World War II Hitler’s Lightning War 1.) The German Attack 2.) The Italian Strike 3.) USSR’s aggression and then defense 4.) And U.S. saves the day again!!!

World War IIWorld War IIHitler’s Lightning War

1.) The German Attack

2.) The Italian Strike

3.) USSR’s aggression and then defense

4.) And U.S. saves the day again!!!

Germany Sparks a New War in EuropeGermany Sparks a New War in EuropeGermany’s Lightning AttackGermany’s Lightning Attack

September 1, 1939 — September 1, 1939 — Hitlers invasion of Hitlers invasion of PolandPoland

Britain, France declare war on Germany, Britain, France declare war on Germany, but but Poland falls quickly (How so quickly)Poland falls quickly (How so quickly)

BlitzkriegBlitzkrieg — — lightning war lightning war — Germany’s — Germany’s new military strategynew military strategy

Planes, tanks, infantry used to surprise Planes, tanks, infantry used to surprise enemy and quickly conquerenemy and quickly conquer

Germany’s Lightning AttackGermany’s Lightning Attack

The Soviets Make Their MoveThe Soviets Make Their Move Soviets capture Soviets capture Lithuania, Latvia, Lithuania, Latvia,

Poland, resistance met in FinlandPoland, resistance met in Finland

Finland is invaded by the Soviet Finland is invaded by the Soviet Union in what is called the “Union in what is called the “Winter Winter WarWar.” .”

Finland surrenders in Finland surrenders in March, 1940March, 1940

Germany’s Lightning Germany’s Lightning AttackAttackThe Phony WarThe Phony War

French, British French, British mobilize along mobilize along French border, wait French border, wait for German attackfor German attack

Many months of no Many months of no action — the action — the “phony war”“phony war”

In In April 1940April 1940 Hitler Hitler attacks and quickly attacks and quickly captures captures Denmark Denmark and Norwayand Norway

German infantry attacking through a burning Norwegian village.

German Neubaufahrzeug tanks in Oslo.

The Fall of FranceThe Fall of FranceFurther GainsFurther Gains May 1940May 1940 — Germany conquers — Germany conquers

Netherlands, Belgium, LuxembourgNetherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg Soon after, German army reaches Soon after, German army reaches

French coastFrench coastRescue at Dunkirk

• German forces trap British, French on coast of Dunkirk

• British Navy and civilians take ships across the English Channel to rescue soldiers• June 1940 — France surrenders to Germany

DunkirkDunkirk

The Battle of BritainThe Battle of Britain Germany plans invasion of Britain; begins with Germany plans invasion of Britain; begins with air air

attacks in 1940attacks in 1940 British use British use air forceair force, , radarradar, , code-breaking to code-breaking to

resist Germanyresist Germany Battle of BritainBattle of Britain — — Air war over Britain that Air war over Britain that

lasted until May 1941 (first air battle)lasted until May 1941 (first air battle) Stunned by British resistance, Hitler calls off Stunned by British resistance, Hitler calls off

attacksattacks BritainBritain was last was last

country to country to resistresist

GermanyGermany

Maximum Axis Control (Sept Maximum Axis Control (Sept 1942)1942)

Battle of the AtlanticBattle of the Atlantic 1939 – 1945 (Jan. 1942 – July 1943 were 1939 – 1945 (Jan. 1942 – July 1943 were

decisive)decisive)

German U-Boats were sinking German U-Boats were sinking unprotected unprotected U.S. and other Allies' merchant ships U.S. and other Allies' merchant ships

Allies began using Allies began using convoys to protect shipsconvoys to protect ships

The Allies also used a The Allies also used a sonar system to sonar system to detect German U-Boatsdetect German U-Boats

The Germans were The Germans were very successful in the very successful in the beginningbeginning, but by , but by mid - 1943, the Allies mid - 1943, the Allies had the upper handhad the upper hand

Remember German U-boat domination in WWI?

"The Battle of the Atlantic was the only thing that really frightened me" - Winston Churchill.

The Mediterranean and the Eastern The Mediterranean and the Eastern FrontFront

Axis Forces Attack North Africa (Italy)Axis Forces Attack North Africa (Italy) Mussolini and Italy Mussolini and Italy at first neutralat first neutral

Mussolini declares war on Mussolini declares war on France France and Britainand Britain after after German victoryGerman victory

September 1940 September 1940 — Mussolini — Mussolini attacksattacks British in North AfricaBritish in North Africa

The Mediterranean and the Eastern The Mediterranean and the Eastern FrontFront

Britain Strikes BackBritain Strikes Back December 1940 December 1940 — British — British attack and attack and

drive Italians backdrive Italians back

Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox)Erwin Rommel (Desert Fox), German , German general, battles British in North general, battles British in North AfricaAfrica

In 1942, Rommel In 1942, Rommel first retreats then first retreats then succeeds against Britishsucceeds against British

The Mediterranean and the Eastern The Mediterranean and the Eastern FrontFront

The War in the BalkansThe War in the Balkans Hitler plans to Hitler plans to invade Soviet Uinvade Soviet Union; nion;

moves to take moves to take Balkan countriesBalkan countries

Hitler invades Hitler invades Yugoslavia and Greece in Yugoslavia and Greece in April 1941April 1941; ; both fall quicklyboth fall quickly

Operation MaritaOperation Marita began on April 6, 1941, began on April 6, 1941, with German troops with German troops invading Greece invading Greece through Bulgariathrough Bulgaria

The Battle of Greece is generally regarded as a continuation of the Greco-Italian War, which began when Italian troops invaded Greece on October 28, 1940. Within weeks the Italians were driven out of Greece and Greek forces pushed on to occupy much of southern Albania. In March 1941, a major Italian counterattack failed, and Germany was forced to come to the aid of its ally. Operation Marita began on April 6, 1941, with German troops invading Greece through Bulgaria in an effort to secure its southern flank. The combined Greek and British Commonwealth forces fought back with great tenacity, but were vastly outnumbered and outgunned, and finally collapsed.

Soviet and German invasions, annexations, and spheres of influence in Central and eastern Europe 1939-1940

Hitler Invades the Soviet UnionHitler Invades the Soviet Union Germany invades an unprepared Germany invades an unprepared

Soviet Union in Soviet Union in June 1941June 1941

Soviet troops Soviet troops burn land as they burn land as they retreatretreat; Germans move into Russia; Germans move into Russia

Germans stopped at Germans stopped at LeningradLeningrad, , forced to undertake forced to undertake long siegelong siege

Germans Germans almost capture Moscowalmost capture Moscow, , but forced to pull backbut forced to pull back

Battle of Stalingrad Battle of Stalingrad ((June 1941 – January 31, 1943)June 1941 – January 31, 1943)

Germans violated Germans violated nonaggression pact nonaggression pact with Soviet Union and attackedwith Soviet Union and attacked

Hitler hoped to capture Hitler hoped to capture Soviet oil fieldsSoviet oil fields

Germans nearly won (Germans nearly won (controlled 9/10 of controlled 9/10 of the citythe city))

Winter of 1943 hitWinter of 1943 hit

Battle of Stalingrad cont…Battle of Stalingrad cont… Hitler forced Germans to Hitler forced Germans to stay putstay put

Soviets used Soviets used weatherweather to their advantage and to their advantage and wonwon

Soviets lost 1,100,000 people in this battleSoviets lost 1,100,000 people in this battle

Turning point in WWIITurning point in WWII

From that point on, From that point on, Soviet army began to Soviet army began to move westward towards Germanymove westward towards Germany

The United States Aids Its The United States Aids Its AlliesAllies

► American PolicyAmerican Policy Most Americans want to avoid warMost Americans want to avoid war Roosevelt fears that if allies fall, U.S. would have to Roosevelt fears that if allies fall, U.S. would have to

fightfight He hopes to strengthen allies so they can resist He hopes to strengthen allies so they can resist

GermanyGermany Lend-Lease ActLend-Lease Act—U.S. loans weapons to countries —U.S. loans weapons to countries

fighting Germanyfighting Germany

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease bill to give aid to Britain and China (1941)

The United States Aids Its The United States Aids Its AlliesAllies

Roosevelt Roosevelt and and Churchill Churchill meet, meet, issue issue statement statement of of principlesprinciples

Atlantic Atlantic CharterCharter——supports supports free trade, free trade, right to right to form own form own governmengovernmentt

Normandy Invasion (D-Day)Normandy Invasion (D-Day)

► June 6, 1944June 6, 1944

► During this time, Soviet Union was pushing into Poland During this time, Soviet Union was pushing into Poland and Allies were pushing North in Italyand Allies were pushing North in Italy

  ► Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton

influential in leading attackinfluential in leading attack  ► 3 million ally troops to attack3 million ally troops to attack

Normandy Invasion cont.Normandy Invasion cont.

D – DayD – Day              60 mile stretch of beach60 mile stretch of beach              156,000 troops156,000 troops              4,000 landing craft4,000 landing craft              600 warships600 warships              11,000 planes11,000 planes              Largest land-sea-air operation in historyLargest land-sea-air operation in history              Omaha beach known as one of the most Omaha beach known as one of the most brutal areasbrutal areas

► The D-Day Museum in Portsmouth, England claims a The D-Day Museum in Portsmouth, England claims a total of 2,500 Allied troops died, while German forces total of 2,500 Allied troops died, while German forces suffered between 4,000 and 9,000 total casualties on suffered between 4,000 and 9,000 total casualties on D-Day. D-Day.

► The Heritage Foundation in the U.S. claims 4,900 U.S. The Heritage Foundation in the U.S. claims 4,900 U.S. dead on D-Daydead on D-Day

► The U.S. Army Center of Military History cites a total The U.S. Army Center of Military History cites a total casualty figure for U.S. forces at 6,036. This number casualty figure for U.S. forces at 6,036. This number combines dead and wounded in the D-Day battlescombines dead and wounded in the D-Day battles

► John Keegan, American Historian and Author believes John Keegan, American Historian and Author believes that 2,500 Americans died along with 3,000 British and that 2,500 Americans died along with 3,000 British and Canadian troops on D-DayCanadian troops on D-Day

► By the end of the of the entire Normandy Campaign, By the end of the of the entire Normandy Campaign, nearly 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, nearly 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded, or missing.wounded, or missing.

Normandy Invasion cont.Normandy Invasion cont.

The battle continuesThe battle continues

►   W/in 1 month, a million more troopsW/in 1 month, a million more troops

►   September 1944, France was freed from September 1944, France was freed from

Nazi controlNazi control

Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge

► December 16, 1944December 16, 1944

► German tanks broke through American lines (80 mile German tanks broke through American lines (80 mile front)front)

  ► Fought in Belgium - Germany was trying to capture Fought in Belgium - Germany was trying to capture

AntwerpAntwerp  ► Very brutal war - one of the most extensive of U.S. Very brutal war - one of the most extensive of U.S.

military (120 American GIs captured and mowed down military (120 American GIs captured and mowed down by SS machine guns and pistols)by SS machine guns and pistols)

Battle of the Bulge Cont.Battle of the Bulge Cont.

►Germans were winning in the beginningGermans were winning in the beginning

►120,000 Germans died (also lost 600 tanks and 120,000 Germans died (also lost 600 tanks and guns and 1,600 planes – leading to defeat))guns and 1,600 planes – leading to defeat))

  ►80,000 Americans died80,000 Americans died  ►Americans won, but were close to losingAmericans won, but were close to losing

Yalta ConferenceYalta Conference

►Took place February 1945 before WWII Took place February 1945 before WWII was overwas over

►Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill met in Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill met in Yalta in the Soviet Union to discuss Yalta in the Soviet Union to discuss post WWIIpost WWII

►Set up United NationsSet up United Nations

Yalta – “The Big 3”Yalta – “The Big 3”

April 12, 1945April 12, 1945

►At the beginning of his 4At the beginning of his 4thth Term, Term, President Franklin D. Roosevelt passes President Franklin D. Roosevelt passes awayaway

►The U.S. went through a major grieving The U.S. went through a major grieving periodperiod

►Harry S. Truman, as Vice-President, Harry S. Truman, as Vice-President, takes the role as Presidenttakes the role as President

The end of HitlerThe end of Hitler

► April 30, 1945 Hitler April 30, 1945 Hitler and Eva Braun commit and Eva Braun commit suicide (gun shot and suicide (gun shot and cyanide)cyanide)

► Bodies burned in Bodies burned in streetstreet

► Cover of Time Cover of Time magazine May 7, 1945magazine May 7, 1945

V-E DayV-E Day

► May 8, 1945May 8, 1945

► General Eisenhower accepted a surrender by the Third General Eisenhower accepted a surrender by the Third ReichReich

  ► V-E day = Victory in Europe dayV-E day = Victory in Europe day  ► 11stst part of War was over part of War was over  

PotsdamPotsdam► July – August 1945July – August 1945

►Truman, (Churchill and then Clement Truman, (Churchill and then Clement Atlee) and Stalin met in Potsdam, Atlee) and Stalin met in Potsdam, GermanyGermany

►Drew up a blueprint to disarm Germany Drew up a blueprint to disarm Germany and eliminate the Nazi regimeand eliminate the Nazi regime

Potsdam ContinuedPotsdam Continued

►Divided Germany into 4 sections (occupied by Divided Germany into 4 sections (occupied by France, Britain, U.S. and Soviet Union)France, Britain, U.S. and Soviet Union)

► Berlin to be divided up in East (or Soviet Berlin to be divided up in East (or Soviet Germany)Germany)

► Set up the Nuremberg Trials to persecute Nazi Set up the Nuremberg Trials to persecute Nazi leaders leaders

► Japan must “unconditionally surrender”Japan must “unconditionally surrender”

Potsdam, GermanyPotsdam, Germany

Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials

► International tribunal court tried Nazi International tribunal court tried Nazi officialsofficials

►Over 23 nations tried Nazi war Over 23 nations tried Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg, Germanycriminals in Nuremberg, Germany

►12 of the 22 defendants were 12 of the 22 defendants were sentenced to deathsentenced to death

►200 other officials were found guilty, 200 other officials were found guilty, but give lesser sentencesbut give lesser sentences

Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea

► Prior to this battle, the Japanese were winning every battle Prior to this battle, the Japanese were winning every battle and taking over the Pacificand taking over the Pacific

  ► May 1942 - U.S. and Australia stopped Japan from May 1942 - U.S. and Australia stopped Japan from

invadinginvading  ► Japan won the actual battle, but the allies were able to stop Japan won the actual battle, but the allies were able to stop

Japan invasion for the first timeJapan invasion for the first time

► U.S. was beginning to use the Island Hopping technique to U.S. was beginning to use the Island Hopping technique to weaken Japan’s forcesweaken Japan’s forces

Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway

► June 1942June 1942

► Admiral Chester Nimitz intercepted Japanese Admiral Chester Nimitz intercepted Japanese codecode

► U.S. launched surprise attack on Japan at U.S. launched surprise attack on Japan at Pacific island called MidwayPacific island called Midway

► U.S. was successful in the Battle of MidwayU.S. was successful in the Battle of Midway

Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway

►The Japanese lost 4 carriers, a heavy The Japanese lost 4 carriers, a heavy cruiser, 3 destroyers, some 275 cruiser, 3 destroyers, some 275 planes, at least 4,800 men, and planes, at least 4,800 men, and suffered heavy damage among the suffered heavy damage among the remaining vessels of their fleet. remaining vessels of their fleet.

►American losses included 1 carrier, the American losses included 1 carrier, the YorktownYorktown, a destroyer, about 150 , a destroyer, about 150 planes, and 307 men planes, and 307 men

Iwo JimaIwo Jima

► Island in the Pacific that was critical Island in the Pacific that was critical for U.S. winfor U.S. win

►March 1945March 1945►27,000 Japanese held Iwo Jima27,000 Japanese held Iwo Jima►U.S. wonU.S. won

26,800 Japanese troops died26,800 Japanese troops died 6,000 U.S. Marines died6,000 U.S. Marines died

Battle of OkinawaBattle of Okinawa

► June 22, 1945June 22, 1945

► Japan’s last defensive strongholdJapan’s last defensive stronghold

► Japan used 1,900 Kamikaze attacksJapan used 1,900 Kamikaze attacks

► 110,000 Japanese troops died110,000 Japanese troops died

► 7,600 - 12,500 U.S U.S. troops died7,600 - 12,500 U.S U.S. troops died

► U.S. wonU.S. won

Manhattan ProjectManhattan Project

► 200,000 Japanese died due to the Atomic 200,000 Japanese died due to the Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasakibombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

► HiroshimaHiroshima August 6, 1945August 6, 1945 ““Little Boy”Little Boy” In 43 seconds, the city collapsed to dustIn 43 seconds, the city collapsed to dust

► NagasakiNagasaki August 9, 1945August 9, 1945 ““Fat Man”Fat Man” Leveled half of the cityLeveled half of the city

V-J DayV-J Day

►August 15, 1945: Japan offers August 15, 1945: Japan offers unconditional surrenderunconditional surrender

►September 2, 1945: V-J Day = Victory September 2, 1945: V-J Day = Victory in Japan Day (Formal surrender)in Japan Day (Formal surrender)

U.S. Occupation of JapanU.S. Occupation of Japan

►Similar trials held for Japanese war criminalsSimilar trials held for Japanese war criminals

►7 out of 28 leaders were found guilty and 7 out of 28 leaders were found guilty and sentenced to death (including Tojo)sentenced to death (including Tojo)

►U.S. occupied Japan for 6 years under the U.S. occupied Japan for 6 years under the direction of General Douglas MacArthurdirection of General Douglas MacArthur Called for a New Constitution (w/ free elections and Called for a New Constitution (w/ free elections and

women suffrage)women suffrage) Introduced a free market economyIntroduced a free market economy