World War II
Lesson 1: The Rise of Dictators
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Germans bitter- Treaty of Versaillesexpected Germany to pay for damages
caused by World War I
Worldwide depression (and Great
Depression) affected countries around the
world. Many Germans blamed other
European nations and German Jews for
their hardships.
Didn’t have enough money to do this
Adolf Hitler, leader of Germany during the
20’s, said Germany had been treated
unfairly.
What do you think?
Worldwide Depression
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Countries short of supplies
Still trying to recover from World
War I
Economic hard times worldwide
Discuss reasons for the above facts
with a partner.
Georgia Performance
Standards
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SS5H6 The student will explain the reasons for
America’s involvement in World War II.
a. Describe Germany’s aggression in Europe and Japan’s
aggression in Asia.
b. Describe major events in the war in both Europe and the
Pacific; include Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, D-Day, VE and VJ
Days, and the Holocaust.
c. Discuss President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic
bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
d. Identify Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill, Hirohito, Truman,
Mussolini, and Hitler.
e. Describe the effects of rationing and the changing role of
women and African- Americans; include “Rosie the Riveter”
and the Tuskegee Airmen.
f. Explain the U.S. role in the formation of the United
Nations.
Other factors leading to WWII
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Germany-reduced size by the Treaty
of Versailles
League of Nations was organized
French and Britain (ruled by Winston
Churchill)-unsure
U.S.- isolationist
What does all of this mean?
Hitler (leader of Germany)
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Believed only Germans with blond hair
and blue eyes were “true Germans”
Blamed Jews for many of the problems.
Adolf Hitler took advantage of the
unhappiness to lead his Nazi Party to
power
Hitler preached hatred of the Jews and
promised to return Germany to
greatness
By 1933, he was firmly in power
Hitler Continued
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Hitler wanted to expand his empire, which he called
the Third Reich. What is this called (expanding an
empire)?
Invaded the Rhineland, Austria, and parts of
Czechoslovakia.
Since other European nations did not want another
war, they did little to stop him.
They chose appeasement- the belief that it is best to
let an aggressive nation have what it wants-they hope
that this will satisfy its leaders and stop aggression
Hitler didn’t stop.
Signed alliance with two other aggressive nations:
Italy and Japan.
In 1939, Germany invaded Poland, starting World
War II in Europe.
National Socialists or Nazis?
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Political party with Hitler in charge
Grew in power and started an army
and continued to build it – What is
this called?
Soldiers, called storm troopers
attacked Jewish people and others
opposed to Hitler
Put prisoners into terrible prisons
called concentration camps.
Nazis in Control
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1933 took control of German
government
Hitler ruled as a dictator, an allpowerful ruler.
Rebuilt Germany’s economy by
preparing for another war.
Built tanks, guns, and other war
supplies
Wanted to Rule the World
German Dictator, Adolf Hitler
Click on the
picture for
A video.
Other Dictators
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Dictatorship – a country ruled by one
all-powerful person.
Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union.
Francisco Franco ruled Spain.
Benito Mussolini ruled Italy.
Hirohito ruled Japan.
Can you think of any mnemonics for
remembering these names?
Japan’s Aggression
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1920’s- Japan decided to expand its territory in
Southeast Asia.
Emperor Hirohito did not desire war, but he
didn’t have most of the power…
Government fell under the control of the military
Japan (tiny island nation) lacked natural
resources
Many in the military saw the invasion of other
territories as the best way to solve this problem
By the late 1930’s, Japan controlled most of the
Chinese coast and was determined to conquer
other territories as well.
Sound familiar? What is this called? Discuss it
with a neighbor.
Lesson 2: The War Begins
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Japan, Italy, and Germany began
taking over other countries. What is
this called?
Sept. 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland.
British and French leaders had had
enough!
Declared war on Germany on Sept. 3,
1939.
British and French not able to stop
Germany from taking over other
countries.
The United States
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Many thought we should stay out
(Can you make a connection here?)
President Franklin Roosevelt
promised to keep us out of the war.
Prepared for attack just in case
1st peacetime draft
• Men ages 21-39 had to register.
• Started making war supplies
Japanese Invasion Spreads
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Japanese invaded Indochina, now
what is Cambodia, Laos, and
Vietnam.
American leaders were afraid Japan
would threaten the Philippines and
other Pacific islands. What did the US
own in the Pacific?
They were RIGHT!
Japan’s Aggression Continued
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United States was very concerned about
Germany and Japan.
Still, many citizens did not want the US to go to
war.
Then, in late 1941, everything changed.
Japanese leaders believed that the US Pacific
Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was anchored too
close to Japan. Much of the harbor and
surrounding lands is a United States Navy deepwater naval base.
They felt it threatened Japan’s expansion.
On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes
launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
U.S. Enters the War
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December 7, 1941- Japanese planes
attacked Pearl Harbor in the
Hawaiian Islands.
Dropped bombs on American ships at
the Pearl Harbor naval base.
In less than two hours, Japan had
destroyed most of the U.S. Pacific
fleet.
More than 2,000 sailors and 68
civilians were killed.
Declaration of War
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Day after the attack at Pearl Harbor
President Roosevelt asked Congress to
declare war on Japan.
Congress declared war that same day.
Because Germany and Japan were allies,
the United States soon found itself at war
with Germany as well. The US had entered
WWII.
Italy and Germany, Japan’s allies,
declared war on the U.S. three days later.
Turn and tell a neighbor why the US
entered WWII.
The War in Europe
North Africa and Italy
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In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union
(USSR)
After Pearl Harbor, the US, Great Britain, the
USSR, and a number of other nations fought
together as the Allies. Germany, Italy, and
Japan formed the Axis Powers.
Although the Soviet Union’s leader, Joseph Stalin,
urged the US and Great Britain to invade Western
Europe, President Roosevelt and Britain’s Prime
Minister Winston Churchill decided to attack in
North Africa first.
Following the victory in North Africa, the British
and US forces invaded and conquered southern
Italy.
Sides are Drawn
Axis Powers
Germany
 Japan
 Italy
AXIS- The world
spins on an axis,
and Hitler (along
with Japan and Italy)
wanted to rule the
world!
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Allies
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United States
Britain
France
USSR
Americans at War
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Produced more and more airplanes,
tanks, and other war supplies
Created new jobs
World War II ended the Great
Depression Discuss with a neighbor
how this affected the economy.
Women took over many of the jobs
Power of the federal government grew
Rationing, or limiting what Americans
could buy occurred, so supplies could
be sent overseas.
Lesson 3: The War at Home
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While US soldiers were away fighting in
Europe and the Pacific, citizens at home
did their part to support the war effort
Military needed weapons and supplies.
Production increased, and the economy
boomed.
Citizens began to looking for ways to
conserve goods so that more could go to
the soldiers. Do you remember what this
is called?
People planted victory gardens in which
they raised their own vegetables.
The Role of Women
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Women’s role in society changed
during the war. Over 275,000
women served in the United States
military. The largest military division
of women was the WAC (Women’s
Army Corps).
http://embodiedidentity.pbworks.com/f/1350757234/wac_women_group_shot_large.jpg
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Rosie the Riveter became the
symbol of such women. It was the
title of a song about a woman who
went to work as a riveter while her
husband went off to war. Posters of
“Rosie” encouraged women to go to
work and help production.
The Role of Minorities in WWII
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Perhaps the most impressive was an army infantry
regiment known as the 442nd Regiment
It was made up totally of Japanese American soldiers.
The 442nd fought in Europe and became the most
decorated unit in US history.
"Tuskegee Airmen" refers to the men and women,
African-Americans and Caucasians, who were involved in
the so-called "Tuskegee Experience", the Army Air Corps
program to train African Americans to fly and maintain
combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots,
navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff,
instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes in
the air.
The War in Europe
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Italy’s Axis leader, Benito
Mussolini, escaped to the north
There he became the leader of a
puppet government under Adolf
Hitler (A puppet government is one
that rules a country but answers to a
stronger foreign government.)
Whose government did he answer
to????
D-Day
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Following the meeting between Stalin, Churchill,
and Roosevelt, the Allies agreed that the time
had come for an invasion of Western Europe.
US General Dwight D. Eisenhower
commanded the invasion.
On June 6,1944, Allied troops launched a surprise
attack on Northern France
The invasion became known as D-Day. It was a
huge success.
As the Soviets marched toward Berlin from the
east, the western Allies liberated France and
other countries as they advanced from the west.
Victory in Europe
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April 1945- Hitler realized he had lost
As Soviet troops surrounded Berlin, Hitler
committed suicide rather that be captured
In May, Germany surrendered. The Allies
celebrated VE Day (Victory in Europe
Day)
President Roosevelt did not see the day of
victory. He died earlier that same month
at his vacation home in Warm Springs,
Georgia. Harry Truman became the new
president.
The Holocaust
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Allies are advancing through Europe
They made a horrifying discovery
They found concentration camps housing
thousands of starving and tortured prisoners
Most were Jewish
At first, Hitler’s government simply passed
discrimination laws against the Jews
After invading Soviet Union, Hitler tried to
exterminate the Jewish people
He wanted to kill other people the Nazis felt were
unfit to live
These groups were Slavs, the mentally ill,
gypsies, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Holocaust
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Jewish suffered the most
Jewish people of all ages were arrested
Many were executed immediately or shipped to
camps where they were killed upon arrival
Other were forced to work or were tortured in the
camps before they were finally murdered
Over six million Jewish people would perished.
The horrible period became known as The
Holocaust
After the war, a number of German leaders stood
trial for these crimes. Most were found guilty.
Some received long prison sentences. Others
were hanged.
Lesson 4: Island Hopping
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The US military then used a strategy
called island hopping
US forces conquered one set of islands
after another as they fought their way
toward Japan
Forces under the command of Admiral
Chester Nimitz advanced across the
Central Pacific
Meanwhile, General Douglas MacArthur
and Admiral William Halsey commanded
forces that attacked from the south and
retook the Philippines
Island Hopping
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One of the fiercest battles occurred on the
island of Iwo Jima
It took more that 100,000 US soldiers
nearly a month to defeat a Japanese force
of 25,000
Japanese soldiers often believed it was
more honorable to fight to the death
rather than surrender
One of the most famous images of the
was that of the US Marines raising an
American flag over Iwo Jima.
The Atomic Bomb
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During the war, the US developed the atomic
bomb
It was the world’s first nuclear weapon
It was far more powerful than any weapon ever
invented
When Japan refused to surrender unconditionally,
President Truman ordered the bomb dropped on
the Japanese city of Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, a US plane dropped the
bomb
IT DESTROYED HIROSHIMA Thousands of
Japanese people were killed
Thousands more died later from radiation caused
by the explosion.
The Enola Gay lands at a Mariana Island base
after dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima
The Atomic Bomb
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When Japan still delayed in surrendering,
the president ordered a second atomic
bomb dropped on Nagasaki
The death and destruction caused by
these horrifying weapons forced Japan to
surrender
People in the US celebrated VJ Day
(Victory over Japan Day).
Problems for JapaneseAmericans
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Some military leaders distrusted Japanese
Americans
Were afraid they would help the “enemy”
Roosevelt ordered 110,000 Japanese
Americans into “relocation camps”
• Like prisons, fenced in with barbed wire
• Soldiers guarded the camps with guns
• Had to sell their homes, businesses, and
belongings.
Problems Continue
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Moved to Utah, California, Arizona,
Wyoming, Arkansas, and Idaho
Had to wear identification tags
Over 17,000 Japanese Americans
served in Army units even though
their friends and families were being
locked away by their own country.
The United Nations
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After WWII, countries established the
League of Nations
They hoped the League would encourage
peace and avoid future wars
The League had no power to enforce its
decisions, however. The US and it allies
led the way in establishing a new
organization
In 1944, the US hosted meetings to come
up with a plan for the organization
In April 1945, leaders from fifty countries
met in San Francisco to draft a charter. In
October, the United Nations (UN) was
formed.
The United Nations
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Its purpose was to maintain peace
between countries & make sure
nations obeyed international law and
protect human rights
Most of the decision-making power
fell to five permanent members of
the UN Security Council: the US,
Soviet Union, China, Great
Britain, and France.