World War Two 1939 - 1945

History of World War II Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933 He was a dictator who wanted to control Europe and then the world.

In March 1938, Germany annexed Austria and took it over. Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union protested, but did nothing.

Hitler then said he was taking part of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France wanted to avoid a war, so they gave it to him. They assumed he would stop, 6 months later he took the rest of Czechoslovakia

Now what? In 1939, German troops marched into Poland. Britain and France declare war on Germany

Germany then take over Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. They force France to surrender

1940 In 1940, Germany began attacking Britain and Russia.

The US enters the war in 1941 after Japan bombs Pearl Harbor – a US Naval base in Hawaii

Trouble …. Germany could not keep up a war on two fronts, fighting Britain and Russia and Russia begins beating Germany back.

June 6, 1944 On June 6, 1944 the Allies began their plan to invade and take over France. This became known as D-Day General Eisenhower of the US led the fight to free France

Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945

Who was on which side? Allies Axis Powers Great Britain France Canada United States (1941) Soviet Union (after 1941) China Axis Powers Germany Japan Italy Soviet Union (until 1941)

Causes of World War II The failure of the Treaty of Versailles to keep peace Many Germans thought they were being treated too severely Dictators in Germany, Italy, and Japan were promoting a fanatical national pride (Fascism)

Causes of World War II cont. The axis powers wanted to conquer their neighbors Germany was economically depressed Germany had to pay $33 million dollars for damages caused in World War I

Results of World War II Between 30 – 40 million people died It cost $1 trillion to fight Germany, and it’s capital city Berlin, was divided into 2 countries West Germany became an independent democracy East Germany became a communist country

Results of World War II cont. The United States and the Soviet Union became the chief world powers. The United Nations was formed to keep world peace, the headquarters are in New York City.

The Holocaust or the Shoah Holocaust – a disaster that wipes out life

What happened? Germany blamed their misfortunes on anyone who was not Aryan – this included Jews, Blacks, Gypsies, the handicapped and political opponents Hitler wanted to fill the world with Aryans – people with blond hair and blue eyes (even though he did not have these features)

Hitler wanted to rid the world of Jews and put them into concentration camps. Some were sent to work camps, others were killed, tortured, or were starved to death.

6 million of the 8 million Jews in Europe were killed this way.

How do we avoid war in the future?