Causes Of World War II
In the 1930 s, Italy, Germany, and Japan aggressively sought to build new empires. The League of Nations was weak. Western countries were recovering from the Great Depression and did not want anymore war
As a result, acts of aggression occurred and were allowed to go unchecked.
Japan Invades China 1931 Japan invades Manchuria 1937 Japan invades the Chinese mainland
Italy Attacks Ethiopia 1935 Italian army invades Ethiopia and easily conquers it
Axis Powers Unite 1936 Italy and Germany sign a nonaggression pact
Spanish Civil War 1936 Civil War erupts in Spain between Nationalists (Fascists) and Loyalists
German Aggression in Europe 1936 Hitler sends troops to the Rhineland 1938 Hitler annexes Austria 1938 Hitler seizes Sudetenland 1939 Hitler invades Poland
Little Hitler Cartoon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-axjtzj0vu
As a result of these aggressive acts, the Western democracies adopted a policy of appeasement. Under this policy, nations gave into aggressive demands to maintain peace.
At the Munich Conference in 1938, the western democracies agreed that Germany would seize control of the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
In the face of this weakness, Japan, Italy, and Germany signed the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis
In August 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact, agreeing not to fight each other.
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. WWII had begun!
World War II Axis Powers Advance 1939-1941 Western Theater Pacific Theater
Axis Powers Major Countries: Germany Italy Japan
Stalin Roosevelt Churchill Allied Powers Major Countries: Soviet Union Great Britain France China United States (1941 on) Charles de Gaulle Chiang Kai-Shek
Nazi Blitzkrieg The Nazi s swiftly overran much of Europe using the blitzkrieg, or lightning war Step 1 Luftwaffe Step 2 Tanks Step 3 Ground Troops
The Nazi European Campaign 1939-1941
Nazi Blitzkrieg By 1940, the Axis Powers controlled most of Europe and had pushed the Allied Forces back to Great Britain Miracle of Dunkirk stops Axis advance into Britain
Almost 400,000 allied troops were evacuated to fight another day
Nazi Blitzkrieg Battle of Britain Nazi s attempt to use air strikes to defeat Britain (the Blitz) First Nazi defeat Took nearly 4 months
No Surrender Audio / video of Winston Churchill s famous speech to the British people. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up2o8kvtr T4
African Theatre European forces fight for control of North Africa from 1940-1943 Axis powers control much of N.A.
Japanese Offensive Japan made steady gains at taking over the Pacific Island nations as well as China
Axis Extent of Control By 1941, the Axis Powers reached the height of their world control:
The Allies Push Back 1941-1945
Hitler s Mistake After unsuccessful attempt against Britain, Hitler invades the Soviet Union in June 1941
Hitler s Mistake Nearly captures Moscow and Leningrad, but is stopped by scorched earth and the harsh Russian winter
Hitler s Mistake Battle of Stalingrad Soviets force Nazi s to surrender Begin pushing West towards Germany
Pearl Harbor Japanese attack U.S. Naval Base on December 7, 1941 (surprise attack) U.S. had halted sales of materials for weapons to Japan U.S. enters war
Foothold in Africa Operation Torch Axis are defeated Allies retake North Africa and provides a launching point into Europe
Italian Invasion Allies attack into Italy from North Africa Begin pushing up peninsula in late 1943
D-Day Invasion Invasion of France across the English Channel
D-Day Invasion Nearly 200,000 troops stormed the beach at Normandy, France Supported by air strikes and paratroopers
Final Defeat By the end of August 1944, the Allies had liberated France from the Nazi s
Allies converged on Germany from three sides Final Defeat
Final Defeat Nazi s launch last ditch effort at the Battle of the Bulge Brutal winter fighting that bulged the Allied line December January 1944-1945
Final Defeat In late April, the American and Russian soldiers shook hands at the Elbe River in central Germany
Benito Mussolini s End On April 27, 1945 Mussolini was captured escaping Italy and executed His body was hung and stoned by Italians
Adolf Hitler s End As Russian troops advanced into Berlin, Hitler committed suicide on April 29, 1945
The Conspiracy?
Final Defeat On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered European war ends May 8, 1945 V-E Day (victory in Europe)