WWII The Roots of War

1. WWIIThe Roots of War

2. American Experience in WWI Causes for Alarm • Trading arms with warring nations • Buildup of militaries • Territorial Expansion • American’s Traveling on British ships Actions to Prevent • Wilson’s 14 Points • Free Trade on Seas • Demilitarization • Self-Determination • Washington Naval Conference • Japan, US, France and Italy agree to decrease size of navies • Kellogg-Briand Pact • Countries agree not to attack one another • Neutrality Acts • No trade with warring nations • No riding on ships of nations at war

3. Misconceptions of 20s Possible misconceptions • US was an isolationist country throughout the 20s • Memories of WWI led America to withdraw from international relations Actual • Trade alliances continued • Money and goods poured into and out of European and Asian countries • Hawley-Smoot was designed to stop this • International agreements and pacts

4. Aggression and Indifference • The 1930s saw the rise of dictators • Germany– Hitler– Nazism • Italy—Mussolini—Fascism • Russia—Stalin—Communism • Japan—Hirohito/Tojo—Militarism • Though all were members of non-aggression agreements, all sought an expansion of military power and territory.

5. 1931 • Military generals, without consent of emperor, occupy Manchuria and in 1932 establishes new state of Manchukuo • Violation of the Kellogg-Briand Pact

6. 1933 • Hitler appointed Chancellor • Withdraw from talks of disarmament • Begins building military

7. 1934 • Japan begins the buildup of its naval fleet • Made a declaration to the west that it was withdrawing from its earlier agreements to disarm

8. 1935 • Hitler continues to build up his military and denounces the Treaty of Versailles. • Mussolini invades and take Ethiopia • Obviously not in line with past non-aggression agreements

9. 1936 • Japan, Italy and Germany sign an Anti-Comintern Pact to oppose communism • Hitler reoccupies the Rhineland • Civil War in Spain • Franco, a Fascist, was supported by Hitler • A proving ground

10. 1937 • Japan invades remainder of China • Fighting continues in China for 3 more years • Iris Chang– Rape of Nanking

11. 1938 • Hitler annexes his home country of Austria • It was welcomed by many • Self-Determination • Hitler makes it clear he wants to take Sudetenland • Munich agreement • Chamberlin and Hitler • Hitler asks Poland for lands from Poland and roads to be built in Poland • NO

12. 1939 • Italy invades Albania • Germany takes Czechoslovakia • Germany invades Poland

13. 1940 • Germany invades Denmark and Norway • Germany invades France • Germany begins “Blitz” (attack on Britain) • Japan take Indochina • Italy invades Greece

14. Non-Aggression Pact signed between Hitler and Stalin Stalin and Germany take Poland Poland, France and Britain seemed like a strong alliance Germany had superior firepower Blitzkrieg

15. Germany’s Panzer division– Armored divisions of tanks and artillery was especially powerful German tactic was to use the stukas (dive bombing warplanes) to break up defenses. They would then quickly breakthrough the lines, encircle the enemy and capture them. The infantry would follow and occupy the country German troops defeated Poland in less than 1 month Briefly Luftwaffe Panzers Troops Occupation Panzer Divisions

16. After Germany took Poland, they waited out the winter. The French held their defenses on their border with Germany. They had established housing with A/C, underground railroads, heavy artillery and readied troops. France’s Maginot Line

17. April 9, 1940 • Germany invades Denmark and Norway then launches a blitzkrieg on the nations of Belgium (3 weeks), Netherlands(5 days), and Luxembourg(1 day) • In mid-may the Germany invaded France through Belgium, shirking the Maginot line and dividing the Northern and Southern French troops. • In Dunkirk, British and some French troops get aboard ships and escape to Britain. • By June 22nd France had surrendered

18. Objectives: Examine the events leading America to enter the war • Do Now: What was the significance of Dunkirk?

19. Operation Dynamo: Dunkirk In accordance with military principle where priority is given to men over arms, the Allies left behind 2,000 guns, 60,000 trucks, 76,000 tons of ammunition and 600,000 tons of fuel supplies. • 10,252 German soldiers lost • 42,000 wounded • 8,467 missing • 1,212,000 Dutch, Belgian, French and British prisoners taken • 30,000 British died • 338,000 men saved in the evacuation The Germans gained: • 1,200 field guns • 1,250 anti-aircraft guns • 11,000 machine guns • 25,000 vehicles

20. Southern France called Vichy, collaborated with Germany and retained control in the south under Henri-Philippe Petain. Free France, the name of the Government that remained in Britain, under leadership of Charles de Gaulle, continued resistance attempts against the German occupation. Resisters would use many methods to disrupt German rule of Northern France France Divided

21. Battle of Britain • German Luftwaffe launched an air assault against Britain. • Constant bombing of England • RAF– Engage • German Code deciphered • British air force bombs Berlin

22. America Responds • FDR implements the Lend-Lease Act • FDR granted power to sell, exchange and/or lend goods which would be necessary for the security of the United States • FDR justifies this through his “Four Freedoms Speech.”

23. Germany Changes Course • Germany’s attempts to conquer Britain fell short. • RAF’s success against Luftwaffe • British tenacity • Hitler shifts his army to the East and invades Russia • June 22nd 1941– invades Soviet Union (violation of non-aggression pact) • Against advise, Hitler stalls to occupy the Ukraine and heads for Leningrad. • By the time he headed for Moscow, winter set in (-40! An you thought NJ had it rough this winter)

24. Turning Point • At the same time Russians held off the Germans in Moscow, the Japanese were gearing up for their own offensive. • Japan invaded Indochina to gain access to necessary supplies • United States placed an embargo on supplies to the Japanese. • United States froze Japanese Assets • Japan began negotiations with the United States while simultaneously planning their attack on Pearl Harbor

25. Dec 7, 1941: “A Date that will Live in Infamy” • 7:02 AM– Radar team spots blip • Told to not worry about it– Just American B-17 • 7:55– 1st attack by Japanese torpedo planes and dive bombers • Among the destruction wrought by the 353 Japanese aircrafts were 4 battleships, 3 destroyers, 3 cruisers a minelayer killed 2402 Americans (1000 aboard the Arizona) • BUT • 3 Carriers out of port • Ship repair facilities still operational • Power plant still operational • Oil Tanks left intact • MOVIE CLIP

27. America Declares War • December 8th, 1941– Congress declares war • Germany declares war on the United States on December 11th.