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Block: ____Name: _________________________________________Today’s Date: _________________ Due Date: ______________

USII.7abc

World War II 1939 – 1945

Special Note: pages 2,3 & 4 contain the Essential Knowledge for this SOL. It is your responsibility to study this information, learn it, and know it for your quiz and test. This packet is intended to help you practice and understand

this SOL better. Work hard and do your best! Use the boxes below to write notes to aid in your review of content standards for SOL testing. Both boxes must be filled in with as

much information as possible. Failure to do so will result in a 5 point deduction of the grade for this packet.

Key Vocabulary Key Individuals

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STANDARD USII.7a

The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major causes and effects of American involvement in World War II by

a) identifying the causes and events that led to American involvement in the war, including the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Essential

Understandings Essential Questions Essential Knowledge Essential Skills

Political and economic

conditions in Europe

following World War I

led to the rise of

fascism and to World

War II.

The rise of fascism

threatened peace in

Europe and Asia.

As conflict grew in

Europe and Asia,

American foreign

policy evolved from

neutrality to direct

involvement.

How did post-World War I Europe

set the stage for World War II?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

How did the rise of fascism affect

world events following World

War I?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

How did American policy toward

events in Europe and Asia change

over time?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Causes of World War II

Political instability and economic devastation

in Europe resulting from World War I:

– Worldwide depression

– High war debt owed by Germany

– High inflation

– Massive unemployment

Rise of Fascism:

– Fascism is political philosophy in which

total power is given to a dictator and

individual freedoms are denied and

nationalism and, often, racism are

emphasized.

– Fascist dictators included Adolf Hitler

(Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and

Hideki Tojo (Japan).

– These dictators led the countries that

became known as the Axis Powers.

The Allies

Democratic nations (the United States, Great

Britain, Canada) were known as the Allies.

The Soviet Union joined the Allies after being

invaded by Germany.

Allied leaders included Franklin D. Roosevelt

and, later, Harry S. Truman (United States),

Winston Churchill (Great Britain), and Joseph

Stalin (Soviet Union).

Gradual change in American policy from

neutrality to direct involvement

Isolationism (Great Depression, legacy of

World War I)

Economic aid to Allies

Direct involvement in the war

War in the Pacific

Rising tension developed between the United

States and Japan because of Japanese

aggression in East Asia.

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the

United States at Pearl Harbor without

warning.

The United States declared war on Japan.

Germany declared war on the United States.

Make connections

between the past and

the present. (USII.1b)

Sequence events in

United States history.

(USII.1c)

Interpret ideas and

events from different

historical perspectives.

(USII.1d)

Analyze and interpret

maps that include major

physical features.

(USII.1f)

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STANDARD USII.7b

The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major causes and effects of American involvement in World War II by

b) locating and describing the major events and turning points of the war in Europe and the Pacific.

Essential

Understandings Essential Questions Essential Knowledge Essential Skills

Despite initial Axis

success in both

Europe and the

Pacific, the Allies

persevered and

ultimately defeated

Germany and Japan.

The Holocaust is an

example of prejudice

and discrimination

taken to the extreme.

What were the major events and

turning points of World War II?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

What was the Holocaust?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

Major events and turning points of World War II

Germany invaded Poland, setting off war in Europe.

The Soviet Union also invaded Poland and the Baltic

nations.

Germany invaded France and captured Paris.

Germany bombed London, and the Battle of Britain

began.

The United States gave Britain war supplies and old

naval warships in return for military bases in

Bermuda and the Caribbean (Lend Lease).

Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Germany declared

war on the United States.

The United States declared war on Japan and

Germany.

The United States was victorious over Japan in the

Battle of Midway. This victory was the turning point

of the war in the Pacific.

Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The Soviet

Union defeated Germany at Stalingrad, marking the

turning point of the war in Eastern Europe.

American and other Allied troops landed in

Normandy, France, on D-Day to begin the liberation

of Western Europe.

The United States dropped two atomic bombs on

Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) in 1945, forcing

Japan to surrender and ending World War II.

The Holocaust

Anti-Semitism

Aryan supremacy

Systematic attempt to rid Europe of all Jews

Tactics:

– Boycott of Jewish stores

– Threats

– Segregation

– Imprisonment and killing of Jews and others in

concentration camps and death camps

Liberation by Allied forces of Jews and others who

survived in concentration camps

Sequence events in

United States

history. (USII.1c)

Interpret events

from different

historical

perspectives.

(USII.1d)

Analyze and

interpret maps that

include major

physical features.

(USII.1f)

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STANDARD USII.7c

The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major causes and effects of American involvement in World War II by

c) describing the impact of the war on the home front.

Essential Understandings Essential Questions Essential Knowledge Essential Skills

World War II affected every

aspect of American life.

Americans were asked to make

sacrifices in support of the war

effort and the ideals for which

Americans fought.

How did Americans at home

support the war effort?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

What effect did the war have on

race relations in America?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

American involvement in World

War II brought an end to the

Great Depression. Factories and

workers were needed to produce

goods to win the war.

Thousands of American women

took jobs in defense plants

during the war (e.g., Rosie the

Riveter).

Americans at home supported

the war by conserving and

rationing resources.

The need for workers

temporarily broke down some

racial barriers (e.g., hiring in

defense plants), although

discrimination against African

Americans continued.

While many Japanese

Americans served in the armed

forces, others were treated with

distrust and prejudice, and many

were forced into internment

camps.

Make connections between the

past and the present. (USII.1b)

Sequence events in United

States history. (USII.1c)

Interpret ideas and events from

different historical perspectives.

(USII.1d)

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Before you begin this new unit on World War II, read the letter below of a British soldier who is about to enter the Battle of Arnhem. Many times soldiers would write letters such as this as their last words home should they not make it out of the battle. After you have finished reading the letter, answer these questions:

1. What type of war do you think World War II was to inspire a 21 year old soldier to write this type of letter home to his mother? _________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Do you believe that Ivor’s sentiments (thoughts/feelings) were isolated? Meaning, do you believe that Ivor

was the only soldier who felt like he did? Why or why not?

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

3. From what you already know about World War II, do you believe that the world needed to get involved in the war? Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What do you believe ultimately happened to Ivor? Do you believe his letter was mailed home or carried

home?

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

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Ivor Rowbery Age: 21 Private Ivor Rowbery, of the South Staffordshire Regiment, wrote this letter to his mother just before the Arnhem Battle and placed it in an envelope on which he wrote, “To the Best Mother in the World”.

Dear Mom,

Usually when I write a letter it is very much overdue, and I make every effort to get it away quickly. This letter, however, is different. It is a letter I hoped you would never receive, as it is just a verification of that terse, black-edged card which you received some time ago, and which has caused you so much grief. It is because of this grief that I wrote this letter, and by the time you have finished reading it I hope that it has done some good, and that I have not written it in vain. It is very difficult to write now of future things in the past tense, so I am returning to the present.

Tomorrow we go into action. As yet we do not know exactly what our job will be, but no doubt it will be a dangerous one in which many lives will be lost – mine may be one of those lives.

Well, Mom, I am not afraid to die. I like this life, yes – for the past two years I have planned and dreamed and mapped out a perfect future for myself. I would have liked that future to materialize, but it is not what I will but what God wills, and if by sacrificing all this I leave that world slightly better than I found it I am perfectly willing to make that sacrifice. Don’t get me wrong though, Mom, I am no flag-waving patriot, nor have I ever professed to be.

England’s a great little country – the best there is – but I cannot honestly and sincerely say “that it is worth fighting for.” Nor can I fancy myself in the role of a gallant crusader fighting for the liberation of Europe. It would be a nice thought but I would only be kidding myself. No, Mom, my little world is centered around you and includes Dad, everyone at home, and my friends at W’ton – That is worth fighting for – and if by doing so it strengthens your security and improves your lot in any way, then it is worth dying for too.

Now this is where I come to the point of this letter. As I have already stated, I am not afraid to die and am perfectly willing to do so, if, by my doing so, you benefit in any way whatsoever. If you do not then my sacrifice is all in vain. Have you benefited, Mom, or have you cried and worried yourself sick? I fear it is the latter. Don’t you see, Mom, that it will do me no good, and that in addition you are undoing all the good work I have tried to do. Grief is hypocritical, useless and unfair, and does neither you nor me any good.

I want no flowers, no epitaph, no tears. All I want is for you to remember me and feel proud of me, then I shall rest in peace knowing that I have done a good job. Death is nothing final or lasting, if it were there would be no point in living, it is just a stage in everyone’s life. To some it comes early, to others late, but it must come to everyone sometimes, and surely there is no better way of dying.

Besides I have probably crammed more enjoyment into my 21 years than some manage to do in 80. My only regret is that I have not done as much for you as I would have liked to do. I loved you, Mom, you were the best Mother in the World, and what I failed to do in life I am trying to make up for in death, so please don’t let me down, Mom don’t worry or fret, but smile, be proud and satisfied. I never had much money, but little I have is all your. Please don’t be silly and sentimental about it, and don’t try to spend it on me. Spend it on yourself or the kiddies, it will do some good that way. Remember that where I am I am quite O.K., and providing I know you are not grieving over me I shall be perfectly happy.

Well, Mom, that is all, and I hope I have not written it all in vain. Good-bye, and thanks for everything.

Your unworthy son,

Ivor Easy Extra Point: Read this letter to your parents/guardians and

have them sign below.

_________________________________________________ X

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World War II

World War II essentially stopped the world between 1939 and 1945. To this day, WWII remains the most

geographically widespread military conflict the modern world has ever seen. Although the fighting reached

across many parts of the world, most countries involved shared a united effort under the Allied leadership of

Great Britain, France, Soviet Union and the United States. These countries were the major contributors to the

Allied Powers aimed at ending the aggression of the Axis Powers composed of Germany, Italy and Japan.

(Italy will defect to the Allied side later in 1943 when their fascist dictator Benito Mussolini is captured by

Italian partisans – Mussolini will be assassinated in April 1945 by these partisans). Despite the fact that

Germany and Japan were technically allies, they had vastly different motives and objectives. Therefore, most

studies of WWII cover the conflicts with Germany and Japan separately, dividing the war into the European

Theater and Pacific Theater of operations.

European Theater Pacific Theater Main “Enemy” to

the Allied Powers

Germany

Japan

Leaders Adolf Hitler Hideki Tojo (Prime Minister)

Emperor Hirohito (Emperor)

Why they were an

enemy to the

United States?

Holocaust Imperialism of Asia and Attack of

American military at Pearl Harbor,

Hawaii

End Result Hitler died and Germany surrendered on

May 8, 1945. Germany divided into 2

countries (East Germany and West

Germany) and the capital city of Berlin

was divided into 4 military each controlled

by 1 of the four main Allied counties.

Japan sign official surrender on

September 2, 1945. Emperor Hirohito

is allowed to stay in power as it was

deemed that Prime Minister Tojo was

responsible for Japan’s war efforts.

Europe

Asia

Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean

European Theater of War Pacific Theater of War

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Causes of World War II World War II was not an isolated event. Many books, movies and television programs present WWII as the “Good War” fought to get rid of the “Bad Guys” for the good of the whole world. And in many ways it was a war of good vs evil. The Axis Power led by the Nazi Party in Germany were bad. The Nazi Party gained power by promising to restore Germany to her glory. Ever since the Treaty of Versailles was ratified in 1919, Germany had been hit by (1) a worldwide depression, (2) high War Debt (caused by massive war reparations), (3) high Inflation, and (4) massive unemployment. Germans were, for a lack of better words, desperate and willing to trust anyone who could offer them any type of relief from those horrible times. The Nazi Party offered relief to the German people, but at a horrific price. It is very important to understand that while the Nazi Party was centered in Germany, it does not mean that all Germans were Nazis. The Nazi Party was a political party. The Nazi Party is responsible for carrying out the Holocaust and The Final Solution which caused the deaths of over 12 million people in Europe, 6 million of which were targeted above all others, the Jewish race of Europe. So why did the German people elect Adolf Hitler in 1933 as Reich Chancellor? Because when the human race becomes so desperate for change, they are willing to try anything thinking that something has to be better than what they currently have. Have you ever heard the expression:

The Nazi Party used that way of thinking to lure people into supporting them. They also gave people an excuse for their horrible lot in life by blaming all of Germany’s problems on the Jewish race. This is called: Scapegoating. Scapegoating is when you blame someone else for your problems. The Jewish race did nothing to bring this type of discrimination and murder upon themselves. Unfortunately though, there was enough despair within the people of Germany that they allowed the Scapegoating to evolve (grow) from taunting to bullying; bullying to discrimination; and ultimately discrimination to murder. This form of leadership is not one that tends to development in most democratic nations. When any government holds absolute authority such as the Nazi Party of Germany, Dictatorships develop.

Rise of Fascism

Fascism is a political philosophy in which total power is given to a dictator and individual freedoms are denied while nationalism and often, racism are emphasized. Fascist dictators of WWII included Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and Hideki Tojo (Japan). These dictators came together to lead their countries and became known as the Axis Powers. A Fascist regime (government) can be very scary. When a country is ruled by a Fascist dictator, there is no voice for the common man. Whatever a Fascist dictator says, is law. If he sentences you to death, then death it is, without question or argument. In fact, questioning such a Fascist leader will in all likelihood, get you a death sentence.

So who would dare stand up to the Fascist dictators of the Axis Powers? The Allied Powers did. The Democratic nations

of Great Britain, France, and Canada were known as the Allies. The Soviet Union later joined the Allies after being

invaded by Germany and the United States joined the Allied powers after being attacked by Japan on December 07, 1941

at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

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European Theater 1939–1945 Europe erupted into a second world war on September 01, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. Prior to invading Poland, Hitler signed a secret agreement with

Stalin (the communist Tsar of Russia) called the Non-Aggression Pact. In this pact, the two nations agreed not to invade each other. Germany knew that they

wanted to retake land that was lost over the last hundred years in various wars. The Nazi Party argued that most of modern Poland and parts of western Russia had,

at one time, been part of a larger German Republic. As Poland bordered Russia, Germany did not want Russia knowing their plans for invasion. The Non-

Aggression Pact allowed German soldiers to invade Poland and set up troops along the Russian border without alarming the Russian troops. After all, even though

modern American text books tend to present Stalin as an “Allie” on the “good side” of WWII, he himself was

a dictator and a tyrant leader whom we know today as responsible for over 50 million of his own people’s

deaths. (He was not a very nice man and you definitely would not want to invite him over for dinner).

Many historians believe that Hitler really created this pact because he feared Stalin and his Russian troops.

Hitler thought the only way Germany could beat Russia would be to take Russia by surprise. It

worked…Kind of. That is until Stalin realized what was going on, and then watch-out Hitler, because no one

messed with the Stalin. With the help of the Russian troops maintaining the eastern front of the European

Theater and the British, French, American and Canadian troops holding down the western front of the

European Theater and northern Africa, it was only a matter of time before the Germans surrendered. Taking

on a two-front war like they had in Europe ended up not being such a good thing for the Germans…but a

great thing for the rest of humanity.

Directions: Complete the missing terms/phrases below:

1. Political __________________________ and ___________________________ devastation in

Europe resulting from

_________________________ included:

(A) ______________________________________________________________

(B) ______________________________________________________________

(C) ______________________________________________________________

(D) ______________________________________________________________

2. Rise of _______________________________, a political philosophy in which _____________ power is given to a ____________________ and

individual freedoms are denied and nationalism and often, _______________ are emphasized.

3. Fascist dictators included _____________________ (Germany), Benito Mussolini (________________), and ______________________(Japan).

4. These dictators led the countries that became known as the __________________ Powers.

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Meanwhile…

Pacific Theater 1941–1945 The United States had long maintained an isolationist foreign policy when it came to European problems. Ever since the Great Depression hit America in 1929,

America was trying to focus on herself and FDR was leading the revolution for social and government change in the hope of getting America out of the

Depression. Policies such as the ________ ________ helped America, but it did not end the Depression. The crank-up of American factories to produce and sell

(at huge marked-up prices) war supplies helped end the Depression in the US. So America’s foreign policy went from:

___________________________ to ______________________________ to ___________________________

The US’ direct involvement came on December 8, 1941, when FDR asked congress for a

Declaration of War against the empire of Japan. FDR’s request came 24 hours after Japan’s

navy attacked American Naval forces on the Island of Oahu on December 07, 1941. The

Japanese attack came in two waves. The first wave of

attack engaged between 7:40 and 7:55 am. The Americans

were completely caught off guard. America was not

anticipating an attack by Japan, let alone on a Sunday. To

make matters worse for the Americans, Hawaii wasn’t

even a state. It was simply military installation our Navy

and Air Force used to mobilize troops to the Pacific region

(ever since the Spanish-American war of ________).

The Second wave of attack by Japan came at ________am.

The first attack wave targets airfields and battleships. The

second wave targets other ships and shipyard facilities. The air raid lasts until 9:45 a.m. Due to

the lack in international communication, word of the Japanese attack did not reach the mainland

until after the attack was over. In the end, eight battleships were severely damaged, five ships

sunk along with three light cruisers, three destroyers and three smaller vessels along with 188

aircraft. The casualty list includes 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians killed, with 1,178

wounded. Included are 1,104 men aboard the Battleship USS Arizona killed after a 1,760-pound air bomb penetrated into the forward magazine

causing catastrophic explosions. America immediately declared war on Japan, and because of the Axis alliance, Germany then declared war on the

United States. The US then found itself in the middle of two wars of the ___________________________ and the __________________________

and the leader in what would become history’s iconic war.

1. Rising tension developed between the _________________________ and ______________ due to Japan’s _____________________ in East Asia.

2. On __________________________, Japan attacked the United States at ____________________________ without ________________________.

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European Theater

D

Key/Legend Represented by Countries/Allegiances Represented By:

Allied Powers Battle of Normandy

Axis Powers Battle of Stalingrad

Neutral Countries Battle of Britain

Directions: Label the map below to reflect the Neutral, Axis and Allied powers of World War II.

Make sure to label each country and major body of water and include the key as part of your labeling.

Black Sea

Morocco

Austria

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Pacific Theater

Key/Legend Represented by Countries/Allegiances Represented By:

Allied Powers Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Axis Powers Battle of Midway

Neutral Countries Bombings of Nagasaki & Hiroshima

Directions: Label the map below to reflect the Neutral, Axis and Allied powers of World War II.

Make sure to label each country and major body of water and include the key as part of your labeling.

Burma

Australia

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On December 08, 1941, FDR delivered the following speech with will forever live as an iconic

remembrance of American’s greatest generation:

“Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and

deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its

government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese

Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American

message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained

no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many

days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the

United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to

tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the

high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and

today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the

implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always

will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might,

will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to

the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable

triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a

state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire”.

-President Franklin D. Roosevelt, December 08, 1941

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WWII Review Part I

List the participating members of the alliances below:

Allied Powers Axis Powers

Major Causes of

World War II

Political __________________

resulting from the Treaty of

______________________.

High war debt owned by

_______________________

High ____________________

Rise of ___________________

in Italy.

World Wide

_________________________

Massive

_________________________

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The Holocaust

An Important Note to You the Student: In the face of an evil like the Holocaust, making a true connection with the victims can be overwhelming. Separating the victims from the numbers in order to comprehend the scope and horror of the Holocaust is nearly impossible. Museums, books, and pictures try to help educate people; but the fact will always remain that more than twelve million people, six million Jews alone, were slaughtered, at the hands of other humans. This is a tremendously difficult reality to grasp both emotionally and intellectually. The enormous number of victims and the many ways in which they were tortured and murdered are so widespread that it is incredibly easy for anyone to get lost the reality of the event. But it did happen. The Holocaust was real and still is real today. Nothing and no one will ever make that fact go away. If this is a difficult topic for you to study, please note that while you will study the basic provisions and facts of the Holocaust, the actual extent of depth in which you study the Holocaust is always up to you. No matter how many years go by, those events will not, must not, be forgotten. Directions: Define the following terms 1. Anti-Semitism: ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. Aryan supremacy: _________________________________________________________________________ The Nazi Party prided itself in scapegoating the problems of Germany on the Jewish race. However, there were millions of other people that were scapegoated by the Nazi also. Some of those groups include: Poles (people from ____________), Romani –AKA: Gypsies (nomadic peoples from northwest India), Catholics, Social Dissidents (people who spoke out or questioned the __________________), Prisoners of War (POWs), the Handicapped and Disabled (both physically and ______________), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Homosexuals and African-German children to name a few. At first the Nazi’s didn’t know exactly what to do with these groups of “unclean” people. So they started boycotting their stores and places of business hoping they would leave Germany voluntarily. When that didn’t work, the Nazi’s began threatening the groups; even encouraging young members of German society to engage in such hateful behavior towards these groups. But as history has shown the world, threats only go so far before actions need to take place and the threats were eventually replaced by segregation. The segregation was cruel, inhumane and subhuman. Members of these groups were forcibly taken away from their homes and towns and placed in Ghettos. The ghettos were heavily guarded and were without basic necessities to endure life. Hundreds of thousands died in these Ghettos, all because they didn’t have something as simple as basic medical necessities or even clean water or food. When the Ghettos became too big for the Nazi’s to control Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Goering and Reinhard Heydrich devised a “complete solution to the Jewish question”. They developed a systematic way to “eliminate” the Jews of Europe. They Imprisoned and killed of Jews and others in concentration camps and death camps.

From that point on throughout German-occupied Europe, the Germans began arresting those who resisted their domination and those they judged to be racially inferior or politically unacceptable. These people were mostly sent by train to forced-labor or concentration camps. While there were many camps, the list the follows outlines some of the more well known work and death camps of Europe.

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Concentration and Death Camps

Camp Function Location Est. Evacuated Liberated Est. No.

Murdered

Auschwitz Concentration/

Extermination

Oswiecim, Poland (near

Krakow)

May 26,

1940

Jan. 18, 1945 Jan. 27, 1945

by Soviets

1,100,000

Belzec Extermination Belzec, Poland March

17, 1942

Liquidated by

Nazis

December 1942

600,000

Bergen-Belsen Detention;

Concentration

(After 3/44)

near Hanover, Germany April

1943

April 15, 1945 by

British

35,000

Buchenwald Concentration Buchenwald, Germany

(near Weimar)

July 16,

1937

April 6, 1945 April 11, 1945

Self-Liberated;

April 11, 1945

by Americans

Chelmno Extermination Chelmno, Poland Dec. 7,

1941;

June 23,

1944

Closed March

1943 (but

reopened);

Liquidated by

Nazis

July 1944

320,000

Dachau Concentration Dachau, Germany (near

Munich)

March

22, 1933

April 26, 1945 April 29, 1945

by Americans

32,000

Mauthausen Concentration Mauthausen, Austria

(near Linz)

Aug. 8,

1938

May 5, 1945

by Americans

120,000

Neuengamme Sub-camp of

Sachsenhausen;

Concentration

(After 6/40)

Hamburg, Germany Dec. 13,

1938

April 29, 1945 May 1945

by British

56,000

Plaszow Concentration

(After 1/44)

Krakow, Poland Oct.

1942

Summer 1944 Jan. 15, 1945 by

Soviets

8,000

Sobibor Extermination Sobibor, Poland (near

Lublin)

March

1942

Revolt on October 14, 1943;

Liquidated by Nazis October

1943

Summer 1944

by Soviets

250,000

Stutthof Concentration

(After 1/42)

near Danzig, Poland Sept. 2,

1939

Jan. 25, 1945 May 9, 1945

by Soviets

65,000

Theresienstadt Concentration Terezin, Czech Republic

(near Prague)

Nov. 24,

1941

Handed over to Red Cross May

3, 1945

May 8, 1945

by Soviets

33,000

Treblinka Extermination Treblinka, Poland (near

Warsaw)

July 23,

1942

Revolt on April 2, 1943;

Liquidated by Nazis April 1943

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The Battle of Stalingrad

Date – Winter of 1942 – 1943

Conflict – World War II

Participants – German Vs Russian Troops

Location – Stalingrad, Russia

Interesting Facts –

Turning Point of the European Theater

Both the Russia and German Armies had over 1 million

men fighting at Stalingrad – Each!

91,000 Germans were taken prisoner by the Russians

Some historians believe that Hitler ordered the taking of Stalingrad simply because of the name of the city and Hitler's hatred of Joseph Stalin. For the same reason Stalin ordered that the city had to be saved. In September 1942, the German commander General Paulus advanced on the city of Stalingrad. His primary task was to secure the oil fields there. Stalingrad was also an important target as it was Russia’s center of communications and manufacturing for the country. The battle for the city descended into one of the most brutal in World War Two. The Germans took a great deal of the city but they failed to fully assert their authority. Areas captured by the Germans during the day, were re-taken by the Russians at night. In addition, the Germans also had to face the harsh Russian winter. Temperatures dropped well below zero and food, ammunition and heat were in short supply since Stalin had ordered all food and shelters to be destroyed before the Germans had arrived. Hitler ordered that Paulus should “fight to the last bullet”. However, by the end of January 1943, the Germans could do nothing else but surrender. The failure of the German Army was nothing short of a disaster. With such a massive loss of manpower and equipment, the Germans simply did not have enough manpower to cope with the Russian advance to Germany when it came. The battle at Stalingrad bled the German army dry in Russia and after this defeat, the Germany Army was in full retreat.

Operation Overlord “D-Day”

Date – June 06, 1944

Conflict – World War II

Participants – US, Britain, France, Canada Vs German

Location – Various beaches of Normandy, France

Interesting Facts – Planned by General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Largest Seaborne invasion in modern history

Allied troops had been waiting in boats to cross the English

Channel for up to 48 hours before they were given the go-ahead to

attack. Many of these soldiers became grossly sea sick as they

raided the shores.

Overnight between June 5th and the morning of June 6th, roughly 20,000 British and American airborne troops had been dropped by parachute behind Germany lines and were ordered to do as much damage as possible before the ground troops arrived by sea. Meanwhile, over 6,000 ships carrying hundreds

of thousands of Allied soldiers were making their way across the English Channel to five separate beaches with the hope that the airborne troops and the ground troops would meet up again as they pushed the Germans off the beaches of France and back toward Germany. The first wave alone brought 150,000

Allied soldiers to the French shore. Waiting for the Allied troops were the significantly better positioned German soldiers who held the higher ground positions above the beaches. The first day of the invasion was costly for the Allies in terms of casualties—especially at one landing point, Omaha Beach were over 4,000 Allied soldiers died—but the Germans were vastly outnumbered and rapidly overwhelmed by the incoming forces. The Allies therefore accomplished nearly all of their set objectives for the first day, which included fully securing the landing areas.

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Attack at Pearl Harbor

Date – December 07, 1941

Conflict – World War II

Participants – Japan Vs United States Location – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Interesting Facts – Hawaii was not a US state at the time

Japan had been at war with China since 1937 and was trying to take over as much of eastern Asia as it could. It also had serious ambitions toward taking territory in the Soviet Union. If Germany, which the Japanese government saw as a potential ally, would attack Russia from the west, Japanese military leaders felt they stood a good chance of seizing Soviet-controlled territory in the east. Throughout the 1930s, because of the Great Depression, the United States and many other European nations placed high tariffs on Japan. Because of these taxes Japanese oil, scrap metal and other materials were not being purchased by Americans. Japan lost millions of dollars in revenue which created a depression in Japan. Japan became very hostile towards the United States. Then on September 27, 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and _____________. The pact made the three nations official allies and formed the ____________ Powers. As early as January 1941, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku developed a plan for attacking the U.S. fleet at _____________________ and carried out training exercises to prepare specifically for such an attack. Japan’s goal was to make a permanent end to Western interference in its affairs by obliterating the U.S. and British military forces in the Pacific.

On the morning of December _____, 1941, a fleet of six aircraft carriers, twenty-five submarines, and nearly three dozen additional support ships were sitting 200 miles north of the Hawaiian island of Oahu—in the open sea, far beyond the line of sight of any U.S. forces. The first wave of Japanese planes numbered more than 180. Although U.S. radar operators saw the massive formation nearly a full hour before the attack began, they raised no alarm, because they mistook the planes for a group of U.S. bombers expected to arrive from California around the same time. The first wave of Japanese bombers arrived at the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor at 7:55 A.M. and was a complete surprise to US service members there; only nine Japanese planes were lost. The primary targets were major U.S. warships, most of which were docked close together in neat lines. These included eight of the nine battleships in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, along with several dozen other warships. The Japanese also targeted six nearby military airfields. A second attack wave of more than 160 planes followed just over an hour later. By this time, the Americans were well alerted and managed to bring down twenty Japanese planes. In all, the attack on Pearl Harbor killed 2,402 Americans, completely destroyed five battleships, damaged three more battleships, sank or seriously damaged at least eleven other warships, and destroyed nearly 180 aircraft on the ground. The only good luck the U.S. Navy had was that none of its aircraft carriers were in port at the time and that the Japanese bombers failed to hit the large fuel reserves in the area. In addition to attacking Pearl Harbor that day, Japan also attacked the U.S. territories of Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island, and Midway Island, as well as British interests in Malaya and Hong Kong. The next day, December 8, Roosevelt went before both houses of the U.S. Congress to request a declaration of war against Japan. After only a few hours, the declaration was formalized by Congress. Britain declared war on Japan the same day. Three days later, Germany declared war on the United States. Thus, the United States was now at war with both Japan and Germany and able to enter fully into its alliance with Britain.

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Battle of Midway

Date – June 04, 1942

Conflict – World War II

Participants – Japan Vs. United States

Location – Midway Island

Interesting Facts – Turning point for the war in the Pacific

On June 3, 1942, US Naval vessels carried out a light bombing raid on

Japanese carriers. Then early in the morning on June 4, 1942, Japan

initiated a massive attack on the US base at Midway Island. American

naval planes responded against the Japanese armada in a series of

waves. Although the first American attacks were easily defeated by the

Japanese, a group of U.S. dive-bombers finally got through Japanese

defenses and near three of Japan’s aircraft carriers, whose decks were

loaded with freshly fueled aircrafts preparing for takeoff. The American

bombers managed to hit the planes on all three carriers’ decks, setting

off a chain of explosions that engulfed the ships in flames and set off

ammunition stores in the lower decks of the giant ships. All three

carriers were put out of commission and were eventually scuttled by the

Japanese themselves. That afternoon, a fourth Japanese carrier was

damaged beyond repair.

The Battle of Midway only lasted one day. In all, the United States lost

one aircraft carrier, one destroyer, nearly 150 airplanes, and just over

300 men. The Japanese toll was far worse: four aircraft carriers, along

with more than 230 airplanes and more than 2,000 men.

Directions: Complete the outline below in the same format as the previous battles you have read in this packet.

Battle of Britain

Date – _______________________________

Conflict – ____________________________

Participants – ______________________________________

Location – _________________________________________

Interesting Facts –

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

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Directions: List 20 events that transpired during World War II. Please only list events that had a direct impact on or were a direct cause of WWII.

World War II Timeline

Directions: Use your text books, notes and supplemental materials to add significant events of the Second World War to the above timeline.

1939 1943 1942 1941 1940 1944 1945

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Life on American’s Homefront

This is an image of __________________________________.

Directions: On the lines below, write a radio commercial urging young American women to join the work force in order to help the war effort. Be sure to include (a) the type of business (b) why they should work there and (c) how working there will benefit America. ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

World War II Open Book/Notes Quiz

1. Causes of World War II

American

involvement in

World War II

brought an end to the

Great Depression.

Factories and

workers were needed

to produce goods to

win the war.

Thousands of American

women took jobs in defense

plants during the war (e.g.,

Rosie the Riveter).

While many Japanese

Americans served in the armed forces, others were treated with distrust and

prejudice, and many were forced into internment

camps.

The need for workers

temporarily broke down

some racial barriers (e.g.,

hiring in defense plants),

although discrimination

against African Americans

continued.

Americans at home

supported the war by

conserving and

rationing resources.

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_________________________________ and __________________________________ in Europe resulting from World War I:

2. Rise of Fascism:

– Fascism is political philosophy in which ____________ power is given to a ________________________ and individual

freedoms are _____________________ and nationalism and, often, racism are emphasized.

– Fascist dictators included _____________________________ (Germany), Benito Mussolini (________________), and

Hideki Tojo (_________________).

– These _________________________ led the countries that became known as the Axis Powers.

3. The Allies

__________________________________ nations (the United States, Great Britain, Canada) were known as the Allies. The Soviet

Union joined the Allies after being invaded by ____________________________________.

Allied leaders included _____________________________________________and, later, Harry S. Truman (United States),

Winston Churchill (____________________________________), and ___________________________________ (Soviet Union).

4. Gradual change in American policy from neutrality to direct involvement

5. War in the Pacific

Rising tension developed between the United States and ______________ because of Japanese aggression in _________________.

On ________________________________________, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor without warning.

The United States declared war on ____________________.

_______________________________ declared war on the United States.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

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6. Major events and turning points of World War II

Germany invaded _____________________, setting off war in Europe. The ___________________________ also invaded Poland

and the ________________________ nations.

___________________________ invaded ________________________and captured Paris.

Germany bombed __________________________________, and the Battle of _________________________ began.

The United States gave Britain ______________________________ and old naval warships in return for military bases in

_______________________________ and the _______________________________ (Lend Lease).

_____________________ bombed Pearl Harbor.

After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, ______________________________declared war on the United States.

The United States declared war on _________________________ and _____________________________.

The United States was victorious over Japan in the Battle of ___________________________. This victory was the turning point

of the war in the ___________________________.

Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union defeated Germany at __________________________________, marking

the _______________________________________of the war in ___________________________ Europe.

American and other Allied troops landed in ____________________________, France, on ________________________________

to begin the liberation of ____________________________ Europe.

The United States dropped _________atomic bombs on Japan (_________________________and _______________________) in

1945, forcing Japan to surrender and ____________________________________ World War II.

7. The Holocaust

Anti-Semitism: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Aryan supremacy: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Systematic attempt to rid Europe of all Jews: ____________________________________________________________________

Tactics:

Liberation by ___________________ forces of Jews and others who survived in ___________________________ camps.

TACTICS used

by the NAZI’s

during the

HOLOCAUST

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8. America’s Homefront

American involvement in World War II brought an end to the ______________________________________. Factories and workers

were needed to produce goods to ______________________________________________.

Thousands of American _________________________ took jobs in _____________________________________during the war

(e.g., Rosie the ________________________).

Americans at home supported the war by _____________________________ and ________________________ resources.

The need for workers temporarily __________________________________ some _______________________ barriers (e.g., hiring

in defense plants), although ________________________________ against African Americans ______________________________.

While many Japanese Americans served in the armed forces, others were treated with _________________________

and ____________________________, and many were forced into ____________________________________ camps.

1. What event in 1939 started World War II?

A Germany’s invasion of Poland

B Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor

C Hitler’s killing of Jewish people

D The sinking of American ships by German submarines

2. Which wartime leader is incorrectly matched with his

country?

A Mussolini – Italy

B Stalin – Russia

C Hitler – Germany

D Churchill – France

3. Which event in 1941 caused the United States to enter

World War II?

A Germany’s invasion of Poland

B Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor

C Hitler’s killing of Jewish people

D The sinking of American ships by German submarines

4. Who was the commanding general of the United States

forces in Europe during World War II?

A General Dwight D. Eisenhower

B General Douglas MacArthur

C General Bernard Montgomery

D General John Pershing

5. Which event of 1945 happened first?

A Hitler committed suicide.

B The United States dropped two atomic bombs.

C The Battle of Normandy took place.

D Japan surrendered.

6. Which was part of the United States strategy to defeat

Japan?

A Island hopping

B Tank attacks in north Africa

C Convoy supply lines in southwest Asia

D Kamikaze attacks

7. Which statement of opinion best describes fascism?

A Germans are the master race.

B A strong dictatorship is the best form of government.

C Government should own all farms and factories.

D The purpose of government is to protect people’s

rights.

8. Which famous battle fought on Russian soil halted the

German advance in WWII?

A Alamein

B Gallipoli

C Normandy

D Stalingrad

9. By the end of 1940, the United States began sending

supplies to Britain through the

A Berlin Airlift.

B Lend-Lease Program.

C Good Neighbor Policy.

D New Deal.

10. President Truman defended his decision to drop the A-

bomb by arguing that it would

A avoid huge United States troop casualties.

B prolong the war.

C punish the Japanese.

D reduce civilian deaths.

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What was your favorite page in this packet? _______

Why was this your favorite page? _______________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

*Continuation from page 5 of this packet: Private Ivor Rowbery, of the South Staffordshire Regiment of England, wrote this letter to his mother just before the Arnhem Battle and placed it in an envelope on which he wrote, “To the Best Mother in the World”. Ivor was killed in action on September 17, 1944.This letter was mailed home as his last words to his mother. Ivor’s letter still serves as a constant reminder of the type of men and women who were fighting during the second world war to ensure our peace and humanity in the world today.