World War II - Notes 1

In 1935, Mussolini wanted to test his powers. How did he “flex his muscles”?

By invading Ethiopia

When did Italy take control over Ethiopia?

1936

In 1935, Mussolini wanted to test his powers. How did he “flex his muscles”?

By invading Ethiopia

When did Italy take control over Ethiopia?

1936

What was the shift in Japan’s government after the world wide depression struck in the 20s-30s?

Civilian-controlled to military-controlled

What was the heaviest strain on Japan’s resources?

Its growing population

Initially, what was Japan in search for?

Land and new materials

Why did Japan want to become a Pacific empire?

It would make the nation more self-sufficient

When did Japan begin their quest for an empire?

Before their involvement in WW1

What does Japan gain in 1895?

Taiwan

What does Japan gain 1904-1905?

Land in Korea, parts of Manchuria

Why did Japan invade Manchuria in 1931?

1) To get its iron and coal

2) To colonize the land and produce agricultural + industrial goods

What type of government was installed in Manchuria, by Japan?

“Puppet” government

How did the League of Nations feel about Japan’s taking of Manchuria?

They disliked the act

How did Japan respond to the League of Nations’ disapproval?

Withdrawing from the League of Nations

What did Japan do after moving its forces into Northern China? (“China Incident”)

Executed over 200,000 Chinese citizens in their capture of the Chinese capital

What act did Japan sign with Italy and Germany?

Tripartite Pact

Which side of the war did the Tripartite Pact create?

The Axis Powers

What did Axis Power nations pledge to one another?

To help each other if the U.S. attacked either Japan, Germany, or Italy

Who became the Prime Minister of Japan by fall of 1941?

Hideki Tojo

Why was the United States initially conflicted with Japan?

Due to the Chinese Incident

What did FDR do in response to the Chinese Incident?

Cut off all fuel and metal shipments to Japan

Neutrality Acts

A series of acts passed by Congress to ensure the United States’ non-involvement if war was to break out again

What did the Neutrality Acts do?

1) Prohibited the sale of American Nations

2) Citizens discouraged against traveling on ships of warring nations

3) Countries at war had to pay cash for non-military goods

4) FDR requested more money to spend on the development of tanks, planes, guns, etc. in case the U.S. had to go to war.

Which nation did Hitler take in 1938?

Austria

Why was Hitler’s taking of Austria particularly easy?

He had faced no opposition

6 months after taking Austria, where did Hitler take his troops?

The Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia

Why did Hitler want to take control of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia?

The region had a large German population

Which two nations took on a policy of appeasement toward Hitler?

France and Great Britain

Neville Chamberlain

British Prime Minister

Edouard Daladier

French Prime Minister

Munich Conference

• September of 1938

• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier agreed to NOT oppose Hitler’s advancement into Sudetenland

• The 3 nations signed the Munich Pact

What did Chamberlain believe regarding the Munich Pact?

War had been averted due to it.

“We have secured the peace in our time.”

When did Hitler take the rest of Czechoslovakia?

Five months after the signing of the Munich Pact

August 29, 1939: Who did Hitler sign a non-aggression pact with?

Stalin and the USSR

What did Hitler’s non-aggression pact with Stalin allow him to do?

Carry out the Schlieffen Plan, concentrating his efforts on the West and France

Which nation did Hitler and Stalin divide in the Non-aggression pact?

Poland

Luftwaffe

Hitler’s air force

Panzer

Hitler’s tank divisions

What happened during the September 1, 1939 invasion?

Hitler moved his mobile army into Poland, bombed Polish cities, stormed his Panzer divisions in

Blitzkrieg

Lightning warfare

When does World War II begin?

September 3, 1939

What begins World War II?

France and Great Britain declare war on Germany

How many French soldiers stood along the French/German in an attempt to protect France, during the start of the war?

One million

In May of 1940, how do the German troops invade France?

By storming the French border from Belgium. They went north and swept in behind the French troops defending the border.

What was the failure of the Maginot Line?

They were never fired; “suck the life out of” many people in France. Would have worked if Germany had invaded as expected.

How did the French and British respond to the massive tank attacks and constant bombardment by the Luftwaffe?

They retreated to Dunkirk:

British saved by boarding private ships taking them back to England.

The French were left to fight alone.

Which capital was bombed on June 3, 1940?

Paris

One week after the bombing of Paris, who declared war on France?

Italy, attacking southern France

What were the two main events from June 14 - June 22, 1940?

1) Germans marched into Paris. 2) France surrendered to Hitler. (allowing Germany to focus on Great Britain)

Who was the Prime Minister of Great Britain?

Winston Churchill

How did Britain fight against the Germans as they were invaded?

The British conquered with their Royalist Force.

• Had better planes and pilots, shot down hundreds of German planes.

What did Hitler ban (in regards to combat with Great Britain)?

Daytime bombing

Did Hitler send attacks on Britain in the day or night? (1940-41)

Night

Which rockets did Hitler use for Great Britain?

V-2 Rockets

Which nation did Churchill plead for help?

The United States of America

Many Americans were _____________

Isolationists, but some believed in interventionism and wanted the country to give full support (without declaring war)

After the French fell to Germany in 1940, what did FDR do?

• Sent 50 American destroyers (naval ships) to Britain

• Signed the Selective Training and Service Act

Selective Training and Service Act

First peacetime draft in history

• All men between the ages of 21 and 35 were eligible

• Over 1 million men served 1-year terms but they only served in the Western Hemisphere

• This was the effort of FDR to build an American military in case the US got involved in the war

What did FDR create in 1941?

The Lend-Lease Bill

Lend-Lease Bill

President has the right to sell, lend, and lease military supplies to any nations deemed vital to the defense of the US

In 1941, the US was not physically at war with Germany. What kind of “war” were they a part of?

Economic war

In the Summer of 1941, who did Germany attack?

American and British ships carrying supplies to Great Britain

What did FDR order his navy to do?

To help track german subs, and to escort British ships and destroy any subs attempting to sink the ships

Why did FDR order the navy to shoot Axis ships on sight?

A German sub sank an American destroyer

Why did Congress repeal the Neutrality Acts?

The German subs sank 2 MORE American destroyers, killing 100 sailors

Atlantic Charter

Created by FDR and Churchill as they met to talk about post-war plans. Became the basis for the United Nations

On June 22, 1941, who did Germany invade?

The Soviet Union

During Germany’s invasion of the USSR, which areas did they take?

Leningrad and the Crimean Peninsula (used Blitzkrieg warfare)

Which natural condition helped the Russians keep the Germans back?

The winter

In Spring of 1942, what did Germany attack?

Oil fields in Southwestern Russia

How many German soldiers were attacking Stalingrad in September 1942?

300,000

How long did the Battle of Stalingrad last?

5 months

When did Germany surrender to the USSR?

1943

What was the effect of Germany’s surrender?

They could no longer advance eastward

Why was Stalin conflicted with the Allies? (One reason for the Cold War)

They failed to support the Soviet’s defense

Why did FDR place embargoes on Japan?

Japan formed an alliance with Germany and Italy (Rome-Tokyo-Berlin Axis)

What was the US negotiation with Japan?

The US would only reopen trade with Japan if Japan pulled out of China and Indochina

Where did most Americans believe Japan would attack?

Military bases in Malaysia or the Philippines

Where did Japan plan to attack the US?

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (December 7, 1941)

What did FDR ask Congress on December 8, 1941?

A declaration of war against Japan (Germany and Italy declared war against US a few days later)

Which two fronts did the US have to prepare for war?

One in Europe, one in the Pacific

By 1945, how many people were in the US military?

12 million

What were the materials for war that production in factories converted to?

Planes, tanks, weapons, and uniforms

How did industrial rates change for the US during this time?

The production nearly doubled, causing American economy to grow

In November of 1942, whee did the US and Great Britain land troops?

Northern Africa (Morocco and Algeria, “back door”)

Who was the German tank commander that the Allies faced?

Erwin Rommel

Who defeated Erwin Rommel at El Alamein?

The British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery

In July of 1943, where did the Allies land? (hint: Southern Europe)

Sicily

September 8, 1943

Italy surrendered to the Allies

June 4, 1944

The Allies had finally liberated Rome

Operation Overlord

The largest sea-air attack in history, launched by General Dwight D. Eisenhower June 6,1944

How many allied soldiers arrived ashore on the coast of Normandy for Operation Overlord?

175,000

Number of Allies killed on D-Day

2,245

Number of Allies wounded on D-Day

1,670

After D-Day, what did the Allies do?

Invade into Europe as an attempt to drive the Germans back to Germany

Who did the Allies liberate from Germany?

August 25, 1944: Paris liberated from the Germans

By end of Summer: Belgium and Luxembourg

(This surrounded Germany)

Battle of the Bulge

A counter-offensive in Belgium launched by Hitler as a last “ditch effort” to help him win the war.

In the Battle of the Bulge, how far did the German troops drive?

80 miles long, 50 miles deep into the Allied lines

What was the result of the Battle of the Bulge?

After a week of fighting, the Allies were able to drive the Germans back

Yalta Conference

The three major nations met at Yalta in the Soviet Union, just before the end of the war

Representatives of the Yalta Conference (“Big Three”)

Great Britain - Winston Churchill. Wanted to save the British Empire

United States - FDR. Wanted a worldwide spread of democracy and free trade, and the Soviets to help him defeat Japan.

Soviet Union - Joseph Stalin. Wanted to protect his borders and rebuild the USSR.