The Road to WWII Rise of the Dictators

Totalitarianism Fascism(totalitarianism) involves: One political party with a supreme leader holding absolute rule of a nation An extreme combination of nationalism and militarism

Totalitarianism Fascism(totalitarianism) involves: The creation of a secret police to dispose of all opponents Complete control of the media (censorship)

Economic disruptions following WWI led to unstable political conditions. Worldwide depression in the 1930s provided opportunities for the rise of dictators in the Soviet Union, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

USSR Joseph Stalin took over when Lenin D.I.E.D. D- Developed five-year plans to rapidly industrialize Soviet Union I- Industry and society were controlled by state Farms went through collectivization, all land belonged to the state

USSR E- Entrenchment of communism D- Death to 8-13 million Russians who opposed Communists policies (Great Purge) Secret Police(KGB) were created to arrest and murder anyone who might challenge Stalin

Germany Adolf Hitler's rise to power was a sign of D.A.N.G.E.R. for the rest of Europe D- democratic gov't (Weimar Republic) established in Germany after WWI weakened A- Anti-Semitism spread throughout the country European Jews were blamed for economic collapse

Germany N- Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis) became the dominant party G- Germany occupied nearby countries Hitler annexed Austria, Czechoslovakia, and invaded Poland E- Extreme nationalism filled the country R- Rise of Hitler's popularity came due to desperate economic conditions Inflation and depression was nation-wide Hitler and the Brown Shirts

Italy Benito Mussolini ushered in a new E.R.A. For Italy E- Established Italian empire with invasion of Ethiopia R- Rise of Fascism gained popularity due to Italy's hatred of Treaty of Versailles A- Ambition to restore the glory of Roman Empire

Japan Just like old times, Japan was ruled by its M.I.L.I.T.A.R.Y. M- Militarism combined with nationalism created a Fascist Japanese state I- Industrialization of Japan was higher than ever L- Led to a drive for new raw materials (oil)

Japan I- Invasion of Korea, Manchuria and the rest of China was successful (Rape of Nanking) T- Tojo (General Hideki Tojo) was real ruler of Japan

The Nanking Massacre/Rape of Nanking- Japanese army kills, rapes, and tortures 300,000 Chinese men, women, and kids

Japan A- America cut off oil to Japan after their invasion of China R- Rule of Emperor Hirohito was weak Y- “Yes” to alliance with Germany & Italy

Causes of WWII World War II was caused by A.G.G.R.E.S.S.I.O.N. A- Appeasement (giving in to demands in order to preserve the peace) Allied Powers give in to Hitler G- Germans take Austria & Czechoslovakia G- German nationalism gained momentum in Fascist nations R- Rise of the dictators Germany, Italy and Japan formed Axis Powers

Causes of WWII E- Everyone ignores League of Nations No international army to stop Hitler S- Sourness of Treaty of Versailles makes Germany and Italy want revenge S- Stopping Hitler out of question for Europe and U.S. Tendencies lean towards isolationism and pacifism

Causes of WWII I- Italy wants land, invades Ethiopia O- Oh, no! Hitler invades Poland, WWII begins N- No one stops Japan in Asia

Russian Non Aggression Pact In 1939 this agreement between Russia and German ensured that Poland would be divided between them

Fall of France Date: May-June 1940 · Involved: Germany, France · Outcome: France becomes occupied by Nazi Germany

Miracle of Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo) Date: 26 May- 3 June 1940 Involved: Germany, Allied forces Outcome: French and British forces evacuated

Battle of Britain Date: September 7, 1940 · Involved: German and British air forces · Outcome: Hitler is stopped for the 1st time; Britain remains free of Nazi occupation First time radar used

Tripartite Pact Agreement between Italy, Germany, and Japan that creates the Axis Powers

Invasion of Soviet Union Date: June 1941 Involved: Germany, Soviet Union · Outcome: Hitler has early successes in U.S.S.R., then begins losing at Stalingrad (turning point of WWII)

Pearl Harbor Bombing Date: December 7, 1941 Involved: Japan, U.S. Outcome: Japan attempts to destroy U.S. Naval fleet in Pacific, brings U.S. into war Lend Lease Program (how US Helped before this)

Battle of the Coral Sea Date: 4-8 May 1942 Involved: Japan, United States, and Britain Outcome: Japanese invasion of Australia prevented; aircraft carrier introduced to modern warfare

Battle of Midway Date: 4-7 June 1942 Involved: United States and Japan Outcome: Turning point of the war in the Pacific; United States success leads to “Island Hopping” campaign throughout the Pacific realm

D-Day Invasion Operation Overlord Date: June 6, 1944 Involved: Britain, U.S., Canada, France, Germany Outcome: Allied Powers open a 2nd front by breaking through Nazi occupied French beaches

V-E Day Date: 7 May 1945 Involved: Germany and Allied Powers Outcome: Germany surrenders, ending the war in Europe

Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki Date: August 6, & 9, 1945 ·Involved: U.S., Japan Outcome: U.S. drops two atomic bombs on Japan, forcing their surrender

V-J Day Date: 14 August 1945 Involved: Japan and Allied Powers Japan unconditionally surrenders end the World War II Formal surrender signed on 2 September 1945 aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, which was anchored in Tokyo Bay