HOW DID THE SECOND WORLD WAR BECOME A WORLD WAR?

A.Rotolo I.T.I. Malignani - Udine

HOW DID THE HOW DID THE SECONDSECOND

WORLD WAR WORLD WAR BECOME A WORLD BECOME A WORLD

WAR?WAR?


• In the early years, the Second World War In the early years, the Second World War in Europe could not have been more in Europe could not have been more different from the First World War. different from the First World War. Germany quickly conquered Poland, but Germany quickly conquered Poland, but there was no fighting in western Europe there was no fighting in western Europe

for the first nine months.for the first nine months.

• When Hitler finally invaded France in May When Hitler finally invaded France in May 1940 he swept through Holland and 1940 he swept through Holland and Belgium and conquered most of France.Belgium and conquered most of France.

• In June 1941 Hitler invaded the USSR.In June 1941 Hitler invaded the USSR.

glossary

glossary


• Meanwhile, on the other side of the Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a separate conflict was world, a separate conflict was developing.developing.


PEARL HARBORPEARL HARBOR

• On 7 December 1941, a Sunday, a band On 7 December 1941, a Sunday, a band was rehearsing on the deck of a warship was rehearsing on the deck of a warship in the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in in the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Hawaii.

• A few minutes later, the bandsmen were A few minutes later, the bandsmen were diving for cover or running to their diving for cover or running to their stations as the first wave of Japanese stations as the first wave of Japanese fighter planes dropped their bombs and fighter planes dropped their bombs and torpedoes.torpedoes.

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glossary


• By the afternoon By the afternoon of 7 December of 7 December Pearl Harbor lay in Pearl Harbor lay in ruins and the US ruins and the US fleet was a mass fleet was a mass of twisted metal.of twisted metal.

• Japan had made Japan had made its play for its play for domination in the domination in the Pacific.Pacific.


THE RIVALRY BEGINSTHE RIVALRY BEGINS

• Rivalry between Japan and the USA Rivalry between Japan and the USA had begun in the 1920s. While the had begun in the 1920s. While the European powers fought out the European powers fought out the First World War, Japan was able to First World War, Japan was able to take over much of their trading take over much of their trading activity in the Far East. activity in the Far East.

• By 1921 the rise of Japan was By 1921 the rise of Japan was beginning to worry the USA that beginning to worry the USA that also wished to dominatealso wished to dominate trade in trade in the Pacific.the Pacific.


• Japan was pressured by the USA into Japan was pressured by the USA into a series of treaties which limited its a series of treaties which limited its influence over China and reduced influence over China and reduced the size of the Japanese navy. The the size of the Japanese navy. The USA and western European USA and western European countries also placed tariffs on countries also placed tariffs on Japanese goods.Japanese goods.

• In response powerful businessmen In response powerful businessmen and military leaders such General and military leaders such General Tojo increasingly called for Japan to Tojo increasingly called for Japan to build its own empire on the build its own empire on the mainland of Asia.mainland of Asia.


Profile: General TojoProfile: General Tojo• Born in 1884.Born in 1884.• Graduated with Graduated with

distinction from distinction from military college.military college.

• Rose quickly to the Rose quickly to the rank of general.rank of general.

• He was a leading He was a leading figure among the figure among the nationalists.nationalists.

• In 1940 he became In 1940 he became War Minister.War Minister.

• In 1941 he became In 1941 he became Prime Minister.Prime Minister.


AMERICA’S CONCERNS AMERICA’S CONCERNS GROWGROW

• When the world When the world trade depression trade depression on the 1930son the 1930s began to hit Japan, began to hit Japan, these empire these empire builders took their builders took their chance and chance and invaded Manchuria invaded Manchuria in 1931. In 1937 in 1931. In 1937 Japan launched a Japan launched a war with China.war with China.

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glossary


• These developments were watched with These developments were watched with concern in America. Roosevelt was concern in America. Roosevelt was especially worried when Germany and especially worried when Germany and Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact in Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact in 1936. Italy signed in 1937, bringing three 1936. Italy signed in 1937, bringing three aggressive regimes together into one aggressive regimes together into one alliance. In that same year Japan alliance. In that same year Japan launched a full-scale invasion of China.launched a full-scale invasion of China.

• Roosevelt did not want war, but he began Roosevelt did not want war, but he began to prepare the American people for the to prepare the American people for the possibility of a war. possibility of a war.


• By 1941, however, By 1941, however, there was a definite there was a definite shift in the opinions of shift in the opinions of American politicians American politicians and military leaders. and military leaders.

• The fall of France in The fall of France in 1940 and the 1940 and the devastating devastating effectiveness of the effectiveness of the German army as it German army as it swept through swept through western Europe had western Europe had jolted Americans.jolted Americans.

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glossary


• American spies also American spies also informed Roosevelt informed Roosevelt that there had that there had been top-level been top-level meetings among meetings among German, Italian and German, Italian and Japanese Japanese politicians. politicians.

• On 27 September On 27 September 1940 these three 1940 these three governments governments signed a Tripartite signed a Tripartite PactPact.


• Although the USA Although the USA was supposedly was supposedly neutral, it was clear neutral, it was clear that Roosevelt that Roosevelt supported Britain.supported Britain.

• The USA was doing The USA was doing all it could to help all it could to help the British in the the British in the war in Europe - war in Europe - except for fighting except for fighting with themwith them.


JAPAN’S DILEMMAJAPAN’S DILEMMA

• Japan’s invasion of China was a Japan’s invasion of China was a spectacular success, but even bigger spectacular success, but even bigger prizes beckoned once war in Europe prizes beckoned once war in Europe broke out. Britain, France and Holland broke out. Britain, France and Holland had large territories in the Far East which had large territories in the Far East which they could not possibly defend while they they could not possibly defend while they were at war with Germany. President were at war with Germany. President Roosevelt was worried about American Roosevelt was worried about American interests in China and in the Pacific, interests in China and in the Pacific, particularly in the Philippines. particularly in the Philippines.

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glossary


• Roosevelt restricted the supply of Roosevelt restricted the supply of important materials to Japan from 1940.important materials to Japan from 1940.

• This was Japan’s dilemma: it wanted to This was Japan’s dilemma: it wanted to carve out an empire in the Far East which carve out an empire in the Far East which would make it self-sufficient in vital would make it self-sufficient in vital materials such as rice, oil, coal and materials such as rice, oil, coal and rubber. However, not only the USA rubber. However, not only the USA worried Japan, also the USSR. In June worried Japan, also the USSR. In June 1941 Hitler solved Japan’s second 1941 Hitler solved Japan’s second problem when he invaded the USSR.problem when he invaded the USSR.

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glossary


• In July 1941 Japan took control of French Indo-China and it seemed that Japan had made up its mind to challenge the USA: on 7 December 1941 some 300 planes took off from aircraft carriers to launch their attack on Pearl Harbor.


FOCUS TASK

After reading Source 1, 2 e 3, write a short speech for Roosevelt to give in one of his fireside chats, explaining to the American people why they are now involved in the war.

SOURCE 1Some of our people like to believe that wars in Europe and Asia are no concern of ours. But it is a matter of most vital concern to us that European and Asiatic war-makers should not gain control of the oceans which lead to this hemisphere. If great Britain goes down, the Axis powers will control the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the high seas. All of us would be living at the point of a gun.

From one of Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats”,broadcast in 1940. Roosevelt was the first

political leader to use radio regularly totalk directly to his people

SOURCE 2America is a decayed country. I like An Englishman a thousand times better than an American … Everything about the behavior of America society reveals that it is half Jew and the other half negro. How can one expect a state like that to hold together – a country where everything is built on the dollar.

Hitler writing about the USA before the war began

SOURCE 3We can have no choice but to follow the letter of the law in the three-power treaty and declare war on the United States.

From a speech by Joseph Goebbels


GLOSSARYGLOSSARY

To sweep, swept, swept throughTo sweep, swept, swept through:: infuriare infuriareTo rehearse: provare, ripassareTo rehearse: provare, ripassareTorpedo: siluroTorpedo: siluroTo launch: lanciareTo launch: lanciareTo jolt: scuotereTo jolt: scuotereTo beckon: chiamare, allettareTo beckon: chiamare, allettareTo carve out: ritagliarsiTo carve out: ritagliarsi

HOW DID THE SECOND WORLD WAR BECOME A WORLD WAR?

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