World War 2
• After being blamed for World War 1 (19141918) Germany was forced to pay huge
compensation costs. It also had to give up
some of its land and was only allowed to have
a small army. Due to this, the country was in a
state of depression. This meant that people
were very poor and jobs were very scarce.
Many people were unemployed and struggled
to make ends meat. Austria, a neighbouring
country, was also in a similar state.
• Adolf Hitler was living in
Austria at this time. He was a
“down and out” and struggled
to make money as an artist.
• While living here he became
extremely jealous of the
Jewish people who were
prosperous and had much
more money than he had.
• This is when Adolf began to
hate the Jewish people and
started plotting against them.
• Hitler decided to join the
German Army as he felt a
sense of duty to serve in the
army and had failed to get
into the Austrian army.
• In the early 1920s, Hitler
formed a small, badly
organised group in which
they tried to take over
Germany. This was known
as a ‘coup’. This is because
they wanted to make
Germany the most powerful
country in Europe.
• Their plans failed though,
and Hitler ended up in jail.
Hitler stages a coup in
Munich (1923)
• While he was in jail Hitler wrote a book called
“Mein Kampf” which means ‘my struggle’.
• In this book he wrote about his beliefs. He
wrote about his hatred of the Jews called antiSemitism .
• He also believed that he could bring Germany
to power and conquer other countries in
Europe.
• He wanted to take over other countries and
give Germans more land to live on.
• First of all though he needed to
gain power.
• Hitler set up the Nazi (meaning
Nationalist Socialist) party in
Germany who all shared his
beliefs.
• In 1933, he won the general
election and became the
Chancellor of Germany.
• He called himself the Fuhrer
(leader) and he was determined
to lead as a dictator- this meant
taking total control of the state.
The Nazi logo was
called the swastika
Hitler is appointed Chancellor
Why did the people vote Hitler as the
Chancellor?
• The people voted Hitler in as
chancellor because he made
many great promises.
• These promises were to
create more jobs, to improve
the roads and to make
Germany a more powerful
country.
• He did keep these promises
and for a while was very
popular amongst the German
people.
Hitler making a speech
Hitler Begins to Take Over
• In 1938 Germany invaded Austria. He wanted to
increase German territories. Some of the Austrian
people were happy though because they believed
Hitler could make their country wealthy and successful.
• He also took over Czechoslovakia in 1939.
• The other countries in Europe were becoming worried
that Hitler would try take over their country next. They
knew Poland was next on Hitler’s list.
• The French and British leaders announced that if Hitler
invaded Poland they would go to war with Germany.
They hoped this would scare Hitler.
World War Two Begins!
• On the 1st of September 1939, German forces stormed
into Poland.
• As soon as Britain and France heard this, they sent
Hitler an ultimatum. Withdraw or war would be
declared.
• Hitler ignored this warning and war was declared on 3rd
September 1939.
• World War II had begun!
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/history/worldwar2a
udioclipslibrary_clip01.shtml
World War 2
Lesson 2
• Eight other countries including Italy and Japan
decided to side with Germany. These countries
became known as the Axis Powers.
• Fifty countries fought against Germany, including
Britain, France, Russia, Canada, Australia and the
USA. Some of these countries joined the war later
on while others such as Britain and France were
involved from the very start. These countries
were known as the Allies.
Axis Powers V Allies
Axis Powers
Germany
Italy
Japan
Allies
Britain
France
Russia
Canada
Australia
United States of
America
Invading Poland:
• The Germans introduced a new system of
warfare known as Blitzkrieg-which meant
‘lightning war’
• This involved heavy bombings from the sky,
leaving the people below trapped, followed by
the invasion with troops in tanks, lorries and
even some soldiers were parachuted in.
• Britain and France wanted to help Poland but
were not prepared in such a short time.
• By April 1940, Hitler had taken over Holland,
Belgium, Denmark and Norway.
• In May 1940 German troops invaded France,
who were unable to resist the German forces,
leaving Britain alone to fight against Germany.
• At this time the British Army was unprepared
compared to the German Army which had
been in full force for over a year.
The Battle of Britain
• German leaders felt it was essential to destroy
the British air force to stop it sinking ships that
would carry German soldiers across the channel.
• The Battle of Britain took place in the skies
between British and German planes and was
Germany’s attempt to destroy the British air
force.
• The German Air Force, known as the Luftwaffe,
made their first attack on British ships in July
1940
German fighter plane
British fighter plane
• The British fought back with their
Royal Air Force (RAF)
• Between July and October 1940
bombings took place almost every
night.
The Blitz
• Hitler failed to destroy the British air force. He then
looked to bomb British cities instead.
• From September 1940, Germany repeatedly
bombed British cities. This was known as the Blitz
• London, Coventry, Glasgow and Liverpool were
repeatedly hit.
• During the Blitz more than two million homes were
destroyed and 60,000 people were killed.
London during the Blitz
(1941)
• The RAF had one secret weapon that the
Germans didn’t-radar.
• Using this device the RAF could warn the
people down below to get shelter as they
could track on coming German planes.
• The Germans lost the element of surprise!
Neutrality:
• During this time, some countries remained
neutral. This meant that they refused to take
part in the war.
• These countries were:
*Ireland
*Switzerland
*Spain
*Sweden
*Portugal
Pearl Harbour
• During the Battle of Britain, German forces
dropped almost 175,000 tonnes of bombs.
• When Japan attacked the US naval base at
Pearl Harbour in Hawaii in 1941, America
decided to join the Allies and fight against the
Axis Powers.
• Up to this point many Americans did not wish
to enter the war.
• However, after the destruction of Pearl
Harbour, the people’s opinions changed and
the American people did not want the Axis
Powers to conquer any more countries.
• The American president Franklin D Roosevelt
declared war on the Axis Powers 4 days after
the bombing of Pearl Harbour.
• This was a great boost to the Allies.
• Between 1942 and 1944, the Allies made
thousands of raids over Germany, aiming their
bombs specifically at German weapon
factories. They also targeted dams which were
used to generate electricity. Railways, roads
and bridges were also destroyed to prevent
Germany form moving their troops and
supplies. 600,00 German civilians died in
these attacks and the German roads and
railways systems were practically destroyed.
• The Allies then planned a massive attack on
the German troops who were stationed at
Normandy in France. This attack was planned
for 6th June 1944 which became known as DDay.
• The Germans resisted this attack well but the
Allies reached Paris in August 1944 and were
waiting for orders to invade Germany.
• By April 1945 the Allies were marching
towards Germany from all sides.
War in Europe is Over
• At this point, Hitler realised he had been
defeated. He killed himself on 30th April 1945.
• On the 8th May 1945, the Germans
surrendered, ending war in Europe.
• This day became known as VE Day (Victory in
Europe Day)
The Atomic Bombs
• The Allies then called on the Japanese to
surrender, which they refused to do.
• In the meantime, the Americans had
developed a new lethal bomb known as the
atomic bomb.
• They decided to drop two of these bombs on
Japan in the hope that this would force Japan
to surrender.
The bombing of Hiroshima
• The first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
Nearly 100,000 people were killed in this
blast.
• Thousands more died in the following months
and years from their injuries as well as
radiation.
• Three days later, a second atomic bomb was
dropped on Nagasaki.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncq_Wye
43TM&feature=fvwrel
• Over 40,000 Japanese died in this blast.
• The Japanese realised they could not survive
another one of these bombs like this.
• They surrendered on 2nd September 1945
• World War 2 was finally over.
Aftermath of World War 2
• It is estimated that about 72 million people
died during World War 2
• 61 million were on the allied side and 11
million were on the axis side
• Of the 72 million people that died, it is
believed that 6 million of these were Jewish
people.