Germany starts the war• Nonaggression Pact: Agreement between

Germany & Soviet Union not to attack each other.

• Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939, starting WWII

• Blitzkrieg: “Lightning war” speed and surprise in the use of tanks, troops & planes.

• Phony War: Period between when war was declared and the actual battles between France Great Britain & Germany began.

WWII

• Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Soviet Union, & United States (1941)

• Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, & Japan

The War Expands• Hitler attacks Denmark, Norway,

Netherlands, & Belgium.• Rescue at Dunkirk: 340,000 French &

British troops moved from France to Great Britain.

• June 1940 France surrenders.• Battle of Britain: Aerial battle over Great

Britain. ( Britain is the last Allied country fighting Germany)G.B. holds off Germany!

Germany attacks the Soviet Union

• Soviets & Germans divide up Eastern Europe.

• June 1941: Germany attacks Soviet Union/ Hitler’s army slowed down by Soviets. ( they needed natural resources and land which the Soviets had lots of)

• Stalin destroys his own cities instead of letting Hitler gain anything from them.

The United States aids the Allies

• U.S. supports Allies, but stays out of war• FDR prepares for war:

1. Strengthened the military

2. Selective Service Act (1st peacetime draft)

• Neutrality Act: Warring nations can buy U.S. goods if they pay cash, & carry it on their own ships.

• Lend- Lease Act: U.S. gives weapons & food to help allied countries.

The Japanese Threat

• Japan expands throughout the South Pacific.

• The U.S. and the Allies put economic sanctions on Japan in order to try to control their expansion.

• Japan attacks the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7th, 1941) in Hawaii, bringing the U.S. into WWII

Answer the following questions

• Thinking back to events that brought the U.S. into WWI, why do you think the U.S. passed the Neutrality and Lend lease Acts?

• If Japan had not attacked Pearl Harbor do you think the U.S. would have joined the war? Explain your reasoning.