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World War II
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The Road to War
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By the end of 1941, 29 countries had already
declared their support for the Allies – the
United Stated, Great Britain, France, and the
Soviet Union.
The Axis Powers – Germany, Italy, and Japan
– were supported by seven other countries.
The events leading to World War II began in the
1920’s.
Several dictators seized power by playing on the
fear and anger people felt after WWI and the
depression.
The Road to War
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The first dictator to take power was Benito
Mussolini in Italy.
In Germany, many people rallied around Adolf
Hitler – leader of the National Socialist
Worker’s Party, or Nazi Party.
The Depression also brought military leaders
to power in Japan.
In September of 1939, Hitler invaded Poland.
2 days later, Britain and France declared war
on Germany.
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
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President Roosevelt promised to remain neutral, but
provided Britain and the Soviet Union with
weapons.
Japanese troops seized France’s colony of
Indochina. The U.S. tried to stop Japan by applying
economic pressure.
Desperate for resources, the Japanese government
began planning an attack on the United States.
On December 7, 1941, Japanese warplanes attacked
the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
3 days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the
U.S. who joined the Allies.
On the Home Front
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Out of the war came new technology, a new
prosperity, and a new sense of power and strength.
During the war, industry expanded rapidly.
Incomes rose and unemployment fell.
Far more women than ever before entered the work
force.
The war also created new opportunities for African
Americans.
Japanese Americans experienced discrimination
after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Worried about their
loyalty, the government forced Japanese Americans
on the West Coast to relocate to internment camps.
D-Day
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The Allies were planning a massive invasion of
France from the West, known as Operation
Overlord.
On June 6, 1944 – D-Day – Allied ships landed
thousands of troops on the coast of Normandy.
After wading ashore the troops faced land mines and
fierce fire from the Germans.
From Normandy, the Allies pushed across France.
On August 25, French and American soldiers
marched through joyful crowds and liberated Paris.
Victory in Europe
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In December 1944, the Germans mounted a last
desperate offensive.
In the Battle of the Bulge the Germans at first drove
troops and artillery deep into a bulge in the Allied
lines.
After several weeks the Allies pushed the Germans
back.
The battle marked the end of serious German
resistance.
On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide.
One week later, Germany surrendered.
3 weeks earlier, President Roosevelt had died.
The Holocaust
As the Allies liberated Germany they
found horrifying evidence of Nazi
brutality.
 The Nazis hated Jews and committed
genocide – the killing of an entire group
of people.
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The built death camps where they killed
thousands of Jews everyday in gas chambers.
As many as 6 million Jews died in what
became known as the Holocaust.
War in the Pacific
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The U.S. adopted a strategy known as island
hopping – seizing an island and using it as a base to
attack the next island.
In March 1945 they seized the island of Iwo Jima
and in June the island of Okinawa, the last stop
before invading Japan itself.
Before the invasion, the U.S. decided to use a new
weapon – the atomic bomb.
President Truman demanded that Japan surrender.
He ordered the use of the bomb when Japan refused.
War in the Pacific
The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs in
August 1945.
 The first destroyed the city of Hiroshima.
 The second destroyed the city of
Nagasaki.
 After the bombings, Japan agreed to
surrender.
 August 15 – V-J Day, for “Victory over
Japan” – marked the end of World War II.
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