World War II

2

Early Challenges to World PeaceJapan’s War in China

Conquest of Chinese Manchuria 1931-1932Full-scale invasion in 1937The Rape of Nanjing

Ariel bombing of urban center400,000 Chinese used for bayonet practice, massacred7,000 women raped1/3 of all homes destroyed

Early Challenges to World PeaceSept. 1931: Japan Invades Manchuria; Withdraws from League of Nations

World Reaction?:W. nations did not want to get involved b/c they had their own problems to deal with

Result:Continue aggression

5

Early Challenges to World PeaceChinese Resistance

Japanese aggression spurs “United Front” policy between Chinese Communists and NationalistsGuerilla warfare ties down half of the Japanese armyYet continued clashes between Communists and Nationalists

Communists gain popular support, upper hand by end of the war

Benito Mussolini invades Ethiopia with overpowering force

2,000 Italian troops killed, 275,000 Ethiopians killedAlso takes Libya, AlbaniaWorld Reaction?:

League of Nations ordered sanctions against ItalyRefused to sell them weapons, continued to sell them oilRefused to get involved for fear of another conflict

Early Challenges to World PeaceOct. 1935: Italy invades Ethiopia

8

Early Challenges to World PeaceGermany

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) withdraws from League of NationsRemilitarizes GermanyAnschluss (“Union”) with Austria, 1938Pressure on Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia)

Early Challenges to World PeaceJuly 1936:

Spanish Civil War BeginsMarch 1936:

German troops occupy Rhineland

Oct. 1936Hitler & Mussolini sign Rome-Berlin Axis

Japan signs Tripartite Pact with Germany, Italy (1940), Non-Aggression Pact with USSR (1941)

10

Early Challenges to World PeaceMunich Conference (1938)

Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany meetAllies follow policy of appeasementHitler promises to halt expansionist effortsBritish Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) promises “peace for our time”Hitler signs secret Russian-German Treaty of Non-Aggression (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, August 1939)

Early Challenges to World PeaceSept. 1938: Munich Conference

Hitler promised British Prime Minister Chamberlain he would leave Europe alone if given Sudetenland (appeasement)

Early Challenges to World PeaceSept. 1938: Munich Conference

Oct. 1938 – Germany occupies Sudetenland6 Months Later – Takes all of Czechoslovakia – clear at this point appeasement won’t work

Early Challenges to World PeaceAug. 1939: Hitler & Stalin sign Nazi-Soviet Pact

Advantages for Hitler:Removal of threat of attack from the eastDivision of Poland

Advantages for Stalin:Division of PolandTakeover of Finland & Baltic countriesSafety from German attack

Early Challenges to World PeaceSept. 1, 1939: Germany invades PolandHitler’s Strategy:

Blitzkrieg – “lightning war”Use fast-moving mechanized weaponsPlanes, Tanks, Artillery, Infantry – all at ONCE!!!Air forces soften up target, armored divisions rush inGerman U-boats (submarines) patrol Atlantic, threaten British shippingPoland fell in ONE month!

Early Challenges to World PeaceSept. 3, 1939: Britain & France Declare War on Germany

WORLD WAR

IIOFFICIALLYBEGINS!!!

Who's Who & Who's on Whose Side??

AXIS POWERS

Germany - HitlerItaly - Mussolini Japan - Tojo,

HirohitoSpain - Franco

ALLIED POWERS

France - de GaulleBritain - Churchill

USSR - Stalin USA - FD Roosevelt

Axis Military Leaders

Germany: Gen. Erwin Rommel - "The Desert Fox"Japan: Admiral Yamamoto - Head of Japanese Naval Fleet

Allied Military LeadersUSA: Gen. Dwight Eisenhower - Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Gen. Douglas MacArthur - Allied Commander in Pacific Gen. George S. PattonBritish: Gen. B. Montgomery

The European CampaignApril 1940: Hitler invades Denmark & Norway; Heads for France

Hitler’s Plan:Pave a way to France & distract Allies by invading Holland, Belgium, & Luxembourg, then send massive force through the Ardennes Forest

18

The European CampaignThe Fall of France

1940: Germany occupies Denmark, Norway, Belgium, FrancePave a way to France & distract Allies by invading Holland, Belgium, & Luxembourg, then send massive force through the Ardennes ForestHitler forces French to sign armistice agreement in same railroad car used for the armistice imposed on Germany in 1918

The European CampaignJune 1940: France SurrendersWhat Happened at Dunkirk?:

Britain rescued Allied soldiers stranded at Dunkirk & ferried them to safety across the English Channel

The European CampaignJuly 1940: Battle of Britain

What Happened?:German Luftwaffe (Air Force) bombed British cities for 3 months

“The Blitz”40,000 British civilians killed in urban bombing raids

Especially LondonGoal: Hitler wanted to destroy British morale before invading

Outcome:RAF fighters & British resistance forced Germany to call off the attack – Hitler could be stopped!

The European Campaign

Sept. 1940Italy moves to seize Egypt & Suez Canal

Feb. 1941Hitler sends Gen. Rommel to help Italian troops seize Egypt & Suez Canal

22

The European CampaignJune 1941: Operation Barbarossa

Lebensraum (“living space”)June 22, 1941 Hitler double-crosses Stalin and invades USSRStalin caught off-guard, rapid advanceBut severe winter, long supply lines weakened German effortsSoviets regroup and attack Spring 1942Turning point: Battle of Stalingrad (ends February 1943)

23

High tide of Axis expansion in Europe and North Africa

The European CampaignJuly 1942: Battle of El Alamein

What Happened?:Gen. Montgomery vs. Gen. RommelForced Rommel and his forces to retreat westward from EgyptOperation Torch: Gen. Eisenhower arrived with American troops in N. Africa

The European CampaignJuly 1942: Battle of El Alamein

Result:Trapped Rommel’s forces b/w American & British & finally defeated Rommel’s Afrika Korps

The European CampaignJuly 1942-Feb.1943: Battle of Stalingrad

Outcome:Hitler attacked, Soviets eventually put German forces on defensive with Soviets pushing them westward

The European CampaignJuly 1942-Feb.1943: Battle of Stalingrad

Comparison to Napoleon:In both invasions, Russia’s terrible winter & its strategy of destroying everything in the enemy’s path created severe hardships for the invaders

The European CampaignSept. 1943: Invasion of Italy

Outcome:Resulted in Allied conquest of Sicily & forced eventual surrender of Italy

The European Campaign

Nov.-Dec. 1943Tehran Conference

Tehran ConferenceWhen?

November 28-December 1, 1943

Tehran ConferenceMembers Present?

Franklin Roosevelt (USA)Winston Churchill (Britain)Joseph Stalin (USSR)

Tehran ConferencePurpose of Meeting?

Coordinate military strategy against Germany & JapanDecide on important issues of post-WWII era

Tehran ConferenceWhat was decided?

Coordination of D-Day invasionPoland’s post-war bordersFirst discussions about splitting up Germany into zones of occupationFirst discussions of the future United Nations between Stalin & FDR*Many issues left for final decisions at later conferences

The European CampaignJune 6, 1944: D-Day InvasionOutcome:

800,000 Allies landed at Normandy BeachOpened a 2nd front in EuropeLed to liberation of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, & much of Netherlands from Nazi occupation

The European CampaignDec. 1944: Battle of the BulgeOutcome:

German’s final attack in Ardennes ForestPatton marched his army 100 miles in 2 days & attacked w/ 3 division to save the lineResulted in heavy losses for Hitler

The European Campaign

Feb. 1945:Yalta Conference

Yalta ConferenceWhen?

February 4-11, 1945

Yalta ConferenceMembers Present?

Franklin Roosevelt (USA)Winston Churchill (Britain)Joseph Stalin (USSR)

Yalta ConferencePurpose of Meeting?

Make final decisions about the end of the war

Yalta ConferenceWhat was decided?

Divide Germany into 4 zones controlled by Allied military forcesGermany must pay the USSRStalin agreed to join war against Japan 90 days after end of war in EuropeStalin promised free elections in Eastern Europe

The European CampaignApril 1945: Leaders Fall

Italy:Mussolini captured & killed by Italians

USA:April 12: President Roosevelt dies & Vice-President Harry Truman becomes President

Germany:April 30: Hitler & other top Nazis commit suicide

The European Campaign

May 8, 1945: V-E Day (Victory in Europe) Germany surrenders

July-Aug. 1945Potsdam Conference

44

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

US, Britain bomb German citiesDresden, February 1945: 135,000 Germans killed in shelters

30 April 1945 Hitler commits suicide, 8 May Germany surrenders

45

US Involvement in WWII before Pearl Harbor

US initiates “cash and carry” policy to supply Allies with arms“lend-lease” program: US lends war goods to Allies, leases naval bases in returnUS freezes Japanese assets in USUS places embargo on oil shipments to JapanJapanese Defense Minister Tojo Hideki (1884-1948) plans for war with US

Pacific CampaignDec. 7, 1941: Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor

What Happened?Japanese launched surprise attack sinking or damaging almost the entire U.S. Pacific fleet – used kamikazes (suicide pilots)

Pacific CampaignDec. 7, 1941: Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor

Outcome of the Attack?U.S. declares war on Japan

48

Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)

FDR: “A date which will live in infamy”Destroyed US Navy in the PacificHitler, Mussolini declare war on the US on December 11US joins Great Britain and the USSR

49

Wreckage from Pearl Harbor

50

Japanese Victories

Japan dominates south-east Asia, Pacific islandsEstablishes “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”

Pacific CampaignDec. 1941-May 1942: Battle of the Philippines

What Happened?Japan invaded Philippine IslandsFilipinos & U.S. under Gen. Douglas MacArthur defended the islands

General Douglas MacArthur

Pacific CampaignDec. 1941-May 1942: Battle of the Philippines

Outcome/Significance of the Battle?

Japan winsPerseverance of U.S. & Filipino defense delayed Japanese attacks on other areas

Pacific CampaignFall of Southeast Asian Colonies

What Happened?Through a planned series of attacks, Japan seized control of rich European coloniesEx: French Indochina, British Hong Kong

Significance of the Attack?Helped Japan replenish depleted resources

Pacific CampaignApril 1942: Doolittle’s Raid on Japan

What Happened?As revenge for Pearl Harbor, U.S. sent 16 B-25 bombers to bomb Japanese cities, mainly Tokyo

Pacific CampaignApril 1942: Doolittle’s Raid on Japan

Significance of the Attack?Showed that Japan could be attackedRaised American morale

Pacific CampaignMay 1942: Battle of the Coral Sea

What Happened?Following interception of Japanese attack on Port Moresby, Japanese & American naval fleets fought to a draw (nobody won)

Pacific CampaignMay 1942: Battle of the Coral Sea

Significance of the Battle?Introduced a new kind of naval warfare using only airplanesStopped Japan’s expansion southward

Pacific CampaignJune 1942: Battle of Midway

What Happened?American carrier planes defeated Japanese fleet poised to attack Midway Island, a key American airfield

Pacific CampaignJune 1942: Battle of Midway

Significance of the Battle?Reversed the tide of the war in the Pacific

Pacific CampaignAug. 1942-Feb. 1943: Battle of Guadalcanal

What Happened?U.S. Marines, with Australian support, seized Japanese airfield & fought on land & sea for control of island

Pacific CampaignAug. 1942-Feb. 1943: Battle of Guadalcanal

Significance of the Battle?Forced Japan to abandon islandBegan MacArthur’s island-hopping counterattack• Hop past Japanese Strongholds- seize

islands that were not well defended but close to Japan

Pacific CampaignOct. 1944: Battle of Leyte Gulf

Wiped out Japanese Navy

63

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 strategyIwo Jima and Okinawa

Japanese kamikaze suicide bombersSavage two-month battle for Okinawa

Pacific CampaignFeb.-March 1945: Battle of Iwo Jima

U.S. Marines raise the Stars and Stripes after their victory at Iwo Jima

Pacific CampaignMarch-June 1945: Battle of Okinawa

Resulted in heavy losses for JapaneseMoved Allies closer to an invasion of Japanese homeland

Aug. 6: Truman decides to drop bomb on Hiroshima (attempt to save lives)

Pacific CampaignAug. 1945: Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Pacific CampaignAug. 1945: Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Aug. 9: Second bomb dropped on NagasakiAug. 10: VJ-Day (Victory in Japan) – Japan surrenders!!

68

Nazi Genocide and the Jews

Jews primary target of Nazi genocidal effortsOther groups also slated for destruction: Roma (Gypsies), Homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses

Nazis initially encouraged Jewish emigrationFew countries willing to accept Jewish refugees

Aborted plans to deport Jews to Madagascar, reservation in Poland

69

The Final Solution

Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing squads) follow German army into USSR with Operation BarbarossaRound up of Jews and others, machine-gun executions of 1.4 million Later in 1941 decided on “Final Solution:” deportation of all European Jews to Death CampsPlans solidified at Wannsee Conference, January 1942

70

The Holocaust

Jews deported from ghettos all over Europe in cattle cars, spring 1942Destination: six specially designed Death Camps in Eastern EuropeTechnologically advanced, assembly-line style of murder through poison gas (Zyklon B)Corpses destroyed in crematoriaEstimated number of Jews killed: 5.7 million

71

The Holocaust in Europe, 1933-1945

72

Jewish Resistance

German policy of collective punishment, generations of life as a minority hamper Jewish resistance effortsYet ghetto uprisings, armed conflict nevertheless

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, spring 1943

Jews in partisan guerilla units

The HolocaustWho…?

…were the victims of the Holocaust?

Non-Aryan peoples, primarily Jews, but also Gypsies, Slavs, etc.

The HolocaustWho…?

…were members of the “master race”?

AryansThe signs read:

“Germans! Defend Yourselves! Do not buy from Jews!”

The HolocaustWhat…?

…were the Nuremberg Laws?German laws depriving Jews of rights to citizenship & jobs

The HolocaustWhat…?…happened on the night of November 9, 1938?

On Kristallnacht, the Nazis launched a violent attack on Jewish communities all over Germany

The HolocaustWhat…?

…was Hitler’s “Final Solution”?

Systematic killing of entire groups of people, particularly Jews, whom the Nazis saw as inferior

The HolocaustWhere…?

…did German Jews try to migrate to find safety from Nazi terror?

France, Britain, USA, & other countries

The HolocaustWhere…?

…were Jews forced to live in German-controlled cities?

In ghettos – segregated Jewish areas

The HolocaustWhere…?

…were the concentration camps?Mainly in Germany & Poland

The HolocaustWhy…?

…did Hitler believe that Jews & other “subhumans” had to be exterminated?

To protect the purity of the Aryan race

The HolocaustWhy…?…did the Germans build extermination camps?

To carry out mass murders in huge gas chambers

The HolocaustWhen…?

…did the final stage of the Final Solution begin?

Early 1942

The HolocaustHow…?

…did non-Jewish people try to save Jews from the horrors of Nazism?

By hiding Jews in their homes or helping them escape to neutral countries

Anne Frank

The HolocaustHow…?

…many Jews died in the Holocaust?

Approximately 6,000,000

Nuremberg TrialsNazis put on trial for crimes against humanity (events of Holocaust)Goal was to punish Nazi officials using a democratic system

Japanese Internment Camps in the United States

Japanese-Americans placed in campsWhy? – feared they were enemies or spies after bombing at Pearl Harbor

Potsdam ConferenceWhen?

July 17-August 2, 1945

Potsdam ConferenceMembers Present?

Harry Truman (USA)Joseph Stalin (USSR)Winston Churchill & later Clement Attlee (Britain)

THE BIG THREE

Potsdam ConferencePurpose of Meeting?

Clarify agreements from Yalta

Potsdam ConferenceWhat was decided?

Potsdam DeclarationUnconditional surrender of JapanJapanese disarmament, establishment of democratic governmentPostwar European borders (especially Poland)

92

Deaths During World War II (millions)

20

15

4

2

6

0.4

0.3

6 USSR

China

Germany

Japan

Poles

Britain

US

Jews

Formation of the United NationsThe Beginning

Stalin & FDR secretly discussed ideas for U.N. at Tehran Conference1944: Britain, China, USSR, & U.S. met in D.C. & drafted the 1st charter

Formation of the United NationsFirst Meeting

April 1945 in San FranciscoDelegates from 50 nations worked for 2 months to develop the official charter

Formation of the United NationsDetails & Purpose

Purpose: peacekeeping organization designed to protect its members against aggressionPermanent Members of Security Council:

USA, Britain, USSR, France, China

97

Origins of the Cold WarUS, USSR, Great Britain unnatural allies during World War II

Tensions submerged until close of war

Yalta and Potsdam Conferences (1945)Stalin, Churchill, RooseveltDecided on USSR declaration of war vs. Japan, setting up of International Military TribunalFree elections for Eastern Europe

Stalin arranges pro-communist governments in Eastern European countries1946: “Iron Curtain” descends

98

The Truman Doctrine (1947)

World divided into free and enslaved statesUS to support all movements for democracy“containment” of CommunismNATO and the Warsaw Pact established

Militarization of Cold War

Marshall Plan for EuropeWho…?

…proposed the plan?U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall

Marshall Plan for EuropeWhen…?

…did he propose the plan?1947

Marshall Plan for EuropeWhat…?

…did he propose the U.S. needed to do?

Give aid to needy European countriesProvide food, machinery, & other materials to rebuild Western Europe & stop Soviet expansion

Truman signs Marshall Plan

102

The Marshall Plan

Named for George C. Marshall (1880-1989), US Secretary of StateProposed in 1947, $13 billion to reconstruct western EuropeUSSR establishes Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON), 1949The United Nations formed (1945) to resolve international disputes

MacArthur’s Plan for JapanDemilitarization

Disbanded Japanese armed forcesLeft Japanese with small police force

MacArthur’s Plan for JapanDemocratization

Created a gov’t elected by the peopleSet up a constitutional monarchy b/c Japanese wanted to keep emperor

MacArthur’s Plan for JapanOther Reforms

Land ownership was expandedIndependent labor unions had the right to formIncrease participation of workers & farmers in new democracy

106

Varieties of Wartime Occupation

Independent States with enforced alliances

Thailand, Denmark

Puppet StatesManchukuo, Vichy France

Military AdministrationIndochina, Poland

107

Collaboration

For some, opportunity for social mobility under conquerorsSometimes considered a lesser evil than military administration

108

Resistance

Military forms of resistanceIntelligence gatheringProtecting refugeesSymbolic gesturesGerman, Japanese policies of collective punishment

109

Women and the War

WAVES (Women Appointed for Volunteer Emergency Service)US, Great Britain bar women from serving in combat unitsSoviet, Chinese forces include women fightersWomen very active in resistance movements

110

Women’s Roles

Women occupy jobs of men away at warAlso take on “head of household” dutiesTemporary: men returning from war displace women

Yet lasting impact on women’s movement

111

“Comfort Women”Asian women forced into prostitution by Japanese forces20/30 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