World War II

Allied : France, Great Britain, US, China, Soviet Union (Poland)

Axis : Germany, Italy, Japans, (Hungary, Romania)


1916 political rising (Easter Rising) in Ireland, wanted independence from Britain. 

Irish War for Independence (1919-21), establishing the IRA or Irish Republican Army.


Facism is a political philosophy/movement that holds nation and race above the individuals and stands for a centralized, autocratic government ruled by a dictator. Has severe economic and social regimentation and forcible suppression of opposition. 

  • Silencing the press, banning books (Ex. Nazi Book Burning), Leaders talking about going after enemies within their own countries, Blame hardships on certain groups of people (Hitler and his Antisemintism) 

  • Nationalism is also a key factor in Facism


Benito Mussolini was the fascist leader of Italy, in Feb 1918, he urged the emergence of a dictator to confront the economic and political crisis in italy.

  • In 1922, Mussolini saw an opportunity with a trade union strike; he said that if the government didn’t stop the strike, the fascists would. Fascists would volunteer to help Mussolini and thus advance the claim to power.

  • Became the prime minister in 1922, and by 1924 had taken dictatorial powers through a fraud election with only oversight coming from his own fascist majority parliament. 


Kellogg-Briand Pact declared war illegal, which was difficult to enforce.

  • The idea with the League of Nations is they would be some neutral body to work conflicts out between nations

  • The League of Nations soon failed, it did not have the ability to enforce resolutions it passed. By the time of World War II, the League had collapsed. 


Surrealism (Salvador Dali) incorporated Freudian ideas of dream analysis
Dada, rejected all previous conceptions of what is considered art in an attempt to reinvent art.

Post World War I was the age of anxiety and artists.


The Great Depression

  • Stock market crashed in 1929 in New York, even though it happened in the US it had an effect on other places in the world because the US stopped exports and Americans bought fewer exports, so the great depression spread to Europe.

  • People in Europe were more open to extremist ideologies because they were looking for a “quick fix” to the economic turmoil in their country. 

  • Bigger country, longer time to fix


Japan Invaded Manchuria, (in China)

  • Japan wants new resources, an imperial industrialized country seeking new markets and resources

  • They built an empire, in 1942, they reached the height/peak of its empire. 

Civil war in Spain 1936-1939 (Dress Rehearsal for WWII)

  • Between Republicans who want a Democracy in Spain and Nationalist who are Facisits. 

  • Francsico Franco is leader of Spain Nationalists, they win the war by getting German and Italian help (Also Fascist Country) 

  • First Major Military Success (In Europe) for the fascist countries. 

  • Spain would be neutral in WWII


Beer Hall Putsch 1923

  • Hitler who was a corporal serving with an Austrian Division, attempted to overthrow the government in Bavaria, Germany.

  • A bunch of Drunk Nazis of trying to collapse government

  • Hitler is arrested and found guilt of treasons

  • Hitler wrote an autobiography called ‘Mein Kampf’ of My Struggle. German Nationalist, Nazi Ideology, Hatred of Jews, and his Vision of a ‘new’ Germany. 

  • Unfortunately, it sells well across Europe. 


Hitler Rise to Power

  • Weimar Republic was a German experiment with democracy after WWI, many felt the republic was too slow, inefficient, and could not take care of issues quickly

  • There is frustration with the treaty of Versailles (Having to pay reparations, blame on Germany, + great depressions ruining the economy.)

  • Germany needed a government that could act quickly. 

  • 414 out of 440 Clauses were made to ‘punish Germany” in Treaty of Versailles

  • Humiliation and Suffering were Germany ‘peace’ in 1919

  • Saviors or a Munich had appeared everywhere, declaring they were sent by God to help ‘save’ the world. This drew followers who needed rescue.

  • In 1923, Nationalist Rally Adolf Hitler made his first appearance on film. Writes for the workers, new society, and German Honor. 

  • Overnight Hitler became a national figure after attempting to overthrow the government at Beer Hall. 

  • Hitler called the Swastika the ‘flag of martyrs’ and used it to gain his followers; Nazis

  • August 1929, the National Socialist were filming their party rally, 100,000 Nazis attended. 

  • Most Germans still saw Hitler as too Radical, however in less than three months Wall Street would Crash, collapsing Germany's economy. 

  • In a year the Nazis would be the biggest political party in Germany. 

  • If you were a German and wanted change you either had to be a Communist or join the Nazi Party. 

  • March 13 1932, Hitler Received 11 Millions votes in the election, he lost. In less than a year, Hitler would be Chancellor. (1933, Feb). German Leaders installed hitler as Chancellor. 

  • Feb 28, 1933 during the night someone set fire to Germany's Parliament. (Reichstag). Hitler blamed his rivals, the Communist Party. The Nazi pressed, said the Communist Party wanted to kill the German people create mobs, use human shields, etc, creating a ‘Communist Threat’

  • WIthin 24 hours Freedom of Press, Assembly, and Expression was suspended. Thousands of communists would be arrested, no one left to stop the Nazi majority.

  • Delegates then consolidated all power to Hitler. He was Chancellor for 52 days, now he is dictator. 

  • The Nazis were boycotting all Jewish Business in Germany, Hitler saw the Jews as Germany misfortunate.

  • You could be sterilized by whatever they say as a ‘Genetic Flaw’, either from mental illness, deafness, physical deformities, blindness, etc.. This was not limited to jews but to Germans as well. 



Italo-Ethiopian War 1935-1936

Unified Italy invaded Ethiopia, but the country easily resisted the Italians. 

Second war, Italy wins. The leader of Ethiopia goes to the league of nations and begs for them to intervene. 

The League of Nations ‘applauds’ Selassie for trying to defend his country but did not have the funds or actions to support Ethiopia. 


Hitler immediately starts violating the treaty of versailles

  • Under Hitler, Germany rebuilds military (which they weren't allowed to do)

  • And form the Luftwaffe (German Air force, which they weren't allowed to do)

  • Germany starts annexing or taking territory and adding it to the German Reich. 

  • Germany was not allowed to have soldiers in the DMZ at Rhineland

  • AN area which is rich in coal reserves needed for German industry.

  • Hitler than takes Austria, the country does not resist 

  • In Hitler POV, the territory that was taken is ‘German People’ need to be part of the Reich.


Munich Agreement

  • Neville Chamberlain meets Hitler, trying to prevent another World War.

  • Hitler wanted ‘Living Space’ so he desired to take a border area in Czechoslovakia, known as Sudetenland. Arguing the people are ethnically German.

  • Nevile Chamberlain meets with Hitler and comes to an agreement, letting him have the land. (Appeasing Hitler, but in reality there was no way to appease Hitler)

  • After getting Sudentland, Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia. 


Nazi-Soviet-Non-Agression Pact

  • NOT AN ALLIANCE, an understanding between both parties that if war breaks out, they will not fight one another. 


Sept 1, 1939

  • Nazi’s Invade Poland, considered the start of World War II.

  • Hitler wanted to connect East Prussia (Germany) by taking land in Poland. 

  • Once Poland is invaded, France and Britain declare war on Germany.

  • *Start of Euro World War?


Poland Falls

  • Poland lasts 35 days before falling

  • In the East, the Soviet Union invades Poland. In the West, Germany Invades poland.


After Poland Fall, Germany sights eyes on France

  • Nazis saw France as the cause of humiliation, and defeat in the first war.

  • Germany is no longer worried about a ‘two front war’, meaning they can put their full attention on France


The Maginot Line

  • Its purpose was to stop a potential German invasion.

  •  They started building the fortifications near the France-German border. 

  • France had weaker fortifications in Belgium (Ironic, right?). So Germany invaded France through Belgium, again. 


France Falls, June 1940

  • The German uses large amounts of soldiers and tanks to quickly attack and seize (Blitzkrieg or Lightning War) 

  • The French capital was taken and Nazis had a parade marching the same route the French troops had gone in WW1.

  • French surrender is signed in the same train where Armistice was signed in WW1


French Resistance

  • The French rebelled and continued to fight the Nazis through attacks and bombing. The French resistance was very Anti-Facist

  • Vichy France Is a German France. 


German Targets Britain

  • After the fall of France, Hitler wanted to take out Britain

  • The Prime Minister is Winston CHurchill


Battle of Britain

  • Royal Air Force (RAF) vs the Luffewaffe

  • Hitler opposed a Land invasion of Britain, which had only been successful 2 times in history.

  • Churchill gives a speech to the British people, urging them to understand what was at stake. “This was their finest hour” 

The Blitz

  • Aware germany would drop bombs over London

  • London had a ‘blackout’, no lights were in the city

  • Or put borders on their windows to block any light leaking out

  • Send kids out of the city and into the country to ensure their safety. 

  • This marked the first significance loss of Nazis

  • Showed the Nazis could be defeated and encouraged The French Resistance to continue fighting. 


United States

  • Took a position of neutrality

  • The war was divided by oceans so the US didn’t need to intervene. 


Isolation v. Intervention

  • The US should isolate itself, the atlantic and pacific ocean keeps our distance from Europe so the country should not get involved in foreign wars.

  • The US had a moral obligation to intervene on human rights. The US had to stop Hitler and Axis powers for their territorial aggression. 


America First Committee

  • Wanted to keep the US neutral in the WW2

  • Active 1940-1941 with 800,000 members

  • Was known for promoting anti-semitism rhetoric and was suspected to be Nazi sympathizers. 

Lend-Lease Act

  • The US will lend weapons to ‘friends’ in Europe (Britain), but not American soldiers.

  • Not directly helping, but supporting Allies. 


Attack on Pearl Harbor

  • US cut off Japanese access to oil after Japan allied with Germany and Italy (Axis Powers)

  • The US fleet that would enforce the embargo was stationed in Hawaii

  • The Japanese attacked pearl harbor to ruin the pacific fleet and take over territories

  • Roosevelt uses the phrase "Since the attack of Pearl Harbor…” the use of past tense was to say the US is already at war and the declaration was just a formality. 

Major Turning Points in WW2

  • Battle of Stalingrad

  • Battle of El Alamein

  • Liberation of Italy

  • D-Day Invasion

  • Battle of the Bulge

  • Soviet Siege of Berlin

  • Battle of Midway


Operation Barbarossa-Hiters Napoleonic Gamble

  • Hitler invades Russia (?)

  • Decided to break the pact and invade in summer of 1942.

  • The Nazi soldiers were equipped for summer, but the summertime invasion dragged on into the winter. 


Battle of Stalingrad - August 1942 to February 1943

  • Nazis lose

  • That point forward the Soviets are on the offensive in the Eastern Euro Theater. 


The African Theater

  • Allied and Axis forces fought in North Africa

  • Allied forces were looking for a way to enter into Italy

  • Erwin Rommel led Nazi forces in the African Theater, known as the Desert Fox.



Battle of El Alamein

  • A victory for the allies and gave them access to Southern Italy

  • Italy as an axis of power fell in 1944. 

  • Mussolini is executed along with his mistress

D-day

  • Largest amphibious (starts on water) in human history.

  • Gives allied forced a foothold into Nazi occupied Europe

  • Allied forces from Britain, US, and Canada stormed the five code name beaches of Normandy which were occupied by Nazis

  • Were able to push from the West (Normandy, East (Russian and Poland) , and South (Italy)


Valkyrie Plot

  • A German assassination attempt against Hitler

  • Carried out by disillusioned Nazis

  • Was an unsuccessful attempt

  • A month after D-day, there were several in the Nazi high command that hitler was losing the war for.

  • While hitler was in a military briefing, the Nazis had a briefcase filled with bomb and place it next to hitler

  • Bomb did go off, but did not kill him

Battle of the Bulge

  • Last major offensive by Hitler

  • Called bulge because how the frontline ‘bulged’ out

  • Allied forces were able to push out German forces


Victory in Europe

  • The Soviet forces take over Berlin

  • Hitler and his command retreat to a bunker 

  • Marries his long time girlfriend

  • Then took cyanide pills and shot themselves.

  • Hitlers and his Wife's body were taken and burned. (allegedly)

  • There are theories that he somehow escaped berlin since his body was never recovered


VE- Victory day in Europe

  • May 8th, 1945 Nazi regime surrendered to the Allied powers.


War rages in Pacific-Island Hopping

  • The US has to do amphibious assaults

  • Trying to inch their way close and closer to japan by going from island to island


Battle of Midway

  • American forces defeat japanese at Midway (Middle of Pacific Ocean)

  • The Japanese are going to be on the retreat from this point on

Japan refusal to surrender

  • Surrender is seen as dishonorable

  • They continued to fight and saw dying in battle as more honorable

  • Kamikaze or japan fighter pilots were suicide pilots. They took of and deliberately crashed into Allied ships

  • A desperation tactic, they hoped they would sink american ships and take out American soldiers


Manhattan Project

  • Los Alamos, New Mexico

  • A secret mission to develop an Atomic Bomb

  • The army built a city and recruited scientists to live/work there. Everyone who had a job was assigned a specific job and could not discuss their work.

  • So secretive that even the Vice President (Truman) wasn’t aware of the plan.

Robert Oppenhiermer, theoretical physicist was the director of the Manhattan Project

US drops the Atomic bomb on Japanese city, Hiroshima. 3 days later another bomb hit Nagasaki.


Sept 2nd 1945 Japan Surrender

VJ day or Victory in Japan, this would end World War II.

Was the atomic bomb the best way to end the war?
Yes

• Prevented land invasion of Japan, saving US troop lives and possibly Japanese civilian lives.

• Sent a clear message to the Soviets not to invade Japan.

• Signaled to the Soviets that the US had superior weapons.

• Japan surrendered unconditionally, leading to rapid technological innovation and Japan joining the international community.


No

• Hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians, including children, were killed instantly; millions suffered long• term effects from radiation.

• Japan had offered to surrender before the bomb was used, but with conditions.

• The threat of nuclear war and proliferation remains a concern.

• Nations like the US and USSR would spend billions in a nuclear arms race.

• The League of Nations issued a proclamation against using bombs in densely populated areas.


Holocaust

  • Hitler and his Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of German Citizenships

  • Jews were forced to wear a yellow star of David to make everyone aware they were Jewish.

  • Jewish Businesses were boycotted, during the Kristallnacht or Broken Glass. Nazs encouraged boycotting and Nazi followers threw rocks and bricks into of Jewish owned businesses.


Nazi Propaganda

  • Joseph Goebebbls was the Nazi Propaganda Minister

  • Wrote pamphlets and speeches that targeted Jews for german misfortunate 

  • Nazis held book burnings to demonstrate opposition of Jewish + Communist authors (or any other ideologies that went against the Nazis).

  • Book burnings were also a way to monitor community participation in pro-Nazi activities. 


Wannsee Conference 

  • ´Final solution to Jewish Problem´

  • Decision is made to exterminate the Jewish

  • High command meet near Berlin to discuss this

  • ⅔ of the Euro Jewish population were murdered during the Holocaust.


Final Solution

  • Jews were forced out of homes and sent to Ghettos

  • Used industrial methods to 

  • Murder on an industrial scale, mimicked the look of an industrial town. 

  • First started shooting Jews but was seen as too inefficient

  • Then they start using gas, and they use a gas pesticide. Much cheaper and faster, then using guns. 

Documenting the Holocaust

  • As allied troops discover the camps, they start to video record and document the crimes committed so that people would not deny the actions that happened.

  • Martial law was declared in some areas where residents were required clean camps and bury bodies

  • Nazis contracted with IBM and used them to document all the things they did to the people. Nazi is well document genocide because of its recordkeeping. 


Nuremberg Trials

  • Nuremberg laws stripped jews of citizenships and their rights

  • Nuremberg held their big annual rallies and their propaganda film was recorded

  • Allied wanted to have trial in nuremberg as symbolic to the anti semitism of Nazis

  • Defendants commonly said “I was just following orders” because Hitler was really the one calling the shots.

  • There wasn’t any laws of genocide or war criminals, so plantiffs had a hard time to make a case with little laws.

  • Set a precedent that people who commit atrocities can be held accountable if put on trial and caught. 

  • Established an international court, the legal concept of genocide, and crimes against humanity. 


Tokyo War crimes

  • Nanking in 1930s (China) 

  • Held japanese military accountable for atrocities for WWII

Third Reich Documentary Notes

  • Leni Riefenshal, was a film director who created the movie ‘Triumph of the Will’. The movie became popular in Germany, Venice, and Paris. It would soon become a required film for students to watch in school. (In summary, propaganda was heavily used for Germany to maintain power and show it globally)

  • Hitlers Jewish Problem, ‘Nuremberg Laws’. Jews were no longer citizens, marriage between German and jews were banned, Germans and Jews could not have sexaul intercourse with eachother. 

  • 1936, Berlin hosted the olympics and Hitler used this opportunity to show superiority for their race and political influence. Unbeknownst to him, the most popular athlete in the Olympics would be an American Black man, named Jesse Owens. 

  • Olympic Foreigners could take the impression home that Germany was a happy country with a ‘benevolent’ leader.

  • All children over the age of 10 were required to join the ‘Hitler Youth’

  • Hitler Youth propaganda was used to encourage young German boys to join the ‘Youth’. 

  • “I belong to the fuhrer first, family second” A mindset forced onto German boys

  • Over 8 Million children took the Hitler Youth oath of allegiance. 

  • ‘Hitler Maidens’ was a mandatory youth group  who were required to document they were Aryan and free of hereditary disease. Young girls would get pregnant in camps, induced with the idea they are tasked to raise the new generation, a supposed honor and privilege. 

  • Unwed mothers were known as ‘Fuhrer's Brides’

  • March 12, 1936, Hitler was now taking Austria.  The majority of Austrians however, preferred being taken into the Reich. 

  • Hundreds of Austrians would be sent to concentration camps