World War II Outcome: The European Theater
EQ: Elaborate on the Conditions of WWII in Europe, including major battles, events and the scope of the Holocaust. Content Standard 4: The student will analyze the United States role in international affairs by examining the major causes, events, and effects of the nation s involvement in World War II, 1933 to 1946. 1. Cite specific textual and visual evidence to examine the transformations in American society and government policy as the nation mobilized for entry into World War II. A.Examine the roles of appeasement and isolationism in the United States reluctance to respond to Fascist military aggression in Europe and Asia including the Neutrality Actsand the Lend-Lease program. B. Evaluate the mobilization for war as stated in President Roosevelt s Day Which Will Live in Infamy speech including the role of women and minorities in the war effort, rationing, the internment of Japanese-Americans and the Korematsu v. United States decision, and the internment of Americans of German and Italian descent. 2. Cite specific textual and visual evidence to analyze the series of events affecting the outcome of World War II including major battles, military turning points, and key strategic decisions in both the European and Pacific Theaters of operation including Pearl Harbor, the D-Day Invasion, development and use of the atomic bomb, the island-hopping strategy, the Allied conference at Yalta, and the contributions of Generals MacArthur and Eisenhower. 3. Summarize American reactions to the events of the Holocaust resulting in United States participation in the Nuremburg Trials, which held Nazi leaders accountable for war crimes
The European Theater 1. Aggression in Europe a. Italy invaded Ethiopia and took control in 1935 b. Spain s Civil War was won by the fascists in 1936 c. Germany i. 1936: Hitler had rearmed and sent troops to the Rhineland ii. 1938: Hitler annexed Austria & demanded the Sudetenland (W. Czech)
The European Theater ii. 1938: Munich Conference (Germany, Italy, Britain, & France) 1. 2. 3. Goal: To stop further German aggression in Europe Result: The Munich Pact gave Hitler the Sudetenland if he promised to end territorial demands Policy: Appeasement - Giving in to Germany s demands for territory in Europe in exchange for a promise that Germany would not attack any other nations. iv. March 1939: Germany took rest of Czechoslovakia (appeasement failed) v. France & Britain pledged war if aggression continued vi. 1939: Hitler & Stalin signed a Non-Aggression Pact
The Sudetenland
Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain signed Munich Pact of appeasement of Germany Prime Minister
The European Theater d. United States reaction to foreign aggression i. 1935: passed Neutrality Act no arms to warring nations ii. 1939: Cash-n-Carry policy (purpose to aid the Allies)
The European Theater 2. War in Europe (Early Period) a. Sept. 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland with blitzkrieg attack (WWII begins) i. ii. France & Great Britain declare war the next day The Holocaust intensifies
The European Theater b. Phony War Period ( Sitzkrieg ) ---> Sept 1939-April 1940 c. April, 1940: Germany resumed Blitzkrieg attacks i. Neutral nations fell quickly ---> Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway ii. France fell to Hitler in late June 1940
The European Theater d. Summer/Fall, 1940: Battle of Britain (German Luftwaffe vs. Royal Air Force RAF) e. June, 1941: Hitler double crossed Stalin and invaded Russia through Poland i. Big Mistake! Stalin used Scorched Earth military tactic ii. Harsh winter and lack of useable supplies resulted in over 1 million Nazi loses
The European Theater 3. Diplomacy was Failing a. Appeasement was ineffective when dealing with Hitler b. Sept 1940: Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact (Axis Powers) c. U.S. Neutrality? Biased? i. 1940: WWI destroyers given for bases deal with Great Britain ii. 1941: Lend-Lease Act --> U.S. became the Arsenal of Democracy iii. 1941: FDR and W. Churchill (Britain) agreed to the Atlantic Charter
The European Theater 4. Last Events to U.S. Entry a. 1941: U.S. attempted to stop Japan s invasion of China (in Civil War) i. Sent ultimatum (warning) ii. Issued a scrap metal and oil embargo
The European Theater b. By Aug. 1941: Indo-China fell to Japan i. ii. U.S. began a full trade embargo against Japan Japan responded by: 1. Sending a negotiator to Washington D.C. 2. Preparing for an attack on the U.S. (decoded message)
Pacific Theatre Japan expanded its territory by invading oil-rich Manchuria (1931), much of China s East coast (1935), and numerous other Pacific Islands.
Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
The European Theater 5. December 7th, 1941: Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor a. b. c. d. e. U.S. Pacific Fleet was based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii Attack was meant to cripple U.S. fleet so couldn t interfere with Japan Six aircraft carriers and 353 Japanese planes attacked in two waves 2,403 died (1,177 killed on the U.S.S. Arizona) U.S. declared war on Japan the next day Date that will live in Infamy f. g. Germany & Italy declared war on the U.S. on Dec 8, 1941 (Tripartite Pact) The U.S. was officially in the war! (Isolationism was over)
U.S.S. Arizona
U.S.S. Arizona Today
Home Front US had to ration supplies to ensure that the armies were properly supplied The increased industrial production combined with conscription (the draft) created thousands of jobs for women.
Home Front Fearful of Japanese spies, the United States forces thousands of Japanese-American citizens into Internment Camps (upheld by Supreme Court as necessary to the war effort in Korematsu v United States).
The European Theater 6. Key Nations at War 1. Allies: Great Britain, France, Soviet Union, United States 2. Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan
The European Theater 7. European Theater a. Name given to the fighting that took place in Europe b. 1942: Britain stood alone against Axis c. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower = Supreme Allied Commander of the European Theater d. Allies first invaded through Sicily and up into Italy e. Mussolini was overthrown and killed
Pacific Theatre Japan invaded the Philippines the day after Pearl Harbor. Bataan Death March - the Japanese army forced 76,000 American and Filipino soldiers to march 60 miles to a Prisoner of War (POW) camp (15,000-20,000 died).
Midway (1942) US used cracked Japanese codes to surprise Japan s Navy near MIdway, sinking 4 of 6 aircraft carriers. Turning Point in Pacific Theatre (Japan won no other major battles.
The European Theater f. Eastern Front: Stalingrad i. The Nazis were fighting the Russians in Stalingrad (Aug 1942-Feb 1943) ii. One of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare iii. Nazis are defeated; turning point of the war for the Allies
D-Day
The European Theater g. Western Front: D-Day i. ii. General Eisenhower planned D-Day for June 6, 1944 Allied invasion across English Channel into Normandy, France iii. Largest military invasion in history iv. Allies success allowed them to push further into France
D-Day Map
The European Theater h. Battle of the Bulge i. Hitler s last major offensive ii. Allies were pushing from the West (from France), South through Italy, and from the East (Soviets) iii. Germany was surrounded
The European Theater 8. German Surrender a. Hitler committed suicide before he could be captured b. Germany officially surrendered on May 7, 1945; following day is known as VE Day c. Now the Allies had to figure out how to defeat Japan
The Pacific - Iwo Jima Although the island is very small, it is strategically significant for the US (bombers can reach Tokyo) Japanese hoped the kamikaze, or divine wind, would be able to stop the American advance.
The Pacific - Okinawa US defeats Japan on Okinawa Japan loses 100,000 soldiers The only step left for the US is an invasion of the Japanese mainland
Manhattan Project FDR began project to develop the first nuclear weapon, following Einstein s letter warning him of Germany s pursuit of atomic weapons. Employed 130,000, led by Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer to develop first nuclear weapons.
Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) The final acts of aggression were the US s dropping of Little Boy on Hiroshima and Fat Man on Nagasaki. More than 200,000 combined casualties Land was uninhabitable for decades.
Truman s Decision Experts deemed an invasion of Japan would likely have incurred over 1 million Japanese casualties and 100,000