval) invaded Manchuria for land & resources
League of Nations criticized Japan so Japan withdrew from League
League of Nations
Powerlessness of League evident in Japanese invasion of Manchuria
No one willing to enforce policies
Lead to Italy’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia

5. MANCHURIA
ETHIOPIA

6. Hitler’s Actions Violates the Treaty of Versailles by:
Rebuilding the German military
1936 occupying the Rhineland
Resource-rich land on border with France
How does France respond?
1938 Anschluss
Union with Austria
Why does Hitler desire this?

7. Munich Conference
Hitler invades Sudetenland (German-speaking region of Czechoslovakia)
Leaders of major countries (excluding Czechoslovakia) meet to discuss Hitler’s actions
British PM Chamberlain allows Hitler to annex the Sudetenland
Claims “peace in our time”
Appeasement > giving in to demands to maintain peace

8. Hitler’s Early Moves 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact
Agreement signed by Hitler & Stalin
Publicly agree not to invade each other
Secretly agree Germany will invade Poland & Soviet Union will take eastern part of Poland
Why would these 2 leaders sign this??
Sept. 1, 1939 Hitler invades Poland
*Signals the beginning of WWII
Use of blitzkrieg: lightning fast war

9. Nazi-Soviet Pact (Non-Aggression Pact)

10. German Forces Turn to the West
Sept. 3, 1938 Allies unite (Britain & France)
sitzkrieg or phony war
April 1940 Hitler invades Denmark & Norway > surrender quickly
May 1940 Netherlands & Belgium fall
Heroic Dunkirk rescue
Vichy France
French easily overwhelmed; Vichy France: unoccupied part of France where leaders cooperate with Hitler
Charles de Gaulle leads gov’t-in-exile to resist Nazis

11. Battle of Great Britain
Britain now stands alone against Hitler
British PM Winston Churchill inspired British
RAF vs. Luftwaffe in nightly raids
Germany attacks civilians & cities > why is this a mistake?
RAF has radar & enigma machine
Edward R. Murrow broadcasts to U.S.
*Shows Hitler can be stopped

12. Tensions in East Asia Japan continues aggression
1937 Japan attacks China
So brutal > Rape of Nanjing
Axis Powers
1940 – Japan’s military allies with Germany & Italy to become known as the Axis Powers

13. American Policy Isolationism Continued policy from 1920s-30s
Neutrality Act 1935
Law passed by Congress to prevent U.S. from being drawn into war (like WWI)
U.S. remained neutral
FDR’s Response
Quarantine Speech
1938 cash & carry policy

14. Discussion Questions 3. Why might the U.S. try to remain neutral?
In the summer of 1939, President Roosevelt addresses an anxious nation in response to atrocities in Europe committed by Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Roosevelt declares in his broadcast that the U.S. “will remain a neutral nation.” He acknowledges, however, that he “cannot ask that every American remain neutral in thought.”
3. Why might the U.S. try to remain neutral?
4. How might involvement in a large scale war influence the U.S.?
5. How can neutral countries participate in the affairs of warring countries?

15. Preparing for War Election of 1940 FDR’s 3rd term
Opponent Wendell Willkie (foreign policy similar to FDR)
1940 Lend-Lease Act
Send weapons to Britain regardless of ability to pay
“Neighbors house on fire”
Atlantic Charter
FDR & Churchill meet secretly & agree to oppose Hitler & his allies

16. Election of 1940

17. Pearl Harbor Americans react with anger
Dec. 8, 1941 declaration of war
“Yesterday was a date which will live in infamy…”
1941 Tensions between U.S. & Japan over oil & access to Pacific islands
*Dec. 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, HI
Confusion led to 8 battleships damaged, 4 were sunk, 200 aircraft destroyed & 2400 Americans died