1. World War II

2. Contrasts between World War I and World War II
World War II more of a global conflict
Fought on two theatres:
Europe and North Africa
Asia/Pacific
More extensive engagement of 20th c technologies
Role of air power, radar, cryptology
Mechanized warfare--
Role of new strategies -- blitzkrieg
Greater involvement of civilian populations
Staggering losses – 50 million dead
More extensive planning for peace
Russian dead– 12 million
Major contrast to WWI
Instead of bogging down in trenches, mechanized units in blitzkrieg, zip though enemy lines, encircle, sow confusion

3. The course of the war 1939-1940 map 1939 Invasion of Poland
Entry of Britain and France
Phoney war:
German invasion of Denmark and Norway
May, map 1940
Invasion of Netherlands, Belgium, France
France defeated within 6 weeks
Britain driven from continent

4. 1940-1942 Battle of Britain: Sept. 1940-41 Battle for North Africa
Germany solidifies hold on Southeastern Europe
Germany attacks USSR, June 21, 1941
Bogs down map 1941
December, 1941
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour brings US into War

5. Turning points: map 1942
1942 – El Alemain – allied victory over Rommel in North Africa
– Defence of Stalingrad
1943 – Invasion of Italy map 1944
Mussolini toppled
Germans invade and occupy
1944
June 6: D-day – Invasion of Normandy
Liberation of France
Liberation of Belgium
Partial liberation of the Netherlands

6. War aims Germany: Allies:
Initially Continental domination, especially hinterland to its east
Restructuring of European society –
Aryan domination
Allies:
Unconditional surrender

7. Arguments over strategy:
Stalin’s demand for a second front
North African campaign as a diversion
Churchill’s argument for an invasion through the Balkans
US argument– invasion through France – when ready
Dieppe, 1943:
An effort to placate Stalin
‘test landing’
Italian campaign

8. Factors determining the outcome
The difficulty of invading Britain
Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union
US entry
Allies’ productive capacity
Ability of allies to maintain supply lines
Code breaking
Enigma – capture of German encryption machine

9. Civilians and the war Total home front mobilization
Civilians as victims of bombing
Large numbers displaced
Occupation and choices it presented:
Collaboration
Resistance
Civilians as victims of genocide

10. Planning the peace - I
Summit negotiations on war aims, postwar disposition of territory
Casablanca 1943 (Roosevelt + Churchill)
Agreement on unconditional surrender
Teheran 1943
Initial agreement on eastern Europe
Plans for occupation of Germany
Yalta 1945
Plans for United Nations
Further agreement on territory
Concessions to Russia in order to secure entry into war against Japan

11. Planning the peace – II Bretton Woods conference –1943 Domestic side
Plans for monetary stability
Fixed system of exchange rates
World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stabilize
Agreements on trade (GATT)
Domestic side
UK – plans for welfare state (Beveridge Report)
Discussions in resistance movements, among governments in exile

12. Other facets
Lidice
liberation of Paris
Market Garden