The Second World War

1. The Second World War 1939-1945

2. The Two Sides in WW2 • The Allies: Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States. • The Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan.

3. The Two Theatres/Fronts • WW2 was fought in two main theatres/fronts: the European and Pacific Theatres.

4. WW2 Begins in Europe • WW2 officially began in Europe in 1939. • Hitler (Germany) and Mussolini (Italy) were invading much of Europe/North Africa.

5. Great Britain Declares War • After a long period of appeasement, Britain felt that Germany/Italy had to be stopped after Germany invaded Poland. • Germany had taken each of the following countries: • Denmark • Holland • France • Norway • Czechoslovokia

6. WW2 Begins in Europe

7. Hitler in Europe • June 1940: Hitler takes Paris, is master of Western Europe • Hitler then tried to take Britain through a destructive bombing campaign. • When he failed, he turned his attention to the east (Soviet Union).

8. The Nazis invade the Soviet Union • With 3 million troops he attacked his own ally, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union. • As Nazi troops advanced through the Soviet Union, they starved/murdered millions of Russians.

9. Soviet Resistance • Though Germany destroyed much of Western Russia, the Soviets continued to fight back. • It was the Soviets who fought the Germans in the East, while the Americans/British fought them in the West.

10. America’s Policy of Isolationism • Most Americans wanted America to stay out of European affairs. • American businessmen continued trading with Germany and Japan. • Until 1941, 80% of Japan’s oil supply came from the U.S.

11. American Isolationism • Many Americans were still convinced that WW1 involvement had been a mistake. • Early on, Americans wanted to avoid this conflict.

12. The Current of War • As events in Europe and the Pacific deteriorated, many Americans could feel themselves being pulled into war.

13. Meanwhile, in Asia… • Military leaders gained control of Japan during the Great Depression. • They wanted to restore governmental control to the military and solve economic problems through foreign expansion.

14. Japanese Expansionism

15. Japan invades China • Japan went to war with China in 1937. • The Japanese soldiers captured the Chinese capital, Beijing, and then the city of Nanking.

16. The Japanese Invade China • After dominating victories early, the Japanese were finally slowed down by Chinese resistance. • Then the Japanese turned their attention to European colonies of Southeast Asia.

17. Pearl Harbor • On December 7th, 1941, Japan attacked the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. • The Japanese did this because: • America had been funding Chinese resistance • America cut off oil shipments to Japan • Japan thought that they could demoralize/shock America long enough to take full control of the Pacific

18. Pearl Harbor • Within 2 hours the Japanese had: • Sunk or damaged 19 ships • Wounded over 1,100 Americans • Killed over 2,300 Americans

19. Then and Now…

34. Bugs Bunny in “Nip the Nips” Donald Duck in “Der Fuehrer’s Face”

38. Bob Miller “We’re Gonna Have to Slap, the Dirty Little Jap, and Uncle Sam is the Guy Who Can Do It.” –1941

39. Pearl Harbor=American entry in WW2

40. Consequences of Pearl Harbor • Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor • U.S. declares war on Japan • Japan’s allies (Germany, Italy) declare war on U.S. • All of this = WW2 is officially on (much like Donkey Kong)

41. Japanese Internment • After the attack on Pearl Harbor, some Americans became very suspicious about the loyalty of Japanese Americans.

42. Japanese Internment • Executive Order 9066: ordered the moving of all Japanese people from the West Coast. • 110,000 Japanese people were forced to leave their homes and move to internment camps.

43. Japanese Internment • There were no court hearings, no due process, no recourse for Japanese Americans. • Very few Americans spoke out against internment.

44. WW2 is officially on • By the end of 1941, the United States was at war with Japan, Germany, and Italy.

45. The War in the Pacific • At the beginning of 1942, the Japanese marched into the Philippine capital city of Manila. • American forces retreated the Bataan Peninsula. • After three months, the Japanese took the peninsula in the first big battle of the Pacific War.

46. The Bataan Death March • The Japanese Army forced 78,000 American/Filipino troops to surrender (largest surrender in American history). • Thousands died on the following “death march” to a POW camp.

47. The Tide Begins to Turn • In May of 1942, the U.S. got its first Pacific victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea. • The following month, the U.S. also won the Battle of Midway Island, inflicting devastating losses on the Japanese Navy.

48. Battle of Midway Island

49. Island Hopping • These American victories in the Pacific led to America’s “island hopping” strategy. • Interactive Map: World War II in the Pacific

50. Guadalcanal • One of the first islands Americans tried to take from the Japanese was called Guadalcanal.