From Appeasement to Victory World War II From Appeasement to Victory

Which areas were under Axis control between 1939 and 1941? Q.O.D. #12 2/3/10 - Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Hungary, parts of the USSR and North Africa. - Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Ireland and Sweden were neutral countries -Britain was alone in Western Europe

U.S. Involvement 1939 – U.S. declared neutrality Isolationist, pacifist Many sympathized with those fighting the Axis in Europe FDR looked for a way around the Neutrality Acts Lend-Lease Act President could sell or lend war materials to “any country whose defense the president deems vital to the United States” Vowed U.S would not get involved in the war, but would become the “arsenal for democracy

Japan Japan had overtaken Manchuria in 1931 and withdrew from the League of Nations. In 1937 they took much of eastern China and began the second Sino-Japanese War Japan saw a chance to take European possessions in Asia when war broke out in Europe in 1939.

U.S.-Japanese tension In 1940 the United States banned the sale of war materials to Japan. Japan saw this as interference into its sphere of influence Tensions were growing, and the two countries had talks to try to ease them Some Japanese wanted to expand their empire and viewed the U.S. to be interfering with their plans.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor Japan attacked the United States on December 7, 1941. President Roosevelt addressed Congress the next day. “A date which will live in infamy.” Congress declared war on Japan on December 8.

Big Three After the U.S. entered the war, the Big Three – Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin – met periodically to discuss strategy They agreed to end the war in Europe before ending it in Asia Did not trust each other, but did not want to hurt their alliance

Allied Victories North Africa Italy Stalingrad Rommel surrendered in May 1943 Italy Defeated Mussolini and forced Hitler to fight on another front Stalingrad Soviets pushed Nazis out of the USSR In 1944 the Allies were ready to open a Western front in Europe.

D-Day June 6, 1944 The Allied forces invaded German-occupied France Paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines 156,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel to Normandy American: Omaha, Utah Canadian: Juno British: Gold, Sword Over 10,000 killed, wounded, missing or captured

Allies Advance The Allies continued to advance and liberated Paris on August 25, 1944. The rest of France was freed within a month. The Allies continued to advance toward Germany from the west while the Soviets pushed toward Germany from the east.

Yalta Conference Stalin wanted control of Eastern Europe, Churchill and Roosevelt wanted self-determination Needed Stalin to help win the war Big Three agreed: USSR would enter the war against Japan after Germany surrendered USSR would be given some territory in Asia Germany would be divided into four zones to be governed by the USSR, Britain, U.S. and France Stalin agreed to hold free elections in Europe