Knowledge Connections Definition Picture Term Vocabulary  BlitzkriegD-Day

Essential Question What events were major turning points of World War II?

How did World War II begin? Germany’s actions started World War II o Hitler broke deals as quickly as he made them o Took Czechoslovakia in March of 1939 o Invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 Poland had fallen by September 28, 1939 – It was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union Britain and France had no choice but to declare war… World War II had begun!

What else did Germany take? Between 1939 and 1940, Hitler launched BLITZKRIEGS against the following nations:  Denmark  Norway  Netherlands  Belgium and  France The French government was forced to move to London, England In the summer of 1940, Hitler begin his bombing of Britain lightning warsurprise invasion

Did Britain fall to Germany? Winston Churchill British Prime Minister Hitler was unsuccessful in the BATTLE OF BRITIAN… He would finish his conquest of Europe and then come back for Britain! “We shall never surrender!”

What was there left for Hitler to take? Hitler continued his BLITZKRIEGS against:  Greece and  Yugoslavia In June 1941, he broke the NON-AGGRESSION PACT and invaded the Soviet Union

Where’s the United States? The U.S. condemned German actions…. but refused to get involved… President Franklin D. Roosevelt Believed neutrality encouraged aggression Found ways to get around the neutrality laws The U.S. was sending food, weapons, ships, and airplanes to Great Britain

What about the other aggressive nations? Japan invaded:  the Philippines and  The Dutch East Indies President Roosevelt ask Congress to block the sale of oil and scrap metal to Japan… This was a big deal, Japan got 80% of its oil from the United States…

What did Japan do in return? Japan was angered by these actions… and it struck back! December 7, 1941 Japanese warplanes attack the U.S Naval base at Pearl Harbor

How did the United States react? President Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war Franklin D. Roosevelt United States President This was now a global war! No matter how long it may take us….the American people… will win through to absolute victory.”

How did the Allies plan on winning? Leaders of the Allied Powers decided to win the war in Europe first (Germany and Italy) Then win the war in the Pacific (Japan )

When did it go downhill for Hitler? Feb – the Soviet Union hands Germany its first defeat The Soviet Union now begins to drive Germany back Meanwhile, Allied armies pushed into North Africa and Italy – Italy falls in June of 1944

What does this mean for Hitler? He must fight a war on two fronts….. But the Allies still have a surprise of their own… Soviet Union

What is the Allies surprise? D-Day June 6, 1944 Allied forces under the command of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower land on the beaches of Normandy, France This begins one of the greatest naval invasions in world history… Within three months, 2 million Allied troops land on French beaches… Britain France Germany

Why is D-Day such a big deal? From Normandy, the Allied spread out all over Europe…. Eventually invading Germany… April 30, 1945 Hitler commits suicide May 7, 1945 Germany surrenders The war in Europe is over Now, on to the Pacific…

What was the Allied plan in the Pacific? April 12, 1945 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies Harry S. Truman becomes President of the United States One of his most difficult decisions involved the war in the Pacific

What strategy was put in place in the Pacific? U.S. strategy = ISLAND HOPPING fighting on an island by island basis The closer the U.S. got to Japan, the greater the loss of American lives Advisors urged President Truman to use a new type of weapon on Japan The atomic bomb

Did Truman use the atomic bomb? The U.S. gave Japan a chance to surrender… The U.S. warned them of their new weapon… Japanese leaders refused to surrender August 6, 1945 Bombing of Hiroshima August 9, 1945 Bombing of Nagasaki September 2, 1945 Japan surrenders (World War II is over)

Essential Question What events were major turning points of World War II?

The Turning Points of World War II