The Second Great War Begins WWII- The Beginning

The 3 Causes of WWII (AAA) 1. Anger- many countries were still angry over the Treaty of Versailles & wanted revenge 2. Aggression- countries such as Japan, Italy, & Germany were attacking weaker countries for land 3. Appeasement- due to problems at home, the U.S. & other countries ignored men like Hitler, Mussolini & Tojo

Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939- Hitler & Stalin make secret agreement – the Nazi-Soviet Pact Not to fight if the other went to war Divide up Poland & other parts of Eastern Europe between them 9/1/39= Hitler invades Poland. Great Britain & France declare war on Germany- WWII begins!

Who’s Who in the War Axis Powers (Bad Guys!) Germany Italy Japan Austria and Bulgaria Allied Powers (Good Guys!) Great Britain France USSR United States

Timeline of WW2 1939- Germany invades Poland – WW2 starts! 1940 - Germany invades Norway, Denmark, France and Belgium 1940 - The Battle of Britain begins between Germany and Britain. It lasts over a year. 1941 - Axis Powers controlled most of Western Europe. Hitler & his army win most battles in the 1st years of the war! 1941- Hitler decides to invade the USSR to gain “living space”- called Operation Barbarossa – U.S.S.R enters on side of the Allies 1941- FDR agrees to send aid to all people fighting Nazi’s (Atlantic Charter) 12/7/41- Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. U.S. declares war on Japan. 3 days later, Germany & Italy declare war on U.S.

Victories & Defeats Axis Powers (bad guys) dominated in the 1st years of WW2 ( years of devious planning!) Allied Powers began to gain strength & won many important battles. 1. D-Day invasion = Allied invasion of France to drive Germans out & restore French govt. 2. Coral Sea & Midway – U.S. forces defeat Japanese & weaken their navy greatly 3. March on Berlin – Allies defeat Axis armies & march to Berlin, capital of Germany to capture Hitler & end the war

Omaha Beach- France

Downfall of Mussolini & Hitler April, 1945- Mussolini is captured by Italian forces & executed with his mistress in public- end of Italian war effort. As Russian forces march to Berlin, Hitler commits suicide to avoid capture. Germany surrenders & the war in Europe is over!

Mussolini in Death

Mussolini & Mistress

The Downfall of Japan After the surrender of Germany, the U.S. focuses on defeating Japan 1945- most of Japanese navy & air force destroyed but army fought on. To end the war, President Truman decides to use the secret atomic bomb to put a quick end to the war. 2 bombs are dropped on the cities of Hiroshima & Nagasaki & kill over 140,000 people (estimate) – Japan surrenders in September 1945 – WW2 is over – the Allies have won!

Images of the A-Bomb

Mushroom Cloud from “Fat Man”

Building located miles from bomb site

The Costs of War Germany = 5,600,000 United States = 405,400 Total War casualties: Germany = 5,600,000 United States = 405,400 Japan = 2,133,400 (140,000 of these were killed by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki) U.S.S.R. = 17,700,000 (It is estimated Stalin killed at least 20 million more than reported in this number!)

Effects of the War 1. Worldwide Jewish population devastated by the “holocaust”. 2. The United Nations Forms – peacekeeping group similar to the League of Nations – goal- prevent future wars. 3. “Iron Curtain” falls over Eastern Europe – Stalin & the USSR take control of Eastern European nations & cut them off from the rest of the world – communism installed as the form of govt. in these nations. This starts the “Cold War”