1. The U.S. Role The End of the War Outcomes
World War II
The U.S. Role
The End of the War
Outcomes

2. Major Events and U.S. Role in WWII
German Invasion of Poland
BLITZKRIEG—”Lightning War”
September 1, 1939—this event marks the beginning of WWII.
Fall of FRANCE
France surrendered on June 22, 1940—this victory left Germany in control of western and central Europe

3. France Fall of FRANCE (France surrendered on June 22, 1940)
Germany vs. France (& UK)
May 10, 1940 – June 22, 1940
AXIS Victory
Importance: Germans capture Paris, Britain stands alone, left Germany in control of western and central Europe

4. Battle of BRITAIN August 1940-June 1941
With the goal of invading Great Britain, Hitler bombed the country focusing first on the southern coast and then on cities such as London. This German offensive proved to be a failure.
The British Prime Minister during the Battle of Britain was Winston Churchill.

5. U.S.
Lend-Lease Act (1941)
America can sell, lend, or lease weapons and supplies
For countries “vital to the defense of the United States”

6. German invasion of the SOVIET UNION
Hitler and Stalin had signed a Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in August 1939.
Hitler surprised Stalin in June 1941 when he violated this pact and invaded the U.S.S.R.
Hitler wanted access to the raw materials of the Soviet Union, and he wanted to crush communism in Europe.
Ultimately, this offensive was a disastrous defeat for Hitler.

7. Japanese attack on PEARL HARBOR
The U.S. tried to stop Japanese aggression in the Pacific after Japan seized French Indochina in 1940.
The U.S. angered the Japanese and hurt their plans to seize more lands in Asia and the Pacific by banning trade of war materials, such as iron, steel, or oil.
Militarists grew in power in Japan during this crisis and ordered a surprise attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

8. Pearl Harbor Attack December 7, 1941

9. Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941

10. Cont’d
The attack took place on December 7, 1941, a “date which will live in infamy” as U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt put it.
The U.S. declared war on Japan and a few days later Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy, declared war on the U.S. The U.S. was officially at war.

11. Bataan Death March Philippines, 1942
Japanese soldiers forced 78,000 prisoners of war to march more than 55 miles
Killed more than 600 Americans and over 10,000 Filipinos

12. D-DAY (Allied Invasion of Europe)
June 6, 1944 at Normandy, France.
This invasion opened up a second front in Europe.
The Allies were able to liberate France by August 1944.
Germany was defeated. The war in Europe officially came to an end on May 8, 1945—VE Day.

13. D-Day Landing at Normandy June 6, 1944

14. D-Day

15. Battle of the Bulge Winter 1944/1945 Located in Belgium
Last major German offensive
Allied Victory

16. VE Day (Victory in Europe)
May 8, 1945
Hitler died a few days earlier
Unconditional surrender offered by the President of Germany
World War II IS OVER IN EUROPE!

17. Island Hopping Allied strategy to defeat Japan:
Focused on defeating poorly defended islands first; chose islands that would later aid in invading the Japanese mainland

18. Iwo Jima and Okinawa Feb. and April 1945 Allied victories
Set up for invasion of Japan

19. End of the War
Japan continued to fight on with fierce determination. More people (soldiers and civilians) died in the Battle of Okinawa than from the atomic bombs .
Casualties: Almost 220,000 killed
--38,000 Americans wounded, 12,000 killed or missing,
--more than 107,000 Japanese and Okinawan soldiers killed,
--perhaps 100,000 Okinawan civilians killed

20. The End of the War
The Allies issued an ultimatum demanding the Japanese surrender or face complete and utter destruction. The U.S. had successfully developed the world’s first atomic bomb (Robert Oppenheimer’s Manhattan Project).
Robert Oppenheimer

21. Atomic Bombs Dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On August 6, 1945, an American plane, the Enola Gay, dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. (80,000 killed.) On August 9, 1945, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. (40,000 killed) These bombs caused unbelievable devastation and death.
The Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945, a day known as V-J Day. WWII was over.

22. Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima August 6, 1945

23. Hiroshima

24. Hiroshima

25. Hiroshima

26. V-J Day The Japanese surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945,
a day known as V-J Day
General MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito

27. After the War 50 million people died in World War II.
Europe was in ruins.
European powers lost their EMPIRES.
Countries such as India and Israel gained their independence in the aftermath of WWII.

28. WAR CRIMES TRIALS
The Allies had agreed to hold trials for crimes against humanity that had been committed during WWII.
War Crimes trials—of Nazi officers responsible for the Holocaust, at Nuremberg (also spelled Nürnberg), Germany in 1945.
Trials were also held in Italy and Japan.

29. Yalta Conference Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Joseph Stalin
January 1945
Met in Russia at Yalta to make plans for end of war
Agreed to divide Germany

30. After the War U.S., Britain, France took control of West Germany
USSR controlled East Germany

31. Establishment of Superpowers
A superpower is a nation that is very strong (politically, economically, and militarily) and is able to use that power to influence other nations.
The two superpowers were the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union).
Cold War ( ):
--No direct fighting between US, USSR
--constant threat of nuclear war

32. Superpowers: Democracy vs. Communism
United States responded to communism in East Germany with
Truman Doctrine: the U.S. will do all it can to fight communism.
Marshall Plan: U.S. gave $12 billion to help Europe rebuild after World War II. They did not want communists to get control.

33. Division of Europe—IRON CURTAIN
In 1946, Winston Churchill said it was like an “iron curtain” divided Europe between free countries and communist countries.

34. International Organizations
United Nations—formed after a conference at Potsdam, Germany, 1945
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)—formed in 1949 to defend Western Europe
Warsaw Pact—formed in 1955 to defend communist countries in Eastern Europe

35. RECONSTRUCTION IN GERMANY
Democratic government was installed in West Germany and West BERLIN.
Emergence of WEST GERMANY as an economic power in post-war Europe
Konrad Adenauer—West German chancellor immediately after WWII
Willy Brandt—next chancellor after Adenauer

36. Berlin Wall Built by the Soviets
Nobody could travel between East and West Berlin (1961).
Torn down in 1989.
Soon after, East and West Germany joined.

37. RECONSTRUCTION IN JAPAN
After the war, Gen. MacArthur became the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers (SCAP)
He was more powerful than Japanese emperor.
Photo of MacArthur and Emperor Hirohito made Japanese people upset. They thought the emperor was a god.

39. U.S. Occupation of Japan U.S. Army stayed in Japan 1945-1952.
Japan faced famine after WWII—MacArthur’s first job was food.

40. Democratic Japan Japan got a new democratic constitution. Also,
Public schools
Women could vote.
No secret police

41. Independent Japan Japan became free in April 1952
They agreed to support the U.S. in the Korean War.
They became the 3rd largest economy in the world. (Sony, Toyota, Honda, etc.)