World War II

World War II

The Years Between1919-1931

New Ideas Challenge the Past

Albert Einstein and the theory of relativity:

Space and time can change when measured relative to an object moving at the speed of lightChallenged absolute laws of motion and gravity (Newton)

New Ideas Challenge the PastAirplanes,

automobiles change the way people travelRadios and movies spread news and ideas more quickly

New Ideas Challenge the Past

Society became more open: women cutting their hair, wearing shorter dresses

“Roaring 20s”In the U.S. the 1920s are great years—lots of growth, lots of money

Europe After the Great WarEvery major European

country was bankrupt (only Japan and U.S. came out richer than before)New democracies in Germany, Austria, Turkey, etc. were unstableCoalition governments (temporary alliances of political parties to gain power) never lasted long

Coalition Governments Parties existing before World War II

Bavarian People's PartyThe Anarchy PartyCentre Party -Communist Party of GermanyCommunist Party OppositionConservative People's PartyFree Conservative PartyGeneral German Workers' Association Independent Social Democratic Party of GermanyGerman Conservative PartyGerman Democratic PartyGerman National People's PartyGerman People's Party

German Progress PartyGerman Racialist Freedom PartyGerman Workers' PartyNational Liberal PartyNational Socialist German Workers' Party - aka the Nazi Party (NSDAP) (1919-1945)Progressive People's PartySocial Democratic Party of GermanySocial Democratic Workers' Party of Germany Social Democratic Party of GermanySocialist Workers' Party of Social Democratic Party of GermanySocialist Workers' Party of Germany

Crisis in GermanyThe Weimar Republic was Germany’s new gov’t

Several major parties and many minor ones

Weimar Repub. was blamed for the Treaty of Versailles—because they signed itGermany’s economy had collapsed—inflation (value of money goes down, prices go up) was out of control

Year Month Marks needed to buy one U.S. dollar

1919 April 12

December 47

1921 July 493

August 1,000

October 3,000

December 7,000

1923 January 17,000

August 4,621,000

September 98,860,000

October 25,260,000,000

December 4,200,000,000,000

The Dawes PlanIn 1924, the U.S. loaned $200 million to stabilize the German economyBy 1929, Germany is recovering nicely

The Great DepressionBy the late 1920s, the world economy was balanced on the success of the U.S. economy. If the U.S. economy weakened, the rest of the world would follow.Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the U.S. Stock Exchange collapses.Unemployment rates went up as production and wages went down

U.S. banks removed their investments in Europe, causing a collapse of funds in Europe.Germany and Austria were very hard hit because of war debts and need for U.S. loans.Britain, France, and Scandinavian countries came out okay.

Perfect Timing

As a result of misery, Germans look for someone to blame, and for someone to help

The Beginning of WWII

Rise of Fascism Fascism: emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to its leaderFascist parties generally made up of the wealthy, war veterans, and lower middle class (but not exclusively)

Benito Mussolini In ItalyAs the economy got worse, and fear on communism grew, Mussolini’s party gained more supportThe “Il Duce” (leader) forced a military takeover in 1922

Outlawed all parties except the FascistsSecret police jailed political opponentsRadio, newspapers, and movies were gov’t controlled

Hitler Takes Control in Germany

A small party, the Nazi party (Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party) appealed to a wide variety of Germans, but mainly middle classBecause of his ability to speak, became “der Fuhrer” the leader of the party

Tries to seize power in 1923, failed, and put in jail (Munich Beer Hall Putsch)

Hitler decided the best way to get power was through LEGAL means

By 1932, people have turned to Hitler and his party for leadershipIn 1933 Hitler is named Chancellor and strengthens his position

Hitler Takes Control in Germany

In 1933, the Reichstag catches on fire, communists are blamed, and Hitler uses the event to suspend civil liberties in Germany In 1934, Hitler orders the Nazi SS and Gestapo (secret police) to kill various “brown shirts” (SA) who were the original members of the party—now they were too much trouble

Hitler Takes Control in Germany

World Drifts Towards War Military takes control in Japan, Japan invades Manchuria 1931In 1937, Japan invades China (the rape of Nanking)Mussolini attacks Ethiopia in 1935

World Drifts Toward War1934-- Germany and the Soviet Union agree not to attack each other (secret Non-aggression Treaty)

World Drifts Toward War1935 Plebiscite (vote) returns Saar to Germany1936--Hitler ignores the Treaty of Versailles, rearms Germany, and moves troops into the Rhineland—Britain and France say nothing

World Drifts Toward WarThis reaction leads Hitler to speed up military and territorial expansion.

World Drifts Toward WarIn 1936, Germany Italy and Japan sign an alliance, creating the Axis PowersMarch 1938—Annexation of Austria (Anschluss)

World Drifts Toward War1938--At the Munich Conference, Hitler agrees to not take any more military action as long as he is granted the Sudetenland.

World Drifts Towards WarThe policy used by France and Great

Britain was called appeasement: trying to keep Hitler from advancing a war by keeping Germany pleased.

World Drifts Toward War1939-- Six months later he takes Czechoslovakia

The War BeginsSeptember 1, 1939

The War BeginsSept. 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland“blitzkrieg” lightning war

Used air attacks to disable air fieldsFollowed by large tank and infantry advances

G.B. and France declare war but can’t do anything to help PolandPoland surrenders in 4 weeks

The War BeginsThe Phony War: Sitzkrieg “waiting war”

France is waiting for German attack along the reinforced Manginot LineApril 1940, Germany attacks Denmark and Norway instead

Denmark falls in four hours, Norway in two months

The War BeginsMay 1940, Germany invades Belgium, Luxembourg and the NetherlandsWhile Allies are busy Germany sends even greater troops through the forest behind themBy the end of May, British and French troops are trapped at Dunkirk

France surrenders June 22, 1940

Fall of France Hitler now wants to invade Great Britain, but in order to do so, he must destroy the Royal Air Force firstThe Battle of Britain

Important Leaders of WWII– Allied Powers

Franklin

D. Roosevelt, U.S. Preside

nt

Winston Churchi

ll, British Prime

Minister

Charles

de Gaulle, French

resistance

leader

Josef Stalin,

Premier of

Soviet Union

Important Leaders of WWII– Axis Powers

Hirohito,

Emperor of

Japan

Adolf Hitler,

dictator of

Germany

Benito Mussoli

ni, dictator of Italy

U.S. Policy in WWIIFrom 1939-1941 the U.S. was practicing isolationism (minding their own business).In March 1941, Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, allowing the U.S. to aid the Allied powers (mainly Britain) with supplies and money

Meanwhile…

Japan Builds A Pacific EmpireBeginning in 1931,

Japan invaded Manchuria, then China, Korea and Taiwan

In 1941-42 began “Asia for Asians” policy taking territories away from the U.S. and Europe

Vietnam (France)Philippines (U.S.)

The Japanese are uncomfortable with the U.S. Navy presence in the Pacific

Pearl Harbor: A Day That Will Live in Infamy

U.S. Naval fleet based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Japanese surprise attack on December 7, 1941

2,400 killed1,000 wounded18 ships sunk/damaged

Shortly after, Congress declares war on Japan and Germany

WWII

The End of World War II

End of the War In Europe

The Battle of the Bulge was the last major offensive of the German armyAllies begin firebombing Dresden and other German targetsBy March 1945, Allied troops had entered Germany

End of the War In Europe

April 12, 1945 President Roosevelt dies

Truman becomes president

By April 25, with Berlin surrounded by Russians, Hitler and his wife commit suicide

V-E DayOn May 7, 1945 the U.S. accepted the unconditional surrender of the German Third Reich

End of the War in the Pacific

General MacArthur believed that taking every island would be costly in lives and materials

“island hopping” focuses on less defended islands and only attacking islands that are strategically placed

End of the War in the Pacific The firebombing of Tokyo was designed

to weaken the resolve of the Japanese to fight the war

The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb

President Truman decided to drop the bomb on the Japanese to hasten their surrender.It was estimated that at least 500,000 Allied troops would die in a Japanese land invasion, the bomb was supposed to lesson the cost

The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb

Japan surrenders on September 2.

Postwar Europe

Postwar EuropeEurope experienced famine and harsh winter after the warNew governments had to be established in Germany and Italy

Postwar EuropeGermany was divided into occupation zonesU.S. had Western half of GermanySoviet Union had Eastern half of GermanyU.S. establish several military bases in Italy, Germany, and Great Britain

Postwar EuropeNuremberg Trials22 Nazi leaders were charged with “crimes against humanity” for the acts of war and the Holocaust—set a precedent for an international court of war crimes

Postwar Japan

Postwar JapanEmperor Hirohito is forced to admit he is not a god to the Japanese people Japan undergoes demilitarization: the removal and dismantling of a militaryU.S. establishes bases in Japan to shape the democratization of Japan

As A Result of WWII

The U.S. becomes the richest and most powerful nation The United Nations is created Germany is divided into two separate nationsTensions between the Communist Soviet Union and Western Powers escalate