World War II

Treaty of Versailles

The treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh penalties and massive reparations on Germany, leading to instability and resentment.

Great Depression

The severe economic crisis of the 1930s that created fertile ground for the rise of radical ideologies.

Rise of Totalitarianism

The emergence of extremist rulers who played on nationalism and the failure of democratic governments to meet the needs of the people.

Failure of the League of Nations

The inability of the League to enforce its decisions or stop aggression by Germany, Italy, and Japan, leading to its collapse.

Appeasement

A foreign policy involving offering concessions to an aggressor nation in an attempt to avoid war.

Munich Conference

A 1938 meeting of European leaders (Hitler, Mussolini, Neville Chamberlain, and E. Daladier (France)) to avoid war and consider Hitler's request to annex the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia.

Blitzkrieg

A military strategy involving the simultaneous use of infantry, tanks, planes, and artillery to overwhelm an opponent in battle.

Operation Barbarossa

Germany's surprise invasion of the USSR in 1941, violating the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and leading to brutal fighting. 2 million deaths of civilians and soldiers.

Pearl Harbor Attack

The surprise Japanese attack on the US Pacific Fleet on December 7, 1941, leading to the US entry into World War II.

D-Day Invasion

The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, leading to the liberation of Europe and a significant turning point in the war.

Causes of WWII

• Treaty of Versailles

• Great Depression

• Rise of Totalitarianism

• Militarism

• Failure of the League of Nations

• Failure of Appeasement

Lebensraum

• “Living Space”

• A territory believed to be necessary for national existence

• Nazi belief that Easter Europe must be taken for Aryans

• Justification for German expansion of territory and resources

Molotov - Ribbentrop Non-Aggression Pact

• Secret and surprise agreement made b/w Hitler and Stalin

• Divided Eastern Europe between Germany and the Soviet Union

• Emboldened Hitler to invade Poland

Invasion of Poland

• 1939 - German troops invade Poland

• Britain/France declare war on Germany

• The Official Start of WWII

Allied Powers

• Great Britain

• France

• China

• The Soviet Union (from 1941)

• The United States (from 1941)

Axis Powers

Germany, Italy, Japan

Miracle at Dunkirk

• 1940

• Operation Dynamo: The use of civilians and small ships to rescue/evacuate 350,000 allied troops surrounded by German military in northern France

• Allied army saved from destruction

The Battle of Britain - 1940

• The Context

  • Hitler planned to invade Britain

  • Britain stood alone because France had fallen to the Nazi’s

  • German Luftwaffe was seeking to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force

• The Battle

  • The battle fought in the sky above Great Britain

  • RAF had fewer planes but better radar capabilities

  • The battle focused on dogfights b/w planes

• Importance

  • RAF victory stopped the German invasion

  • Boosted British morale

  • Provided Britain time to regroup its military to fight Germany

The Blitz

• A series of bombing raids by Nazi Germany on Britain, primarily targeting London, from September 1940 to May 1941

• Part of the Battle of Britain

• Night-time bombing raids of airfields, factories, and public buildings

• Massive destruction and loss of life

Battle of Stalingrad

• 1942 German siege of Stalingrad

• Stalingrad was a key Soviet industrial center with large oil field nearby

• German blitzkrieg takes 90% of the city

• Urban warfare, aerial bombings, snipers, starvation, brutality, resilience

• Russian victory = Turning point of War

• 24 hours is the average life expectancy of a Soviet soldier at Stalingrad

Split Personality USA

• Don’t Join

  • Isolationism

  • Neutrality Acts: restricted arms sales to warring nations

  • Millions were unemployed, and the government’s focus was on economic recovery

• Join

  • US begins military build-up

  • Lend-Lease Acts: provided military aid to Britain and other Allied nations, without technically entering the war

  • US stops oil sales to Japan leaving it with only 2 year's supply (1940)

US President FDR

• Roosevelt saw Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan as major threats to global security and American interests

• Favored gradual assistance to allies without violating neutrality

• Used fireside chats and other public addresses to prepare the country for the possibility of war

Doolittle’s raid

• Aprile 18, 1942

• US surprise bombing attack on Tokyo

• Prove to Japan they were not untouchable in their homeland

• Planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle

• 16 specially modified B-25 bombers were launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet

• Demonstrated that Japan was vulnerable to American air attacks

• Boosted American morale after the attack on Pearl Harbor

US Contributions

• Arsenal of Democracy

  • Weapons, ships, airplanes, tanks, and other supplies for itself and its Allies

• Technology

  • Developing the atomic bomb, radar technology, and improved weaponry

• Military Might

  • A multi-million-strong army, navy,  and air force

• Fighting Spirit

  • Fresh, confident troops with swagger came at a time of low Allied morale

• Financial Aid

  • The US provided billions of dollars in financial and military aid to Allied nations so they could continue to fight

• Leadership

  • FDR, General Eisenhower, General MacArthur, Admiral Nimitz, General Patton, Oppenheimer, Truman

Death of Mussolini

April 1945

Battle of Berlin

• April 1945

• US forces advance on Berlin from West

• Soviet forces advance on Berlin from East

• Germans starving, sick, and war-weary

• Soviets reach Berlin first, destroy it

• April 30th - Hitler retreats to his bunker and commits suicide

• May 2nd - German Army surrenders

Victory in Europe

• May 8, 1945

• Known as “VE Day”

• Celebration of the Allied defeat of Germany

• Officially ended the fighting in Europe

• War against Japan would go until August 1945

War World II

1939-1945