World War II

I. Post-WWI Europe

WWI disrupted European economy, diplomacy, governments End of German and Austro-Hungarian empires Nations agree to never go to war again – Kellogg-Briand

PactRise of fascism

Benito Mussolini creates fascio di combattimeno (“union for struggle”) in Italy Characteristics: nationalistic, absolute authority, violence National unity trumps all other political/economic ideas

Don't want inefficient parliament or socialist class struggle, need authoritarian leader

Italian nationalists upset over little post-war gains, increased labor unrest

I. Continued…

Rise of fascism (continued…) Nazism

Arose partly from post-WWI anger, partly from results of Great Depression

Hitler’s National Socialist (Nazi) party argued for unity and removal of parliamentary politics Promised to right the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles,

bring Germany out of economic depression Led to totalitarianism – direct control over the people

Used Gestapo (secret police) to arrest political opponents Eastern European countries (Hungary, Yugoslavia, etc.) move

towards authoritarian governments Like Italy – nationalists upset over few territorial gains Economic struggles made it difficult to maintain effective

parliaments Mostly agriculture-based economies affected

CHALLENGE

QUESTION!

I. Continued…

Rise of fascism (continued…) In Spain, threat of fascism led to the Spanish Civil War

Fascists vs. republicans (parliament/social reform supporters)

Even with volunteer support from many from U.S. and western Europe, fascists won in 1939 Maintained authoritarian controls for next 25 years

I. Buildup To War

WWII officially began in 1939 after a decade of aggression:Japan gradually became more militaristic and

imperialistic Claim Manchuria in China (1932)

Germany gave rise to fascism – Hitler and the Nazis Ignore Treaty of Versailles (post-WWI) – military buildup,

began reclaiming lands lost during warMussolini invades Ethiopia (1935) – wants to build Italian

empireEngland, France failed to unite a front against aggression

Nations could not agree on how to respond – some felt guilty over Treaty of Versailles

I. Continued…

US, Britain, France first favored appeasement Willing to sacrifice small nations to protect themselves Fear of another world war

Japan invades China (1937) Led to horrific violence against Chinese population

Rape of Nanjing (December 1937) – murdered/tortured POWs and innocent civilians, raped thousands of women

Germany invades Poland (Sept. 1, 1939) Typically thought of as beginning of WWII

France and Britain declare war, set up for defense Lacked resources to directly attack Germany

EXIT TICKET!

Answer the following questions using complete sentences:1.What is fascism? Who is considered the “father” of fascism?2.Why was Hitler popular in Germany? 3.Describe two important events or developments that led up to WWII.4.How did Britain and France react to these developments?

III. War German strategy centered on blitzkrieg,

“lighting war” [video clip] Quick, highly organized invasion of territories

combining tanks, troops, aircraft Severe punishment for populations that did

not surrender Persecution of “lower” races – Jews, Gypsies

(Roma), homosexuals (see: Holocaust) Within months, France defeated, British retreat 1942 – Germany controlled most of W. Europe, Scandinavia,

Mediterranean, N. Africa Russians able to outlast Germans – Russian winter was brutal

Momentum shifts – Germany on the run by early 1944 as supplies dwindled

American involvement (after Pearl Harbor, 1941) helped turn the tide Battle of the Bulge (winter 1944-1945) – Hitler’s last ditch effort to repel

Allied forces

II. Continued…

After Pearl Harbor (1941), Japan takes over much of Asia Hong Kong, Philippines, Siam (Thailand) Allied forces won decisive victory at Midway Island,

turned tide of war in Pacific 1944 – U.S. begins firebombing Japanese

cities, hundreds of thousands civilians killed Atomic bombs used (August 1945) to ensure

unconditional surrender Cities of

Hiroshima, Nagasaki

IV. Holocaust

Hitler and the Nazis proclaimed that they were the “master race” Non-Aryans were inferior – Jews, Gypsies, handicapped, homosexuals Eventually led to the Holocaust – systematic mass slaughter of Jews

and other groups judged inferior1935 – Nuremburg laws passed in Germany – limited rights of

citizenship, marriage, and work for Jews Beginning of long-term oppression

November 9, 1938 – Kristallnact (“Night of Broken Glass”) Nazis attacked Jewish homes, businesses, synagogues – almost 100

killed Jews isolated from German society in ghettos – segregated Jewish areas “Final Solution”

Beginning of genocide – systematic killing of an entire people Use of concentration camps – gas chambers killed as many as 6,000

people a day All told, almost 6,000,000 Jews (and others) killed during Holocaust

V. Aftermath

After Germany was defeated, allied nations wanted to avoid failed peace of WWI Established United Nations – U.S., Britain, France, China

(Taiwan), U.S.S.R. (Soviet Union: Russia and friends) Way to negotiate international disputes Has been important regarding human rights, environmental

issues Yalta & Potsdam Conferences (1945)

Territorial gains for Soviets Divided Germany into four controlled territories

British, French, and U.S. sectors eventually became West Germany, Soviet sector became East Germany

Beginning of Soviet/Western tensions (Cold War)

CHALLENGE QUESTION!

Watch the clip about Hitler’s popularity in Germany and answer the following questions, using complete sentences:

1.What reasons did the woman in the video give for supporting Hitler?2.Why were the Jews being persecuted in Germany? What were they being blamed for?

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