Unit 11World War II

1939-1945 (world)1941-1945 (U.S.)

The Treaty:• Forced Germany to assume full blame for

causing the war.• Imposed huge reparations upon

Germany.

The Treaty aimed at weakening Germany by:• Limited the size of the German military to

100,000 total• No tanks, heavy artillery, airplanes,

submarines, or draft • Must return Alsace and Lorraine to France• Removed hundreds of miles of territory

from Germany• Stripped Germany of its overseas colonies

Treaty of Versailles – Review5

The treaty also chopped up and created new countries

The Germans signed the treaty because they had no choice

Germans resentment of the Treaty of Versailles poisoned the international climate for 20 years

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Treaty of Versailles – Review

Benito Mussolini’s rise to power

Made Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 by King Victor Emmanuel III on the promise to return economic prosperity and build a new “Roman Empire”.In theory, Italy remained a parliamentary monarchy. In practice, Italy became a dictatorship upheld by terror.

Mussolini formed the Fascist Party.

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Dictators and Warlords

Adolf Hitler’s rise to power

Fought in the German army in World War I.In 1919, he joined a small group of right-wing extremists.Within a year, he was leader of the National Socialist German Workers, or Nazi Party.In 1923, he made a failed attempt to seize power in Munich, and was imprisoned for treason.

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Dictators and Warlords

Adolf Hitler’s rise to power

In prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”).• It later became the basic book of Nazi

goals and ideology.Nazi membership grew to almost a million.In 1933, Hitler was made Chancellor (Prime Minister) of Germany.Within a year, Hitler was master of Germany. He made Germany a one-party state and purged his own party.

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Dictators and Warlords

Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

Mein Kampf(My Struggle)

Benito Mussolini(Italy)

Adolf Hitler(Germany)

Dictators & Warlords

Chamberlain holds the paper containing the resolution to commit to peaceful methods signed by both Hitler and himself on his return from Germany at Croydon Airport in September 1938. He said:

My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time.

In September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain thought he had Adolf Hitler’s promise of peace.

Emperor Hirohito(Japan)

Dictators & Warlords

Joseph Stalin(Soviet Union)

Dictators & Warlords

August 1939Germany and Soviet Union signed agreement to remain friends

September 1, 1939Hitler’s troops invaded Poland•Beginning of World War II

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Dictators and Warlords

Germans used the Blitzkrieg (“lightning war”)

Quick, surprise attacks – depended on enemy unpreparedness and inability to react swiftly.Planes bombed airfields, factories, towns and cities, firing on troops and civilians; then sent in troops and tanks.

War in Europe

When the war began in 1939, the United States declared its neutrality.

Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, which allowed the President to supply arms to those who were fighting for democracy.

Roosevelt and Churchill issued the Atlantic Charter, which called for the “final destruction of the Nazi tyranny.”

Japan advanced into French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies.

To stop Japanese aggression, the United States banned the sale of war materials to Japan.

Growing American Involvement

Atlantic Charter

Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill agreed to seek no territorial gain from the war

FDR and Churchill pledged to support the “right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live.”

The Atlantic Charter called for a “permanent system of general security,” such as an organization like the League of Nations.

Franklin Roosevelt & Winston Churchill

Because of the United States’ trade embargoes, Japan sees no option but attack.

General Tojo ordered a surprise attack on the American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese planes destroy or damage 19 ships, many planes, and kill over 2400 people.

It was “a day that will live in infamy.”

Dec. 8, 1941, President Roosevelt asks for declaration of war.

Germany and Italy as allies of Japan declare war on the US Dec. 11.

In the beginning it’s not looking good for the Allies

Pearl Harbor

Germany, Italy and Japan form the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis. These became the Axis powers.

Soviet soldiers fighting in ruins of Stalingrad

Island Hopping

The United States began an “island-hopping” campaign. The goal of the campaign was to recapture some Japanese-held islands while bypassing others. The captured islands served as steppingstones to the next objective.

In this way, American forces gradually moved north to Japan itself.

General Douglas MacArthur

“island-hopping” campaign

Benito Mussolini

Gen. Dwight Eisenhower

Adolf Hitler

Death of Benito Mussolini

Defeat of Japan

After victory in Europe, full attention was given to the Pacific.US was winning battles and destroying Japanese air force and navy but the Japanese kept fighting.Invasion vs. The Bomb

Estimated an invasion would cost 1 million casualties.Japan had been using Kamikaze since 1944-pilots who undertook suicide missions.Japan would not surrender easily.

Japanese “kamikaze” zero about to hit USS Missouri

The Atomic Bomb

Military leaders planned for an invasion while scientists developed an new bomb – the atomic bomb.President Truman (FDR died while in office) meets with advisers and decides to use the bomb instead of an invasion.They issued a warning to Japan to surrender or face “utter and complete destruction.” Japan ignores the deadline.

The Atomic Bomb

Dropping the atomic bomb brought a quick end to the war. It also unleashed terrifying destruction.

Why did President Truman use the atomic bomb?

Truman was convinced that Japan would not surrender without an invasion that would result in enormous losses of both American and Japanese lives.

Truman also may have hoped that the bomb would impress the Soviet Union with American power.

World War II in the Pacific 4

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

August 6, 1945, US plane the Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima.

Four square miles flattened and over 70,000 people killed instantly.

August 9, a second bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. Over 40,000 people die.

Little Boy and Fat Man

USS Missouri

Japanese unconditional surrender ceremony ending WWII

September 2, 1945

Japanese unconditional surrender ceremony ending WWII: Sept. 2, 1945

PEARL HARBOR