World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

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Get ready for the Quiz!

World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

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World War Two Lesson #6 Quiz 1. What was the name of the Operation that was the invasion of the

Soviet Union? 2. What strategy did the Soviet army use as they retreated?

3. When did Hitler invade the Soviet Union?

4. What resource was Germany hoping to obtain in Southern portion of the Soviet Union?

5. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union?

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World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

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World War Two Lesson #6 Quiz 1. What was the name of the Operation that was the invasion of the

Soviet Union? Barbarossa or Red Beard2. What strategy did the Soviet army use as they retreated?

Scorched Earth3. When did Hitler invade the Soviet Union?

June of 19414. What resource was Germany hoping to obtain in Southern portion of

the Soviet Union?Oil

5. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union?Stalin

World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

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LESSON OUTLINE & OBJECTIVES (don’t copy) • In today’s lesson we will look at the growing war in the

Asia-Pacific region.• you will learn:

– The goals of an aggressive Japan– The reason behind attacks like “Pearl Harbour”– The role Canada played in defending British colony,

Hong Kong– The fate suffered by our soldiers after being defeated

by the Japanese.

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World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

• Before the start of the lesson, I use handout 2.1: Timeline of Origins & Events of the Asia-Pacific War.

• We discuss information from our “Interwar Period”, and we follow events to 1941.

• This is both quick & specific, and supplements my general notes well.

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• The Japanese were in the process of expanding their empire.• They had control of Korea, Mongolia and parts of China• Japan continued south, securing resources (rubber, tin, oil)• The British were reinforcing their interests in the Pacific, but

could not do much because they were occupied with Germany

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World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

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• The US had denied Japan oil.• Oil was available in the Dutch

East Indies.• To get it & control it, Japan

needed to control the seas.• The only threat to Japanese

naval dominance was the U.S.• Japan planned strategic attacks

against the US and Britain.• On Dec. 7, 1941, they hit Pearl

Harbour, Hong Kong, Malaya, the Philippines, Wake Island and Midway Island.

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Pearl Harbor• Of the many attacks, Pearl Harbor was the most significant.• The Japanese had studied the use of carrier-based aircraft.• They used this strategy to strike at the US Pacific Fleet based

in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

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• Canada declared war on Japan on Dec. 7, 1941.• The United States declared war on Japan on Dec. 8, 1941.• Hitler, honoring a treaty with Japan, declared war on the US.• U.S., honoring an pledge to Br, adopts a policy of “Hitler First”

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World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

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• The US would fight Japan, but the priority was defeating Hitler.

• The US lost many ships, but they soon recovered and the US President now had the full support of the public.

• This was a major turning point, bringing the US into the war.

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Hong Kong• Hong Kong was the most

significant attack for Canada.• 1,975 inexperienced Cdn troops

had been sent to Hong Kong• 50,000 experienced Japanese

troops attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.

• The Canadians fought valiantly against overwhelming odds

• The Canadians held them off for more than two weeks.

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World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

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• In one battle, 100 Canadians held off two Japanese regiments, inflicting over 800 casualties on the Japanese.

• The Japanese commander was forced to apologize when he learned how many defenders caused those casualties.

• Christmas Day, 1941, the Japanese occupied Hong Kong.• 555 Canadians died, (almost ½ in Japanese prison camps).

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Sai Wan Bay Cemetery (283 Canadian Soldiers are buried there)

World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

PRE-VIEWING ASSIGNMENT• Using Handout 3.1-Canadian

Prisoners of War, students read to subtitle, “Japan Attacks”.

• As a class, we discuss “Why did we send troops?” “What mistakes were made?” “Who made them?”

• We use Google Earth to look at Hong Kong and discuss its defense. We find key locations such as the reservoir and the Gin Drinkers Line.

World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

VIEWING• As a class we watch the entire program “Savage

Christmas.”• The video is “chunked”- paused often to facilitate

discussion, to allow for teacher commentary, use Google Earth to find key locations (airport, cemetery, etc), or to give students a chance to react.

• The handout (3.1) is not assigned reading, but serves as a back-up for students who miss one or both days of video. The handout also serves as a reference point for key discussions.

World War Two 1939-1945 Lesson #7: The War in the Pacific Part 1

POST-VIEWING• In the past I have done letter writing activities.• For a few years we had a local Hong Kong Vet (Aubrey

Fleg) visit the class and speak to students.• The last two years, I have given in to time demands and

have done little formal evaluation.• This topic and video are so powerful that students often

cry at the end. As long as I am certain they are engaged, and our class discussions are animated, I am confident that this is a topic they will remember well beyond the exam.