What’s Essential?The deadliest conflict in

human history50-85 million deaths

(20-25 million military and the rest civilian deaths)

27 million Soviets died1 out of 4 Soviets died,

the highest casualty

Causes for World War IIUNDERLYING:Treaty of VersaillesNationalismDictatorshipsAmerican

Isolationism

DIRECT:Germany invaded

Poland on September 1st, 1939

Hitler and Nazi GermanyRise to power result of weakness of previous government (1933- became Chancellor)

Charismatic speaker, preached German nationalism, denounced Versailles Treaty

Blamed Jews, communists for Germany’s problems

Promised return of German pride

Benito Mussolini in ItalyFascist leader who took control of Italy

in 1922Wanted to create another Roman

EmpireInvaded Ethiopia in 1935 (French

Colony)Along with Hitler supported Francisco

Franco in the Spanish Civil War (combat experience)

Japanese ExpansionSought total control of Pacific

(resources)1936- Japan signs Pact with Germany,

ItalyNanking Massacre in China by Japan-

December 1937 (millions of Chinese raped and killed)

American NeutralityDomestic: U.S. in midst of Great

Depression, public intent on remaining neutral

1935: First Neutrality Act (no sale of arms to hostile nations)

1937: Arm sales only on “cash and carry” basis

President Roosevelt

War Erupts!!!Germany invades Poland 1 sep 1939France and Britain make war on GermanyJapan is in fighting with China, then USSR and US

Hitler’s Wild Ride in Europe While the U.S. Watches

Japan wanted to extend influence in Far EastJuly 1940: U.S. embargo of raw materials to Japan1941: Lend-Lease aid to ChinaDecember 7, 1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

United States and Japan

America Enters WarPearl Harbor attack devastates

nationDecember 8, 1941- war

declaration from Congress against Japan

Germany, Italy declare war on United States

The ParticipantsAllied Powers

-England

-Soviet Union

-France

-United States

Axis Powers-Italy

-Germany

-Japan

Mobilizing for War1940- Economy focuses on

military mobilizationMassive industrial output

(twice as productive as Germany, 5 times Japan)

Primary focus: tanks, planes, battleships

Wartime propaganda

Germany’s Last EffortHitler was caught between

Allied troops coming from the West and Stalin’s forces coming from the East.

December 1944: Battle of the Bulge

April 25, 1945: Russia and Allied Forces meet at the Elbe River

May 8, 1945: Germany surrenders

“The War is Over”

On 15th August Japan surrenders to Allied Forces after the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki- August 9th– by US

The first atomic bomb was on Heroshema August 6th 1945

Outcomes OF THE WARUN on 24th October 1945North-South KoreaWest-East GermanyCold WarArab-Israel conflict 1948, with

partition of PalestineMarshal plan (1948-51)