Alliances and War

Causes of World War II

• The worldwide depression - stock market collapse and American Depression between 1929 and 1932 - American investment in Europe ended

• Political tensions -Germany (rise of National Socialism), France, and Spain (conflict between Communists and Nationalists)

• German economic ruin -caused primarily because of WWI terms of surrender, reparations payments, and reconstruction costs

Benito Mussolini

Formed the Fasci di Combattimento (Fighting Bands) or Fascism

• In 1919, Mussolini organized his fascist movement in the northern city of Milan, the group was mainly disgruntled WWI veteran’s, who in the midst of the depression were mostly unemployed

• October 1922 → thousands of his supporters and “Black Shirts” (his supporters) marched into Rome and King Emmanuel appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister out of fear on October 29, 1922

Fascism

Far-right, authoritarian form of government that prioritizes an extreme vision of the state and its people. It is characterized by a single-party dictatorship, suppression of opposition, and the belief that the nation should come before the individual.A

Adolf Hitler

Joined the German Workers Party in Jan 1920, as part of a mission cuz the founder Drexler pushed an anti-capitalist, anti-semitic, anti-marxist, nationalistic ideology 

• He then actually join and became head of propaganda due to speaking ability, 1290 changed the name of the party to the Nationalist Socialist Workers’ Party (Nazi party)

• 1923 → imprisoned for an attempt to overthrow Bavarian Gov’t 

• Mein Kamph (my struggle, 1925) → His book argues the Jewish people are part of a conspiracy to rule the world, against communism, and that Germany need living space (more territory), claimed Jews and Bolsheviks to be racially inferior to the German Aryan

• 1933 → He is appointed Chancellor, Aug. 1934, he becomes head of state, office of President is abolished, and power is transferred to the Chancellor

The Third Reich

The German state from 1933 to 1945 led by Hitler and the Nazi Party

• Armament campaign put millions of unemployed Germans back to work

• Withdrew from League of Nations, reoccupied the Rhineland, annexed Austria, and denounced the Treaty of Versailles

• Message of ethnic and national pride

• Nuremberg Laws → Striped Jews of Civil Rights

• 1936, alliance with Italy, pact with Japan - 1939, nonaggression pact with Russia

Japan

• Invaded Manchuria in 1931 - set up farming and industrial operations, massacred hundreds of thousands and forced millions to do labor

• Hirohito (emperor) wanted to expand and exert japan’s imperialistic muscle

• Concerned about the increasing power of the Soviet Union and about the insistence of the Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek on expanding his power in Manchuria.

• 1937, Japanese launched a full-scale invasion of China and occupied major coastal cities. 

• Hirohito  - unenthusiastic about Japan's involvement in the larger war but showed his support.

Appeasement and Neutrality

Appeasement → concessions to Germany to avoid war

• 1938, Anschluss (joining) - unification attempts after WWI were blocked by the Treaty of Versailles

• 1938 - Munich Agreement – Allowed the annexation of western Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland). Many along border region North and West were German Speaking.

• Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain pressured Britain and France to allow secession of land to avoid war; seceded parts of Czechoslovakia with most defenses. 

• Some historians argue appeasement encouraged Hitler to be aggressive.

• U.S. Neutrality Acts of, 1935,1936, 1937 – forbade loans to all sides. 1937 cash-and-carry policy implemented for nonmilitary goods.

Escalation

• 1938-1939 Annexation of Czechoslovakia

• 1939, German Soviet non-aggression pact.

• Invasion of Poland – 1939
  Germany invaded from West, Soviet Union from East

• Britain and France declare war on Germany. Soviet Union distances itself some from Germany.

• Germany used “blitzkrieg” (lightning) attack on Poland in 1939, and on Denmark, Norway, and Belgium in 1940.

• June 1940, Italy joins war invading France, Sudan, Egypt, Kenya, and British Somaliland. 

• France falls and helps both sides - Vichy France, underground works with Nazi

Tripartite Pact

Defensive military alliance signed in Berlin on September 27, 1940, by Germany, Italy, and Japan to establish a new world order and deter the United States from entering World War II

Alliances During WWII

Allied Powers (‘good guys’) - Britain, US, Soviet Union, China, and France (before they fell)

Axis Powers (‘bad guys’) - Germany, Italy, and Japan

America Enters the War

• Japan wanted to Dominate Southeast Asia, invaded Indochina and Dutch East Indies for oil

• FDR freezes Japan’s assets in U.S., diplomats from Japan negotiates the lift and said if the embargo is lifted then they’d leave Indochina (doesn’t work)

• December 7, 1941 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

• December 8, 1941 – Infamy Speech before congress, Congress declares war only 1 congressperson voted against War Jannette Rankin, a pacifist. 

Lend-Lease

Funding and supplies had begun to flow to European allies as early as March of 1941

Atlantic Charter

Joint declaration of principles issued by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on August 14, 1941, during World War II

• outlined the Allied goals for the postwar world, including self-determination, no territorial expansion, and free trade, and is considered a foundational document for the creation of the United Nations.

Allies in the war

• June 1941, Hitler betrayed non-agrgression pact and invaded the Soviet Union, Americans anti-communist position soften and they lend-lease aid sent to Soviet Union (interest free loans, supplies, and armaments)

• Declaration by the United Nations → Alliance agreement between 26 countries, to fight off the Axis powers 

• Allies clashed on issues of Imperialism, forms of gov’t and economy

The Turn of the War

In Europe the Axis powers began to lose ground:

• Nov. 1942, US and British forces began to push German troops back across northern Africa

• July 1943, allied forces landed on Sicily and in Sept. Italy surrendered to the allies

• The German 6th Army surrendered to the Soviets at the Battle of Stalingrad - turning point in the war - the winter got the best of Germany

• Stalin was determined to hold power in eastern Europe to prevent another invasion

In the Pacific: 

• Allies sought to prevent Japan from seizing additional territory, then began to recapture Japanese-held islands in a strategy called island-hopping

• A US victory at Midway put the Japanese navy on the defensive for the rest of the war 

• While allied forces took the offensive throughout Southeast Asia, Japan still occupied much of China

Mobilization

• US rebuilt military after WWI demobilization

• Draft implemented for duration of war instead of 12 months

• over 350,000 women joined military by becoming nurses/medical personnel, mechanics, and even pilots

  • Women's Airforce Service Pilots, WASP over 1800 volunteered and 1074 women completed pilot training. 

Audie Murphy

• Received a battlefield commission to officer ranks of 2^nd and then 1^st lieutenant. 

• Received every combat award the U.S. Army can award including the Medal of Honor. He also received awards from the French and Belgian governments for heroism including the French Legion of Honor. 

Guy Gabaldon

Mexican American, joined the Marines at age 17, convinced his officer he knew Japanese, used it to without authority to convince over 1500 of Japanese soldier is caves to surrender to him at Saipan and Tinian, his officer allowed him to be a free agent

• Recommended for Medal of Honor, downgraded to Silver Star Marines

Latino American Medal of Honor Winners

• 17  Latinos won the Medal, 1 Marine, and 16 in the Army.

• Harold Gonsalves – lone Marine to win honor jumped on a grenade.

• Jose M. Lopez killed over 100 Germans at the Battle of the Bulge and saved his company from being out flanked.

• Marcario Garcia(right) of Houston would win the medal for single handedly destroying two machine gun nests and shortly after returning home be denied service at a Houston area restaurant. 

African American Soldiers

• Almost One Million African Americans served in the Military.

• African Americans were not allowed in Marines until late 1942, under pressure from the president. Due to Racism by top brass, only  a little over 19,000 total would become Marines. Compared to the marine corps force size of ~470,000 in 1945 just over 4% compared to 11 % in the Army.

• Zero Medals of Honor conferred during wartime

• Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 sorties

761^st Tank Battalion – The Black Panthers.

An independent tank battalion of the United States Army during World War II. Its ranks primarily consisted of African American soldiers, who by War Department policy were not permitted to serve in the same units as White troops

Tuskegee Airmen

First African American military aviators in the U.S. military, training during World War II and playing a crucial role in Allied victories.

Jackie Robinson

Was an officer in the army but did not listen when being told to move to the back of a segregated bus, sent to court during the duration of the war so he never saw combat

• he was acquitted of all charges and honorably discharged 

Vernon Baker

After the war, in 1997, Pres. Bill Clinton awarded 7 medals of Honor to African Americans

• Only Vernon Baker was still alive