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World War II
Outcome: Causes of World War II
The treaty of Versailles along with the economic depression
contributed to the rise of antidemocratic governments in Europe &
Asia.
Causes of World War II
Underlying Causes of World War II
a.
Nationalism (Review from WWI): Extreme pride in one’s nationality or country
Imperialism (Review from WWI): Taking of land/property
c. Militarism (Review from WWI): Building weapons or a strong military
b.
The rise of Dictators
Underlying Causes of World War II
d.
Fascism: a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and
often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic
government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social
regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
Causes of World War II
Totalitarian Dictatorships: Leaders who control all aspects of society
i.
Each dictator took advantage of economic problems by:
1. Promising simple solutions to their nation’s problems
2. Rebuilding national pride (often using propaganda)
3. Providing scapegoats (targets for anger & blame)
4. Absorbing power, taking away individual rights, and crushing
opposition (1 party; 1 ruler)
Benito Mussolini of Italy
One of Europe’s first Dictators. He founded Italy’s Fascist movement.
Causes of World War II
Fascism was strongly anti-communist. Mussolini exploited these
fears by portraying fascism as a bulwark against communism.
Fascist Italy
a.
Dictator: Benito Mussolini (Il Duce = The Leader)
b.
Goals:
i.
Nationalism:
1. Wished to rebuild the ancient Holy Roman Empire
ii.
Imperialism:
1. Felt betrayed by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles Conference due to
a promise of land for joining the Allies that was not kept
2. Wanted to control lands around the Mediterranean Sea;
3. “Mare Nostrum” = Our Sea
iii.
Militarism:
1. Formed the Rome-Berlin Axis (alliance) with Germany in 1936
Joseph Stalin in The Soviet Union
After the Russian Revolution, the communist party
led by Vladimir Lenin created the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
In 1922. After Lenin died in 1924 Stalin came to power.
Soviet Union
Stalin sought to expand Soviet influence beyond its boarders.
His quote: “World dictatorship can be established only when the
Victory of socialism has been achieved in certain countries or groups
of countries that will grow into a World Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics uniting the whole of mankind”.
Stalin tolerated no opposition. He targeted political enemies and anyone
he deemed to be an enemy of the state.
He created concentration camps to use prisoners as labor.
Over 20 million people died under Stalin’s rule.
Adolf Hitler in Germany
Causes of World War II
Fascist Germany
Dictator: Adolf Hitler (Der Fuhrer or The leader)
a.
i.
Nazism is German Fascism
Goals:
b.
i.
Nationalism:
1. Wanted to rebuild Germany
2. Preached Vengeance against (4 hates)
a. Democracies (a weak & undisciplined form of gov’t)
b. Communism (a threat to Nazi growth)
c. November Criminals who signed the WWI Armistice
d. Jews (the source of all evil & problems in Germany)
Causes of World War II
Fascist Germany
ii.
Imperialism:
1. A desire to unite all people of German ancestry (Blood & language)
2. “Lebensraum” (a desire for more living space) needed to build his
empire he called The Third Reich
iii. Militarism:
1. Defied the Treaty of Versailles & rebuild the army
2. Created the “Nazi War Machine”
3. Built #1 military in the world
Japan
Hideki Tojo & Emperor Hirohito
Causes of World War II
Japan
Dictators:
a.
i.
Hideki Tojo: Military Leader & Prime Minister
ii.
Emperor Hirohito: Political & Spiritual figurehead
Goals
b.
i.
Nationalism:
1. Japan wanted to be #1 in Asia
2. Goal: Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere: name for power in Asia
ii.
Imperialism:
1. To be #1 in Asia, they needed oil and raw materials
2. Wanted China’s land (and others) to obtain oil and raw materials
iii. Militarism:
1. Built up the strongest military regime in Asia
2. Soldier’s motto: “Death before Dishonor”
Francisco Franco of Spain
Causes of World War II
Other causes
Spain: Franco’s fascists won the Spanish Civil War
b. Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin took control of the communist nation
a.
 Germany, Italy, & Japan became known as the Axis
Powers once the war began. AKA the Bad Guys!
Causes of World War II
e. Poor Decisions were made by the powerful democracies
France & Great Britain adopted a policy of appeasement
ii. The League of Nations would prove ineffective; lacked a military
i.
iii.
U.S.: Isolationism & Depression kept our focus on U.S. concerns; once
aggression began we claimed to be neutral
Causes of World War II
Equation:
Nationalism + Imperialism + Militarism = Aggression
Extreme Aggression = War!
Rebuilding the German Military
• Hitler controlled German government by 1933
• Secretly rebuilt military
• Unchallenged—openly stated plan to re-arm Germany
• Claimed resisting spread of communism—but empire building
Militarizing the Rhineland
• Direct action in 1936
• Armed force sent to the Rhineland
• French and British complained; no direct action taken
• German troops remained; Hitler grew bolder
Annexing Austria
Aggressive moves
• Europeans eager to avoid war
• Hitler plotted his moves
• Target-Austria
• German-speaking country
• Hitler’s birthplace
• Nazi supporters in Austria
Hitler’s demands
• Hitler demanded Austrian
officials accept annexation
(Anschluss)
• Initial Austrian resistance
• Britain and France did nothing
• March 1938-unopposed
German forces take over Austria
Threats to Czechoslovakia
Another German-speaking population
• Sudetenland eager to be a part of Germany
• Hitler threatened the Czech government
• Czechs prepared for war
Avoiding conflict
• September 1938—meeting in Munich
• Chamberlain (British) and Daladier (French) agreed not to block Hitler
• Czechs had no support
Policy of appeasement
• Appeasement—giving in to aggressive demands in order to avoid war
• Winston Churchill opposed the policy
• “Peace for our time” according to Chamberlain
Alliances and Civil War
Hitler builds alliances with other totalitarian governments.
The Axis forms
Spanish Civil War
• Military force to achieve goals
• Political conflict begins in 1936
• Anti-Comintern Pact
• Italy and Germany support
fascist Nationalists
– Germany and Japan
– Prevent spread of
communism
– Oppose USSR
• Italy joins Axis Powers later
• Military alliance
• Pledge aid in event of war
• Soviet Union supports
Republicans
• Nationalists win after years of
fighting
– Francisco Franco
– Fascist dictator
A Secret Deal with Stalin
Germany and Soviet Union on opposing sides in Spanish Civil War
 No direct conflict
 Axis Powers united against Soviet Union
 Soviet leader Joseph Stalin threatened by German expansion
France and Britain discuss possible alliance with Soviet Union
 Stalin did not trust British or French
 In secret negotiations with Germans
German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
 Each side agreed not to attack the other; allowed further
German aggression in Europe
 Secret section divided up territory in Eastern Europe
News shocked British and French; Hitler definitely on the march
The War Begins
September 1, 1939
Devastating effects
• Germany attacked Poland
• Polish air force destroyed
• World War II begins
• Soldiers fought; no match for
German forces
• Blitzkrieg or “lightning war”
• No natural barriers in the way
Support for Poland
• Britain and France declared war
on Germany
German troops in position
• On Germany’s western border
• Allies gave no real help
• Hitler eager for assault on
France
• Poland fell into German hands
• Plans for invasion made
1940–1941
Attack on France
• Denmark and Norway captured; the Netherlands and Belgium
followed
• Tank attack through Ardennes; overwhelmed light resistance there
• Heroic Dunkirk rescue; France surrendered in June 1940
Battle for Britain
• Great Britain stood alone against German war machine; Churchill now
leader
• Radar technology secret weapon for air defense
• British stood firm during Battle of Britain; Hitler called off invasion plans
Occupied France
Invasion of the Soviet Union
•June 1941, Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet
Union had initial successes
•Major goals of Leningrad and Moscow not
reached before harsh Soviet winter
•Soviet armies had time to rebuild and would
fight back
United States
The rise of dictatorships and militarism in Europe had Americans
worried. The sacrifices during WW1 seemed pointless because of the
new fighting. During the Depression most European nations would not
repay their loans.
In response to German and Italian aggression Congress passed
the Neutrality Act of 1935.
The act made it illegal to sell arms to any country at war.
American Neutrality
 Domestic: U.S. in midst of Great
Depression, public intent on remaining
neutral
 1935: First Neutrality Act (no sale of
arms to belligerent nations)
 1937: Arm sales only on “cash and
carry” basis
 FDR warns of impending problems
President Roosevelt
Japanese Expansion
Sought total control
of Pacific (resources)
1931- military
occupation of
Manchuria
1936- Japan signs
Pact with Germany,
Italy
Nanking MassacreDecember 1937
Japan Attacks
Japan’s alliance with Germany was seen as a sign of a war plan.
Japan sent forces to Indochina to secure necessary resources of oil
and rubber. Hideki Tojo held peace talks with the U.S. but planned for
war.
Pearl Harbor
• Surprise attack on U.S. Navy
Pacific Fleet
• December 7, 1941
• Fighters and bombers
launched from carriers
• Raid a success
Two-hour attack
• Major destruction
• Heavy casualties
– 2,400 dead
– 200 planes gone
– Eight battleships sunk
• Three carriers survived
Pearl Harbor:
December 7, 1941

Japan was working on expanding empire throughout the
Pacific
 The U.S. had a trade embargo on Japan to try and deter Japan
from invading countries
 U.S. was able to intercept and break Japan's secret codes
 Intercepted the code about Pearl Harbor - sent the message
on a slower telegram (by accident) to warn U.S. Navy about
attack.
Pearl Harbor Continued
 Japan viewed as a stunning victory
 December 8, 1941, U.S. declares war
on Japan
 December 11, 1941, Germany and
Italy declare war on U.S.
American Isolationism
• Attack had profound effect
• Ended desire to stay out of Europe’s war
• War declared on Japan
• Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.
• Allies vs. Axis
The American Home Front
 The American People were
asked by the government to
ration everything.
 The government also sold
bonds or borrowed money
from its own people to help
with the war.
 They needed the money
because they needed to
help the Allies as well as
themselves. The U.S. was also
not a very rich country and
desperately needed money.
 The Goal was to help allies
while the U.S. prepared.
American Home Front
• U.S. entered war two months later
• Enormous task of mobilization; men and women
volunteered for service
• Factories converted; “victory gardens” planted;
scrap drives and recycling to collect materials
• Some negative effects of patriotism
• Japanese Americans placed in internment camps
during the war
The American Home Front
 In the U.S., Americans were
scared and were afraid that
Japan was targeting
California (LA, San Francisco,),
Washington and Oregon.
 In preparation they passed:
Executive Order 9066
 Tanks and soldiers were also
sent to watch and protect the
coasts.
 Artillery was prepared and
smaller ships were patrolling.
In reality, the U.S. could do
little to defend itself at this
time.
Japanese Internment Notice
The American Home Front
 Off the coast of Florida, New
York (the East coast), Germany
was sinking our merchant ships
with its submarines. Germany
believed that the U.S. was
assisting G. Britain and France.
 In the west, the U.S. was losing
battles in Asia. We had lost the
Philippines as well as several of
our smaller island territories.
Australia and India were under
attack and it looked like China
would fall soon to Japan. It did
not look good for America or
the Allies.
The American Home Front
 The American military was




not prepared for an all out
war.
Remember it only had
300,000 men. About the
same size as Denmark’s.
The U.S. calls on American
men to enlist. The American
people respond.
In fact the Government is
overwhelmed by the
number that decide to join.
Patriotism sweeps the
country.
U.S. Military
16,000,000
14,000,000
12,000,000
10,000,000
8,000,000
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
0
Pre-Attack
After
The American Home Front
 Government started Total




War.
American Industry had to go
from peace time production
to war time
production(which takes a lot
of time).
GM, Ford, and Chrysler went
from creating cars to tanks.
Boeing from regular airplanes
to bombers and fighter jets.
Gun makers like Colt, from
hunting rifles to machine
guns, flamethrowers, war
rifles.
The American Home Front
Ship and Submarine Production
25
20
15
Ships
and
Subs
10
5
0
Before
After
 With the country in full
war mode, the U.S. was
producing weapons
faster than anybody
around thought that it
would or could.
 In one month, the U.S.
was able to produce
up to 4,000 tanks and
4,500 planes.
 Ship production also
increased dramatically
to help protect our
coasts.
The American Home Front
 Farms were producing as much
food as possible. Meats and
cereals were rationed and
prepped for the war effort.
Much of the food went to
Britain and Russia. Both
countries had already lost
millions of soldiers and citizens
because of the war and as a
result of starvation.
 Families turned in all the scrap
metal they could as well as oil
and gasoline to help.
 The U.S. accepted help even
from children.
The American Home Front
 The war had an
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
Women
4
2
0
Before
After
unintended effect.
 Women joined the
workforce. Before the
war, only about 3 million
worked in the U.S. Most
were housewives and
raised families.
 Since so many men went
to war, the U.S. was
desperate for workers to
produce weapons. So
they replaced the men
with women.
The American Home Front
 The American Gov’t
continued work on
secret weapons for
WWII. Some were not
yet ready.
 The Manhattan
Project was part of
this secret program. It
was begun in 1941,
the day before Dec.
7th attack.
 The project would
ultimately end WWII.
American culture during WW2
Culture became much more dependent on mass media after
World War II.
The television programs were much more powerful than radio.
There was also a large impact from movies and music.
Magazines, Comic Books started to change pop culture
Early American Involvement
The Battle of the Atlantic
• Control of the ocean important
• Food and equipment for England and Soviet Union
shipped by sea
• Germany relied on U-boats
• Inflicted great damage to shipping
• U.S. offered military aid
• Provided ships and military escorts for British convoys
• October 1941—USS Reuben James; first U.S. Navy ship
sunk by Germany
German U-Boat
Winning the Atlantic
With U.S. officially at war, German U-boats in
American waters
 Tried to destroy American merchant ships
 Hundreds of ships lost to German subs
 After 1943, Allies able to fight back more effectively
 Allied factories at full production
 Large numbers of ships and planes
 More firepower helped locate and destroy U-boats
 Key German code system broken
 Losses dropped sharply
 Vital supply line to Great Britain and Soviet Union kept
open
 Atlantic belonged to Allies
War in North Africa and Italy
Italian and British forces battled for control of North Africa. The Suez
Canal and the oil fields of the Middle East were essential to the British
war effort. After Italian forces failed against the British, Hitler was forced
to send German troops to support the Italians.
Back-and-forth fighting
•
•
•
•
•
Afrika Korps led by Erwin Rommel
Pushed British back into Egypt
Traded blows for two years
1942—Battle of El Alamein
British victory under Gen. Bernard
Montgomery
• Axis power lessened in North
Africa
Americans join the battle
•
•
•
•
Soviets wanted European front
Invasion of western North Africa
Dwight D. Eisenhower led troops
Rommel caught between forces
in east and west
• Supply problems worsened
• May 1943—surrendered to Allies
Nearly 250,000 Axis soldiers taken prisoner; with surrender, all of North
Africa in Allied hands
Fighting in Italy
Next Allied goal: Italy itself
 July 1943, Allied soldiers landed on the island of Sicily
 Weak Italian resistance
 Benito Mussolini forced from power
 Allies capture Sicily
 Made plans to invade the Italian mainland
 Hitler tried to protect against the Allied march through Italy
 September 1943
 Allies move into southern Italy
 Strong German resistance as troops moved north
 Bloody fighting continued for months