World War II

Unit 5Ms. Hunt

RMS IB 2012-2013

World War I Treaty Effects

1) Germany had to admit guilt in starting the war.2) Germany lost territory and all overseas

colonies3) French troops would be stationed in part of

Germany for 15 years.4) No tanks, war planes, heavy artillery, large

ships or submarines were allowed (aka NO MILITARY)

5) Germany was to pay reparations ($5 billion in cash immediately, and $33 billion in gold over the next 66 years)

Germany’s Reaction• Felt treaty was unfair to

Germany• Germany did not

believed they lost the war because of no invasion into Germany or damage to German cities

• Changed to a 1 party system- Nazi Party– German Chancellor

Adolph Hitler

Effects on Germany’s Economy• High Inflation because of reparations• German government printed more

money to pay off debt.• Inflation- The rate at which the

general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and, subsequently, purchasing power is falling.

• Example– 1914- $1.00 = 4.2 GERMAN MARKS.– 1923- $1.00 = 4,200,000,000,000

GERMAN MARKS!

Hitler’s Response

• Hitler refused to be controlled by the regulations of the Treaty of Versailles.– Rebuilt army– Demanded land from other European countries– Stopped paying reparations– Made allies with Italy and Japan- Axis Powers

• Appeasement- Nations allowed Germany to do what they wished in order to avoid another war.

• Munich Conference of 1938- Germany promised not to take anymore territory– Did not last! Germany invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland

causing Great Britain and France to declare war

Germany Brings Nations to War• Battle of Britain, Summer 1940– Constant attacks on the cities of England– Damage to civilian homes and military bases

• Invasion of the Soviet Union- Resulted in alliance ending and Soviet Union declaring war on Germany

U.S. Enters World War II

• December 7th, 1941- Japan leads the attack on Pearl Harbor– United States stopped sending oil reserves to

Japan and remained neutral prior to the attack– Resulted in the U.S. declaring war on Japan, soon

after Germany declared war on the U.S.*Allies Powers- Britain, France, United States,

Russia*Axis Powers- Germany, Italy, Japan

Theaters of WarWar in Europe• Trench Warfare• New Technology• Battle of the Bulge- 1944-

1945 – “Last stand of the German

army”

War in the Pacific• Island Hopping- strategy of

quickly capturing islands throughout the Pacific territory

• Used to gain dominance in area

• Battle of Midway- June 1942– Stopped Japanese advance in

the Pacific, changed the course of the war

The End of WWII in Europe

• D-Day- June 6th, 1944– Allied ships carried forces across the English

Channel to invade Normandy.– Allowed for the Allies to launch an attack on the

German forces in Europe• Hitler knew he had lost in April of 1945 and

committed suicide• V-E Day- May 7th, 1945– Victory in Europe Day

The End of WWII in the Pacific

• U.S. President Harry S. Truman had to decide whether to risk more American lives or to drop the Atomic Bomb…

• Truman requested the Japanese to surrender or to face “prompt and utter destruction”– Japanese did not respond

• August 6th, 1945- Hiroshima was bombed, killing between 80,000- 120,000 instantly

• August 15th, 1945- Nagaski was bombed and the Japanese surrendered.

Effects of the War• Death toll- 55 million people died during WWII– Soldiers, citizens, and victims of genocide

• Creation of the United Nations (UN)– Purpose- to keep peace– Security Council would investigate international problems

and provide solutions• Nuremburg Trails– Members of Nazi party and military were tried by an Allied

Powers court– Accused of “pursuing aggressive warfare” and “crimes

against humanity”– Purpose- to show the world these crimes will not go

unpunished