World War IIWorld War II

Treaty of Versailles FailsTreaty of Versailles Fails Contrary to the hopes of President Contrary to the hopes of President

Woodrow Wilson, the Treaty of Woodrow Wilson, the Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI did not Versailles that ended WWI did not create a “just and secure peace”.create a “just and secure peace”.

Germans saw nothing fair in a Germans saw nothing fair in a treaty that blamed them for WWI. treaty that blamed them for WWI.

Germans were also unsettled with Germans were also unsettled with the new boundaries drawn by the the new boundaries drawn by the treaty.treaty.

The treaty did nothing to help the The treaty did nothing to help the war-torn nations of Europe rebuild, war-torn nations of Europe rebuild, leaving most of Europe with huge leaving most of Europe with huge war debt, widespread hunger, war debt, widespread hunger, homelessness, and unemployment.homelessness, and unemployment.

The Rise of DictatorshipsThe Rise of Dictatorships Unable to cope with these Unable to cope with these

problems, the new problems, the new democracies of struggling democracies of struggling European nations collapsed European nations collapsed one by one.one by one.

In country after country, In country after country, dictators seized power and dictators seized power and threw out the elected leaders. threw out the elected leaders.

Some of these dictators were Some of these dictators were content with simply collecting content with simply collecting taxes and keeping order.taxes and keeping order.

A few, however, had far A few, however, had far grander ambitions.grander ambitions.

Communist Soviet UnionCommunist Soviet Union In 1924, the Soviet Union In 1924, the Soviet Union

was established as a was established as a Communist Nation led by Communist Nation led by a dictator known as a dictator known as Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin..

By 1939, Stalin had By 1939, Stalin had established a centralized established a centralized totalitarian government totalitarian government in which individuals have in which individuals have no rights and the no rights and the government suppresses government suppresses all opposition.all opposition.

Fascist ItalyFascist Italy While Stalin was consolidating While Stalin was consolidating

his power in the Soviet Union, his power in the Soviet Union, Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini was was establishing a fascist regime in establishing a fascist regime in Italy.Italy.

Fascism was a new political Fascism was a new political movement that consisted of a movement that consisted of a strong, centralized government strong, centralized government headed by a power dictator. headed by a power dictator.

Mussolini dreamed of making Mussolini dreamed of making Italy the great power of the Italy the great power of the world. world.

Nazi GermanyNazi Germany In Germany, In Germany, Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was was

establishing the concept of Nazism. establishing the concept of Nazism. Like fascism, Nazism was based on Like fascism, Nazism was based on

extreme nationalism and national extreme nationalism and national expansion. expansion.

In Hitler’s view, Germans- In Hitler’s view, Germans- especially blue-eyed, blonde haired especially blue-eyed, blonde haired “Aryans”- formed a “master race” “Aryans”- formed a “master race” that was destined to rule the world. that was destined to rule the world.

By 1932, more than 6 million By 1932, more than 6 million Germans were unemployed. Many Germans were unemployed. Many of these desperate people turned of these desperate people turned to Hitler as their last hope. to Hitler as their last hope.

In January 1933, Hitler was In January 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor (prime appointed chancellor (prime minister) of Germany.minister) of Germany.

Militarist Gain Control of Militarist Gain Control of JapanJapan

Halfway around the world from Halfway around the world from Germany, nationalistic military Germany, nationalistic military leaders in Japan were trying to take leaders in Japan were trying to take control of their government.control of their government.

These leaders shared Hitler’s belief These leaders shared Hitler’s belief in the need for expansion.in the need for expansion.

Militarists launched a surprise Militarists launched a surprise invasion of the Chinese province of invasion of the Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931. Manchuria in 1931.

Within several months, Japanese Within several months, Japanese troops controlled the entire troops controlled the entire province. province.

The success of this invasion put the The success of this invasion put the Japanese military firmly in control of Japanese military firmly in control of Japan’s government. Japan’s government. Hideki Tojo

Prime Minister of Japan

Alliances before WWII Alliances before WWII BeginsBegins

There were 2 alliances that formed before There were 2 alliances that formed before WWII:WWII:

Allied PowersAllied Powers: France and Britain: France and Britain

Axis PowersAxis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan: Germany, Italy, and Japan

The Soviet Union and the United States The Soviet Union and the United States claimed neutrality claimed neutrality

The German Offensive The German Offensive BeginsBegins

On September 1, 1939, Germany On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland using new tactics known invaded Poland using new tactics known as blitzkrieg (lightning war).as blitzkrieg (lightning war).

These new tactics enabled Germany to These new tactics enabled Germany to take the enemy by surprise and then take the enemy by surprise and then quickly crush all opposition with quickly crush all opposition with overwhelming force.overwhelming force.

As a result of this attack, Britain and As a result of this attack, Britain and France declared war on Germany on France declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939.September 3, 1939.

By the end of May 1940, Germany had By the end of May 1940, Germany had invaded and conquered Denmark, invaded and conquered Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.Luxembourg.

On June 17On June 17thth, 1940 France surrenders to , 1940 France surrenders to Germany and stops fighting.Germany and stops fighting.

The Battle of BritainThe Battle of Britain In June of 1940, In June of 1940,

immediately following immediately following France’s surrender, France’s surrender, Germany begins bombing Germany begins bombing Britain with its air force.Britain with its air force.

Every night for 2 solid Every night for 2 solid months, German bombers months, German bombers attacked London. attacked London.

Britain’s Royal Air Force Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) fought back (RAF) fought back brilliantly and are able to brilliantly and are able to hold back the Germans.hold back the Germans.

As a result, Hitler called off As a result, Hitler called off the invasion of Britain the invasion of Britain temporarily. temporarily.

The HolocaustThe Holocaust

Meanwhile, during the Meanwhile, during the all the fighting of WWII, all the fighting of WWII, Germany facilitates a Germany facilitates a mass genocide in its mass genocide in its own nation known as own nation known as the Holocaust.the Holocaust.

The Holocaust was the The Holocaust was the systematic murder of systematic murder of 11 million people 11 million people across Europe, more across Europe, more than half of whom than half of whom were Jews. were Jews.

Japan Attacks the U.S.Japan Attacks the U.S. Despite his strong efforts to keep Despite his strong efforts to keep

the U.S. out of the war, FDR was the U.S. out of the war, FDR was eventually provoked.eventually provoked.

To almost everyone’s surprise, the To almost everyone’s surprise, the attack that brought the U.S. into attack that brought the U.S. into war came not from Germany, but war came not from Germany, but from Japan.from Japan.

On December 7On December 7thth, 1941 Japan made , 1941 Japan made a surprise attack on the Pearl a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii. Harbor military base in Hawaii.

For Japan, the attack was a For Japan, the attack was a stunning victory.stunning victory.

The next day Roosevelt declared The next day Roosevelt declared war against Japan.war against Japan.

3 days later, Germany and Italy 3 days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.declared war on the U.S.

War in EuropeWar in Europe Following the Pearl Harbor attacks, Following the Pearl Harbor attacks,

British Prime Minister Winston British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and FDR spent 3 weeks Churchill and FDR spent 3 weeks devising a war plan to begin attack devising a war plan to begin attack on Nazi Germany in Europe.on Nazi Germany in Europe.

The most significant of these The most significant of these invasions was D-Day on June 6invasions was D-Day on June 6thth, , 1944 in which the allied forces 1944 in which the allied forces attacked Germans stationed in attacked Germans stationed in France.France.

By this point in the war the Soviet By this point in the war the Soviet Union had joined forces with the Union had joined forces with the allies in a effort to defeat Germany. allies in a effort to defeat Germany.

After a Soviet attack on Berlin, After a Soviet attack on Berlin, Germany on April 25Germany on April 25thth, 1945 Hitler , 1945 Hitler prepared for the end.prepared for the end.

Five days later, Hitler shot himself, Five days later, Hitler shot himself, leading to Germany’s final surrender leading to Germany’s final surrender on May 8on May 8thth, 1945. This day became , 1945. This day became known as V-E Day (Victory in Europe known as V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day). Day).

War in the PacificWar in the Pacific While the Allied Powers were defeating While the Allied Powers were defeating

Germany in Europe, Americans had Germany in Europe, Americans had also begun waging war against Japan. also begun waging war against Japan.

Unfortunately, Roosevelt did not live to Unfortunately, Roosevelt did not live to see the final battles of WWII. He died see the final battles of WWII. He died on April 12on April 12thth, 1945., 1945.

Harry S Truman became the nation’s Harry S Truman became the nation’s new president. new president.

On July 25On July 25thth, 1945 Truman ordered the , 1945 Truman ordered the military to drop 2 atomic bombs on military to drop 2 atomic bombs on Japanese targets.Japanese targets.

On August 6On August 6thth, 1945 the first atomic , 1945 the first atomic bomb was released over the city of bomb was released over the city of Hiroshima.Hiroshima.

3 days later, the second atomic bomb 3 days later, the second atomic bomb was released over the city of Nagasaki. was released over the city of Nagasaki.

Japanese Emperor Hirohito made an Japanese Emperor Hirohito made an official surrender on September 2official surrender on September 2ndnd, , 1945.1945.

United NationsUnited Nations

The end of WWII brought The end of WWII brought about the creation of the about the creation of the United Nations (UN)United Nations (UN)..

The UN is an The UN is an international international peacekeeping body peacekeeping body which aims to facilitate which aims to facilitate cooperation and prevent cooperation and prevent wars between countries. wars between countries.

It currently has 192 It currently has 192 member countries. member countries.