world war ii 1939-1945. germany invades poland wwii germany invades poland on september 1, 1939 two...
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WWIIWWII
Germany invades Poland on September 1, Germany invades Poland on September 1, 19391939Two days later, Britain and France declare Two days later, Britain and France declare war on Germanywar on GermanyGermans took Poland in less than a monthGermans took Poland in less than a monthIn late August, Hitler and Stalin had signed In late August, Hitler and Stalin had signed a nonaggression pact a nonaggression pact Red Army entered Poland from the east Red Army entered Poland from the east and the two split the countryand the two split the country
After war starts Congress passes Neutrality act of 1939
Permits Britain and France to purchase weapons on cash and carry basis
Loans and credit purchases still illegal
German aggression scared Americans
Spring, 1940Spring, 1940
German technique of “blitzkrieg” (lightning war)- German technique of “blitzkrieg” (lightning war)- massed, fast-moving columns of tanks massed, fast-moving columns of tanks supported by air powersupported by air power
German troops took Denmark, Norway, Holland, German troops took Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and LuxembourgBelgium, and Luxembourg
Sent more than 300,000 British troops in retreat Sent more than 300,000 British troops in retreat across the English Channel from Dunkirkacross the English Channel from Dunkirk
Hitler’s troops easily conquered France in June, Hitler’s troops easily conquered France in June, 19401940
BLITZKRIEG DEVASTATES NORWAY, DENMARK, THE
NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM
APRIL 1940 GERMANY INVADES DENMARK AND NORWAY.
WITHIN WEEKS THESE COUNTRIES FELL TO GERMANY AS DID BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS
THE MAGINOT LINE FAILS TO PROTECT THE FRENCH
COUNTRY SIDE
IF YOU ENTRENCH YOURSELF BEHIND A STRONG FORTRESS YOU COMPEL YOUR ENEMIES TO SEEK
A SOLUTION ELSEWHERE
OPERATION SEALION TURNS AWAY FROM ATTACKING MILITARY POSITIONS TO CIVILIAN ONES
THE BLITZ ATTACKS MAJOR CITIES
DESTROYS BUILDINGS ALL OVER BRITAIN
HITLER WANTS BRITS
TO DEMAND SURRENDER
BRITAIN FIGHTS ON, USES RADAR
TO BEAT GERMANS
Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
British Royal Air Force defeats German British Royal Air Force defeats German Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain- Summer Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain- Summer Fall of 1940Fall of 1940
British invent radar and are able to detect British invent radar and are able to detect German planesGerman planes
““Britain Stands Alone”Britain Stands Alone”
American Sympathy (and little else) American Sympathy (and little else) Goes to BritainGoes to Britain
Americans in shock Americans in shock by German attacks on by German attacks on British civilians.British civilians.
Awed by British Awed by British perseverance and perseverance and will. will.
Enact Neutrality acts Enact Neutrality acts in 1934,1935,1937 in 1934,1935,1937 and 1939and 1939
Atlantic CharterAtlantic CharterSecret meeting between FDR and Secret meeting between FDR and Churchill in August, 1941Churchill in August, 1941
To map out military strategy and declare To map out military strategy and declare “common principles”“common principles”
Similar to Wilson’s 14 PointsSimilar to Wilson’s 14 Points
Italy gets in Germanys wayItaly gets in Germanys wayItaly tries to invade Greece and fails (winter 1940-41)Italy tries to invade Greece and fails (winter 1940-41)
Hitler is forced to help Mussolini and postpone Hitler is forced to help Mussolini and postpone Operation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa
By April, Hitler had conquered all of the Balkan regionBy April, Hitler had conquered all of the Balkan region
In June, 1941, he launched his invasion of the Soviet In June, 1941, he launched his invasion of the Soviet Union “Operation Barbarossa”Union “Operation Barbarossa”
9/27/40- Japan joined the Axis powers9/27/40- Japan joined the Axis powers
When Japan occupied Indochina in July, 1941, FDR When Japan occupied Indochina in July, 1941, FDR froze all Japanese assets in the US and cut off its oil froze all Japanese assets in the US and cut off its oil suppliessupplies
US Prepares for warUS Prepares for war
FDR move Pacific FDR move Pacific Fleet from San Fleet from San Diego to Pearl Diego to Pearl Harbor in 1940Harbor in 1940
Pearl HarborPearl HarborDecember 7, 1941December 7, 1941
Within 2 hours, Japanese pilots had Within 2 hours, Japanese pilots had destroyed nearly 200 American planes destroyed nearly 200 American planes and badly damaged the fleet, more than and badly damaged the fleet, more than 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 woundedwounded
On the same day, Japan struck US bases On the same day, Japan struck US bases on the Philippines, Guam, and Wake on the Philippines, Guam, and Wake IslandIsland
The World at WarThe World at War
Chief weapons were Chief weapons were tanks and airplanestanks and airplanes
Also important were Also important were artillery and artillery and explosivesexplosives
Major improvements Major improvements in communication in communication systems, two-way systems, two-way radio transmissionradio transmission
Style of war changes
WWI v WWIISlow, plodding fastTrenches tanks and planesMassive assaults Constant movesTotal war Total WarHeavy Artillery Aircraft Carriers
The Soviet UnionThe Soviet UnionOperation BarbarossaOperation Barbarossa
Why Invade Russia?Why Invade Russia?
Hitler’s forces overran the Red Army, killing or Hitler’s forces overran the Red Army, killing or capturing nearly 3 million soldierscapturing nearly 3 million soldiers
Soviet resistance- Russians cut German supply Soviet resistance- Russians cut German supply lines and sent every available resource to lines and sent every available resource to Russian troops outside MoscowRussian troops outside Moscow
Summer of 1942, Hitler decided to attack Summer of 1942, Hitler decided to attack Stalingrad, a major industrial city on the Volga Stalingrad, a major industrial city on the Volga River; Soviets suffered more casualties in these River; Soviets suffered more casualties in these battles than Americans did in the entire warbattles than Americans did in the entire war
continuedcontinued
February, 1943- German 6th Army was February, 1943- German 6th Army was defeateddefeated
In retreat, Germans lost another major In retreat, Germans lost another major battle in the Ukrainebattle in the Ukraine
US lend-lease program helped the US lend-lease program helped the RussiansRussians
Allied OffensiveAllied Offensive
Spring, 1942- Germany, Italy and Japan Spring, 1942- Germany, Italy and Japan commanded territory from France to the commanded territory from France to the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
Americans entered the war in Europe as Americans entered the war in Europe as part of Operation Torch, the landing ofpart of Operation Torch, the landing of
British and American troops in Morocco British and American troops in Morocco and Algeria in Novemberand Algeria in NovemberBattle of El Alamein- October, 1942- Battle of El Alamein- October, 1942- Egypt- British 8Egypt- British 8thth Army stopped a major Army stopped a major offensive by the German General offensive by the German General Rommel, the “Desert Fox”Rommel, the “Desert Fox”
North AfricaNorth Africa
May, 1943- Allies controlled N. AfricaMay, 1943- Allies controlled N. Africa
Casablanca Conference- January, 1943 Casablanca Conference- January, 1943 FDR and Churchill announced that they FDR and Churchill announced that they would only accept unconditional surrender would only accept unconditional surrender from their enemiesfrom their enemies
Aerial BombingAerial Bombing
US pilots preferred the daylight hours, US pilots preferred the daylight hours, while the British bombed during the nightwhile the British bombed during the night
Bombing missions over the Rhineland and Bombing missions over the Rhineland and the Ruhr took out many German factoriesthe Ruhr took out many German factories
Royal Air Force leveled the city of Royal Air Force leveled the city of HamburgHamburg
60 other cities were hit hard also60 other cities were hit hard also
Air offensive weakened German moraleAir offensive weakened German morale
Allied Invasion of EuropeAllied Invasion of Europe
In August, 1943, British and American In August, 1943, British and American troops conquered Sicilytroops conquered Sicily
Mussolini was dismissed by the king and Mussolini was dismissed by the king and Italy surrendered on September 8, 1943Italy surrendered on September 8, 1943
Hitler sent troops to northern ItalyHitler sent troops to northern Italy
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising- spring, 1943Warsaw Ghetto Uprising- spring, 1943
Partisans were active in many sections of Partisans were active in many sections of EuropeEurope
D-DayD-DayJune 6, 1944June 6, 1944
Stalin continues to call for a “Second Front”Stalin continues to call for a “Second Front”
Operation Overlord- the invasion of NormandyOperation Overlord- the invasion of Normandy
Allied fleet brought more than 175,000 troops Allied fleet brought more than 175,000 troops and more than 20,000 vehicles to Franceand more than 20,000 vehicles to France
Germans killed 2,500 troops.Germans killed 2,500 troops.
In the next six weeks, one million more Allied In the next six weeks, one million more Allied soldiers came ashoresoldiers came ashore
End of European WarEnd of European WarAllied troops arrived in Paris in August, 1944Allied troops arrived in Paris in August, 1944
One occupied country after another fellOne occupied country after another fell
Battle of the Bulge- Allies were taken by Battle of the Bulge- Allies were taken by surprise driving them back 50 miles before surprise driving them back 50 miles before they were stoppedthey were stopped
This last effort exhausted the German This last effort exhausted the German capacity for counterattackcapacity for counterattack
It was the bloodiest American battle since It was the bloodiest American battle since GettysburgGettysburg
V-E DAYV-E DAYHitler commits suicide on April Hitler commits suicide on April 3030thth
Adm. Karl Donitz surrenders on Adm. Karl Donitz surrenders on May 8May 8thth
The “Thousand Year Reich” The “Thousand Year Reich” ends after 12 years and millions ends after 12 years and millions deaddead
The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan ProjectDevelop an Atom BombDevelop an Atom BombEinstein warns FDR of German plans to Einstein warns FDR of German plans to build super bombbuild super bombIn 1942 Fermi creates successful chain In 1942 Fermi creates successful chain reactionreactionOppenhiemer field tests it in July 1945Oppenhiemer field tests it in July 1945
““I have become death, the destroyer I have become death, the destroyer of worlds” Bhagavad Gitaof worlds” Bhagavad GitaDo you use it?Do you use it?Moral questionMoral question
The wars endsThe wars ends
8/6 1945 18/6 1945 1stst Atomic bombs its Hiroshima Atomic bombs its Hiroshima 140,000 dead 90% building destroyed140,000 dead 90% building destroyed
8/9 1946 28/9 1946 2ndnd bomb hits Nagasaki bomb hits Nagasaki Similar results as Hiroshima Similar results as Hiroshima
8/14 japans surrenders (V-J day)8/14 japans surrenders (V-J day)