Download Women in World War II

World War II
How did it begin??
• Germany is in horrible shape
after the Treaty of Versailles.
• The German people are united
by a charismatic, military
leader that promises change.
• Using propaganda, he
appealed to the economic
needs of the lower and middle
classes.
• Hitler claimed nationalism,
preached anti-Semitism and
anti-communism.
• With the establishment of a
restructured economy, a
rearmed military, and a
totalitarian and fascist regime,
Hitler pursued an aggressive
foreign policy with the intention
of expanding German
Lebensraum ("living space"),
Hitler our last hope.
How did Hitler gain so much power?
Break the Chains
• Hitler believed that the best
way to get the support of the
masses was by appealing to
their feelings rather than by
argument. They waged a
propaganda (targeting the
Jews) campaign using posters,
leaflets, radio and film, and
organized rallies.
• He cultivated the support of
wealthy businessmen
promising them that, if he
came to power, he would
destroy Communism and the
Trade Unions. This gave him
the finance to run his
campaigns.
• Hitler promised something to
everyone. He set up youth
Hitler to get teens involved, he
promised perks to the military.
Propaganda
• 31 August 1939,
– German SS troops put
on a false attack on a
German radio station
at Gliewitz. Dressed in
Polish uniforms to
convince the world
that Poland is the
aggressor nation and
to justify their coming
invasion of Poland.
September 1st 1939
•
Operation Weiss": German troops invade Poland. German tanks thundered
across the Polish border at precisely 0445 hours, supported by Junkers Ju87
dive-bombers.
Adolf Hitler was working on the new kind of warfare "Blitzkrieg", Lightning War that
involved massive use of tanks, motorized infantry and airforce. Tactics of Blitzkrieg
designed new role for tanks, spearheads for quick penetration of enemy territory.
At 9.00 am England and France issue an ultimatum to Germany.
Blitzkrieg
• Britain and France
declare war on Nazi
Germany. September
3rd 1939.
• Hitler's Lightening war
is a success and most
of Europe falls under
Nazi Germany’s
control very quickly.
Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin
• Hitler gained the time and
freedom to attack the
Countries on the Western
front knowing that his
back was covered by a
Russian nation who was
desperately trying to build
up to protect themselves
because even though
Stalin signed the pact he
had no trust in Hitler.
• Stalin knew Hitler would
come, The Pact gave
Stalin time to prepare.
What did the Non-Aggressive Pact
do for Hitler??
• What does this pact
allow for Hitler to do?
• Was this a “good”
move on Hitler’s part?
• Is this a “good” move
for Stalin?
How is the United States
Responding?
• Politically?
• Popular opinion?
• American’s clinging to
Isolationism, Why??
• Neutrality Acts
American Propaganda
• Isolationist still
skeptical. Didn’t
want to be dragged
into another
“European War”
• Debate amongst the
public. Should we
or shouldn’t we “get
involved”
• Government put out
patriotic posters.
• Patriotic song were
on the radio.
The Phony War.
• Western Europe
prepare for Hitler to
attack. France set
troops on it’s eastern
border.
• Great Britain put
military, air force, and
navy on high alert.
• For months nothing
happened.
In April of 1940, Hitler did a surprise
attack on Norway and Denmark- The
Phony War ended.
Women’s efforts during World War II
• What did women
have to do in order for
the United States to
still be a “large player”
in the war??
• Why did women have
to go and do a “man’s
job”?
Women in World War II
Benito Mussolini
• Dictator of Italy from
1922 until 1943, when
he was overthrown.
• He established a
repressive fascist
regime that valued
nationalism, militarism
(strict censorship and
state propaganda)
• Mussolini became a
close ally of German
dictator Adolf Hitler.
American Conservation efforts with Propaganda
Axis and Allied Powers
Dark Green: Allies before the attack on Pearl Harbor
Light Green: Allied countries after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Orange: Axis Powers
Lilac: Neutral countries during WWII
Hitler bombs England
• Churchill (England’s
Prime Minster) knows
that Hitler has set his
eyes on taking over
England.
• Months earlier
Churchill started
preparing his people
for the “surprise”
attack
America’s 1st draft- In time of Peace
The United States enters the War
• The Attack on Pearl Harbor
or Bombing of the Harbor
was a surprise attack on the
United States naval base on
Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii.
It was launched on the
morning of Sunday,
December 7, 1941 (Hawaii
time) The attack spurred the
U.S. into entering World War
II.
• American casualties were
comparatively light, at 2403
dead and 1178 wounded[1];
5 obsolete[2] battleships, 3
destroyers, 3 cruisers, and
188 planes
Battleship Row during
Attack
Day that will live in Infamy
• When President Franklin Roosevelt addressed the
shocked American people, he called it "a date which
will live in infamy." The date is observed each year in
the U.S.
Roosevelt responds to the Attack
Map of the Japanese Empire at its
height in 1942.
Relocation
center seen
during a dust storm.
Young Americans
of Japanese
descent who have
just arrived at an
Assembly center,
wait to have their
bags inspected
America’s fight in the Air over Europe
• The war became
about air power
control. The planes
were instrumental in
the success of a
battle.
• Planes could either
drop bombs, or
have a manned
gunner as seen
here to the left.
V-E Day May13, 1945!!!
Victory in Europe
Hitler commits suicide
• The generally accepted cause
of the death of Adolf Hitler on
April 30, 1945 is suicide by
gunshot and cyanide
poisoning.
• The dual method and other
circumstances surrounding the
event encouraged rumors that
Adolf Hitler may have survived
the end of World War II along
with speculation about what
happened to his remains
•
His soldiers claim that his body
was burned in the compound that
he was held up in.
America wants to settle a score
with Japan
VS.
Round One…
Turning Point in the War- Battle of
Midway
• The battle was a crushing
defeat for the Japanese
and is widely regarded as
the most important naval
battle of World War II.
The battle permanently
weakened the Japanese
Navy.
• Japan intended on
occupying midway and
being able to control the
seas.
Island hopping strategy to take control of Pacific.
Japanese step it up
• The Japanese don’t
want to stop the war.
• Losing their grip on
the foothold that they
had the Japanese
step up their forces.
• The KAMIKAZE was
introduced to our
soldiers
•
literally: "god's wind"; common translation: "divine wind") is a word of
Japanese origin, which in English usually refers to the suicide attacks
Truman takes over
33rd President
• Roosevelt dies.
• VP Truman takes over
• Truman's presidency included
victory over Germany,
• atomic bombings of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki,
• surrender of Japan and the
end of World War II,
• the founding of the United
Nations,
• the Marshall Plan to rebuild
Europe, the Truman Doctrine
to contain Communism, the
beginning of the Cold War,
Yes or NO….?
• Truman struggles with
the decision to drop
the A-Bomb
• Should the bomb be
dropped and
thousands of innocent
lives be
lost…ENDING the
war.
• “The End justifies the
Means”
1945: Japan signs unconditional
surrender
United Nations is Born