World War II

Rise of the Third Reich (Germany)

Hitler Gains Power

• 1923 Hitler attempts to overthrow the gov’t with about 3,000 Nazi supporters—fails

• Sent to prison for 5 years (serves 9 months). While in prison writes Mein Kampf in which he lays out his plan for Germany

• By 1933 Hitler was voted Prime Minister– Changed office into

dictatorship– Restricted rights of Jews

Appeasement

• Great Britain and France feared another war and did not stand against Hitler when he—– Rebuilt Army– signs alliances with

Italy and Russia– Annexed (added)

Austria and Czechoslovakia

War in Europe Begins

• Hitler invades Poland on Sept. 1, 1939

• May 10, 1940 invades Belgium, Netherlands, and France

• German Bliztkrieg (rapid movement of tanks, planes, artillery, and soldiers) overwhelms European forces

• June 1941 Germany invades Russia (mistake!)

Europe 1933

Nazi Europe 1945

What is America doing?

• At first (1930s)Congress passes laws throughout 1930s to keep America neutral…

• By 1940 America began a peacetime draft

• Lend-Lease Act- March 1941, America agrees to give war supplies to any nation vital to our defense (ie Britain)

December 7, 1941

• Japan launches surprise attack on American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

• U.S. declares war on Japan and Germany

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation

• 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…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

World War II

War in Europe

North African/Italian Campaign

• 1942-43 American and British forces came together to force German General “Desert Fox” Rommel out of Africa

• July 1943 American forces led by General Patton attacked Sicily and then mainland Italy

• Quick victory led to overthrow and execution of Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini

D-Day - June 6th, 1944

• Combined force of 150,000 American and British forces landed on the German controlled beaches in Normandy, France– “Band of Brothers”

paratroopers dropped into France the night before

• Heavy casualties for Americans

Battle of the Bulge

• Hitler launches last desperate counterattack in December 1944 breaking through American lines– Germany drafts men as

young as 15

• Largest battle ever fought by American army

• Counterattack fails and German leaders realize war is lost – attempts to assassinate

Hitler unsuccessful

Victory in Europe

• American forces from West and Soviet forces from East close in on Berlin in 1945

• Hitler commits suicide on April 30th, 1945-Germany surrenders days later

• VE Day May 8th, 1945

World War II

War in the Pacific

Bataan Death March

• Hours after Pearl Harbor Japan attacks Philippines

• General MacArthur forced to Bataan Peninsula

• 11,000 Americans/Filipinos captured on May 6, 1942

• Prisoners forced on 6-12 day march where 10,000 died

Battle of Midway

• June 4, 1942 American-Japanese fought on small island over defense of Hawaii

• Americans destroyed 4 Japanese aircraft carriers—became last Japanese offensive battle

Island Hopping

• America began strategy of attacking specific islands (or bypassing) in attempt to draw near mainland Japan

• Battle of Philippines saw 1st use of kamikazes (suicide planes) by Japanese

• Iwo Jima- bloody battle in which 25,000 Japanese held off 110,000 Americans for months

Pacific Campaign Map

Manhattan Project• Top scientists helped

organize in 1939 with goal of creating atomic bomb

• July, 1945 1st atomic bomb detonated in New Mexico desert

• U.S. gives Japan ultimatum in July 1945 at Potsdam Conference

V-J Day!

• Japan surrenders on August 15th, 1945 after the U.S. dropped A-Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Impact of War

• Estimated death toll in World War II of roughly 72 million—(1/3 military) worldwide

• Approximately 400,000 Americans killed

Helpful Terms

• incendiary bomb --The incendiary bomb that burned targets and was used after 1943. Sometimes incorporating napalm, these bombs were responsible for burning over 41.5 square miles of Tokyo by the United States in March 1945.

• providence --divine guidance or care • ultimatum --the final propositions, conditions, or terms

offered by either of the parties during a diplomatic negotiation