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World War 2: A Global Overview

Learn about the origins of World War 2, major players like Hitler, Allies, and Axis Powers, key events such as Doolittle's Raid and the Manhattan Project, and the impact of the war on different theaters.

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World War 2: A Global Overview

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  1. World War 2

  2. A Global Depression • The Great Depression was felt all over the world, not just in the U.S. • After the First Great War, many Americans favored a policy of “ISOLATIONISM” • ISOLATIONISM = Non-involvement in World Affairs

  3. Not Our Problem • Americans felt WW2 to be Europe’s problem • President Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt (FDR) disagreed, but was unable to convince his citizens • Congress even passed a law against trade from warring nations to prevent our involvement

  4. The Basics of WW2 • Started when Germany invaded Austria in February, 1938 • Hitler then invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 • Great Britain & France had enough and declared war on Germany & its ally, Italy

  5. How did WW2 Start? • Adolf Hitler promoted his ideas that Germans were the “master race” • He blamed Jews and other minorities for the world’s problems, and labeled them “sub-human” • Poles, Slavs, the Romany, people of color, gays & the disabled were also targets

  6. Why did Hitler target the Jews?

  7. Who’s Fighting this time? • The Allies aka The Central Powers • Great Britain, • led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill • France • Deladier, Reynaud, Charles De Gaulle • U.S.A. • President Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt

  8. Who’s fighting this time (Cont’d) • The Axis Powers • Germany • Led by Adolf Hitler, “Fuehrer” or “Leader” • Italy • Benito Mussolini, “Il Duce” or “Leader” • Japan • General HideyoTojo, Prime Minister

  9. What about Russia? • Russia • Led by Joseph Stalin, General Secretary • Signed a “non-aggression act” with Germany & Italy • Hitler betrayed this agreement and invaded Russia in June, 1941 • When U.S. entered, Russia allied with Allies

  10. European Theater

  11. WW2 in Africa • Russia wanted Britain & U.S. to start a 2nd front against Germany on the West • Britain said we don’t have the strength to fight Germany’s full force • Instead they wanted to attack the Germans on the edges of Africa

  12. Allied invasion of N. Africa

  13. Pacific Theater

  14. Island Hopping 1942-1945

  15. Doolittle’s Raid • FDR wanted to bomb Tokyo to win morale for U.S. troops • Couldn’t get aircraft carriers close enough without Japanese bombing them • U.S. replaced short range bombers with B-25’s

  16. Doolittle’s Raid (Cont’d) • B-25’s could take off, but couldn’t land on the carrier • Japanese discovered the carrier, Hornet, before they were ready • Didn’t have enough fuel to reach China • Forced to bail out or crash in Japan after bombing

  17. Tuskegee Airmen • African-American Pilots • Division of the Army Air Corps (Not the Airforce) • Received support from NAACP & black newspapers • Got their name from Tuskegee Inst. In AL

  18. Tuskegee Airmen (Cont’d) • Roughly 1000 fighter pilots • Led by Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. • Later became 1st black Airforce General • Father was famous general

  19. Tuskegee Airmen (Part 3) • Flew nearly 16,000 missions & destroyed hundreds of enemy aircraft • Members won >900 medals & honors • In 2006 Congress awarded them Congressional Gold Medal, highest honor Congress can give

  20. The Manhattan Project • 1939 – Leo Szilard, suggested splitting uranium atom would release enormous energy • Szilard convinced Einstein to write FDR stating Germans had developed methods to do it • Roosevelt set up science committee to study the issue

  21. The Manhattan Project (Cont’d) • 1941 – American committee was skeptic until speaking with British who’d already started work • U.S. Committee convinced FDR to begin to build one • “Manhattan Project”, headed by Gen. Groves

  22. The Manhattan Project (Part 3) • 1942 – U.S. built first nuclear reactor at University of Chicago • Built atomic bomb at secret lab in Los Alamos, NM • July 16, 1945 – detonated 1st A-Bomb in Alamogordo, NM

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