Download World War II

World War II
Shaping of the Modern World
Core 151
Fall 2007
Current Events: The Issue with Turkey
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During World War I, The Ottoman Empire (What is now
modern Turkey) was responsible for the systematic killing
of nearly 1.5 million Armenians
– Killing was religiously motivated
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The Armenian Massacre was never officially labeled
Genocide
– The Armenians lack a strong interest group in the time period
since
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The United States Congress is currently trying to pass a
resolution labeling it as such.
– Highly Political Issue
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The Timing…?
War in Iraq
Democrat vs. Republican
Historical Perspective
Background Causes
1. Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis, a military alliance was formed. (later
called Axis powers)
2. Axis Totalitarianism – All were dictatorships
3. Axis Militarism
4. Axis Nationalism
A. Japan – Shinto teachings – Emperor worship
B. Italy – recreate the old Roman Empire
C. Germany – the “master race” will rule
5. Axis Imperialism
6. Failure of the Policy of Appeasement. – Great Britain allowed
the dictators to take lands hoping they would be satisfied.
A.
B.
1938 Germany annexed Austria – why – Austria is a German Cultured land.
1938 Germany annexed Czechoslovakia – why – German speakers in the Czech
Republic.
7. US Neutrality
Europe 1939
World War II in Europe and Africa
The War
The Spark…
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1939 Hitler wants Poland – England says NO
Germany attacks Poland on September1, 1939 -- war
begins again in Europe
Blitzkrieg War – “Lightning War” – use of planes,
tanks, long range artillery, and troops with precision
and speed
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Luftwaffe
Panzers
Storm Troopers
Howitzers
War on Three Fronts – World-Wide Involvement
1.
2.
3.
Europe
Africa
Asia
War in Africa
North African Campaign :10 June
1940-16 May 1943
 Egypt-Libya Campaign – El Alamein,
1942-1943
 American landing in French Morocco,
1942
 Tunisian Campaign 1943
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 Consisted of British (and company), French,
and American troops.
 Point of departure for the Invasion of Italy.
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Patton vs. Rommel
War in Europe
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1939 Soviet Anti-Aggression Pact. – leave Russia
alone.
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French defenses called the Maginot Line
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This would be short lived
Expensive – Construction ended at the forest.
English troops defend Belgium (Schlieffen Plan)
Germans attack through the forest
French and British troops were forced to the coast
338,00 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk
Hitler marched into Paris in 1940. Established the Vichy
Republic and Fortress Europe.
Germany prepares to invade England. The Battle of
Britain 24 hr. Bombing Campaign of England.
War in Europe
• Hitler made mistakes
• Invaded Russia – in the Fall of 1940 –he opened up a 2
front war.
• Practiced terrible cruelty towards the Russians.
• 1942-1943 Battle of Stalingrad. Russia stops the
Nazis and pushes them back toward Germany.
• Considered the Bloodiest Battle in Human History
• Combined 1.5 Million casualties
• For a time, the average lifespan of a new Russian
Solider Lifespan was less than one day
• Many starved or froze to death
• Italian Campaign 1943
• D-Day – Normandy 1944
• VE Day - 9 May 1945
• Hitler commits suicide in his bunker 30 April
• German troops surrender in France 7 May, in Germany
8 May, and on the eastern front 9 May
War in Asia
• 7 May 1937 Japan invaded China – why?
• Japan needs raw materials to build its war machines
• Japan needs petroleum to fuel its war machines
• Japan had been grabbing Asian Islands
• December 1941, Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor• United States formally declares war against Empire of Japan
December 8
• Soon declares war on Hitler and Germany
• USA also begins fighting a Two-Front war
• 4 June – 7 June 1942 Battle of Midway – Turning point
• Decisive American victory
• asserted American naval dominance in the Pacific
• Island Hopping Campaign
• Spring 1945 Iwo Jima – Okinawa
• Atomic Bomb
• 6 August 1945 - Hirohima
• 9 August 1945 – Nagasaki
• 15 August 1945 – VJ Day
Outcomes
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American Superpower Status
– US as the Supreme Victor
 Lack of domestic battlefield
 Massive mobilization effort
 Science and technology
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Cold War
– Ideological struggle for power and influence between
the USSR (Communist) and USA (Democratic)
– The Spoils of War – Division of Europe – “The Iron
Curtain”
Outcomes
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Decline of Europe – Rise of Asia
– Devastated again from war
– Most European governments would never fully regain status as world
powers
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German Split
Weak France
Italy in disarray
Rebuilding in Brittan
World Government Organization
– Rise of the United Nations as an International peacekeeping organization
– Permanent and Rotating Membership
– Based in New York, NY
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Nuclear Age
– The Landscape of Warfare is forever changed following the awe-inspiring
use of atomic weapons to conclude World War II
– Once developed, Nuclear Technology soon was copied by the USSR,
China, France, Britain, Israel, etc…
World War II: Total War
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Total war is a military conflict in which nations
mobilize all available resources in order to
destroy another nation's ability to engage in
war.
– This was true for all nations involved in WWII
This total war concept is more focused toward
Civilian Life
 Occurs when the conflict requires the entire
effort of the society
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Home Front
World War II was responsible for
ending the Global Economic Crisis, by
replacing it was a Global Military
Crisis
 Industrial Production shifted entirely
toward war efforts
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– Lipstick factor --- Bomb Factory
– No 1943-1945 Model Cars
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Government organized war efforts
– Production Boards
– Office of War Information
 Importance of Propaganda to the effort
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Methods of Production and Organization
Shaped Post-war countries
Leadership During World War II
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FDR -- USA
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Hitler -- Germany
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Stalin -- USSR
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Churchill -- Britian
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Japan (Hirohito)