WORLD WAR II

World War II

Causes of WW II:1. Failure of the Treaty of Versailles :

• Failure of the War Guilt Clause:– Germans were bitter and looked for someone to blame

• War Debt:– Germany couldn’t pay even if it wanted to. Caused staggering

inflation (money was virtually worthless) and ruined their economy

• Loss of territory:– Germany was split up. Hitler wanted to reunite Germany into

one country, Russia wanted to do the same

2. Great Depression :• Because of economic uncertainty strong dictators took

control of Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Russia. • The United States, France and England were concerned

with their own economic problems and could not stop the spread of Fascism and Totalitarian governments.

3. Rise of Dictators: (Fascism, Nazism)• extreme nationalism• allowed for private property but with strong

government control• glorified the military• denounced international organizations and

cooperation• Willing to go to war to achieve national goals

– Germany (Hitler)– Italy (Mussolini)– Soviet Union (Stalin)– Japan

4. Failures of the League of Nations:– The league failed to enforce its own policies

and allowed Germany to rebuild its military (1934).

• It could have used sanctions and inspections, but did nothing…

– In 1938 the League allowed Hitler to take back part of Austria (most of the country was of German descent)

• The League could have acted in a unified way to stop this, but did not

– Hitler wanted the “Sudetenland” back from Czechoslovakia… This will be Hitler’s “last demand” for territory (1938).

• The League, led by France and England (NevilleChamberlain ) signed the Munich Agreement(Germany got the territory and war was averted…)

• Winston Churchill called this appeasement(giving up your principles to pacify an aggressor). He also warned that Hitler was not done taking territory (Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939, by force)

WAR IN EUROPE

• German Offensive Begins– Attack Poland (Sept. 1, 1939)– Helped by Soviets (Non-aggression pact)

• Agreed to never attack each other• Divided Poland

• Blitzkrieg– “lightning war”– Total war tactics (German War Machine)

• Sept. 3, 1939 England/France declare war on Germany– WWII Began!

• Germany/Soviets respond– Plan= Germany was going to attack France

from the West and Soviets were going to attack from the East

PHONY WAR

• France & England created fortification line on France’s eastern border– Maginot Line

• Germany created a line on their western border – Siegfried Line

• “Sitting War”

GERMANS BREAK THE SILENCE

• Germany attacked Netherlands• Italy joined Germany

– Germany and Italy surround France

• June 22, 1940 France surrenders

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

• Summer of 1940 Germans attacked London, England– Air Strikes– Every night for two solid months

• England fought back– Royal Air Force used radar to fight back– Air strikes on German cities

United States Reacts to Germanys Aggression:

– American Isolationism– Many Americans believed involvement in WWI

was a mistake.– Believed were coaxed into WWI by “merchants

of death” (bankers and arms dealers that profited from the war)

– 1935 Congress passed the Neutrality Acts outlawing the sale or loan of weapons to countries at war

AMERICA MOVES TO WAR

• U.S. Forces– Sept. 1939 Congress passed Cash and Carry

Act• Did not help directly, increased “all aid short of war” to

France and Britain

• Sept. 27th 1940• Japan, Germany, Italy formed the AXIS POWERS

AMERICA MOVES TO WAR

• Building a Defense– 1940 U.S. increased defense spending– Selective Training and Service Act

• 16 million men 21-35 registered• 1 million drafted in one year

GREAT ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY

• Lend-Lease Act (1941)– U.S. increases arms/supplies to France

and Britain to fight – FDR criticized

• German U-boats– Attacked U.S. supply ships– “Wolf Pack”– U.S. attack back in self defense

AMERICA MOVES TO WAR

• Roosevelt wins a 3rd term– 1st President to do this– Won with 55% of votes

• FDR speaks to the U.S.– “Impossible to negotiate with Hitler”– U.S. = “Great Arsenal of Democracy”

FDR PLANS FOR WAR

• Atlantic Charter– U.S. and Britain– Collective security– Formed the ALLIES

• U.S., Britain, France,Soviet Union

• U.S. undeclared War on Germany

AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR!

Read pages 554 -557Answer the following questions in your notes

1.Why was Japan on a collision course with the United States? 2.What event precipitated America’s entry into WWII?3.What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt?4.What new problems would the attack create for the U.S.?

The United States in the Pacific

Japanese Aggression, 1937 – 1940

• 1937: Full invasion of China– 250,000 – 300,000 Chinese civilians killed

• US response : Officially neutral, but maintained trade relations with Chinese government

• Problem in 1939 : China too big to simply overrun � cut off China from foreign aid and gain access to new resources

• Answer : European colonial holdings in SE Asia

European Colonies in SE Asia

Japanese Aggression, 1937 - 1940

• September 1940 : – Axis Powers Created = Italy, Japan, Germany – War with one = war with all

• Japanese Invasion of French Indochina, July 1941

• US Response : Economic Sanctions, 1940-41– Embargo on scrap iron, steel, and oil

US – Japanese Negotiations, 1941

• US Navy = last threat to Japan in Pacific � had to be neutralized before Japan could act

• Japanese demands (Sept-Oct.)– End US aid to China– Resume full trade– Limit US naval presence in Pacific

• US response :– Refused and insisted on 100% withdrawal

from China• Attack on USA is imminent by November, but

where?

The U.S. enters the War

Pearl Harbor:– Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was home to the American

Pacific Fleet in 1941– Japan launched a surprise attack on the base on

Sunday December 7, 1941– In less than 2 hours 2,403 Americans died (1,178

wounded); 21 ships were sunk or damaged (8 battleships); 300 aircraft damaged

– America’s 3 aircraft carriers were out to sea– U.S. declares War on Japan– Germany and Italy declare War on U.S.