WORLD WAR II
description
Transcript of WORLD WAR II
WORLD WAR IIU. S. History
THE RISE OF DICTATORS
Europe after World War I:Conditions: millions of deaths, destruction of cities and farms, economy in ruins
Treaty of Versailles: left many European nations dissatisfied (France wanted Germany punished; Germany severely weakened with economic ruin and political turmoil)
Totalitarian Leaders AriseBENITO MUSSOLINI
-member of Socialist party in Italy early 1900’s
-founded new political party in 1920’s, National Fascist Party (glory of the state)
-1922 became leader of government
ADOLF HITLER
Early life
National Socialist Party (“Nazi”)
Tried seizure of power – put in prison (1923) – wrote Mein Kampf
Became Chancellor of Germany, 1933
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)
Other regimes…
SPAIN: Francisco Franco
SOVIET UNION: Joseph Stalin, came to power in communist country mid-1920’s
JAPAN: 1930’s leaders wanted to expand territory – 1931 army invadedChinese province of Manchuria
TURMOILITALY INVADES ETHIOPIA: 1935
Mussolini invaded East African nation of Ethiopia
Haile Selassie (Ethiopian Emperor) asked League of Nations for help – international community unwilling to help
SPANISH CIVIL WAR: 1936 conflict between Communists & Nationalists – by 1939 Franco’s nationalists in charge
HITLER TAKES ACTION
Hitler began rebuilding German military
1936 Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland
1938 Hitler gains control of Austria through the Anschluss, and gained control of German-speaking part of Czechoslovakia, called the Sudentenland
EUROPE ON VERGE OF WAR
British Prime Minister NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN wanted appeasement toward Hitler (to maintain peace)
March 1939 Hitler’s troops marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia
Hitler made non-aggression pact with Soviet Union
HITLER ATTACKS POLAND
September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland
“Blitzkrieg” = “lightning war” – combination of air attack and fast-moving armored strikes
Sept. 3, 1939: BRITAIN & FRANCE (“Allies”) declare war on Germany
SEE MAP page 397
German Forces Turn West
April 1940, Hitler sent forces into Denmark and Norway
May 1940, Hitler sent forces into Netherlands & Belgium
June: German troops trapped Allied soldiers at Dunkirk – these were able to escape
FRANCE FALLS
By end of June 1940, German troops overrunning France, headed toward capitol, Paris
France surrendered to Germany
Hitler visits Paris
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Great Britain now led by Winston Churchill
Hitler prepared invasion – Luftwaffe (German air force) began bombing London
By late 1940 Battle of Britain over – British had stopped the Luftwaffe – Hitler had to call off invasion
TENSIONS IN EAST ASIA
1934 Japan began expanding Navy
1936 Japan signed agreement with Germany
1937 Japan began brutal war against China
1940 Japan formed military alliance with Germany and Italy: AXIS