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World War II In 7 Minutes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvDFsxjaPaE
What Caused the War
• Most historians believe that the causes of WWII
can be traced to WWI (1914-1919). The peace
treaties that ended WWI did not make the world
safe for democracy. Instead, it caused bitterness
and anger.
• In the early 1930s, the world was hit by an
economic depression. Workers lost their jobs,
trade fell off, and times were hard. People looked
for leaders who could bring about change.
Rise of Dictatorships
• Germany, Italy, and Japan all came under the
rule of dictators or military leaders.
In Italy:
A dictator named
Mussolini took power in
Italy in 1922.
• Sent Italian troops to
conquer Ethiopia
In Japan:
Military leaders took
control in the early 1930s
• Invaded China
In Germany:
Adolf Hitler, leader of
the Nazi Party, gained
power in 1933.
• Began to arm
Germany for war
• These leaders promised to restore their countries to greatness. But they set up totalitarian
governments.
• A totalitarian government is controlled by a single political party that allows no opposition
and tightly controls people’s lives.
The Allied Powers
• Major Allied Powers were: Britain, France, Russia,
and the United States
• At the start of the war, Russia and Germany were
friends. However, on June 22, 1941, Hitler ordered
a surprise attack on Russia…making Russia an
enemy of the Axis Powers!
• The United States hoped to remain neutral during
WWII; However, the attacks at Pearl Harbor
brought us into the war.
Leaders of the Allied Powers
Great Britain
• Prime Minister of Great
Britain during most of
WWII, Winston
Churchill
• He was a great leader
and well known for his
famous speeches to his
people
Leaders of the Allied Powers
United States
• President: Franklin D.
Roosevelt
• He led the country out of
the Great Depression and
through WWII
Other Key Players
•
•
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•
•
Harry S. Truman: became president after
Roosevelt died. He made the call to use
the atomic bomb against Japan
George Marshall: General of the U.S. Army
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Led the U.S. Army
in Europe; planned and led the invasion of
Normandy
Douglas MacArthur: General of the Army
in the Pacific fighting the Japanese
George S. Patton, Jr.: Important general in
North Africa and Europe
Leaders of the Allied Powers
Russia
• Joseph Stalin, he was the
General Secretary of the
Communist Party.
• He led Russia through
terrible and devastating
battles with Germany.
• After winning the war, he
set up the Eastern Bloc of
Soviet led communist
states
Leaders of the Allied Powers
France
• Charles de Gaulle,
Leader of the Free
French
• Led the French
resistance movement
against Germany
The Axis Powers
• The major Axis Powers were: Germany, Italy, and Japan
• The alliance began to form in 1936
Germany
• Adolf Hitler became
Chancellor of Germany in
1933 and Fuhrer in 1934.
He was a ruthless dictator
who hated Jewish people.
• Wanted to purge Germany
of all weak people
• Wanted to take control of
all of Europe
•
•
Other Key Players
Heinrich Himmler, second in command to Hitler; he commanded
the Gestapo police and was in charge of the concentration camps
Erwin Rommel, General that commanded the German army in
Africa and the army during the Invasion of Normandy
Italy
• Mussolini was supreme
dictator of Italy
• He founded the concept of
a fascist government where
there is one leader and one
party that has total power
• He was an inspiration to
Adolf Hitler
•
•
Other Key Players
Victor Emmanuel III, King of Italy and the head of the
Italian Army; but he did whatever Mussolini told him
to do until Mussolini was removed from power
Ugo Cavallero, Commander of the Italian Royal Army
Japan
• Hirohito reigned as
Emperor of Japan from
1926 until 1989
• The first time his subjects
heard his voice was when
he announced Japan’s
surrender on the radio
Other Key Players
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•
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Prime Minister of Japan, Hideki Tojo
Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander of the Japanese Navy and
a leader in the attack on Pearl Harbor
Osami Nagano, was a Fleet Admiral and leader in the attack
on Pearl Harbor