WORLD WORLD WAR IIWAR II

1939-19451939-1945

Germany Invades PolandGermany Invades Poland

WWIIWWII

Germany invades Poland on September 1, Germany invades Poland on September 1, 19391939Two days later, Britain and France declare Two days later, Britain and France declare war on Germanywar on GermanyGermans took Poland in less than a monthGermans took Poland in less than a monthIn late August, Hitler and Stalin had signed In late August, Hitler and Stalin had signed a nonaggression pact a nonaggression pact Red Army entered Poland from the east Red Army entered Poland from the east and the two split the countryand the two split the country

HITLER’S GERMANY INVADES POLAND SEPTEMBER 1, 1939

RUSSIAN INVADES EASTERN POLAND

JEWS FLEE EUROPE IN PREPARATION FOR WAR

PHONY WAR LASTS FROM OCTOBER 1939 TO APRIL 1940

After war starts Congress passes Neutrality act of 1939

Permits Britain and France to purchase weapons on cash and carry basis

Loans and credit purchases still illegal

German aggression scared Americans

Spring, 1940Spring, 1940

German technique of “blitzkrieg” (lightning war)- German technique of “blitzkrieg” (lightning war)- massed, fast-moving columns of tanks massed, fast-moving columns of tanks supported by air powersupported by air power

German troops took Denmark, Norway, Holland, German troops took Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and LuxembourgBelgium, and Luxembourg

Sent more than 300,000 British troops in retreat Sent more than 300,000 British troops in retreat across the English Channel from Dunkirkacross the English Channel from Dunkirk

Hitler’s troops easily conquered France in June, Hitler’s troops easily conquered France in June, 19401940

BLITZKRIEG DEVASTATES NORWAY, DENMARK, THE

NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM

APRIL 1940 GERMANY INVADES DENMARK AND NORWAY.

WITHIN WEEKS THESE COUNTRIES FELL TO GERMANY AS DID BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS

THE MAGINOT LINE FAILS TO PROTECT THE FRENCH

COUNTRY SIDE

IF YOU ENTRENCH YOURSELF BEHIND A STRONG FORTRESS YOU COMPEL YOUR ENEMIES TO SEEK

A SOLUTION ELSEWHERE

GERMAN FORCES POUR INTO FRANCE

ALLIED SOLDIERS TRAPPED BETWEEN GERMAN ADVANCE

AND ENGLISH CHANNEL

MIRACLE AT DUNKIRK

DUNKIRK

338,000 BRITISH AND FRENCH SOLDIERS SAVED

FRANCE FOLDS JUNE

22, 1940

FRANCE SIGNS ARMISTICE IN SAME RAILROAD CAR THAT GERMAN SIGNED

ARMISTICE TO END WORLD WAR I

BATTLE FOR BRITAIN STARTS “OPERATION SEALION”

HITLER IS DETERMINED TO TAKE BRITAIN Summer Fall

1940

OPERATION SEALION TURNS AWAY FROM ATTACKING MILITARY POSITIONS TO CIVILIAN ONES

THE BLITZ ATTACKS MAJOR CITIES

DESTROYS BUILDINGS ALL OVER BRITAIN

HITLER WANTS BRITS

TO DEMAND SURRENDER

BRITAIN FIGHTS ON, USES RADAR

TO BEAT GERMANS

Battle of BritainBattle of Britain

British Royal Air Force defeats German British Royal Air Force defeats German Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain- Summer Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain- Summer Fall of 1940Fall of 1940

British invent radar and are able to detect British invent radar and are able to detect German planesGerman planes

““Britain Stands Alone”Britain Stands Alone”

Battle of Britain, “The London Blitz”Battle of Britain, “The London Blitz”

British Prime Minister Winston British Prime Minister Winston ChurchillChurchill

American Sympathy (and little else) American Sympathy (and little else) Goes to BritainGoes to Britain

Americans in shock Americans in shock by German attacks on by German attacks on British civilians.British civilians.

Awed by British Awed by British perseverance and perseverance and will. will.

Enact Neutrality acts Enact Neutrality acts in 1934,1935,1937 in 1934,1935,1937 and 1939and 1939

Atlantic CharterAtlantic CharterSecret meeting between FDR and Secret meeting between FDR and Churchill in August, 1941Churchill in August, 1941

To map out military strategy and declare To map out military strategy and declare “common principles”“common principles”

Similar to Wilson’s 14 PointsSimilar to Wilson’s 14 Points

Italy gets in Germanys wayItaly gets in Germanys wayItaly tries to invade Greece and fails (winter 1940-41)Italy tries to invade Greece and fails (winter 1940-41)

Hitler is forced to help Mussolini and postpone Hitler is forced to help Mussolini and postpone Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa

By April, Hitler had conquered all of the Balkan regionBy April, Hitler had conquered all of the Balkan region

In June, 1941, he launched his invasion of the Soviet In June, 1941, he launched his invasion of the Soviet Union “Operation Barbarossa”Union “Operation Barbarossa”

9/27/40- Japan joined the Axis powers9/27/40- Japan joined the Axis powers

When Japan occupied Indochina in July, 1941, FDR When Japan occupied Indochina in July, 1941, FDR froze all Japanese assets in the US and cut off its oil froze all Japanese assets in the US and cut off its oil suppliessupplies

US Prepares for warUS Prepares for war

FDR move Pacific FDR move Pacific Fleet from San Fleet from San Diego to Pearl Diego to Pearl Harbor in 1940Harbor in 1940

Pearl HarborPearl HarborDecember 7, 1941December 7, 1941

Within 2 hours, Japanese pilots had Within 2 hours, Japanese pilots had destroyed nearly 200 American planes destroyed nearly 200 American planes and badly damaged the fleet, more than and badly damaged the fleet, more than 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 woundedwounded

On the same day, Japan struck US bases On the same day, Japan struck US bases on the Philippines, Guam, and Wake on the Philippines, Guam, and Wake IslandIsland

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor

Attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor

The World at WarThe World at War

Chief weapons were Chief weapons were tanks and airplanestanks and airplanes

Also important were Also important were artillery and artillery and explosivesexplosives

Major improvements Major improvements in communication in communication systems, two-way systems, two-way radio transmissionradio transmission

Style of war changes

WWI v WWIISlow, plodding fastTrenches tanks and planesMassive assaults Constant movesTotal war Total WarHeavy Artillery Aircraft Carriers

The Soviet UnionThe Soviet UnionOperation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa

Why Invade Russia?Why Invade Russia?

Hitler’s forces overran the Red Army, killing or Hitler’s forces overran the Red Army, killing or capturing nearly 3 million soldierscapturing nearly 3 million soldiers

Soviet resistance- Russians cut German supply Soviet resistance- Russians cut German supply lines and sent every available resource to lines and sent every available resource to Russian troops outside MoscowRussian troops outside Moscow

Summer of 1942, Hitler decided to attack Summer of 1942, Hitler decided to attack Stalingrad, a major industrial city on the Volga Stalingrad, a major industrial city on the Volga River; Soviets suffered more casualties in these River; Soviets suffered more casualties in these battles than Americans did in the entire warbattles than Americans did in the entire war

continuedcontinued

February, 1943- German 6th Army was February, 1943- German 6th Army was defeateddefeated

In retreat, Germans lost another major In retreat, Germans lost another major battle in the Ukrainebattle in the Ukraine

US lend-lease program helped the US lend-lease program helped the RussiansRussians

Allied OffensiveAllied Offensive

Spring, 1942- Germany, Italy and Japan Spring, 1942- Germany, Italy and Japan commanded territory from France to the commanded territory from France to the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean

Americans entered the war in Europe as Americans entered the war in Europe as part of Operation Torch, the landing ofpart of Operation Torch, the landing of

British and American troops in Morocco British and American troops in Morocco and Algeria in Novemberand Algeria in NovemberBattle of El Alamein- October, 1942- Battle of El Alamein- October, 1942- Egypt- British 8Egypt- British 8thth Army stopped a major Army stopped a major offensive by the German General offensive by the German General Rommel, the “Desert Fox”Rommel, the “Desert Fox”

North AfricaNorth Africa

May, 1943- Allies controlled N. AfricaMay, 1943- Allies controlled N. Africa

Casablanca Conference- January, 1943 Casablanca Conference- January, 1943 FDR and Churchill announced that they FDR and Churchill announced that they would only accept unconditional surrender would only accept unconditional surrender from their enemiesfrom their enemies

Aerial BombingAerial Bombing

US pilots preferred the daylight hours, US pilots preferred the daylight hours, while the British bombed during the nightwhile the British bombed during the night

Bombing missions over the Rhineland and Bombing missions over the Rhineland and the Ruhr took out many German factoriesthe Ruhr took out many German factories

Royal Air Force leveled the city of Royal Air Force leveled the city of HamburgHamburg

60 other cities were hit hard also60 other cities were hit hard also

Air offensive weakened German moraleAir offensive weakened German morale

Allied Invasion of EuropeAllied Invasion of Europe

In August, 1943, British and American In August, 1943, British and American troops conquered Sicilytroops conquered Sicily

Mussolini was dismissed by the king and Mussolini was dismissed by the king and Italy surrendered on September 8, 1943Italy surrendered on September 8, 1943

Hitler sent troops to northern ItalyHitler sent troops to northern Italy

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising- spring, 1943Warsaw Ghetto Uprising- spring, 1943

Partisans were active in many sections of Partisans were active in many sections of EuropeEurope

D-DayD-DayJune 6, 1944June 6, 1944

Stalin continues to call for a “Second Front”Stalin continues to call for a “Second Front”

Operation Overlord- the invasion of NormandyOperation Overlord- the invasion of Normandy

Allied fleet brought more than 175,000 troops Allied fleet brought more than 175,000 troops and more than 20,000 vehicles to Franceand more than 20,000 vehicles to France

Germans killed 2,500 troops.Germans killed 2,500 troops.

In the next six weeks, one million more Allied In the next six weeks, one million more Allied soldiers came ashoresoldiers came ashore

D-Day, Invasion of FranceD-Day, Invasion of France

End of European WarEnd of European WarAllied troops arrived in Paris in August, 1944Allied troops arrived in Paris in August, 1944

One occupied country after another fellOne occupied country after another fell

Battle of the Bulge- Allies were taken by Battle of the Bulge- Allies were taken by surprise driving them back 50 miles before surprise driving them back 50 miles before they were stoppedthey were stopped

This last effort exhausted the German This last effort exhausted the German capacity for counterattackcapacity for counterattack

It was the bloodiest American battle since It was the bloodiest American battle since GettysburgGettysburg

BATTLE OF THE BULGEBATTLE OF THE BULGE

V-E DAYV-E DAYHitler commits suicide on April Hitler commits suicide on April 3030thth

Adm. Karl Donitz surrenders on Adm. Karl Donitz surrenders on May 8May 8thth

The “Thousand Year Reich” The “Thousand Year Reich” ends after 12 years and millions ends after 12 years and millions deaddead

The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan ProjectDevelop an Atom BombDevelop an Atom BombEinstein warns FDR of German plans to Einstein warns FDR of German plans to build super bombbuild super bombIn 1942 Fermi creates successful chain In 1942 Fermi creates successful chain reactionreactionOppenhiemer field tests it in July 1945Oppenhiemer field tests it in July 1945

““I have become death, the destroyer I have become death, the destroyer of worlds” Bhagavad Gitaof worlds” Bhagavad GitaDo you use it?Do you use it?Moral questionMoral question

The wars endsThe wars ends

8/6 1945 18/6 1945 1stst Atomic bombs its Hiroshima Atomic bombs its Hiroshima 140,000 dead 90% building destroyed140,000 dead 90% building destroyed

8/9 1946 28/9 1946 2ndnd bomb hits Nagasaki bomb hits Nagasaki Similar results as Hiroshima Similar results as Hiroshima

8/14 japans surrenders (V-J day)8/14 japans surrenders (V-J day)