The Course of WWII

C H A P T E R 1 7 S E C T I O N S 2 - 4

Europe at War

 1939: The invasion of Poland took just four weeks   The Germans used a new style of war called Blitzkrieg “Lightning war” Germans also used something called the Panzer Divisions  These were strike forces of about 300 tanks and soldiers support by airplanes  By September 28, 1939 – Germany and the Soviet Union divided Poland

   1940: Hitler invades Denmark then he attacks the Netherlands, Belgium, and France Maginot Line    The fortified border between Germany and France France thought the Germans would go right through it However, Germany surprised the French by going around it June 22, 1940     The French sign an armistice with Germany Germany occupied 3/5 of France A French Authoritarian regime was set up by the Germans Only G.B. remained undefeated in Europe

  Great Britain  Asked the U.S. for help     The U.S. refused due to the strict policy of isolationism The U.S. did publically denounce the Germans But, the U.S. did nothing at first Overtime, laws relaxed and the U.S. shipped  Food, ships, planes, weapons Hitler knew he could not attack G.B. by sea  He had to control the air    He began a major bombing offensive in England To retaliate, the British bombed Berlin Then the Germans began to bomb British cities

  Battle of Britain  July 10, 1940 – October 31, 1940  This is the only battle in military history to be fought entirely in the air   2,936 pilots took part The British prevailed and prevented all of Europe from being taken over Hitler believed the British resisted because they were waiting for Soviet support  So, Hitler invades the Soviet Union

 Early Winter in the Soviet Union  German troops marched too far in Russia   Low of supplies Strong Soviet resistance   These factors helped the Soviets stop the Germans The first time the Germans were stopped  Soviets then counter attack the Germans in December 1941

Japan at War

  December 7, 1941  Japan launches the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor  By 1942, the Japanese controlled almost all of southeast Asia and most of the western Pacific Greater East-Asia Copropriety Sphere  The entire Asia region was under Japanese control   To make this sphere work they needed natural resources It treated the countries under their rule as conquered land

  Pearl Harbor   The Japanese thought that the attack on a U.S. fleet would leave them as the dominate power in the Pacific However, this had the opposite effect   The U.S. was now going to commit to war “They awoke a sleeping giant” Hitler  Believed the U.S. would be too involved with Japan   He would declare war on the U.S. four day later WWII was now a global war

The Allies Advance

  The Grand Alliance  Great Britain, Soviet Union, and the United States   They focus mainly on military operations They also ignore political differences  They all agree to fight the Axis Powers The Axis Powers  Germany, Italy, and Japan

    1942: The Germans are fighting in three spots    Great Britain The USSR Africa Erwin Rommel - Germany    Known as the Desert Fox Broke through British lines in Africa Helped the Germans gain an advantage in Africa Summer 1942  G.B. stops the German advances in Africa Fall 1942   U.S. and G.B. attack in French North Africa Germans surrender by May of 1943

    The Eastern Front    Hitler attacks Stalingrad Soviets cut off supply lines By May 1943, Hitler knew he would not defeat the Soviet Union Pacific Front Battle of Coral Sea, 1942  Americans save Australia from a Japanese Invasion The Battle at Midway     Turning point for the Pacific front Led by General Douglas MacArthur U.S. destroyed 4 Japanese aircraft carriers This battle would establish U.S. supremacy in the Pacific

Last Years of the War

  By 1943, the war had turned against the Axis powers  The Allies will invade Italy   Mussolini is removed from office Germany defends Rome in 1944 – many casualties are lost Winston Churchill  British Prime Minister   Referred to Italy as the “Soft underbelly of Europe” His refusal to give into Nazi Germany inspired the country  He worked tirelessly throughout the war to build relations with U.S. President Roosevelt and the Soviets

 Normandy – P.584

 June 6, 1944   Known as D-Day Allied invasion of France from across the English Channel   Allies are led by Dwight D. Eisenhower Germans thought this was a diversion at first   Slow to respond Allies break through German Lines  1945 – Hitler moves to an underground bunker

     April 30, 1945 – Russia outside Berlin   Hitler commits suicide on April 30, 1945 Two days later Italian Resistance Fighters shoot Mussolini May 7, 1945 – WWII Ends May 8, 1945 – official end of WWII; V-E Day Asian Front     War continued Harry S. Truman – U.S President Decides to drop the Atomic Bomb Hiroshima –Aug. 6, 1945:Nagasaki – Aug. 9, 1945 By the end of the war, 17 million people died  Include civilians, it is closer to 50 million