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UNIT 12 STUDY GUIDE
WORLD WAR II, 1939-1945
IN A NUTSHELL
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World War II began in 19039 when Germany invaded Poland
The US entered World War II when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii December 7, 1941
The leaders of the Allied nations held several wartime conferences to discuss military strategies as well as decide
the character of the postwar world.
World War II ended after Germany surrendered May 8, 1945 and Japan surrendered in August of the same year.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
A. What were the characteristics of fascism in the 1920s and 1930s?
Fascism was characterized by an extreme sense of nationalism accompanied by anti-Marxist, anti-democratic and
Social Darwinist beliefs. In Germany, the fascist dictator, Adolf Hitler promised to make Germany a world power,
and blamed communists and Jews for the issues facing Germany as a result of World War I and the Great
Depression. Italy and Japan were also governed by fascist dictators during World War II.
B. How did German aggression lead to World War II
During the 1930s Germany occupied the Rhineland and Austria before announcing a desire to occupy a section of
Czechoslovakia. In an attempt to avoid war, Britain and France adopted a policy of appeasement toward
Germany’s desire to take part of Czechoslovakia. The ineffectiveness of the policy became clear after German
invaded all of Czechoslovakia. A European alliance was then formed to resist German aggression. In August in
1939 German signed a Non- Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union and clear the way for an invasion of Poland.
The German Invasion of Poland in September 1939 started World War II.
C. What happened in Europe after Germany invaded Poland
After the fall of France in June 1940, Great Britain, for a time, fought alone against Germany. In June 1941 Germany
attacked the Soviet Union.
D. What characterized United States foreign policy in the 1920s and 1930s?
In the 1920s and 1930s the U.S. generally adhered to an isolationist foreign policy. In the 1930s the desire to stay
isolated from global conflicts led to a series of Neutrality Acts that restricted America’s involvement with nations
at war. After the invasion of Poland and the fall of France, however, the U.S. moved toward becoming an “arsenal
of democracy” and started supplying Allied Nations with war materials.
E. How did the United States get involved in World War II?
In December 1941, after several years of U.S. protests against a Japanese invasion of China, Japan Attacked Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii. The subsequent U.S. declaration of war on Japan prompted German and Italy, two Japanese allies,
to declare war on the U.S.
F. What military problems confronted to United States in World War II?
During World War II the U.S. faced greater military problems than they faced in World War I. The U.S. was forced
to fight a war on opposite ends of the world at the same time. In addition, the Axis powers in 1942 controlled
Europe, North Africa, and the South Pacific. To many Americans the Axis powers appeared unbeatable, and
Americans entered World War II with much less idealism than in World War I. The power of American industry to
produce war materials eventually provided the Allies with the resources to win the war.
G. How did United States forces help defeat Germany?
After deciding to concentrate on first defeating Germany rather than Japan, the U.S. helped push German forces
out of North Africa, Sicily. And Italy. In June 1944 the U.S. helped open a second front against Germany. With the
Soviet Union invading Germany from eastern Europe and other Allied nations invading from western Europe,
Germany surrendered in may 1945.
H. How was Japan Defeated?
With Japanese forces occupying southeast Asia and the South Pacific, the U.S. began a strategy of “island
hopping” to move into position for launching an invasion of Japan. To avoid an invasion of Japan and therefore
save lives, President Truman ordered atomic bombs dropped on Japan. This action ended World War II in August
1945. Some historians believe Truman dropped the bomb as a show of force against the Soviet Union.
I. What happened at the Yalta Conference?
Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met at the Yalta Conference in February 1945 to discuss
the final defeat of the Axis powers. At the conference the Soviet Union consented to enter the war against Japan
after the defeat of Germany. In addition, and agreement was made to allow Soviet occupation of Easter Europe
after the war if Stalin allowed “free and unfettered elections.” After the war the Soviet Union violated the Yalta
agreement by establishing pro-Soviet, communist dictatorship, prompting charges by some Americans that FDR
had been guilty of ‘selling out” to the Soviet Union. Defenders of FDR pointed out that he was trying to obtain
Soviet help with the invasion of Japan and felt it would be impossible to keep the Soviets out of their sphere-ofinfluence.
J. What happened at the Potsdam Conference?
The final wartime conference was held at Potsdam, Germany in July 1945. Although Joseph Stalin still represented
the Soviet Union, Winston Churchill had been replaced by Clement Atlee and Franklin Roosevelt had been
replaced by Harry Truman. A decision was made at the conference to put Nazis on trial for crimes against
humanity. In addition, the Allied powers called for Japan’s unconditional surrender before they faced total
destruction.
“We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want – which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will
secure to every nation a healthy peace time life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear – which, translated into world terms, means a worldwide reduction of armaments to
such a point and in such a through fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical
aggression against any neighbor anywhere in the world…
Since the beginning of out American history, we have been engages in change – in perpetual peaceful revolution, a revolution
which goes on steadily, quietly adjusting itself to changing conditions… The world order which we seek is the cooperation of
free countries, working together in a friendly, civilized society.”
-Franklin Roosevelt, Eighth Annual Message to Congress, 1941
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
1. Benito Mussolini becomes dictator of Italy, 1922
15. Germany invades Poland, World War II begins, 1939
2. Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928
16. Battle of Britain begins, 1940
3. Stimson Doctrine, 1932
17. Lend Lease Act, 1941
4. Good Neighbor Policy, 1933
18. Germany attacks the Soviet Union 1941
5. Teapot Dome scandal, 1924
19. Atlantic Charter, 1941
6. Nye Committee 1934-1936
20. Pearl Harbor attacked, U.S. entered World War II,
1941
7. Italy invades Ethiopia, 1935
21. Teheran Conference, 1943
8. Neutrality Acts, 1935-1937
22. Normandy invasion (D-day), 1944
9. Germany occupies the Rhineland, 1936
23. GI Bill of Rights, 1944
10. Japan invades China, 1937
24. Yalta Conference, 1945
11. Germany occupies Austria, 1938
25. Germany surrenders, 1945
12. Munich Conference, 1938
26. Potsdam Conference, 1945
13. Germany invades Czechoslovakia, 1939
27. Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombed, Japan surrenders,
1945
14. Non-Aggression Pact, 1939
Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by
naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in
conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. . . .
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation
remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through
to absolute victory.
—President Franklin D. Roosevelt (December 8, 1941)
IMPORTANT PEOPLE:
28. Franklin Roosevelt
35. Hideki Tojo
29. Harry Truman
36. George Marshall
30. Winston Churchill
37. Dwight Eisenhower
31. Joseph Stalin
38. Douglas MacArthur
32. Charles DeGaulle
39. Clement Atlee
33. Benito Mussolini
40. A. Philip Randolph
34. Adolph Hitler
41. J. Robert Oppenheimer
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
42. fascism
49. island hopping
43. policy of appeasement
50. Manhattan project
44. final solution
51. Potsdam Declaration
45. genocide
52. Nuremberg trials
46. Axis powers
53. Rosie the Riveter
47. “arsenal of democracy”
54. rationing
48. Blitzkrieg
55. Japanese-American Internment
My fellow Americans, the British, Chinese and United States governments have given the Japanese people adequate warning of what is in
store for them. The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. If Japan does not surrender, bombs
will have to be dropped on her war industries and unfortunately thousands of civilian lives will be lost. I urge Japanese civilians to leave
industrial cities immediately and save themselves.
– President Harry S Truman, Radio Address, August 1945