Overview of World War II: The War Abroad

An in-depth examination of the build-up to World War II, key events, and shifts in U.S. foreign policy leading to its involvement.

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
- Acts as a prelude to WWII.
- Nationalist forces led by Francisco Franco, supported by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.
- Republican government receiving aid from the Soviet Union, Mexico, and international brigades, inclusive of American and European volunteers.

Fascism
- Ideology prioritizing the nation over individual rights, emphasizing national greatness through expansion and military build-up.
- Anti-Communist sentiments dominant.
Nazi Ideology
- Nationalism intertwined with anti-Communism.
- Adolf Hitler's vision for Germany:
- Unification of all Germans under one government.
- The concept of a “master race” dominating others, particularly targeting Eastern Europeans and scapegoating Jews for societal issues.

Post-WWI Disillusionment
- Emergence of isolationism reflecting on the belief that WWI, spurred by propaganda and financial interests (Wall Street bankers), was a mistake.
- April 1935: 18th anniversary peace march in Washington, D.C., exemplifying anti-war sentiment.
Neutrality Acts
- Neutrality Act of 1935: Made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to countries at war.
- Neutrality Act of 1937: Continued ban on selling arms and imposed nonmilitary supply purchases on a "cash and carry" basis.
- These measures reflected FDR’s internationalism, emphasizing trade fostering peace between nations.

Hitler’s Demands
- Initial demand for the Sudetenland accepted by Britain and France with the promise of no further territorial expansion.
- Munich Conference (1938):
- Leaders Neville Chamberlain (Britain), Edouard Daladier (France), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and Adolf Hitler (Germany) convened to negotiate terms to prevent war.
Impact of U.S. Politics
- FDR’s focus on the New Deal and U.S. economic recovery led to Congress and public reluctance for war.
- A firm stance against Germany would necessitate support from France, Britain, and possibly the Soviet Union.

Aftermath
- Hitler disregarded agreements and occupied more of Czechoslovakia, proving appeasement ineffective.
- This led to an escalation in military preparedness among Britain and France.
- American attitudes began shifting in response to the increasing aggressiveness of Nazi Germany, leading to eventual support for involvement following the German-Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939.

Date: September 1, 1939
- Marked the beginning of WWII; Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.
- Map indicating the invasion routes and key cities of Poland, including Warsaw, and regions occupied by the Soviet Union starting September 17, 1939.

1940:
- Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway, followed by attacks on Western Europe, including Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, ultimately leading to an assault on France.
- Fascist Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, declared war on Britain and France by June 1940.
- 1941: Invasion of the Soviet Union began, marking an escalation of the conflict.

May 1940: Following the British retreat from Dunkirk, FDR ordered war material shipments to Britain, marking a significant shift from neutrality.
New Neutrality Act: Allowed belligerent nations to purchase war materials from U.S. ports on a cash and carry basis.
Selective Service Act (1940): Initiated the first peacetime draft.
Lend-Lease Bill (1941): Critical legislation permitting the U.S. to supply allies, with the Atlantic Charter outlining U.S.-British wartime cooperation becoming an implicit alliance.
- Total aid by 1945 reached $50 billion, quadrupling previous loans to allies from WWI.

Deteriorating U.S.-Japan Relations
- Following Japan's invasion of China in 1937, U.S. policy steadily became harsher, employing economic measures against Japan, such as freezing Japanese assets in the U.S. and cutting off crucial exports.
- Pearl Harbor Attack (December 7, 1941): A pivotal moment leading to U.S. entry into the war.