the second world war: background
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The Second World War: Background. Axis: Germany Japan Italy. Allies: Great Britain (England) France Russia USA (China). WHO: . Axis Rally in Tokyo. WHAT:. Truly Global and Industrialized WAR Three Stages: 1939-1941--Initital Push, Battle of Britain - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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The Second World War: Background
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WHO: Axis:
Germany Japan Italy
Allies: Great Britain
(England) France Russia USA (China)
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Axis Rally in Tokyo
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WHAT: Truly Global and Industrialized WAR
Three Stages: 1939-1941--Initital Push, Battle of Britain 1941-1943--Invasion of Russia, Pearl Harbor,
Direction of War Changes 1943-1945--Battles of Midway, Stalingrad, D-Day
(June 6, 1944) Allies surge toward Victory. Finally, 1945--Russians take Berlin, U.S. conducts
nuclear attack on Japan. War ends.
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WHERE: Practically Everywhere
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WHEN:
Officially, 1939-1945 However, Japan began its war in China in 1931.
This is often forgotten.
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HOW:
“Revisionists:” especially in Germany wished to revise post-World War I peace treaties (especially the …?)
Fascist and/or Militaristic leaders took over governments in Italy, Germany and Japan
Allies initially follow policy of appeasement This fails to soothe the new fascist powers, and
instead emboldens them War erupts 1939, global by 1941, over 1945
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Japan’s War in China
Conquest of Chinese Manchuria 1931-1932 Full-scale invasion in 1937 The Rape of Nanjing
Arial bombing of urban center 400,000 Chinese used for bayonet practice, massacred 7,000 women raped 1/3 of all homes destroyed
If you are sensitive you may not want to look at the next slides.
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Nanjing Massacre
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Nanjing Massacre
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Italian Aggression Benito Mussolini
invades Ethiopia with overpowering force 2,000 Italian troops
killed, 275,000 Ethiopians killed
Also takes Libya, Albania
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Germany Adolf Hitler (1889-
1945) withdraws from League of Nations
Remilitarizes Germany Anschluss (“Union”)
with Austria, 1938 Pressure on Sudetenland
(Czechoslovakia)
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Munich Conference (1938) Italy, France, Great Britain,
Germany meet Allies follow policy of
appeasement Hitler promises to halt
expansion British Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain (1869-1940) promises “peace for our time”
Hitler signs secret Russian-German Treaty of Non-Aggression (August 1939)
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Invasion of Poland and France September 1, 1939
Blitzkrieg: “lightning war” strategy Air forces soften up
target, armored divisions rush in
German U-boats (submarines) patrol Atlantic, threaten British shipping (just like during…?)
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The Fall of France
1940: Germany occupies Denmark, Norway, Belgium, France
Hitler forces French to sign armistice agreement in same railroad car used for the armistice imposed on Germany in 1918
Once again--dissatisfaction with Treaty of Versailles and need for revenge.
How it played out…
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The Battle of Britain Air war conducted by the
German Luftwaffe (Air Force)
40,000 British civilians killed in urban bombing raids Especially London
Royal Air Force prevents Germans from invading
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Operation Barbarossa Lebensraum (“living space”) June 22, 1941 Hitler double-
crosses Stalin and invades USSR
Stalin caught off-guard, rapid advance
But severe winter, long supply lines weakened German efforts
Turning point: Battle of Stalingrad (ends February 1943)
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High tide of Axis expansion in Europe and North Africa
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US Involvement in WWII before Pearl Harbor
US initiates “cash and carry” and “lend-lease” programs: US lends war goods to Allies with free shipping, leases naval bases in return
US freezes Japanese assets in US US places embargo on oil
shipments to Japan Japanese Defense Minister Tojo
Hideki (1884-1948) plans for war with US
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Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) FDR: “A date which will live in infamy” Destroyed US Navy in the Pacific—not Aircraft
Carriers Hitler, Mussolini declare war on the US on
December 11 US joins Great Britain and the USSR
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The Attack on Pearl Harbor
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Japanese Victories and Sphere of Control
Japan dominates south-east Asia, Pacific islands
Establishes “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”World War II in Asia and the Pacific
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Defeat of the Axis Powers Key factors: Russia &
USA had more personnel reserves (more people) & industrial capacity (more resources) than Axis
US joining the war turned the tide Shipbuilding,
automotive production especially important
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Allied Victory in Europe
Red Army (USSR) gains offensive after Stalingrad (February 1943)
British, US forces attack in North Africa, Italy D-Day: June 6, 1944, British and US forces land in
France (we will view this on Friday) US, Britain bomb German cities (firebombing)
Dresden, February 1945: 135,000 Germans killed in shelters 30 April 1945 Hitler commits suicide, 8 May Germany
surrenders
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The Firebombing of Dresden
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Turning the Tide in the Pacific US code breaking operation Magic discovers
Japanese plans Battle of Midway (4 June 1942)
US takes the offensive, engages in island-hopping strategy
Iwo Jima and Okinawa Japanese kamikaze suicide bombers Savage two-month battle for Okinawa (Highly
recommended: Letters From Iwo Jima)
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Japanese Surrender US firebombs Tokyo, March
1945 100,000 killed 25% of buildings destroyed
Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 6th and 9th, 1945
Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989) surrenders unconditionally September 2, 1945
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Hiroshima after the Bomb
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Deaths During World War II (millions)
20
154
2
6
0.4
0.3
6 USSRChinaGermanyJapanPolesBritainUSJews
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Women and the War
WAVES (Women Appointed for Volunteer Emergency Service)
US, Great Britain bar women from serving in combat units
Soviet, Chinese forces include women fighters Women very active in resistance movements
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Women’s Roles
Women occupy jobs of men away at war Also take on “head of household” duties Temporary: men returning from war displace
women Yet lasting impact on women’s movement
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“Comfort Women”
Asian women forced into prostitution by Japanese forces
20/30 men per day, in war zones “Comfort Houses,” “Consolation Centers”
Killed when infected with venereal disease Large-scale massacres at end of war to hide
crimes Social ostracism for survivors
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Deaths During World War II (millions)
20
154
2
6
0.4
0.3
6 USSRChinaGermanyJapanPolesBritainUSJews
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Origins of the Cold War
US, USSR, Great Britain unnatural allies during World War II Tensions submerged until close of war
Yalta and Potsdam Conferences (1945) Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt Decided on USSR declaration of war vs. Japan, setting up of
International Military Tribunal Free elections for Eastern Europe
Stalin arranges pro-communist governments in Eastern European countries
1946: “Iron Curtain” descends
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The Truman Doctrine (1947)
World divided into free and enslaved states US to support all movements for democracy “containment” of Communism NATO and the Warsaw Pact established
Militarization of Cold War
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The Marshall Plan
Named for George C. Marshall (1880-1989), US Secretary of State
Proposed in 1947, $13 billion to reconstruct western Europe
USSR establishes Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON), 1949
The United Nations formed (1945) to resolve international disputes