1. World War II (1930–1945)
Lesson 2 Axis Powers Advance

2. Lesson 2 Axis Powers Advance
World War II (1930–1945)
Lesson 2 Axis Powers Advance
Learning Objectives
Trace the course of German aggression and British resistance in Europe.
Describe the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
Explain how Japanese imperialism and the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into the war.

3. Lesson 2 Axis Powers Advance
World War II (1930–1945)
Lesson 2 Axis Powers Advance
Key Terms
blitzkrieg,
Luftwaffe,
Dunkirk.
Vichy
Erwin Rommel,
Lend-Lease Act.
Atlantic Charter,
Hideki Tojo

4. Axis Domination of Europe
World War II lasted from 1939 to It pitted the Axis powers against the Allies, which eventually included Britain, France, the Soviet Union, China, the United States, and 43 other nations. Unlike World War I, with its defensive trenches, the new global conflict was a war of aggressive movement. In the early years, things went badly for the Allies as Axis forces swept across Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

5. Axis Domination of Europe
Germany’s “Lightning War”
Blitzkrieg-
Luftwaffe-
Poland gobbled up by Germany and SU
SU- takes Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland
Germany April- Norway and Denmark
Next- Netherlands and then Belgium
The Rescue at Dunkirk
May- GB and France defend
Maginot line
German plan-
Miracle at Dunkirk
France Surrenders
June 22, 194– France surrenders
Rail Car?
Vichy France-

6. Operation Sea Lion
New PM Churchhill does not surrender
Hitler prepares to invade GB
England Survives the Blitz
The Blitz- German bombers attack daily
GB uses new technology-
RAF?
Hitler switched tactics at last second-
57 straight days of bombing London
Fail- operation Sea Lion called off
Hitler’s “New Order”
Dominated by Aryan race
Slavs- inferior
Must make way “living space” for master race
Also plundered conquered lands
War in North Africa and the Balkans
Erwin Rommel-
North Africa-
Greece, Yugoslavia-

7. Axis Domination of Europe
The Maginot Line was France’s fortification at the French-German border. Britain and France, anticipating a German attack, armed the line with soldiers.

8. Nazis Attack the Soviet Union
After the failure in Britain, Hitler turned his military might to a new target—the Soviet Union. The decision to invade the Soviet Union took pressure off Britain. It also proved to be one of Hitler’s costliest mistakes.

9. Nazis Attack the Soviet Union
A Rapid Advance
Hitler turned war machine on SU
Wanted breadbasket in the east and more living space
Slavs would be slaves
30 million suppose to starve to death in first years
Operation Barbarossa
3 million Germans invade
Stalin unprepared
Encircle Leningrad, reach the gates of Moscow
Winter Halts the Blitzkrieg
Winter stopped Hitler’s advance
Gave Soviets time to stabilize
Siege of Leningrad
2 and half year siege of Leningrad
More than a million die in city alone

10. Nazis Attack the Soviet Union
On June 22, 1941, under the code name Operation Barbarossa, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. It was the largest German military operation of World War II. German authorities planned to annihilate the Communist nation.

11. U.S. Involvement in the War
When the war began in 1939, the United States declared its neutrality. Although isolationist feeling remained strong, many Americans, including President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, sympathized with those who battled the Axis powers. In time, Roosevelt found ways around the Neutrality Acts to provide aid, including for Britain, as it stood alone against Hitler.

12. U.S. Involvement in the War
Roosevelt Supports the Allies
Lend Lease Act-
Atlantic Charter-
Growing Tensions with Japan
Japan’s growing empire threatens US
US banned sail of Oil and war material
Peace talks
General Hideki Tojo-
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
December 7th, 1941
Surprise attack at down
Crippled fleet
US carriers not in harbor
2,400 people killed
US declares war on Japan
Germany and Italy declare war on US December 11th
Japanese Victories in the Pacific
US capture Philippines
Hong Kong, Burma, Malaysia
French Indochina
Treated conquered people with great brutality

13. U.S. Involvement in the War
Even before U.S. entry in World War II, the government began planning a voluntary loan system in the form of “defense bonds.” Once the United States entered the war, defense bonds became known as war bonds.

14. Quiz: Axis Domination of Europe
Why was Operation Sea Lion a failure?
A. British citizens joined the war effort by fighting Germans in the streets of London.
B. The German air force was unable to defeat the British air force.
C. Nazi forces couldn’t tolerate the harsh British winter.
D. The British navy repelled invading Nazi armies.

15. Quiz: Nazis Attack the Soviet Union
What was one result of Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union?
A. Germany gained access to Soviet factories and farms.
B. Stalin fled the Soviet Union.
C. Germany was able to take control of Leningrad.
D. Churchill and Stalin became allies.

16. Quiz: U.S. Involvement in the War
The Lend-Lease Act was adopted prior to U.S entry into World War II primarily because this act would
A. help Allied nations without the United States entering the war.
B. convince the American people that war was necessary.
C. stop the spread of communism.
D. create jobs to end the Great Depression and World War II.