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World War II Causes and Impact of World War II, 1939 – 1945 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLmQ_sIxge4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8fzbUoQdio Isolationism 1919 - 1939 After World War I, many Americans oppose any type of involvement in European affairs, disputes and wars The Treaty of Versailles creates the League of Nations to prevent any disputes from becoming possible wars The league is weak, does not have American support and has little authority After the Stock Market Crash of 1929, many Americans will blame Europeans for the depression for defaulting on loans to our nation Americans at this time do not want any militaristic contact with Europeans. Our military become obsolete and we are not prepared for modern war The United States does not want any contact with European problems and during the Great Depression our army and navy is totally neglected. Militarism/Totalitarianism on the March 1933 – Adolf Hitler is elected as chancellor to Germany. After an earlier failed attempt to seize power, he is democratically elected to office. Hitler calls on German nationalism to not follow the Treaty of Versailles and to end all reparation payments to the Allies States that Germany never lost World War I, quickly re-takes the Rhineland and rearms the nation. Blames the Jews for the ills of German society and believes in the strength of the Aryan race The German Reich will last for 1,000 years, it only survives 12 from 19331945. Benito Mussolini descends to lead the Italian government in 1922. He believes in the superiority of the Italian nation and uses nationalism to promote his ideals of fascism. Mussolini will expand Italian power in Ethiopia. The Italians could have been stopped as they were not a modern military force. Japan may be led by the Emperor, but the government is motivated by a policy of expansion through military leaders. Japan expands through China and they see themselves and not the United States as the dominant power in Asia/Pacific. The Japanese have a large economy and population and always need to branch out from their island nation to gain cheap/abundant resources. The United States wants to contain Japanese expansion and view their power as a threat to the Philippines, Guam, Wake, Midway, the Aleutian Islands and Hawaii. The American Response Pacifist movements arise in the United States. Many people are opposed to any type of involvement against the Axis powers. FDR needs to fix our economy and put people back to work – not fight. Many people were opposed to the expansion of our national defense as they saw the banking and munitions makers as the proponents of war. They wanted fighting to gain profits. Up until December 7, 1941, most Americans were opposed to war. FDR knew that the Axis powers had to be checked, but bowed down to the early pressures of the public not to fight Neutrality In August 1935, Congress passed the first of three neutrality acts. The 1935 law banned the sale of arms to nations at war and warned Americans citizens not to sail on belligerent ships. In 1936 neutrality act banned loans to foreign nations at war In 1937, all of these acts were made permanent and that all trade other then munitions were to be carried out within cash-carry status. The United States will only watch as Germany pushed back into the Rhineland, annexed Austria and demanded a portion of Czechoslovakia. With Czechoslovakia willing to fight, the French and British negotiated the partition of their nation to prevent a possible war with Hitler. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's boast “Peace in our Time,” gave Hitler time and motivation to gain his conquests with no opposition. Hitler could have been stopped and defeated before he invaded Poland in September of 1939. The United States and China The neutrality acts hurt the weaker nations as they needed American weapons and unwillingly helped the aggressors Japanese expansion in China saw this nation hurt from an inability to purchase American weapons. In 1937, FDR called for a “Quarantine” against the “epidemic of world lawlessness” and wanted an international effort to halt aggression. News of Japanese atrocities in China still saw the widespread belief that Americans should not send aid to help this nation. The “Rape of Nanking” saw the massive murder of Chinese citizens by Japanese soldiers. Public contests were conducted amongst the Japanese on the amount of Chinese that could be killed in a day or a campaign. Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini The United States and World War II, September 1st, 1939 Like during World War I, the United States will see the Germans as the main threat to democracy and freedom FDR will push the government and military to support the Allies and to begin training for modern warfare. 1939-1940 – Hitler had taken Poland, Denmark, Norway and pushed the British out of France and taken this nation within six weeks. The British were reeling from several defeats and France signed a peace treaty with Germany. FDR pushed the government to act and to repeal the neutrality acts. If the British fell and the Germans gained access to their navy, the “Two Ocean Belief”’ would not be enough to protect the United States. Germany could be a serious threat to the internal security of America. FDR and Aid to the British FDR transferred fifty aging destroyers to the British for the use of eight military bases in the Atlantic and Caribbean (Bases for Destroyers Deal). Congress expanded the defense bill from $2 to $10 billion to strengthen the military Cash-Carry – If the Allies had the money, military goods would be sold to them Lend-Lease – Congress narrowly voted to extend greater military support to any nation that FDR deems important enough in supporting the defense of America (trucks, tanks, guns, etc.). Germany was sinking over 500,000 tons of British shipping a month. FDR issued orders for convoy escorts and shoot on sight of German U-boats after they attacked and damaged the US destroyer the USS Kearney and sunk the Rueben James. Hitler realized that America was not neutral and was using its might to help the British, but gave his U-boat commanders orders not to engage American shipping with hostile actions. In September 1941, 80% of Americans still wanted to stay neutral/out of war The first peace time draft in American history was established to re-build the army and train for battle. Our nation had the 17th largest military out of all the industrialized nations (between Bulgaria and Portugal). The Threat of War Looms in the Pacific, 1940-1941 Japan is an island nation that needs to either expand into foreign lands or import vital resources (oil, steel) In July 1940, FDR signed an order setting up a licensing and quota system for the export of these crucial materials and banned the sale of aviation fuel. Later in the year, a stronger embargo was placed on all scrap iron and all oil products. In 1940, the Japanese signed a peace treaty with the Germans and Italians. This would later force the United States into a two front war. They also began to move against the northern territories of French-Indochina. The United States sought the ABCD Alliance to surround and prevent further Japanese expansion (American, British, Chinese and the Dutch). When the Japanese expanded into French-Indochina, these chain of events led to war. FDR seize and froze all Japanese assets in the United States. Trade would only occur between America and Japan if they ended their aggression. From the summer of 1941 to December 7th, there were several tense moments of negotiations to prevent war. Time would be of the essence for the United States military to began their preparations of defense and fighting FDR, Secretary of War Stimson and Army Chief of Staff Marshall and Signing of Conscription December 7th, 1941 – FDR, “A Day that will live in Infamy.” The United States Pacific fleet is stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The Japanese fleet sailed and was lost at sea. Our intelligence system failed to determine where they were traveling and the purpose of their mission. Few American military leaders were willing to give the Japanese credit for any notion of attacking our naval forces at Pearl Harbor. Early on December 7th, Japanese air and naval forces attacked Hawaii. American service men awoke to enemy airplanes and a total shock to the destruction of their planes and ships that were perilously awaiting to be attacked and destroyed. General Yammamoto believed that “he could attack Hawaii and run wild through out the Pacific for one year until the sleeping giant awoke.” He realized that all of the aircraft carriers had to be destroyed or the United States would still be able to conduct war against the Japanese. The Attack on Pearl Harbor The United States and Warfare – World War II Totally unprepared for warfare American officers do not have the understanding of training or fighting the type of war that the Germans and Japanese are waging FDR wants the United States to deploy troops to the European and Asian/Pacific Theaters of Operation American forces must make an immediate impact to the war effort Germany on the move in the Soviet Union and in North Africa, control all of Europe Japan extends as far north as the Aleutian Islands, towards Bangladesh and towards Australia Total American war effort against the Axis Early Major Battles/Victories American marines, army and naval forces are dispatched to Guadanalcanal in 1942 to prevent the Japanese from building airfields that could hurt the shipping lanes to Australia. The Americans gain an important turning point victory against the Japanese and halt their expansion. Operation Torch in November of 1942, American and British forces land in western and northern Africa to begin their efforts in defeating Nazi Germany. Major American beliefs were to directly attack Hitler’s forces in France. The British were reeling from several losses and the Americans are too weak and unprepared to defeat the Germans. An approach against the “soft underbelly” to defeat Hitler in the Mediterranean Sea. American forces must learn how to “walk” in North Africa before they can “run” into battle. The earliest American war efforts prove that the United States was behind in their ability to train soldiers, supply the war effort, provides logistical support and actively defeat the enemy. North Africa and Guadalcanal are important to the development of the American military leadership and fighting ability The Allies turn the tide of the war at Stalingrad (Stalin/USSR) and El Alamein (Montgomery/British) to overcome the offensive abilities of the Germans. These two major victories provide the beginning of the end for Hitler. American Leadership FDR – Four term President of the United States, proponent for Germany first campaign and to destroy the Japanese ability to wage war. Take the war directly to the enemy at land, sea and air. General George C. Marshall – Former Chief of Staff to General John J. Pershing during World War I. Seen as the most capable soldier to organize and lead the American war effort on both fronts – FDR’s right hand man/confidant. General Douglas R. MacArthur – Flamboyant and capable officer that will lead the American war effort in the Pacific. Controversial defense of the Philippines – “I will Return.” Will conduct an island hopping campaign in the Pacific to defeat the Japanese army. General Dwight D. Eisenhower – MacArthur’s Chief of Staff during the 1930’s, seen as the protégé to Marshall. Very well liked and smart officer that never saw action in France during World War I. Many view him as having the ability to see the big picture of getting along with the Allies, defeating the Nazis and understanding supply/logistics. General George S. Patton – Most well known American tank commander. Controversial but effective leader that is feared by the Germans General Omar N. Bradley – Highly capable and brilliant leader that was seen as the brake that would guard Patton’s impulsive actions. Outside of Eisenhower, he is one of the most powerful Americans in Europe. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz – Outstanding naval commander that will lead the American war effort through the Central Pacific. His naval forces will actively destroy the Japanese ability to wage war at sea and to supply their troops on distant and home islands. General Curtis LeMay – Leads the American air effort against Japanese cities and military targets. Will actively bomb the Japanese into submission to end the war. The Japanese faced utter air destruction before the dropping of the atomic bomb. General Jimmy Doolittle – Famous American air commander that will lead his raid against the Japanese. The attack does not hurt the war making capabilities of the enemy, but is a psychological victory for our nation. World War II Strategy, Effort, Goals By 1942 the United States, England and the Soviet Union are allied with each other to defeat Hitler and Nazi Germany The Allies will never negotiate with Hitler “Germany First” Campaign The Soviet Union will lose 29 million people, England will fight the war for six years and the United States will greatly supply the war effort with men, materials and money. Casablanca Conference in 1943 calls for the complete and unconditional surrender of the Germans to the Allies. The strategy to keep fighting until Hitler surrenders or his nation is completely destroyed and unable to offer any type of resistance. The majority of the troops, resources and materials were directed towards Europe. Macarthur fought in the Pacific against a strong and large Japanese power with minimal support. Defeat Germany first and then direct all resources to defeat the Japanese. The development of the Manhattan Project (Atomic Bomb) by American and British scientists with belief that Hitler was ahead of the Allies. Up until 1945, the Allies always believed that Hitler’s scientists would develop and use the Atomic Bomb against the Allies. The War and Allied Politics The Casablanca Conference will call for the unconditional surrender of Hitler and Nazi Germany and will strengthen the resolve of total war. The Tehran Conference in 1943 brought the Big Three (FDR, Stalin, Churchill) together to plan the major aspects of the war. They agreed that an invasion of France needed to be conducted, the possibility of a United Nations and the Soviet participation in the defeat of the Japanese. Yalta Conference in 1945 saw Germany on the brink of defeat. The Big Three planned for the eventual defeat of Hitler and negotiated/quarreled over the status of Eastern and Central Europe and the likelihood of free elections. With Soviet forces well entrenched in Poland, Rumania, Hungary, etc., Stalin through a sign of force refused to follow and/or support post war agreements. Potsdam Conference in July, 1945 – FDR’s successor Harry S. Truman, a powerful, but little known senator from Missouri is now President of the United States. An intelligent and blunt speaking politician that wants to end the war as quickly as possible in the Pacific. Truman is aware that Stalin controls Eastern and Central Europe and will try to test his authority. In their first meeting Truman stated, “I can deal with Stalin, he is honest-but smart as hell.” Concerns over the future of Germany and the desire of the Soviets to take German resources and reparations to rebuild their nation, the partition of this nation was decided upon at Potsdam. This marked the last time that the United States and Soviet Union would willingly work with each other with the Cold War on the horizon. D-Day – Normandy, June 6, 1944 Originally believed by Eisenhower and Marshall that a cross channel of invasion of France should have been conducted in 1942. The Allies will attack the soft underbelly of the German empire by taking over North Africa, Sicily, fighting in Italy and bombing the Axis day and night. For two years the Allies assemble an army, naval forces and materials to invade France Hitler’s Atlantic Wall stretches from Norway to Spain. Most German leaders believed that the attack would be waged at Calais and not at Normandy. Eisenhower’s great gamble to surprise the Germans and push quickly into the French interior. The Allies will drop troops into France the night before the invasion to attack railroad lines, communications, bridges and prevent any reinforcements from reach the beaches. Eisenhower will take full responsibility for the attack on Normandy if it fails The Atomic Bomb The United States originally believed that they were behind with the development of this weapon. While Albert Einstein was vacationing on Long Island in 1939, he informs FDR that our nation should begin the research and development of the Atomic Bomb. The bomb was originally developed to be used against Hitler, but he is defeated by April of 1945. While the Soviets lose 9 out of every 10 men, the Americans in the Pacific lose 9 out of every 10 men in a long and deadly war. When Truman meets with Stalin at Potsdam, he does not indirectly tell him about the new weapon, but indicates that the United States can end the war. Japan is completely devastated from the massive bombing of their nation. While they are constantly attacked by American planes, their military, government and people prepare for a possible invasion of their home islands. From the beginning of the war, the Japanese prove to be formable adversaries with the will to fight to the death. Heavy American losses at Iwo Jima and Okinawa prove that the Japanese will never surrender. Truman uses the Atomic Bomb to save American and Japanese lives, end the war faster and to show the Soviet Union that they should follow post war agreements. The Japanese were willing to use kamikaze pilots, killed American soldiers during the Bataan Death March and refused to follow the Geneva Convention in the handling of prisoners of war Truman believes in his decision to end the war and he could never look at the parents of dead American soldiers if he had this weapon and did not end the war earlier The Holocaust Once Hitler gained his power as a German dictator, he turned his hatred and resentment towards others. Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, Catholics, communists, priests, intellectuals and Jehovah Witnesses were all targeted with imprisonment into the concentration camp system, radical new laws passed against them (Nuremberg Laws) and they were not able to practice their trade, go to German schools/universities and stay in the military. Once World War II started, this sealed the fate for the European Jews and other groups that were either sent to ghettos or right to the concentration/extermination camps American and British leadership knew about Auschwitz but only believed that continued battlefield pressure was the only way to save these people from total destruction Few American soldiers realized before liberating the camps how bad European Jews, minorities and other “enemies of the state” were treated. Allied soldiers were not briefed by superior officers and they stumbled onto massive government directed genocide. The Holocaust, militarism, dictatorships and two wars within twenty years were the main reasons why the United Nations was developed to replace the ineffectual League of Nations. The United Nations main goal was to preserve peace and to prevent disputes from becoming major battles/wars. Both the United States and Soviet Union were the two most important leading nations that used their influence to help start the United Nations. World War II and the Holocaust The Big Three and the End of the Fighting and the Future of Europe Yalta Conference Conference Potsdam