1. Ambitious Advances and Bloody Battles
World War 2
Ambitious Advances and
Bloody Battles

2. Rise of Totalitarian Regimes
By 1930s totalitarian regimes emerged in Russia, Italy, Germany, Japan
All four wanted to expand territory & power in their sphere

3. Hitler Learns Lessons
Japan-1931 invaded & took over Manchuria; League of Nations condemned Japan but did nothing else invaded China for valuable ports
Italy-1935 Mussolini invaded & took over Ethiopia; League of Nations sanctioned (stop trade), but sanction was ineffective

5. Hitler Learns Lessons
Germany-Hitler sees League of Nations do nothing to stop them
In 1936, Spain had Civil War between Fascist Francisco Franco & Spanish who wanted democracy; Germany assisted Franco & used war as opportunity to “practice” air-raid bombings

6. Vehemently Violating Versailles
Hitler wanted lebensraum (living space) for Germans
March 1936 moves troops into Rhineland
March 1938 invades Austria & makes it part of Germany
Western countries & League of Nations do nothing (appeasement—agreeing to demands to avoid war)

8. Salivating over the Sudetenland
Germans were living in part of Czechoslovakia, so Hitler demands Sudetenland
Sept 1938 Munich Conference—compromise reached: Germany takes Sudetenland, but no more

10. Salivating over the Sudetenland
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain says Europe has avoided war (but he’s wrong)
March 1939 Hitler breaks Munich Agreement & takes all of Czechoslovakia

11. Enemies Become Allies??
Stalin & Hitler do not like each other; Stalin has warned West about Hitler, but West does not trust Stalin either, SO…
August 1939-Nazi Soviet Pact—USSR will not attack Germany & will divide Poland

12. World War 2 Begins Sept 1, 1939—Germany invades Poland
Sept 3, 1939—England & France declare war on Germany, but do not fight Germany for 8 months (time period known as Phony War)

13. World War 2 Begins
Blitzkrieg-“lightening war”-fast, efficient attacks used by Germans; quickly take Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Denmark, Norway
West slow to arm, have old weapons; Hitler has new weapons
Chamberlain resigns; Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister

14. Fall of France
French built Maginot Line after WW1, but had gap near Belgium
June 1940— Germans go around Maginot Line & take Paris

16. Fall of France France split: Nazis occupy northern France
Hitler creates Vichy government in South France (French leaders who work with Nazis)
Free France—rebels led by Charles de Gaulle fought Nazis from England

18. Battle of Britain
England only allied country left; Hitler felt would surrender
German air force bombed England for 8 straight months; England held off Germans

23. Hitler Turns on Stalin
Hitler felt USSR would provide enough living space for Germans; led surprise attack in June & pushed close to Moscow; but…
Stalin used scorched earth policy to stop Germans; USSR counter attacked

25. Meanwhile...
July 1940-Italy declared war on England & France; attacked Egypt
Dec 1941-Japan attacked Indochina. US responded to attack by banning sale of scrap iron to Japan

27. Pearl Harbor Japan mad at US for interfering with expansion
Dec 7, 1941—Japan bombed Pearl Harbor (Hawaii); US declared war on Japan
19 ships, 188 planes, 2,400 killed;

30. 1942-Tide Turns
Battle of the Atlantic—Allied forces defeat Axis submarines & battleships
Stalingrad—German army was held & forced to surrender to Russians
El Alamein, Egypt Allies defeated Rommel’s desert forces in North Africa

33. Invading Italy July 1943—Allies attack Italy
Italian king Victor Emmanuel III had Mussolini jailed; Italy surrendered

34. V-E Day
D-Day—June 6, 1944—Allies invaded Nazi-held France at Normandy & marched towards Germany
Mussolini executed, Hitler commits suicide

35. V-E Day
Soviets attacked Germany from east; fought to Berlin by April 1945
May 7, V-E Day (Victory in Europe)
Germany
surrenders