World War II 1939 1945 Fascism Fascism is

World War II 1939 - 1945

Fascism �Fascism is a political philosophy which is anti-democratic & anticommunist. It is characterized by nationalism and militarism. �It puts the importance of the nation above the rights of the individual.

Rise of Fascism � Fascist dictators began to take over in parts of Europe in the 1920’s and 1930’s due to bad economic conditions created by WWI and the Great Depression.

Italy � Benito Mussolini became the Prime Minister of Italy in 1922. He used this position to outlaw all non-fascist political parties and soon became and dictator.

Germany � Adolph Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in January, 1933. � Through a variety of manipulative actions, Hitler soon dismantled the German republic and became a fascist dictator.

“Nature is cruel, so we may be cruel, too… I have the right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds like vermin” -Hitler � Hitler wanted to conquer or exterminate those he felt were inferior to Germans and create a master Aryan race. � He wanted to create a “Third Reich” that united all Germanspeaking people and provided “living space” for Germans in Eastern Europe.

� Why did Germany, which had a democratic government in the 1920’s, become a totalitarian state in the 1930’s? � How could a ruthless, hate-filled dictator gain the enthusiastic support of a nation of people?

Europe Moves Toward War � 1936: German troops moved into the Rhineland. This was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles. � 1936: Hitler and Mussolini signed an alliance, creating the Axis.

The Spanish Civil War � (1936 -39) Spanish Civil War: Fascist forces, aided by Italy and Germany, take over Spain. (WWII dress rehearsal).

Appeasement 1935 -1938, Germany annexed or invaded Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland, and Czechoslovakia. Britain and France felt that if they allowed Hitler to control of these lands, he would be satisfied, and war would be avoided. Instead, this policy encouraged his aggression Appeasement: a policy of giving concessions in exchange for peace.

War in Europe Begins � March 1939: Britain and France agreed to protect Poland in case of a German invasion. � August 1939: Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact – secret agreement for Germans & Soviets to divide Poland � Sept. 1, 1939: Hitler invaded Poland, starting WWII. � Sept, 3, 1939: Britain and France declared war on Germany. Italy later declared war on them.

“Blitzkrieg” � Hitler used blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) during his invasion of Poland. � Blitzkrieg included surprise attacks, rapid advances into enemy territory, and massive air attacks that struck and shocked the enemy. � Germany achieved most of its victories in World War II with the Blitzkrieg tactic.

Blitzkrieg

“Phony War” � The Maginot Line was a line of defensive fortifications built after WWI to protect France against an invasion by Germany. � Britain sent troops to wait with the French down behind the Maginot Line. � Reporters called this quiet time of not much action (Winter-Spring ‘ 39 -’ 40) the “phony war”

Maginot Line

Early Axis Triumphs In April 1940 the quiet time of the war exploded into action: � Hitler launched a series of blitzkrieg. � Norway and Denmark fell. � Germany overran the Netherlands and Belgium. � Germany, along with Italy, forced France to surrender in June, 1940.

“Blitzkrieg: German soldiers being parachuted into Holland - May 10, 1940”

Germans invaded France in May 1940

Britain stands alone! � � � June 22, 1940, France signs an armistice (cease fire or truce) with Germany in occupied France. The Franco-German Armistice divided France into two zones: One under German military occupation and the other under French control. By 1942 Germans occupied all of France

Hitler’s Major Blunder Retreating Allied forces made it to Dunkirk and found themselves trapped between the advancing Nazis and the English Channel. Their capture could mean the end of the war. (5/27 -6/4/1940) The British sent every boat they could get across the English Channel to pick up troops off the beaches. The rescue of 338, 000 men became known as the “Miracle of Dunkirk. ”

Questions � What was the immediate cause of World War II? � Describe the German concept of the “blitzkrieg”. � Where were early Axis triumphs? � What was the miracle at Dunkirk? � What was the significance of June 22, 1940?

The Japanese Empire � Japan wanted to expand to meet the land needs of a growing population and to obtain more raw materials and markets for its industries. � 1931: Japan seized Manchuria � 1937 -40: Japan seized most of east China � Sept. 1940: Japan joins the tripartite pact, becoming an ally of Italy and Germany.

America and WWII � America initially stayed out of the war, but began a naval build up in the Pacific to counter the expansion of Japan. � 1939: FDR moved the Pacific fleet from San Diego to Pearl Harbor. � Disillusionment from WWI and the Great Depression contributed to the popularity of isolationism in America.

Internationalism � FDR was not an isolationist, but he knew the American public strongly supported that view, so he did not veto Neutrality Acts. � FDR supported Internationalism instead, the belief that trade between nations creates prosperity and helps to prevent war.

United States Reacts to War Debate 1940: Isolationist or Internationalist? Isolationists � America First Committee � “Intervention is detrimental to U. S. interests” � Charles A. Lindbergh Internationalists � Committee to Defend America � Best way to keep US out of war is to Help allies fight the Germans � Roosevelt is sympathetic

Neutrality Acts: 1935 - 1939 Goal: Protect US from events which had pressured U. S. to enter WWII � Requirements: 1. Can not sell weapons to aggressor OR victim 2. President has power to warn American citizens that traveling on ships of warring nations is at own risk. 3. made it impossible for the US to give loans to nations at war 4. Cash and Carry Policy – those in a fight could purchase only non-military goods from the US, but had to pay cash and carry goods away on their own vessels. �

Election of 1940 � FDR decides to Run for a third term � Emergency situation: - War in Europe - Problems in Asia - Wants to protect New Deal reforms � Ran against Wendell Willkie � FDR Wins- then begins the process of preparing for war: - Peacetime Draft - Armaments build up

FDR Wins Unprecedented 3 rd Term

“Arsenal of Democracy” � FDR sought indirect ways to help the British in their fight against Fascism. 1941: Lend-Lease began. U. S. extends “Cash and Carry” to military goods to help allies. � March - Britain doesn’t have cash to pay for weapons, so U. S. “lends” weapons on promise G. B. will return or pay U. S. back after the war. - US Ships secretly supported British Navy by searching and reporting on U-boat locations)

FDR’s“Four Freedoms” Speech � Represents FDR’s view that America needs to prepare for war and support Britain. � “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 peacetime life for its inhabitants-everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world. ” � � �

The Atlantic Charter (August 1941) � Churchill & FDR secretly met on a ship off Newfoundland’s coast to agree on war goals, since both foresaw the U. S. joining the Allies soon. � US and GB declared that they were fighting the Axis powers to "ensure life, liberty, independence and religious freedom and to preserve the rights of man and justice. " � Agreed to ensure sovereignty for all nations � Served as a foundation for the later establishment of the United Nations (UN)

America gets closer to war � Mid 1941: Japanese forces seized French territories in Indochina. � In response, the US froze Japanese assets in the US and cut off all trade with Japan. � Americans began to crack the Japanese secret code and intercepted messages saying that Japan was planning to seize more islands in the Pacific.

Problems in the Pacific � October 1941: General Tojo became Prime Minister of Japan and wanted war with the US. � Nov. 1941: The US intercepted messages showing that a Japanese force was moving towards SE Asia to take more land. � FDR demanded that it be recalled and that Japan withdraw from conquered territories.

Pearl Harbor � Japanese negotiators agreed to meet with US diplomats. � While they met, the Japanese sent a fleet to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to destroy the US Pacific fleet. � Dec. 7, 1941: Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor killing 2, 400, wounding 1, 200, and destroying 300 U. S. planes, 18 warships, and 8 of the 9 U. S. battleships. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=r. BWWZ-ZEydc

WAR! � Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-1 kixq. Rwv. K 0

America’s Response to Pearl Harbor � Dec. 8, 1941: FDR delivered a war message to Congress. Within 3 days, U. S. was at war with Japan, Germany, & Italy https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=y. P 8 Apbi. Z 5 l 8 � Germany was considered to be biggest threat, thus became focus of first phase of American war action � Then Japan

A Grim Future for the Allies � In Jan. 1942, the Axis powers had a big advantage in Europe. By then, Britain was almost defeated, the Axis controlled almost all of continental Europe, and German troops had captured most of North Africa. � German subs were trying to keep food and supplies from reaching Britain.

The Battle of the Atlantic � American and British ships fought to maintain control of the Atlantic and protect Britain from defeat. � Allied ships used Sonar to locate and attack German subs.

Liberty Ships � The basic cargo ship used during WWII, it was relatively cheap and quickly made because most were welded instead of riveted. � The cargo vessels traveled in groups (convoys) escorted by navy warships to avoid German uboat attacks.

The North African Campaign � Nov. 1942: British win the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt. This starts the retreat of German General Rommel (Desert Fox). � Nov. 1942: U. S. and British troops commanded by Dwight Eisenhower landed in Morocco. � Eventually the two allied armies met, forcing a German surrender in Africa.

Casablanca Conference � January 1943: FDR and Churchill met in Casablanca, Morocco. � They agreed to win the war in Europe before concentrating on the Pacific. � They agreed to demand only an unconditional surrender from all of the Axis powers.

The Invasion of Italy � July, 1943: U. S. troops commanded by General George Patton attacked Sicily. � 38 days later, Sicily fell and Mussolini was overthrown by a disillusioned Italian population. � Hitler controlled Northern Italy, and Italian and German troops continued to fight the Allies.

War in Italy � Sept. 1943: Italy surrendered to the allies, and many Italians began to fight against Mussolini’s supporters and Hitler. � Sept. 1943 - Jan. 1944: US forces are stalled by Hitler’s troops. � Finally in January, the US landed forces behind the German lines at Anzio, just South of Rome.

Anzio

The Battle of Anzio � Anzio was one of the longest protracted battles of the war (4 mos. ) with over 25, 000 battle casualties on each side of the conflict. � Soon after, Rome fell to the Allies. � Northern Italy finally surrendered to the Allies in April, 1945, after 190, 000 Americans and 483, 000 Germans died there.

Tuskegee Airmen � group of African American pilots under command of Benjamin O. Davis � Known for having an excellent combat record, but their crowning achievement was their near perfect record escorting bombers and airborne military missions in Italy. other

War in the Soviet Union � June, 1941: Germany attacked the Soviet Union with 3. 6 million German soldiers. � The USSR asked the US for lend-lease help, but FDR was reluctant at first, not wanting to help a Communist nation. � Eventually, the USSR repelled the German attack, a temporary victory. � Sept. 1942: the Germans attacked Stalingrad, a major oil and railroad center.

The Battle of Stalingrad � From September to November, 1942, the Germans shelled and attacked the city of Stalingrad. � The USSR refused to surrender the city and house - to - house fighting saved the city from defeat. � By late November, the USSR launched a counteroffensive and began to win the battle.

A Turning Point � Jan. 31, 1943: 90, 000 surviving German soldiers surrendered to the Soviet army in Stalingrad. � This was the turning point of the war in the east: after this the USSR never lost another battle, and the Germans did not launch any more offensives in the east.

War in W. Europe � 1942: US began carpet bombing Germany � 1943: the amount of bombs dropped in Germany doubled. � 1944: US was bombing Germany 24 hours-aday.

D-Day � June 6, 1944: Allied troops commanded by Eisenhower landed on the beaches of Normandy and began the invasion of Western Europe and the liberation of France. � Despite brutal German resistance, 2 million allied soldiers occupied France by July.

Normandy Invasion: largest amphibious operation in history

Normandy Invasion

The US Frees W. Europe � American forces freed Paris by August, 1944. � In Sept. , Belgium and Holland were freed from Nazi control.

The Battle of the Bulge � Dec. 1944: Germany launched its last offensive in the war, attacking Americans in Belgium and Luxembourg with nearly a half million troops. � This was the largest and bloodiest battle fought by the United States in World War II

The Battle of the Bulge � The US won the battle, suffering nearly 100, 000 casualties, making it the costliest action ever fought by the U. S. Army. � After their offensive failed, the Germans realized the war was lost.

Battle of the Bulge

German Surrender � Americans continued to bomb Germany and attack from the Western front, while the Soviets continued attacks on Germany from the East. � US forces liberated Dachau and Buchenwald in April, 1945, confronting unspeakable conditions in the Nazi concentration camps. � Only after Allies liberated the concentration camps was the full scope of Nazi horrors exposed to the world.

Dachau

May 8, 1945: V-E Day

The Yalta Conference � Feb. 1945: The “Big Three” met at Yalta in the USSR to plan the post-war world. (FDR dies of natural causes April 12 th)

Yalta Conference � All agreed to split Germany into 4 zones of occupation and to also split the capital city, Berlin. � Stalin promised to allow free elections in the nations his army liberated from Germany. � Stalin agreed to enter the war against Japan soon after the German surrender.

War in the Pacific

War in the Pacific � On Dec. 7, 1941, about one-half of General Mac. Arthur’s air force was destroyed on the ground at Clark Air Field in the Philippines. � Within days, a large Japanese force landed in the Philippines and Mac. Arthur withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula on Manila Bay. There he set up defenses, hoping the US Navy could evacuate his men to safety.

The Philippines � By March, 1942, FDR ordered General Mac. Arthur to escape to Australia. He left with the words: “I shall return. ” � On May 6, 1942, 11, 000 Americans and Filipinos surrendered. When the Bataan Peninsula fell, approx. 76, 000 Filipinos and Americans became prisoners of war.

Bataan Death March � Japanese soldiers split the prisoners into groups of 500 -1000 and marched them 60 miles to a railroad. � About 10, 000 prisoners died during the 6 -12 day march and some were shot by the guards. � Those who survived were shipped to prison camps where they were held captive for the rest of the war.

Bataan � The Japanese general responsible for organizing the march was one of 6 Japanese executed for war crimes after the war.

Japanese Expansion � Japanese forces continued to expand were not stopped by allied forces until the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, 1942 � This battle fought entirely with planes from aircraft carriers. Enemy ships never came within sight of one another.

Battle of the Coral Sea � Although both the US and the Japanese navy lost about 1/2 of their forces, this battle stopped the Japanese from establishing the bases they needed to invade Australia.

The Battle of Midway � June 4, 1942: This battle was also fought entirely from the air. � The US destroyed 3 of the 4 Japanese aircraft carriers while they were still loading bombs in their planes. This carried with it the loss of 250 Japanese planes. � This was the last Japanese offensive, and considered the turning point in the war in the Pacific.

Battle of Guadalcanal � 1 st US offensive of the Pacific war. � August 1942: 11, 000 US Marines landed at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and about 2, 200 Japanese fled into the jungle. They fought there for 3 months. � Feb. 1943: Japan finally abandoned Guadalcanal.

Navajo Code Talkers � Sending military messages that could not be broken by the enemy became increasingly difficult, especially in the Pacific Theater. � This group created and communicated in what remains perhaps the only military code in history that was indecipherable to enemy intelligence

Island-Hopping � From February 1943 on, the US forces began to selectively attack enemy-held islands in the Pacific. � The Japanese fiercely defended their positions and both sides suffered heavy casualties.

Island Hopping Strategy

American Offensives � The US first captured the rest of the Solomon islands and then the Gilbert islands. � After seizing the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert islands, it was used by US Admiral Nimitz to launch bombing raids on Japanese bases in the Marshall islands.

More US Offensives � By Feb. 1944, the US had crippled Japanese air power and seized the Marshall islands. � By June, 1944, the US captured parts of the Mariana Islands. � The Mariana Islands were important because they enabled US planes to bomb Japanese cities.

The Philippines � Mid-October 1944: US forces invaded the Philippine island of Leyte. Although the US quickly captured the island, a huge naval battle ensued. � The Japanese used kamikaze pilots for the 1 st time in this battle. � The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest in Naval history, engaging more than 280 warships. As a result of the battle, the Japanese navy was virtually destroyed.

Japanese Kamikazes � Japanese kamikazes were suicide pilots who crashed their planes which were heavily loaded with bombs into allied ships. � During the war, the US experienced about 4, 900 kamikaze attacks which destroyed 57 American ships and damaged about 650 others.

A Kamikaze Pilot

The Philippines � After securing Leyte, the US invaded Luzon in an attempt to capture Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. � In one month’s time, 100, 000 Filipinos died, 80, 000 Japanese died, and 27, 000 Americans also perished. � The US did not fully secure the Philippines until June, 1945.

The Battle of Iwo Jima � The battle for this 14 square mile island was one of the bloodiest battles of the war (about 6, 000 American soldiers killed another 19, 000 injured) � 25, 000 Japanese protected the small rocky island it took over 110, 000 Americans to defeat them. Only 216 Japanese surrendered--the rest died. � More US medals of honor were given for this battle than any other single battle of the war.

Marines Raising the US Flag at Iwo Jima

American Offensives � Iwo Jima was located about 700 miles from Japan. Its capture was another step toward an eventual invasion of the Japanese home islands. � The next island to fall to the Americans was Okinawa, which was located about 350 miles from Japan.

Battle of Okinawa � April-June 1945: In another bloody battle, nearly 100, 000 Japanese defended the island from an allied force of 180, 000 soldiers and 1, 300 warships. � Japanese kamikazes launched nearly 2, 000 attacks against the British and American fleets. � This was the single bloodiest battle of the Pacific war with nearly 50, 000 allied deaths and 93, 000 Japanese deaths.

Okinawa

The Bombing of Hiroshima � August 6, 1945: On President Harry Truman’s orders, the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. � It destroyed about 90% of the city and killed about 140, 000 people.

Nagasaki � When the bombing of Hiroshima did not elicit an immediate surrender from the Japanese government, a 2 nd atomic bomb was dropped 3 days later on Nagasaki. � This bomb was equally destructive and led to a Japanese surrender.

V-J Day � August 14, 1945: Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender. � The formal surrender was signed on September 2, 1945 on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, officially ending WWII.

The Results of the War � After the defeat of the Axis powers, all territories that had been taken over by Japan were returned to their pre-war status. � All of the German-occupied territories were supposed to be given free elections, but only the W. European nations became democratic. Stalin refused to honor the Yalta agreements and made E. Europe into a series of Communist dictatorships.

World War II Allied Deaths

World War II Axis Deaths