1. The largest and most destructive war in human history
World War II
The largest and most destructive war in human history

2. Causes of WW II The Treaty of Versailles Shift of powers in Europe
Humiliated Germany
Shift of powers in Europe
Britain & France:20th Century’s Strongest
United States became world’s most powerful country
Soviet Union began rise in power
Germany, Italy & Japan became ambitious to be rich and powerful
The Great Depression
Many other countries depended on US wealth

3. Causes of WW II The rise of Dictators
Hitler, Mussolini & Stalin
Japan, Italy, Germany & the Soviet Union
Japan began to take great strides in becoming the great power in the Asian Pacific
Italy began to conquer African colonies and Western Europe
Germany & the Soviet Union began to build empires in Europe and Asia
European War to World War
Battles in Europe led to war in the Pacific
This involved the United States

4. Division of Powers AXIS ALLIED Germany Italy Japan Great Britain
France
United States
Soviet Union
China

5. Important Individuals
Adolf Hitler-Germany
Benito Mussolini-Italy
Joseph Stalin-Soviet Union
Neville Chamberlain-British Prime Minister
Franklin D. Roosevelt-US President
Hideki Tojo-Japan Prime Minister
Winston Churchill-British Prime Minister
Harry S. Truman-US President

6. Adolf Hitler Born in 1889 German “Master Race” and hated Jews
Served in WWI on the Western Front
Developed hate for enemies of Germany after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Head of the Nazi party & dictator of Germany
Led Germany into war with Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the United States

7. Adolf Hitler Eventually led Germany to ruin and defeat
Death of millions of people
Destruction of much of Europe
Democracy threatened Germany’s strength
Committed suicide just before WWII ended in Europe (1945)

8. Benito Mussolini Born in 1883 One time teacher and journalist
Rose to power in Italy in the 1920’s
Member of the fascist party and dictator of Italy.
Most likable of all other dictators
Known to Italians as “Il Duce” (the leader)

9. Benito Mussolini
Mussolini and Hitler became political partners. Both had very similar beliefs.
Mussolini regarded Hitler once as “a mad little clown”
Built up Italy’s military to regain the glory of the Ancient Romans
Invaded Ethiopia and the League of Nations banned trade with Italy
Died in 1945

10. Joseph Stalin Born in 1879 Dictator of the Soviet Union Communist
One of the most cruel and feared dictators in history
Brought massive hardship to the Soviet Union
Enemies with Hitler in the beginning. They became allies during the war by signing the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact.

11. Britain Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain
Prime Minister
Known for his appeasement foreign policy
Forced to resign after Germany invaded Netherlands, Belgium & France
Winston Churchill
Served as prime minister twice &
Known for his speeches and was a great inspiration to the British people
Worked with Pres. Roosevelt for the final destruction of the Nazi Tyranny

12. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Made efforts to remain neutral in European affairs with a number of neutrality acts.
Elected for a third term in 1940
Lend-Lease Act with Britain
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, asked congress to declare war on Germany, Italy & Japan.
Agreed with Churchill that the only possible solution for ending war with Germany & Japan was unconditional surrender.
Died in office on April 12, 1945

13. Japan Hideki Tojo Emperor Hirohito Prime Minister of Japan
Planned attacks on the United States
Was arrested for war crimes and executed in December 1943.
Emperor Hirohito
Emperor of Japan until his death in 1989
Demanded that Japan surrender after atomic bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki

14. Harry S. Truman Became president after FDR’s death in 1945
Ordered the Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber, to drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 and then 3 days later on Nagasaki, Japan.
Led the US to victory over Germany and the end of WWII in Europe.

15. Timeline 1931-Japan invades Manchuria 1935-Italy invades Ethopia
March 1936-Germany invades the Rhineland
March 1938-Germany invades Austria
March 1939-Germany seizes Czechoslovakia
September 1939-Germany invades Poland
Blitzkrieg: Lightening War
September 1939-Breat Britain & France declare war on Germany
September 1939-Soviet Union invades the Baltic (Latvia, Lithuania & Estonia)
1940-Finland surrenders to Soviet Union

16. Timeline
April 1940-Germany acquires Denmark, Norway, Netherlands & Belgium
June 1940-German troops marched into Paris
August Germany invades Britain in the Battle of Britain.
October Germany retreats from Britain
June 1941-Hitler attacks Soviet Union

17. Timeline December 7, 1941-Japan attack Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii.
December 8, 1941-President Roosevelt asks Congress to declare war.
December 11, 1941-Germany & Italy declare war on the United States.
December 11, 1941-Congress declares war.
January 1, 1942-US joins Allies
April 9, 1942-Bataan Death March
1942-Allies begin massive bombing in Germany

18. Timeline April 1942- Battle of Coral Sea in Australia
June Battle of Midway in Hawaii
June 6, D- Day: Troops storm the beach at Normandy, France
Aug 1943-Feb Vicious campaign at Guadacanal (Soloman Islands)
June Battle at Leyte Gulf in Phillippines
December 6, 1944-Battle of the Bulge: Germans attempt to break through Allied lines in Belgium
March 1945-Allies seize islands of Iwo Jima & Okinawa

19. Timeline April 1945-Soviets surround Berlin
April 13, Hitler commits suicide
May 7, 1945-Germany signs unconditional surrender ending war in Europe
May 8, 1945-V-E Day: “Victory in Europe”
July 6, 1945-Test atomic bomb in New Mexico
August 6-9, Enola Gay drops bomb on Hiroshima & Nagasaki
August 15, V-J Day: Victory over Japan
September 2, 1945-Japan signs unconditional surrender