WORLD WAR TWO1939-1945

The AlliesVersus

The Axis

3

Major Allied Leaders

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

DemocraticUSA Joseph Stalin

Communist DictatorUSSR

Winston ChurchillDemocraticGreat Britain

Harry TrumanDemocratic

USA1945

Major Axis Leaders

Adolf HitlerFascist (Nazi)

Dictator Germany

Benito MussoliniFascist Dictator

Italy

Hideki Tojo Military Dictator

Empire of Japan

CAUSES

Significant causes: The terms of the Treaty of

Versailles. Worldwide Depression. Rise of Nazism. Appeasement

The 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which ended WWI, imposed harsh conditions on a defeated Germany and sowed the seeds of discontent.

The Treaty of Versailles

Worldwide DepressionIn 1929 the economy collapsed around the world, WWI left every major European country nearly bankrupt. Germany’s debt made things worse

for the country. There was high inflation and rising

unemployment. German government did not have

enough money to cope, so it began to print money that it didn’t actually have!

It was cheaper to burn German money than buy coal!.

“I went into a café for a coffee. I noticed that the price was 5000 marks, which was roughly what I had in my pocket. I drank my coffee and read the paper. When I asked the bill, it was 8000 marks. The value of the mark had fallen in the space of one hour!”

Rise of Nazism

Hitler used the discontent and anger of the German people to gain power.

More and more people joined the Nazi party as Hitler promised to end unemployment and poverty, regain lost territories, and bring Germany back to a state of power.

Unwinding the Treaty…

As soon as Hitler came to power he began to rebuild Germany’s army and military. Hitler then moved his troops into Rhineland (1936), united with Austria (1938), and then set his sights on expanding east…

Appeasement…to satisfy

Great Britain and other European countries did not want another conflict, so they agreed to some of the demands made by Hitler.This was called the Policy of Appeasement.

The Policy of Appeasement encouraged Hitler. He could now do what he wanted – without the fear of being stopped.

.

September 1, 1939. Germany invades

Poland.

WWII BEGINS!

16

WORLD WAR II1939-1945

US involvement 1941-1945

1939

Sept.1 -

Germany

invades

Poland (official start to the war)

Sept. 3

-Britain &

France declare war

on Germa

ny

Dec. 7 – Japan bombs Pearl

Harbor; US

enters the war

1941

Aug-Sept. - Atomic bombing of

Hiroshima & Nagas

aki; Japane

se surren

der

1945

May - Germa

ns surren

der

1944

June 6 – D-Day

1943

Feb- USSR defeats Germany at the Battle of Stalingrad

Axis control of Europe-1940

1941 Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor Attack

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. United States enters the war. US and Great Britain declare war against Japan,

and allies Germany and Italy.

1942-1943Battle of Stalingrad. A battle between Germany and the Soviet Union. Due to harsh climate, and lack of supplies, Germany endures tremendous losses and was forced to retreatThe defeat is often considered a turning point in the war.

1944June 6

D-DAY: The Invasion of NormandyA major battle on the beaches of France in which the Allies took control of Western Europe.

Major German Defeat.

23

1945April-May

On April 27, as Allied forces closed in on Milan, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was captured and executed. His body was then taken to Milan and hung for public display.

On April 30, realizing that all was lost, German dictator Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker along with Eva Braun, his long-time companion and wife.

In May 1945 German forces surrender.

Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan).

1945August

The patient's skin is burned in a pattern corresponding to the dark portions of a kimono.

1945September

WWII officially ends after Japan signs a surrender on September 2nd 1945 -six years and a day after the war had begun.

WWII ENDS!

WARM UP: Read the graph and answer the questions. Write the answers only.

1. Which 4 countries spent the largest percentage on defense and what do these 4 have in common?

2. Which 3 countries have the lowest percentage spent on defense and what do they have in common?

3. Which country spent the lowest on defense in 1937 and why might that be?