Causes for World War IIDIRECT: Germany invading

Poland on September 1st, 1939 (Europe)

Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 (Pacific)

UNDERLYING:

Treaty of Versailles

Rise of Fascism

Great Depression

Appeasement

… and more.

Neutrality Acts: 1935: First Neutrality Act (no sale of

arms to belligerent nations)

1937: Sales only on “cash and carry” basis. No weapons!

1939: “Belligerent” nations allowed to purchase arms from U.S. using “cash and carry”

FDR warns of impending problems: “Quarantine” Speech, 1937 “Arsenal of Democracy”, 1940 President Roosevelt

War Erupts in Europe! March 1939 - Hitler breaks

Munich Agreement, invades rest of Czechoslovakia

August 1939 - Hitler signs nonaggression pact (Molotov-Ribbentrop) with rival USSR (Russia), turns attention west

September 1, 1939- “blitzkrieg” invasion of Poland; Britain and France declare war on Germany.

However, the Soviet Union also invades Poland. They split it between them!

German “blitz” of Warsaw

Hitler Moves in Europe April 1940 - Hitler seizes

Norway, Denmark

May 1940 - Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg

By June 1940, Hitler controls France, turns attention to Britain

Summer to Fall 1940 - Battle of Britain (“The Blitz”)

London heavily bombed

but England does not give up!

Americans very sympathetic…

The Battle of Britain (The “Blitz”)

“Destroyers for Bases” Deal (Sept. 1940): 50 American destroyers (warships) exchanged for use of 8 British naval bases in North Atlantic

“Lend-lease” Act, March 1941: Made it possible to lend or lease supplies to any country whose interests were vital (Great Britain, China). Basically a major “loan” of war materiel!

The U.S. Enters the War Early?

The U.S. Enters the War Early? August 1941 - Atlantic Charter:

Churchill and FDR agree to defend democracy, free trade and economic advancement

The U.S. destroyer Greer attacked in September 1941

US directly involved in naval warfare

against Germany in 1941!

USS Greer

Atlantic Charter

So why do the Japanese attack us …?

July 1940: U.S. embargo of raw materials to Japan after J. invasion of Indochina (Southeast Asia).

July 1941: Executive Order 8832. U.S. freezes all Japanese assets – complete embargo on all trade. Seen as “last straw” by Japanese.

U.S. aware that the Japanese may attack the U.S. in Pacific

December 7, 1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

The U.S. Enters the War Early?

America Enters War! (Finally…) Pearl Harbor attack devastates

nation and the military!

FDR: “A date which will live in infamy.”

December 8, 1941- FDR receives war declaration from Congress against Japan

Germany declares war on United States – December 11, 1941

FDR addresses Congress after Pearl Harbor attack

Who was on each side?

Axis Powers Germany Italy Japan

Allied Powers Great Britain Soviet Union (after “Operation Barbarossa” in

June of 1941) United States France

Surrendered to Germany in 1940 after 6 weeks

The war so far …

January, 1943: Allies agree to fight until they win “unconditional surrender”

May, 1943: Allied victory in Tunisia secures North Africa.

July 1943: Allies invade Sicily and then Italy.

August 25, 1944: France liberated!

Major Turning Points in theEuropean War

A. Battle of Stalingrad:August 1942 – February

1943 End of German advance into Russia, beginning of Soviet march towards Berlin.

Soviets lose 500,000 men and 500,00 more are wounded.

Germans lose about 750,000 total killed and wounded.

B. Operation Overlord (a.k.a. “D-Day”):

June 6th, 1944

The Allies landed on the shores of Normandy France to re-take France from German control.

156,000 Allied troops from US, UK, Canada, and France5,000 ships and landing craft50,000 vehicles11,000 planes

Largest amphibious invasion in history!

C. The Battle of the Bulge:December 1944 – January 1945

Allied forces break Germany’s ability to be offensive.

Last attempt for the Nazi’s to stop the advance of Allied armies.

Beginning of Allied (US & UK) march into Germany.

Major Turning Points in theEuropean War

D. “East Meets West” – May 1945

The Germans on the run from the Soviet forces on the Eastern Front and from the Anglo-American forces on the Western Front. Eventually, Berlin is taken by the Soviets.

Germans surrender May 7, 1945

U.S. Soviet Relations: During the war: a friendship of necessity

Soviets do most of the fighting against the Nazis: Over 20 million Soviets die during the war! ~4 million German troops perish! Many historians think that the Soviets are who truly

defeated the Nazis – aided by Lend-Lease funds from America.

However, once the fighting slows and Berlin is taken, cracks in the relationship develop…

Yalta Accords (1945) illustrate these differences.

Yalta Conference(1945):Meeting to Discuss Postwar Goals

Yalta Conference: (February 1945)

FDR, Stalin, and Churchill meet in the city of Yalta in Ukraine (part of the USSR) to settle post-war goals.

Discussion around “who gets what”.

Plans include breaking up Germany and creation of United Nations.

Agreement is very vague and each side wants something different!

Post-war Goals for the U.S.The US wants ….

Primary Goal: Open markets for U.S. goods. Free trade + capitalism.

Promote democratic governments throughout the world. “Self-Determination.”

Wants to “contain” Communism to stop the “Domino Effect.”

Post-war Goals for USSRThe Soviets want …

Primary Goal: Greater security for itself!

Wants to create “buffers” to protect it against invasion!

Thinks that controlling Eastern Europe is the best way to do this.

Also, wants to spread communism around the world.