Discussion Discussion 

Do you think the leaders of Japan Do you think the leaders of Japan were happy with the outcome of were happy with the outcome of the attack on Pearl Harbor? Why the attack on Pearl Harbor? Why or why not?or why not?

Japanese leaders were happy Japanese leaders were happy because they destroyed many ships because they destroyed many ships and planes.and planes.

Discussion Discussion 

How do you think the attack on How do you think the attack on Pearl Harbor affected U.S. public Pearl Harbor affected U.S. public opinion about involvement in the opinion about involvement in the war?war?

more Americans would have more Americans would have supported becoming involved in the supported becoming involved in the war after U.S. territory was attacked.war after U.S. territory was attacked.

Japan Tries to Control East Asia and the PacificJapan Tries to Control East Asia and the Pacific

Creation of Greater East Asia Co-Creation of Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity SphereProsperity Sphere

Prime Minister Tōjō's policyPrime Minister Tōjō's policy The United States aligned itself The United States aligned itself

against Japan.against Japan. German declaration of war on German declaration of war on

the United Statesthe United States

Discussion Discussion 

What two misjudgments did the Axis What two misjudgments did the Axis Powers make about U.S. involvement Powers make about U.S. involvement in the war?in the war?

The Japanese thought the Americans were The Japanese thought the Americans were soft and would choose not to fight. The soft and would choose not to fight. The Germans thought the Americans would be Germans thought the Americans would be ineffective in the European theater of war ineffective in the European theater of war because of their involvement in the because of their involvement in the Pacific.Pacific.

Discussion Discussion 

Why was it important for the Allies to Why was it important for the Allies to agree to fight until all the Axis agree to fight until all the Axis Powers surrendered unconditionally?Powers surrendered unconditionally?

Doing so prevented a division among the Doing so prevented a division among the Allies that might have occurred if one of Allies that might have occurred if one of the Axis Powers had agreed to stop the Axis Powers had agreed to stop fighting against one of the Allies.fighting against one of the Allies.

Background Background  The Battle of Stalingrad, considered to be The Battle of Stalingrad, considered to be

one of the most important battles of the one of the most important battles of the war, also was one of the deadliest. Total war, also was one of the deadliest. Total Axis casualties were more than 800,000 Axis casualties were more than 800,000 dead, wounded, missing, or captured. Of dead, wounded, missing, or captured. Of the 91,000 Germans who surrendered, the 91,000 Germans who surrendered, most later died in Soviet prison or labor most later died in Soviet prison or labor camps, with only 5,000 to 6,000 ever camps, with only 5,000 to 6,000 ever returning to their homeland. Historians returning to their homeland. Historians place the number of Soviet casualties at place the number of Soviet casualties at 1.1 million dead, wounded, missing, or 1.1 million dead, wounded, missing, or captured. captured.

Discussion Discussion 

Why do you think naval superiority Why do you think naval superiority was of greater importance in the war was of greater importance in the war in Asia than it was in the war in in Asia than it was in the war in Europe?Europe?

As an island nation, Japan depended on its As an island nation, Japan depended on its navy to provide supplies and raw materials navy to provide supplies and raw materials for its war efforts and that the U.S. "island for its war efforts and that the U.S. "island hopping" strategy required naval transport hopping" strategy required naval transport of troops.of troops.