World War II

Nazi aggressionOutbreak of War

Turning Points

10.8 Students analyze the causes and consequences of World War II.

10.8.2 - Understand the role of appeasement, nonintervention (isolationism), and the domestic distractions in Europe and the United States prior to the outbreak of World War II.

10.8.3 - Identify and locate the Allied and Axis powers on a map and discuss the major turning points of the war, the principal theaters of conflict, key strategic decisions, and the resulting war conferences and political resolutions, with emphasis on the importance of geographic factors.

I. Nazi Aggression

A. Hitler breaks the Versailles Treaty

1. By 1935 the German army is rebuilding2. In 1936 the German troops reoccupy a 30 mile

wide zone between Germany and France called the Rhineland

a. French and British stunned, but do nothing

b. Allies rely on the policy of appeasement

Rhineland

Maginot Line

A. Hitler breaks the Versailles Treaty3. In March of 1937, Hitler sends his army into

Austria and annexes it (called the Anschluss) a. British and French ignore pledge to keep Austrian

Independence

b. Many Austrians supported the unity with Germany

I. Nazi Aggression

Rhineland

Austria

Maginot Line

I. Nazi Aggression

B. Hitler and the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia)

1. 3 million German people live

in the land bordering Czech

and Germany

2. Sept. 1938 Hitler demands that it be handed over to Germany

a. Czechs refuse and ask France for help

b. Czechs have a defense treaty with France

Sudetenland

Czechoslovakia

Rhineland

Austria

Maginot Line

I. Nazi Aggression

B. Hitler and the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia)3. The Munich Conference, Sept. 1938

a. British and French give in to Hitler’s demand, hoping for peace

b. Czechs not invited

c. Hitler promised to respect the new borders

4. British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain believed that he had achieved “Peace in our time”

5. Hitler took the rest of Czech 6 months later

II. Outbreak of WarA. Hitler looks towards Poland

1. Hitler wants Poland nexta. Polish corridor be returned to

Germany, including the city

of Danzig

2. Britain and France promise to

aid Poland

3. German Non-Aggression Pact with Sovietsa. No threat of Soviet attack

b. Poland split in half

East Prussia

Sudetenland

Czechoslovakia

Rhineland

Austria

Maginot Line

II. Outbreak of WarA. Hitler looks towards Poland

4. Sept. 1, 1939 – Germans attack Polanda. Hitler uses his blitzkrieg tactics – “lightning war”

b. 1.5 Million men are carried by truck into Poland

c. Warsaw is overwhelmed, Poland falls in a matter of weeks

5. WWII has begun

East Prussia

Sudetenland

Czechoslovakia

Rhineland

Austria

PolandMaginot Line

II. Outbreak of WarB. The Battle for France and Britain

1. On Sept. 3, 1939, France and Britain declare war on Germany

2. The Phony War – 7 month pause in fighting

3. In May of 1940, Hitler attacks Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg

a. The Germans “squeezed between” the Maginot Line and reached the coasts of France in 10 days

II. Outbreak of WarB. The Battle for France and Britain

4. May 26, 1940 – The miracle at Dunkirka. 338,000 soldiers are trapped and surrounded on the coast

b. 850 ships (navy and civilian) rescue them across the English Channel

5. On June 14, Paris falls to the Germansa. On June 22, 1940, France surrenders

b. Puppet gov. set up in Vichy France (South)

Sudetenland

Rhineland

Austria

Maginot Line

Vichy France

East Prussia

Czechoslovakia

Poland

II. Outbreak of WarB. The Battle for France and Britain

6. Britain stands alone against the Nazisa. German invasion plan Operation Sea Lionb. RAF vs. Luftwaffe – “Battle of Britain”c. Germans target airbases first, then turn on British cities

d. Hitler hoped to break the British morale

7. Battle of Britain lasts until May of 1941 when Hitler finally calls off the attacks

III. Turning PointsA. Hitler and Operation Barbarossa

1. Early June 22, 1941, Hitler’s tanks roll into the Soviet Union

2. Soviets have the largest army in the world, but are completely unprepared

3. Within a few months Hitler drove 500 miles into Russia

a. Russians retreat, burning everything behind them

b. Russians held out until the Russian winter stopped the German divisions

Sudetenland

Rhineland

Austria

Maginot Line

Vichy France

East Prussia

Czechoslovakia

Poland

III. Turning PointsA. Hitler and Operation Barbarossa

4. The Battle of Stalingrada. Russians ordered to “hold at all costs”

b. Nov. 1942, Germans own 90% of the city

c. Russians counterattack during

winter (they were more prepared

for it than the Germans)

d. 1-2 million Russians, 260,000

Germans casualties

III. Turning PointsB. North Africa

1. Afrika Corps defeated at El Alameina. British Montgomery or “Monty” vs. German Rommel or

“the Desert Fox”

2. American troops land in Morocco

3. British and American troops drive Nazis off the continent in May of 1943

El Alamein

American Troops landing

III. Turning PointsC. June 6, 1944 – Allies land in France: D-Day

1. Operation Overlord – 3.5 million troops, thousands of planes, trucks, tanks, etc.

2. 60 miles of beach were invaded by American, British, and Canadian forces.

3. Paris was liberated by August of 1944.

III. Turning PointsD. December 16, 1944 – The Battle of the Bulge

1. Hitler tries one last blitzkrieg

2. Hitler attacked the allies in a hope to split the British and American forces

3. The offensive fails

4. The Germans are no longer able to mount any offensive actions

III. Turning PointsE. March 1945 – Allies march into Germany

1. By April of 1945, Soviet troops surrounded Berlin

2. Hitler commits suicide on April 29, 1945

3. May 8, 1945 – German unconditional surrendera. V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

IV. Pacific WarA. Japanese Expansion

1. 1931 – Japanese invade Manchuria

2. 1937 – Japanese invade the mainland of Chinaa. Japanese atrocities: Rape of Nanking

3. In order to get more resources and raw materials, the Japanese invade the rest of Southwest Asia

IV. Pacific WarB. Dec. 7, 1941

1. Japanese surprise attack Pearl Harbor, over 2,000 men die

2. America declares War on Japan

C. The Japanese push out1. They take Guam, the Philippines, and pushed all they way to

India

IV. Pacific WarD. The Tide Turns

1. Japanese are defeated at the battles of Coral Sea and Midway in early 1942

a. The Americans go on the offensive

2. American’s begin an “island hopping” campaign

E. Americans drop the Atomic Bomb1. Japan surrenders Sept 2, 1945