World War II ERUPTS I Can Describe the

World War II ERUPTS

I Can: Describe the circumstances at home & abroad prior to U. S. involvement in WWII Identify the significant military & political aspects of WWII Analyze dimensions of the Holocaust & the Allies’ response to the Holocaust & war crimes Evaluate the social, political, & economic impacts of WWII on the home front Identify & evaluate the scientific & technological developments in America during & after WWII

Europe after World War I • World War I’s effects on Europe – Millions of deaths – Destruction of cities and farms – Economy in ruins – Many years to recover

Treaty of Versailles • Ended World War I • Countries dissatisfied – France—not harsh enough on Germany – Italy—wanted rewarded more territory – Germany suffered the most

TREATY OF VERSAILLES � Effects on Germany � Forced to give up land including industrial areas � Heavy reparation payments � Humiliated its people & military � Caused severe inflation in early 1920 s � Inflation—rising prices � By 1923 the German Mark was almost worthless

HYPERINFLATION IN GERMANY German children playing with currency

WEIMAR REPUBLIC Germany’s new democratic government � Not a very strong government � Faced opposition from Communists & from the far right � The German military was also unhappy with its reduced state �

RISE OF TOTALITARIAN LEADERS � Type of leader emerged in Europe: Demagogue a person, esp. an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people. � Reflected & expressed the people’s bitterness & anger � Promised a return to greatness for their nations � Appealing to people willing to trade basic freedoms for future glory �

BENITO MUSSOLINI—ITALIAN DICTATOR � Founded the National Fascist Party after Treaty of Versailles � Fascism—system of government that stressed the glory of the state � Became leader of Italy’s govt. in 1922 � Established a dictatorship � Government by a leader or group that holds unchallenged power & authority

BENITO MUSSOLINI � Allowed no other political parties � Ruthlessly crushed opponents � His government controlled newspapers, schools, & businesses � All power flowed through him � Italians called him Il Duce (il Doo chay) � The leader

ADOLF HITLER � Austrian-born � Joined German army during World War I � Anger over Treaty of Versailles led him into politics � Joined National Socialists party (Nazis) � Attracted many soldiers & others upset with treaty � Discovered he had a talent for speaking � Arrested in 1923 for an attempted revolt

ADOLF HITLER � While in prison wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) � Outlined his political ideas � Nationalism & devotion to the state � Uniting all Germans of Europe in a great empire � Belief in racial superiority of Germanic peoples— Aryans � Blamed Jews for many of Germany’s problems � After prison he gradually gained support through speeches � 1933 Nazis most powerful party � Hitler named Chancellor

ADOLF HITLER � Used political skills & violence to eliminate opponents � Became totalitarian dictator � Continued myth of Aryan greatness & German empire � Made himself glorified above all Germans � Secretly built up German armed forces

OTHER REGIMES � Francisco � Fascist � Joseph Franco dictator of Spain Stalin � Communist dictator of the Soviet Union � Crushed political opponents � Created myth of own greatness � Japanese � Used military leaders violence to gain control over the govt. � Inspired by nationalistic dreams of Japanese greatness

JAPAN � 1920 s wanted to expand for wealth & resources � 1930 s became unhappy with Japan’s govt � 1931 Japanese army invaded Manchuria without govt approval � Govt ordered them to end the action; army refused � People supported the army & it gained more power � League of Nations criticized Japan’s actions;

1935 ITALY INVADES ETHIOPIA � Italy had tried to est. a colony there in late 1800 s but was defeated � Mussolini rekindled bitter feelings towards Ethiopia � Used border dispute between Ethiopia & Italian colony as excuse to invade � Ethiopia was unable to resist � Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie appealed to the League of Nations which did nothing � The US (FDR) protested but unwilling to do more

SPANISH CIVIL WAR � 1930 s Spain divided between Communists & Fascists (Nationalists) � 1936 civil war � Republicans Franco vs. Nationalists led by Francisco � Italy & Germany helped the Nationalists � USSR supported Republicans � Volunteers from US fought for Republicans � Abraham � Nationalists Lincoln Brigade won & Spain led by Fascist dictator Francisco Franco

SPANISH CIVIL WAR

AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS ARRIVE IN BARCELONA, 1937 Lincoln Brigade volunteers salute.

HITLER TAKES ACTION � Hitler openly stated plan to re-arm Germany � Violation of Treaty of Versailles � Britain & France tolerated Hitler’s actions � Hitler � 1936, claimed it was to resist spread of communism Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland � Violation of Versailles Treaty � France alarmed, but unwilling to fight � Britain unwilling to fight Germany as well � Hitler grew bolder

HITLER OCCUPIES THE RHINELAND

THE ANSCHLUSS � 1938 Hitler tried to get Austria to agree to Anschluss � Union with Germany � Austria refused � Hitler sent troops into Austria � Violation � Anschluss of Versailles Treaty popular with Austrian people � Germany’s neighbors protested but did nothing

CHEERING CROWDS GREET THE GERMANS IN VIENNA

THE SUDETENLAND � Hitler’s success in Austria gave him more confidence no one would stop him � Began planning control of German-speaking portion of Czechoslovakia—Sudetenland � Encouraged Germans in Sudetenland to protest Czech rule � Then threatened military attack

MUNICH AGREEMENT � British prime minister Neville Chamberlain & French premier met with Hitler � Agreed to allow Hitler to annex Sudetenland � Czechoslovakia � Protested had no representatives there the agreement � Chamberlain—we our time” have achieved “peace for

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: CHAMBERLAIN, DALADIER, HITLER, MUSSOLINI, AND CIANO PICTURED BEFORE SIGNING THE MUNICH AGREEMENT.

HITLER OCCUPIES THE SUDETENLAND

1930 S-ERA SOVIET POSTER BY KUKRYNIKSY SHOWING WESTERN POWERS GIVING HITLER CZECHOSLOV AKIA ON A DISH. INSCRIPTION ON THE FLAG: "ON TOWARDS THE EAST!"

NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN HOLDING THE PAPER CONTAINING THE RESOLUTION TO COMMIT TO PEACEFUL METHODS SIGNED BY BOTH HITLER AND HIMSELF ON HIS RETURN FROM MUNICH. HE IS SHOWING THE PIECE OF PAPER TO A CROWD AT HESTON AERODROME ON 30 SEPTEMBER 1938.

APPEASEMENT � Giving in to aggressive demands to maintain peace � British PM Chamberlain believed using this policy towards Hitler had prevented a needless war � Critics believed Hitler would not keep his promise of stopping at the Sudetenland � Winston Churchill condemned Chamberlain’s actions as cowardly & would lead to war later

A woman in the Sudetenland greets incoming German troops with tears and a Nazi salute.

WINSTON CHURCHILL Chamberlain With Mussolini at the Munich Conference

HITLER’S EARLY MOVES � March 1939 Hitler’s troops captured the rest of Czechoslovakia � Hitler then formed alliances � Pact with Italy � Nonaggression pact with the USSR � Hitler promised not to attack the USSR if they wouldn’t interfere with German aggression � Europeans were shocked; they believed the USSR would be a check on Hitler’s aggression

Angry Czechs watch German troops enter Prague after Czechoslovakia capitulates, March 15, 1939.

Hitler attacks Poland �Within days of the Nazi-Soviet agreement—Hitler was ready to invade Poland �Disguised a German criminal in a Polish army uniform & shot him at the border �September 1, 1939—Germany claimed Poland had attacked & used the dead criminal as proof �Germany began massive invasion of Poland

Blitzkrieg �German “Lightning war” �Overwhelming combination of air attack and fast- moving armored strikes to drive deep into enemy territory �Nazis used it to devastating effect in Poland �Polish army was no match against Nazis �Polish cavalry on horseback �Poland was in German hands by the end of the month

September 3, 1939 �Great Britain & France declared war on Germany Became known as the Allies �Could do little to stop Hitler in Poland �Allies strategy was to wait for Hitler’s next move �Hoped that Hitler would attempt to invade France’s strong defense line Maginot Line—string of bunkers & fortresses that lined part of the French-German border

Map of the principal fortified section of the Maginot line

Pill Box on Maginot Line

Sitzkrieg �Allied leaders were surprised when Germany did not attack during the winter of 1939 -1940 �Known as the sitzkrieg or phony war �Hitler was actually making plans to attack France, & other countries �April 1940—Operation Weserübung Hitler invaded Denmark & Norway to improve Germany’s access to Atlantic Ocean Surprised Allies could not stop him Hitler turned to France

The German landing sites during the initial phase of Operation Weserübung.

France �May 1940—Hitler invaded France �Germans avoided the Maginot Line & attacked through the Ardennes Forest French believed the forest was too dense for an army to pass through �By June hundreds of thousands of Allied forces were trapped at French port of Dunkirk Allied ships & civilian boats heroically rescued about 340, 000 troops from there & carried them to Britain

British fisherman giving a hand to an Allied soldier while a Stuka's bomb explodes a few meters ahead.

�By avoiding the Maginot Line, Hitler’s army moved quickly through France �By end of June, France surrendered to Germany & Italy (who had joined the war) �Vichy France—unoccupied parts of France that were under the control of French officials who cooperated with the Nazis July 1940 -August 1944 General Charles de Gaulle & other French leaders fled to Great Britain � Organized Nazis a resistance movement against Vichy France & the

Vichy France Hitler shakes hands with Marshall Petain the Prime Minister of Vichy France Marshall Petain Adolf Hitler

�Great Britain now stood alone against Germany �Winston Churchill was now Prime Minister “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…” �Hitler makes plans to invade Great Britain

Battle of Britain � 1 st Phase: Destroy the British Royal Air Force (RAF) Germans failed RAF used radar (new technology) to detect German planes & inflicted heavy damage on them �German air force—Luftwaffe then began bombing London To terrorize the public & take their will to fight Thousands died in the raids, but Britain did not surrender �Americans followed the Battle of Britain Radio reports of Edward R. Murrow �Late 1940, Battle of Britain was over

Battle of Britain Aircraft spotter on the roof of a building in London

St. Paul's Cathedral is pictured during the great fire raid of Sunday December 29 th. " 1940.

Total war knows no bounds. Almshouse bombed Feb. 10, Newbury, Berks. , England. " Naccarata, February 11, 1943.

"Children of an eastern suburb of London, who have been made homeless by the random bombs of the Nazi night raiders, waiting outside the wreckage of what was their home. "

Tensions in East Asia � 1934 -Japan began expanding naval forces � 1936 -Japan signed anticommunism pact with Germany � 1937 -Japan began war against China › Brutal— 200, 000 – 300, 000 Chinese massacred at Nanjing � 1940 –Japan formed military alliance with Germany & Italy › Axis powers

Tensions in East Asia � 1941 -Japan took control of French Indochina with agreement of Vichy France

French Indochina

Tensions in East Asia � Japan’s takeover of French Indochina was seen as a threat to US interests in the region � FDR placed economic sanctions against Japan & cut off oil supplies � Representatives from Japan were meeting with the US to resolve differences

Tensions in East Asia � Japanese Minister of War Hideki Tojo › Pushed Japanese government not to accept compromise › Strong nationalist › Willing to go to war to build Japanese empire � October 1941 -Tojo forced Japan’s government to resign & he took control of the country

Hideki Tojo

American Isolationism �Americans questioned what involvement in WWI had actually achieved �Isolationism—desire to avoid involvement in foreign wars ◦ Not all isolationists were pacifists �Pacifists—people who do not believe in the use of military force �Neutrality Acts, 1935 -1939—a series of laws passed by Congress to keep the US from being dragged into war in Europe

American Isolationism �Isolationists wanted the US to remain neutral ◦ Neutral—not sending aid to either side of a conflict �Charles Lindbergh ◦ Spoke out for isolationism ◦ Believed that helping the Allies would end up costing Americans many lives

Quarantine Speech �FDR was not isolationist �He could do little because of isolationist public opinion � 1937 after Japan invaded China FDR gave Quarantine Speech Urged US to work with other countries to quarantine aggressive nations & prevent spread of war �Hitler’s actions strengthened FDR’s position

Cash and Carry �When Germany invaded Poland in 1939 FDR got Congress to change Neutrality Act Cash and Carry—countries at war were allowed to purchase American goods as long as they paid cash & picked up their orders in US ports ▪ FDR hoped it would help Allies ▪ Hitler was not slowed down �FDR traded 50 US warships for 8 British bases

1940 Election �FDR decided to seek a third term as president �He defeated Republican opponent Wendell Wilkie �First time US president elected for 3 rd term FDR Wendell Wilkie

Arsenal of democracy �After reelection FDR pushed to aid Allies more �Wanted the US to be the “arsenal of democracy” �March 1941, Lend-Lease Act—allowed the US to send to weapons to Great Britain regardless of its ability to pay

Atlantic Charter �August 1941 �FDR & Churchill secretly met on a ship off the coast of Canada �Atlantic Charter— proclaimed the shared goals of the US & Britain in opposing Hitler & the Axis Powers FDR & Churchill attend church services on board the HMS Prince of Wales

Isolationists oppose FDR �Spoke out against FDR’s actions �America First Committee �Charles Lindbergh �US was already involved in armed conflict �German U-boats attacking US ships delivering goods to Britain � USS Kearny � 11 Americans killed � USS Reuben James � Over 100 sailors killed

Pearl Harbor Fall of 1941 -American leaders convinced there would be war between US & Japan How & Where? �Philippines ? US continued to negotiate to prevent war Japanese military leaders planned the attack on Pearl Harbor for months

Captured Japanese photograph taken aboard a Japanese carrier before the attack on Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor Sunday, December 7, 1941 8: 00 a. m. Japanese aircraft carriers approached Hawaii from the north Japanese planes loaded with bombs & torpedoes attacked from the carriers intention of destroying American ships & planes Complete surprise attack Few US planes got off of the ground

Pearl Harbor U. S. Forces Japanese Forces 9 Battleships 10 3 Carriers 10 13 Heavy Cruisers 18 11 Light Cruisers 17 80 Destroyers 111 55 Submarines 64 Source: Comparative fleet strengths (Pacific & Asiatic Fleets), December 1, 1941.

Pearl Harbor Attack lasted about two hours All 8 US battleships were damaged Four were sunk Nearly 200 aircraft completely destroyed 2400 Americans were killed Japan losses were light Fewer than 30 aircraft Handful of submarines

American Reaction

American Reaction �Americans reacted with anger & fear �Rumors that Japan would invade California � Barb wire on California beaches �FDR expected a Japanese attack but with a formal declaration of war � Japanese officials delivered the war message after the attack had begun

FDR on December 8, 1941 to Congress “Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan…Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this. . . , the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. ”

Mobilizing for War • The US had increased military spending in 1940 – ended the Great Depression • Draft was also reinstated in 1940 – Millions volunteered • General George C. Marshall – Led mobilization effort – Worked closely with FDR – Also played important role in developing US strategy

Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall

Women & the Armed Forces • Not permitted in combat roles – Filled positions that allowed more men in combat

Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES) Navy

WAVES

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) • Tested & delivered aircraft • Nearly 40 lost their lives

WASPs

Women’s Army Corps (WAC) • Largest women’s unit: 150, 000 served • Worked with army – Repaired equipment, electricians, etc. – Led by Oveta Culp Hobby who was given rank of colonel

NEW MILITARY BASES � Millions of new soldiers required new bases � Military preferred rural areas � California more bases than any state � Florida good location for training bases � Camp � 1. 2 Blanding 55, 000 soldiers 4 th largest city million trained in Texas � Fort Hood � Randolph Air Force Base

MOBILIZING INDUSTRY & SCIENCE � American � Henry � US industry converted for mobilization Ford—Willow Run spent tens of billions on weapons & supplies

� American ships targeted by German submarines � US factories built 5500 ships during war � Henry Kaiser built “liberty ships” Oregon Governor Charles Sprague, Henry Kaiser & FDR attending the launch of the first Liberty ship built in just 10 days.

NEW GOVERNMENT AGENCIES � Regulated what products factories produced, prices, & raw materials � Office of Production Management � William Kaudsen � Sidney Hillman � War Production Board � Donald Nelson

ROSIE THE RIVETER

ROSIE THE RIVETER � Rosie the Riveter was most closely associated with a real woman, Rose Will Monroe, who was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky in 1920 and moved to Michigan during World War II. She worked as a riveter at the Willow Run Aircraft Factory in Ypsilanti, Michigan, building B-29 and B-24

ROSIE THE RIVETER � Women filled the factory jobs left vacant by men joining the military � 6. 5 million industrial jobs that had never been open to women before

A REAL-LIFE "ROSIE" WORKING ON THE A-31 VENGEANCE BOMBER IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (1943)

LABOR IN WORLD WAR II � Millions of jobs created by WWII � Government concerned strikes might hamper war effort � National War Labor Board � Help settle labor disputes � Smith-Connally Act � Gave president power to take over vital industries in the event of strikes � Helped reduce labor disputes during the war

MANHATTAN PROJECT � Top secret American program to build an atomic bomb � Powerful weapon that used energy released by the splitting of atoms � Laboratories in Los Alamos, New Mexico � Research began in 1939 � Albert Einstein warned that Hitler was working on developing an atomic bomb � Led by J. Robert Oppenheimer

NUCLEAR PHYSICIST ROBERT OPPENHEIMER, LEFT, WITH MAJOR GENERAL LESLIE GROVES, BY THE REMAINS OF THE TOWER FROM WHICH AN ATOM TEST BOMB WAS IGNITED.

African Americans in the military � Hundreds of thousands served � First black marines � First black commissioned naval officers � Discrimination still existed › Forced to serve in segregated units › None received Medal of Honor � 7 received it 50 years later

African Americans in the workforce � Filled the factory jobs that opened � Often forced to take the lowest-paying jobs � A. Phillip Randolph › Head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters › Called for a march on Washington to protest › FDR ordered discrimination to cease in government & defense jobs

Hispanic Americans � Bracero Program › Established in 1942 by US & Mexican governments › Because of demand for farm labor › Gave some Mexican workers the chance to work temporarily in the US Increased ethnic tensions � Zoot suit riots � › June 1943, white sailors fought with Mexican youths in L. A. › Lasted about a week

Sailors with wooden clubs during the 1943 "zoot suit" riots in Los Angeles.