Intro to World War II

1. Intro to World War II “Prelude to Global War”

2. Significant Facts • Total War: war fought not only by armed forces at the battlefront but by civilians in factories and homes • Global War: was fought on all major seas and in Africa, Asia, and Europe- involved over 60 nations • Three Major Battle Areas • Africa = North African Theater • Asia = Pacific Theater • Europe = European Theater

3. Sides..Who fought who?

4. Leaders • Italy = Fascist Leader Benito Mussolini (1922) • Germany = Dictator Adolf Hitler (1933) • Japan = Emperor Hirohito (1926) • General/Prime Minister Hideki Tojo (1936) • France = Charles de Gaulle • Great Britain = Winston Churchill • Soviet Union = Joseph Stalin (1924) • U.S. = FDR (1932-1945) Harry Truman (1945)

5. Axis Nations Philosophy • Imperial Japan controlled by military looking to expand empire • Fascist Italy led by Dictator Mussolini “return to glory days” • Nazi Germany led by Dictator Hitler “superior mentality”

6. Early Axis Aggression (1930-1939) • Withdrew from the League of Nations • Joined together to form a military alliance = AXIS POWERS • Engaged in one act of aggression after another without any opposition • Violated major international peace agreements = Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations

7. Warm Up Question? • What were the two sides for WWII?

8. Focus Questions • What were the general causes of WWII? • What does it mean to call Hitler and Mussolini Fascist and Stalin Communist? • What 3 reasons allowed Mussolini to come to power in Italy? • What problems were facing Germany in the 1920s and 1930s • What were Hitler’s goals in making Germany a world power?

9. Basic Causes of WWII/ Axis Goals:MINT! • Militarism: • Built up military: arms and techniques; psychologically prepared their people for war or would use military on their own people to maintain power • Imperialism • Axis Nations claimed they were have-not nations • Nationalism: • Axis nations claimed they were to become have nations • Totalitarianism: • Totalitarian dictatorships scorned ideas of democracy • Types of leaders were about to come to power because of World Depression (economic upheaval leads to political upheaval) • Axis countries openly declared their intent to destroy Democracy.

10. Comparing Two Ideologies Fascism Communism • Places the importance of the nation above the value of the individual • Allows private business • Government handles/ resolves conflicts • Whole society jointly owns means of production • No conflicts within society between workers and owners of the means of production Individual rights and freedoms are lost as everyone works for the benefit of society and nation

11. Three reasons that allowed Mussolini to come to power: • Felt Italy was shortchanged in peace settlement after WWI • Blackshirts- gangs of Fascist thugs who terrorized and brought under control those who opposed Mussolini • World Depression- claimed that efficiency and order were necessary to restore nation’s greatness

12. Warm Up Question: • What was the name for the thugs that helped Mussolini receive total power by terrorizing opposing citizens? • Blackshirts

13. Mussolini begins expansion • “The country is nothing without conquest”. • October 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia Ethiopia

14. Problems facing Germany • Outcome of WWI and treaty • High unemployment and massive inflation • Hitler’s goals • Stabilize the country • Rebuild the economy • Restore the lost empire

15. Hitler’s Goals Continued.. • “Mein Kampf” (My Struggle) • Book that outlines Hitler’s beliefs why Germany spiraled out of control • Weakened by certain groups who lived within its borders • Critical of Jewish population- blamed them for Germany’s loss in WWI • Wanted to strengthen military and expand Nations borders • Purify the so-called Aryan “race” by removing the undesirables • Popularity of Nazi party grew • Soon largest Party in the Reichstag (German Parliament)

16. Reichstag Burns • February 27- Nazis burn Reichstag to create crisis atmosphere. • February 28- Emergency Powers granted to Hitler

17. March 24, 1933 – Hitler Becomes Dictator • German Parliament Passes Enabling Act • Hitler becomes dictator of Germany • Begins pursuing aggressive anti-Jewish policies and expansionist foreign policies

18. Why did Britain and France use Appeasement? • March 9th German troops entered the Rhineland • Huge gamble because Hitler’s army was not even ready • Had Britain and France threatened to attack, Hitler later admitted, he would have withdrawn his forces • Axis powers made their alliance in 1936 • With this success, Hitler annexes (takes control of) Aurstria • Britain and France protest, but do not fight • Months later, Hitler demanded Sudentenland

19. Appeasement why..? • September 1938- Britain, France, Germany, and Italy met in Munich (German Capital) • Appeasement- (Britain and France) gave into the demands in order to maintain peace. • Let Hitler have the Sudetenland • Churchill warned against, “They chose dishonor, they will have a war.” • March 1939 (only six months later) Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia • Hitler signs a treaty with the Soviet Union • Then invades Poland (September 1, 1939) • Two days later, Britain and France declare war on Germany

20. Warm Up: • What is appeasement and why did the Allies agree to it? Did it work? • Appeasement- (Britain and France) gave into the demands in order to maintain peace. • No, Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia and then invaded Poland (1939)

21. Describe Germany’s strategy for overwhelming its enemies: • Blitzkrieg- “lightning war” • Tanks, artillery, and soldiers, moving by truck instead of on foot, rapidly struck deep into enemy territory before the foe had time to react. • Using this, Germany overran Poland in less than a month • Sitzkrieg- “sit-down war” • After Poland, sat back and watched French forces along the Maginot line- line of defenses set up by the French to protect its border from further invasion • Received nickname as the “phony war”

22. Blitzkrieg continues: • Hitler uses Blitzkrieg to overrun France, the Netherlands, and Belgium • “phony war” to real war • Great Britain was the only standing ally at this point

23. Explain the significance of the Battle of Britain: • Last standing ally • Hitler used the Luftwaffe-German air force • Launched the largest air assault the world has ever seen • 1,000 planes a day rained bombs over England • British air force fought hard • By June 1941… • 30,000 British had been killed • 120,000 injured

24. America’s Response • 1938- Naval Buildup in the Pacific • Moved fleet from San Diego to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii • Wanted to remain neutral • Spread of Isolationism • American First Committee- 800,000 members • Questioned whether the sacrifice of WWI had any affect • Congress passes a series of neutrality acts • Neutrality Act of 1939- law allowed Britain and France to purchase weapons on a cash-and-carry basis

25. Involvement Grows • Exchanged 50 yr old destroyers for territory in Western hemisphere • Selected Service Act- first peacetime draft • Small number of men chosen to serve one year in army • Lend-Lease Act of 1941 • Aid any nation at President’s discretion to help national security