WWII Notes

Historical Backdrop and Causes

• The decades following the end of WWI (1919 – 1939) were marked by unease, war recovery, economic depression, as well as discontentment with the Treaty of Versailles (ended WWI)

• Radical and authoritative leaders came to power in Spain, Germany, Italy, Soviet Union, and Japan to either solves their nations problems or expand their power

• During the 1930s America’s return to Isolationism, as well as a state of war weariness by Britain and France, led to the exposure of the weaknesses of the League of Nations as the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were defied by Germany and other aggressive states

• The Treaty of Versailles is a major contributor to start of WWII as it created the conditions that allowed the aggressive Nazi party and Hitler to seize control of Germany, as well contributed to the rise of Fascism in Italy and encouraged the expansion of Militarism in Japan.

The Impact of Treaty of Versailles:

• The Italian Fascist state was forged out of the instability of the 1920s, disappointment over the Treaty of Versailles, and fear that communism would spread. Mussolini comes to power and promotes Italian nationalism and empirical expansion.

• Hitler becomes Chancellor in Germany in 1933 and promises to restore the German economy and rearms the nation, eventually taking successive aggressive actions that defy the Treaty of Versailles

• Japanese equality was not recognized after WWI. Japan expanded its imperial ambitions and continued to build its military throughout the 1920s and 30s, eventually invading China and S.E. Asia.

• With America largely on the sidelines, the Western democracies of Europe (Britain and France) were unable to check the aggressive actions of Germany, Italy, and Japan

• Throughout the 1930s the ominous storm clouds of war were gathering as the reordering of the world after WWI was destabilizing

The Storm Clouds – A Timeline

• __________ - political ideology of fascism developed by Mussolini in Italy (becomes Hitler’s role model)

• __________ - Japan seizes control of Manchuria (N.E. China)

• __________ - Hitler elected Chancellor of Germany promising rescue from economic chaos; Hitler eliminates political opposition and establishes a dictatorship

• __________ - Hitler openly builds up the military; Mussolini invades Ethiopia

• __________ - Hitler sent troops into the border area with France (called the Rhineland)

• __________ - Germany, Italy, and Japan begin signing alliances

• ____________________ - Italy and Germany support the Fascist Francisco Franco in Spain during the Spanish civil war (considered the “Dress Rehearsal” for WWII)

• __________ - Japan expands into the rest of China (Raping of Nanking incident)

• __________ - Germany annexed Austria (Anchluss); British Prime Minister Chamberlain calls for a conference at Munich; Munich Agreement signed giving part of Czechoslovakia to Germany in exchange for Hitler’s “promise” not to make any more demands

• Western powers (Great Britain, France, U.S.) pursue a policy of _______________________ (giving the aggressor what they want) to avoid war

• __________ - Germany takes the rest of Czechoslovakia (Munich is a failure); Britain and France pledge to protect Poland; Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed (Germany and Soviet Union secretly agree to split Poland);

• _________________________ : Germany invades western Poland (Soviet Union invades eastern Poland on 17th); Britain and France declare war

• ____________ in Europe and becomes a global conflict by 1941

Formation of the Axis

Although the Axis partners never developed institutions to coordinate foreign or military policy as the Allies did, the Axis partners had two common interests:

• Territorial expansion and foundation of empires based on military conquest and the overthrow of the post-World War I international order; and

• The destruction or neutralization of Soviet Communism.

On November 1, 1936, Germany and Italy announced a Rome-Berlin Axis one week after signing a treaty of friendship. Nearly a month later, on November 25, 1936, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan signed the so-called Anti-Comintern Pact directed at the Soviet Union. Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact on November 6, 1937. On May 22, 1939, Germany and Italy signed the so-called Pact of Steel, formalizing the Axis alliance with military provisions. Finally, on September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact, which became known as the Axis alliance.

WWII – War in Europe

The Blitzkrieg

• Technology had advanced rapidly from the end of WWI to the start of WWII, especially aircraft.

• Hitler used his air force (_______________________) and tanks (_________________________) to rapidly dominate mainland Europe in the initial phases of the war

• This war strategy is called the _________________________________, or lightening war

German Advances

• Using the Blitz, Germany quickly overran Poland, Denmark, Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Belgium in six weeks

• ___________________ fell in June of 1940 and a new puppet government was set up in the city of Vichy (forced cooperation with Germany)

• France fights on through underground resistance and units that avoided capture before its “fall”

Battle of Britain

• In less than a year the __________ had extensive control over mainland Europe

• In ___________________________ Hitler plans to invade Britain (last standing against Axis; Non-Aggression still intact with USSR)

• Strategy was to bomb Britain into submission using the Luftwaffe

• Indiscriminate targeting of cities and civilians

• This becomes known as the ___________________________________ and is effectively Hitler’s first defeat as the British air force successfully fends off the Luftwaffe

Operation Barbarossa

• In _________________________Germany invaded the Soviet Union using the Blitz and expecting a quick and complete collapse of the USSR

• Initial invasion was successful as the Soviet Union was caught by surprise (USSR joins Allies)

• German units begin slaughtering Soviet Jews and communist (Part of the Holocaust)

• In December the tide turned as the USSR launched a ____________________________________ and the Germans were not equipped for winter warfare

• Soviets had been using __________________________________to deprive Germans of food and shelter

• From the summer 1942 to February of 43 the Soviets began pushing Germans west beginning with their major victory at the ___________________________________ (German offensive in USSR is over – German retreat)

• With America’s entrance to the war in 1941, along with the Soviet success, the Allies were making gains

Allied Successes

• With America’s entrance to the war in 1941, along with the Soviet success, the Allies were pushing back against the Axis powers

• In 1942 British and American troops defeated the Germans in _______________________________________

• In ___________________________________________and Mussolini was overthrown by a disillusioned Italian population

• Hitler helps Mussolini reestablish control over Northern Italy

• Many Italians fight against Hitler and Mussolini

• Northern Italy surrenders in January of 1944

• The Allies launched a major offensive known as ____________________ in ____________________________to push Germans out of western Europe

• The invasion was huge – more than 150,000 men landed on French beaches in the initially wave (850,000 by the end of June)

• Paratroopers also dropped behind enemy line

• France was liberated and victory over the Axis took less than a year hereafter

• The ___________________________________________ (Battle of the Bulge – very large battle) failed in the winter of 1944-45

Allied Victory

• By __________________ the Allies had surrounded Germany and ________________ (capital of Germany) was invaded by the Red Army in late April

• __________________ (Victory in Europe) came on ______________________ as Germany officially surrendered

War in Asia and the Pacific

Japan Strikes

• After WWI America had committed to Isolationism and many felt involvement in the Great War was a mistake

• Initially the U.S. assisted the Allies (mostly Britain) financially and committed to some common security goals (Atlantic Charter)

• The __________ took economic actions against Japanese aggression in 1940-41 (trade embargo/froze assets)

• ____________ retaliates with attack on Pearl Harbor on _______________ hoping to knock out the American Pacific fleet, especially the aircraft carriers

• America’s entrance to the war followed the attack but the first year was mostly a story of __________________________ successes in the Pacific

• The capture of the U.S. Philippine Islands by Japanese forces was a major blow

• __________________________________ makes Japanese brutality infamous

• In addition, China upheld a strong resistance as Nationalist and Communist Chinese forces (long at war) joined to fight the Japanese

Turning Points

• The Battle of Midway in _______________________ was a major ________________________ against the Japanese and put them on the defensive moving forward

• In _______________________________ the U.S. victory at the Battle of Guadalcanal would initiate the U.S. strategy of Island Hopping

• _________________________________ (1943-1945) consisted of many hard-won battles on pacific Islands (i.e. Iwo Jima) that moved U.S. forces closer and closer to Japan

Allied Victory

• With the German defeat secure in May of 1945, Japan fought on alone

• Island Hopping has positioned the U.S. for a final attack – The USSR had also joined the fight by moving their forces into China

• Japan remained determined not to __________________________ and prepared to defend the home island for Invasion

Manhattan Project

• Throughout the war the U.S. had been working on the Atomic Bomb (__________________________________)

• Successful testing allowed _____________________________ to give the Japanese an ultimatum in July of 1945 (____________________________________ – surrender or else…)

• Japan ignored this warning and in response the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs to force their surrender

• This was thought to cost less lives than invading Japan

The Bombs

• The first bomb (Little Boy) was dropped on _____________________________ on August 6th, 1945

• The second (Fat Man) dropped on ___________________________ on the 9th

V.J. – Day

• Japan surrendered on the 14th – ___________________

• The official surrender ceremony took place on September 2nd, 1945 aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri