Spielvogel Reading Guide Chapter 27

Major Themes / Big Questions

• Reluctance of Britain and France: Exploration into why these nations hesitated to confront fascism in the 1930s.

• Military Technologies and Tactics: Analysis of how early Axis victories were attributed to specific military advancements.

• Impact of Total War on Home Fronts: Consider how total war changed the lives and societies in both the Allied and Axis nations.

• Women in War: Investigate the roles and experiences of women during the war.

• New Racial Order by Germans: Understand the concept and measures taken to establish a 'new racial order'.

• Diplomatic Changes Leading to U.S. and USSR Involvement: Examine what diplomatic shifts propelled these countries into the war.

• Technological Impact on Warfare: Discuss how new technologies altered the dynamics of warfare and centralized power.

• Cold War Concept: Define the Cold War and its implications post-World War II.

27.1 Prelude to War (1933-1939)

• Interpretations of the Munich Agreement:

  • Winston Churchill: Critique of appeasement and the implication that it enabled further aggression.

  • Neville Chamberlain: Believed the agreement was a means to preserve peace.

  • Historical Plausibility: Assessment of which interpretation was more accurate at the time.

27.2 The Course of World War II

• Blitzkrieg: A German warfare strategy characterized by fast, surprise attacks. Its success derived from combining air support and swift ground troops.

• Hitler and the Soviet Union's Deal with Poland: Analysis of the non-aggression pact that allowed joint occupation of Poland.

• Maginot Line: A fortified defense line that proved ineffective as German forces bypassed it.

• Countries Attacked:

  • April 9, 1940: Denmark and Norway.

  • May 10, 1940: Belgium, Netherlands, and France.

• Dunkirk: Allied evacuation that could have led to swift war termination.

• Partition of France: Divided into occupied and Vichy France, with varying control.

• Mussolini's War Entry: Motivated by ambition and opportunism on June 10, 1940.

• Churchill vs. Chamberlain: Stronger resolve and leadership against Axis powers.

• Czechoslovakia's Location: Geopolitical challenges hampering France and Britain's response in 1938.

• Ultra: Intelligence operation that decrypted German communications.

• Battle of Britain: Air raids targeting civilian infrastructure with mixed success.

• Hitler's Attack on Soviet Union: Expansionist motives and prior alliances.

• German Advance Stoppage: Harsh winter and Soviet resistance halted progress.

• Japan's Attack on the U.S.: Shifted the war dynamics, uniting Allies.

• Neutral Countries: Geographic and historical context providing neutrality.

• Japanese Control in 1933: Expansion in Asia at that timeframe.

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• Japan's Need for an Empire: Economic necessity and resource acquisition.

• Asian War Beginnings: Date and context of military conflict initiation.

• Aftermath of Japanese Indochina Attack: Regional consequences and escalations.

• Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere: Ideological justification for Japan’s imperial ambitions.

• Japanese Leadership Miscalcation: Underestimation of American response.

• Allies Cooperation: Overcoming initial distrust among Britain, the US, and the Soviet Union.

• German Leadership in North Africa: Key figures and strategies.

• Turning Points in War Theaters: Specific battles like Stalingrad and North Africa detailing the German decline.

• Churchill's Soft Underbelly Reference: Rationale behind targeting Italy.

• Mussolini's Fate: Analyzing the fall of Mussolini and Hitler's response.

• D-Day's Importance: Significance of the Normandy invasion for Allied success.

• End of WWII in Europe: How victories transpired from both western and eastern fronts.

27.3 The Nazi New Order

• Conquered Peoples: Determining factors for treatment of different nations.

• Nazis and Slavic Peoples: Rationale for their oppression.

• Heinrich Himmler's Role: Oversight of eastern territories and implementation of Nazi policy.

• Exploitation of Territories: Economic strategies employed by Nazis.

• Labor Shortages: Solutions and forced labor policies.

• Resistance to Nazi Aggression:

  • Charles de Gaulle: Leadership in the Free French Forces.

  • Josip Broz (Tito): Resistance efforts in Yugoslavia.

  • Women: Their roles in resistance movements.

• Holocaust Planning: Key characteristics of the operational logistics.

• Einsatzgruppen Role: Responsibilities and moral implications of their actions.

• Einsatzgruppen's Victims: Estimated number of Jewish deaths and implications for Nazis.

• Solution for the Jewish Problem: Examining the Final Solution strategies.

• Region with Highest Jewish Losses: Mapping camp locations and fatalities.

• Other Persecuted Groups: Identification of additional victims beyond Jews.

• Document Tone Comparison: Analyzing the variances in Holocaust documentation.

27.4 The Home Front

• Home Front Comparisons: Chart detailing differences in mobilization and experiences of the United States, Britain, Soviet Union, and Germany.