Causes of the War and it’s Key Individuals
Treaty of
Versailles
Rise of
fascism in
Italy
Rise of
Hitler
Nationalism
Japanese
expansionism
Major
Causes
of
World War
II
Economic
depression
Militarism
Appeasement
Anticommunism

1939-1945

Allied Powers: U.S., Great Britain &
Soviet Union

Axis Powers: Germany, Italy & Japan

U.S. & Soviet Union became
superpowers & set stage for Cold
War
 Germany in ruins after Treaty of Versailles
 In need of a leader to restore country
 Promised Germany would become world
power
 Blamed Jewish for defeat in WW1
 Germany would rise to greatness after
exterminating inferiors
 Hitler & Nazi party elected
head of government in 1933
 Third Reich

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Depression after WW1
Benito Mussolini gained control in
1922 after promising recovery
Ruled violently & destroyed
individual rights
Fascist rule based on militarism,
strong leader & government control

Japan’s goal: most dominant military
& empire in Asia

Lacked resources to be world power

Invasion of Manchuria, China to
expand territory and gain resources
Theaters of War: Where WWII Was Fought
Europe
North
Africa
Atlantic
Ocean
Asia
Pacific
HITLER’S
WWII
PARTNERS
India
Brazil
THE ALLIED
POWERS IN
WWII
1) The Allied Powers consisted of whom?
2) The Axis Powers consisted of whom?
3) Why was Germany in ruins after WW1?
4) How did this help lead to Hitler’s rise to
power?
 5) What was Hitler’s belief about Germans?
 6) Who was the leader of Italy who
promised economic recovery?
 7) What was preventing Japan from
becoming a global power?
 8) How did Japan go about acquiring these
resources?
 9) What goal did all three Axis Powers have
in common?
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Last German offensive against Allies
December 1944-January 1945
Allies bombed major German cities &
surrounded capital, Berlin
Germans loose over 200,000 troops

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Germans had a shortage of fuel &
troops
Used English speaking Germans to
obtain U.S. uniforms, artillery, etc…
Impersonated U.S. military,
sabotaging communication
Greatest US victory of War (Patton)

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Mussolini captured & killed April 28,
1945
Hitler retreats & hides in
underground bunker for last month
of war
Commits suicide April 30, 1945
War in Europe ends as Germans
surrender in May of 1945
May 8, 1945 declared V-E Day:
Victory in Europe Day
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Refused to let women work
Obsessed with extermination of
Jewish
Mussolini as an Ally
Executed top generals
No wartime economy
Fought numerous fronts (again)
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“Big 3” met at Yalta Conference to
discuss future for post-war Europe
Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill
Stalin promised to declare war on
Japan
Agreed:
International peace group
needed: United Nations
Germany split between GB, SU,
U.S. & France
Directions: Take out a half sheet of paper for
a written check up.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
List the Allied and Axis Powers.
What was Germany’s last major offensive
called?
When did Germany’s last major offensive
take place?
What is the date of V-E day?
What conference did the “Big 3” meet at?
What individuals made up the “Big 3”?
What 2 things did the “Big 3” agree on?