Download U.S. foreign policy, European Appeasement, German and Japanese

U.S. foreign policy, European Appeasement, German and Japanese Fascism
SECTION IN YELLOW HIGHLIGHTER = ON EXAM 2; ALL MATERIAL ON FINAL EXAM
European “Appeasement” – best example is Neville Chamberlain
Appeasement a diplomatic term which explains European and League of Nation’s response to
development and growing fascist violence
to avoid war, appeasement supporters use diplomacy rather than war in response to Fascist
breaking of each part of the Treaty of Versailles and eventual militarism; as a result,
brought constant concessions to Communist Russia and Fascism
How horrible, fantastic,
incredible it is that we
should be digging trenches
and trying on gas masks
here because of a quarrel
in a far-away country
between people of whom
we know nothing.
”
—Neville Chamberlain, September 27,
1938, 8 p.m. radio broadcast, on
Czechoslovak refusal to accept Nazi
demands to cede border areas to
Germany.
German Nazis (NSDAP) much attention by Americans? Stalin and Kheimer Rouge killed many more
How to Understand World War II, Fascism and the Nazis
 Fascists not “new” totalitarian state, but extension of historical events that predate their popularity
 to gain power, Nazis used constant, modern propaganda (radio, movies); appealed to many
German people’s fears in 1933; before early 1930s, Germans reject Nazis completely
Fascism forces Americans to consider darker side of “progress” in 20th century
(science, medicine, industrialization, etc)
Rise of Fascism – characteristics:
Fascism is not a political party or strict political ideology; instead, Fascism is a group of
characteristics that differ by country
Japan, Germany and Italy: critique of U.S. individualism, materiality (department stores); corporatism
glorification of war and imperialism; critique of capitalism, competition
lose individual identity to corporate or collective one of “Nation” (German Volk; Japan’s New Order)
racial hatreds; violent nationalism; natalist policies to increase population
Fascist enemy = Communism; only German Fascism also attacks race, ethnicity and Jewish pop
replace ineffective bureaucratic politicians with dictators who express the spiritual will of ppl
“We have buried the putrid corpse of liberty.” Mussolini, Italy
Communists internationally - success of Russian Marxism depends on spread of Communism
German history leading up to NAZI power
nationalism and unification by military force;
German nationalism - Volk represent greatness by Anglo-Saxon superiority
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NEW: Hitler, fascism and Nazis not a “new” totalitarian state, but an extension of historical events
1. darker side of “progress” in 20th century; not negation of previous ideas but added
2. What did Germans expect to gain with Hitler?
3. nuanced visions of Nazis: egs of German working class; women
**Nazi political victory not a given until 1939**
Hitler and Nazis lose all major early elections (many German fascist parties following WWI)
rise of NSDAP (Nazis) and Hitler in 9 months – from outside, ostracized party to political
dominance; Nazi policy and philosophy:
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Hitler and “wrong war”; fervent admiration for England in India; plans to colonize Russia in
similar way; but, allies with Russia against England
Nazis have two consistent enemies: Communists and Jews (often equated)
domestic attack on those who challenge patriarchal, heterosexual, white, healthy (mental
and physical), parental, elite social power; wants return to “traditional Germany”
German “living space” – justification for taking territory from other countries
Germans have right to recreate historical empire by seizing countries with similar culture
(Austria – Hitler is Austrian – from Linz; spends early adult years in Vienna)
-Nazis end Depression very early with extensive social welfare state
Workers back to work in military industry; Germany out of depression much earlier than
the U.S. or other European countries
-gradually, destroys all parts of Versailles Treaty that forced Germany in position of inferiority
-Government Anti-Semitism begins in 1934 - first racial policy against Jews was econ boycott of
Jewish shopkeepers
“When you start a war, it does not matter who is right, but who wins. Close your hearts to pity. Act with brutality. Eighty
million Germans must get what is their due. Their existence must be made secure. The stronger man is right. (Hitler, 1939) ”
First labor camp by Nazis in 1933; created for, “undesirables,” Communists, gypsies,
prostitutes, mentally and physically handicapped, homosexuals, alcoholics, criminals,
juvenile delinquents, etc.
Few Germans protested
Fascists
Mussolini
Germany
Spain
France
Italy (first fascist state),
Nazis and Hitler
Franco
Vichy France
Francisco Franco in Spanish Civil War
Rome-Berlin Axis – will support Spanish fascists
-prelude to World War II; Italian and German Fascist states provide military support for Franco; Why?
1. fight against republican forms of government;
2. Testing limits of European appeasement and American isolationism – Would Europe, the League of
Nations, or the U.S. declare war on German and Italian Fascists? Answer - No.
In Spanish Civil War, Germans and Italians test/introduce their new types of warfare:
1. relentless air attacks on civilian rather than military targets - to demoralize and kill civilian
populations – war of nerves
2. intentional war on civilians (see above); 700,000 killed in Spain, many are civilians
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3. “blitzkrieg” – lightening war (important term – see textbook)
4. coordinated attack by all branches of military
Abraham Lincoln Brigade; made up of small group of idealistic, left-wing Americans, may of whom
intellectuals and activists in Europe in 1930s (alienated from American capitalism, often WWI veterans);
See, E. Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls
Fascists quickly, completely slaughter the Abraham Lincoln Brigade
Non-Aggression Pact (1939)
Russia and Germany signed; ideological enemies, but military partners
together, they invade Poland after promise Chamberlain peace
Russia remains in Poland after WWII; helps create Cold War
Germany uses blitzkrieg - lightening war – against Poland
Tripartite Pact of 1940 – Germany, Italy and Japan + nonaggression pact with Russia
(military alliance Germany, Italy and Japan, existed informally in 1836; formalized in 1940)
US – Pre-WWII
split into Interventionists vs. Isolationists;
FDR internationalist but limited by isolationist government (“quarantine the aggressors” speech, 1937)all
Isolationists argue will defend U.S. if attacked, but not intervene in any European wars
FDR “Good Neighbor Policy” throughout the Americas (memory of Zimmerman Telegram)
FDR argued the New Deal required American “defense of democracy” throughout the Americas
Presidential Election of 1940, Roosevelt wins by landslide; has unprecedented third term
FDR’s Lend-Lease, 1941 (vague, no real policy; FDR wanted to make policy alone, as he wanted);
FDR’s partnership and friendship with England’s Winston Churchill
Battle of Britain – unending air war by Germans against England
only democracies in world are U.S. and England
US loans British govt $7 billion in goods (spur US econ)
FDR’s Four Freedoms speech; the Greer and “active defense”; “arsenal of democracy”
Vichy France – German Nazi government in France
WWII at Home in U.S.
War Production Board – oversees all industry at home (fm unemployment to labor shortages)
Women and War in US: 1940-1944: 5 million women enter workforce; Rosie the Riveteer; not feminists
after war many go home – Bowlby’s theory “maternal attachment” science and social relations
“Citizen Army” people very out of shape due to Depression; now, even more public health; urban reform
“GI” government issued
AND SNAFU “situation normal, all fouled up”
radar; “wolf-packs”
Discrimination at Home
race a social identified at times separate fm economic interests and war safety
African Americans workers and soldiers
Japanese Amkns – “relocation” - Bill of Right suspended for WW II
Truman desegregates military; Pres. Eisenhower makes it a reality when elected president
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Post WWI PLAN - “Atlantic Charter” US/Brit blueprint of post war world (1942, 23 countries, inc.
Russia, agree and fight Axis)
JAPAN
JAPAN - 15 years of constant, extremely violent imperialism – domination of Asia
economic self-sufficiency - needed markets and raw materials for economic development
Japanese Fascists invade Manchuria, China
Considered the start of WWII by many
Japan invades then invades Nanking, China to destroy Chiang Kaishek’s Nationalist government
tremendous violence is called, “Rape of Nanking”
League of Nations condemn but no power to enforce; Japan’s success w/o intervention encourage
Mussolini/Hitler
Mao Tse-tung and Chiang – unite against Japan
Japan divided among two factions: moderates – economic imperialism; militarists – war
Japan and US - try to ignore each other through 1938, 1939
US econ boycott of Japan; so replace US goods with raw materials fm French Indochina & Dutch East
Indies
Tripartite Pact of 1940 – Germany, Italy and Japan + nonaggression pact with Russia
General Kideki Tojo; US – must keep traditional “Open Door” with China
Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 (8 US battleships disabled; Arizona and Oklahoma sunk; 2,300 Amkns
killed)
FDR – “a day that will live in infamy”; honoring Tripartite Pact, Hitler and Muss war on US
Hitler fights Russia in 1941; war on 3 fronts
North Africa/Egypt, Rommel – “Desert Fox”- threaten Suez Canal; Russia; West. Euro
Now – US politicians unite – war; US, Britain and Soviet Union – Grand Alliance
War in Pacific and Europe (Japanese victory and “Bataan Death March” (1941)
Final Struggle: air war destroy Germany,1942 ; “D-Day” June 6, 1944; “Operation OVERLORD
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