The Warring Nations of WWII
By: Mike Graziano
Introduction
• The following lesson is to help you learn about each
country that participated in the fighting of World War II.
• Some of these nations were large and did a huge majority
of the fighting while others were small and their actions in
the war effort are equally small, but they still fought. And
understanding what they did is important to know.
• This will help you to better understand each country, its
leaders, why, and how they went to war for either the Allies
or the Axis during World War II.
H
Navigation
•To navigate through this PowerPoint lesson you have to use
the slide keys in the bottom right corner.
•The arrow pointing right takes you to the next slide while the
arrow pointing left takes you back.
•The Icon above those with the “H” is for the home slide
which will take you back to the title slide.
NOTE: If you see a star at the bottom right corner of the slide you are
on, click on it to read the lyrics for the song that plays on that slide.
H
Main Menu
• There are four different lessons on this PowerPoint: The
leaders of the “Big 6,” The three turning point battles of
WWII, and the World War II world overlook map. Click
below on the specific link to which lesson you would like to
go through.
“The Big 6”
The 3 Turning Point Battles of WWII
The Participating Countries of WWII
World War II Overlook Map
• At the end of each lesson there will be a quiz pertaining to
the information in it. Good Luck!
H
“The Big 6:” Leaders of WWII
• The Big 6 were leaders of the main six nations that
participated in World War II. These men were the driving
force behind a lot of what happened and shaped our world
because of what they did.
These 6 nations and their leaders include:
The United States: Franklin Roosevelt
Russia: Joseph Stalin
Great Britain: Winston Churchill
Germany: Adolf Hitler
Italy: Benito Mussolini
Japan: Hideki Tojo / Emperor Hirohito
H
The USA: Franklin
Roosevelt
• Born: January, 30 1882 Died: April 12, 1945
• Roosevelt was the center piece of the Allied leaders.
• His death came as the Allied powers neared Berlin in the
final days of the war.
• He is known as being one of the last great leaders of the
United States not only as a war leader, but also as a
champion of bringing together a country in economic and
social crisis with his “New Deal.”
• Because of his outstanding leadership qualities, he is the
only President to have been elected for four terms.
H
Soviet Union:
Joseph Stalin
•
•
•
•
Born: December, 18 1878 Died: March 5, 1953
He was a member of the “Big 3.”
Was considered to be the outside amongst the Allies
Stalin’s methods were viewed by many to be inhuman and over the top in what damage he caused
to his own country as well as to how he ran the war.
• Prior to the war he started “The Great Purge” which
was a political move to kill anyone who could
threaten his position as the leader of the USSR; this
included many army officers which crippled his
military.
H
Great Britain:
Winston Churchill
• Born: November, 30 1874 Died: January, 24 1965
• Known as one of Great Britain's most important
leaders.
• Was a huge opposer to Germany’s rearmament in the
1930’s.
• Churchill was also a writer and an amazing orator,
many of his speeches are still studied today.
H
Germany: Adolf Hitler
• Born: April, 20 1889
Died: April, 30 1945
• Hitler with his
uplifting speeches
brought Germany out
of depression from
WWI.
• Hitler was a master
politician, and used
this to take control of
the country.
• Hitler believed that
the Aryan race
(Northern Europeans)
was supreme
amongst all others
around the world.
H
Italy: Benito Mussolini
• Born: July, 29 1883
Died: April, 28 1945
• Mussolini was the creator of
national socialism; the
exact kind Adolf Hitler
copied after visiting
Mussolini.
• The Duce, as he became
nick-named had goals to
“bring back the Italian
Roman Empire.”
• After the Italian were
defeated in North Africa
and southern Italy,
Mussolini was captured and
hanged.
H
Japan: Hideki Tojo / Emperor
Hirohito
• Although Emperor Hirohito
was the true leader of the
country; he was a
figurehead.
• The real man in control was
Hideki Tojo; Japan’s
militaristic mentality lead
him and his accomplices to
take control of the country
and its policies.
• Tojo’s goals were to gain
enough ground and natural
resources so they did not
need to depend upon the
west for anything.
• This ultimately led to their
demise when they went to
war with the US.
H
“The Big 6” Quiz
Question 1
• Which leader wanted to bring back the “Italian
Roman Empire?”
A. Emperor Hirohito
B. Winston Churchill
C. Benito Mussolini
H
Oh No’s!
• Nay
Hirohito wasn’t the guy for this
question.
H
EEEEEErrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Nope not this guy!
Although the British had a huge
Empire that spanned the entire
globe they were not the
Romans.
H
BINGO!
You got it!
The funny fact behind this
was the fact that Mussolini
didn’t get very much
organized in Italy. He did
however get the trains to
run on time.
H
“The Big 6” Quiz
Question 2
• Which leader died right when the Allies were
nearing Berlin?
A. Winston Churchill
B. Franklin Roosevelt
C. Adolf Hitler
Nope!
Nope not this guy!
He was far away at the time
and nowhere near Berlin; plus
he still had good health.
H
Right-o!
• You guessed it right!; Roosevelt died
just before the Allies made their final
push into Berlin. This was a huge
blow to the moral of the Allied forces
however they moved on under the
new leadership of Harry Truman.
H
So close yet so far
• Hitler did kill himself just after the
Allies entered Berlin; so he is not
the man we are looking for.
H
“The Big 6” Quiz
Question 3
• Under which of these leaders did the largest
number of people from their nation, both military
and none military, die?
A. Adolf Hitler
B. Franklin Roosevelt
C. Joseph Stalin
Kind of but not really
• Some would argue that Hitler did
kill almost uncountable numbers
of people from Germany but he
actually caused the Holocaust
that gathered people from all over
Europe.
H
Isn’t this guy
• Roosevelt isn’t even near to the other
two men who caused nearly 1/8 of
the worlds population to be
executed.
H
This is him
• Joseph Stalin killed thousands of
his own people as well as used
the Army in a way that caused it
to “grind up” its personnel. Also,
Hitler did have a part by killing
people of a “lower” ethnic class in
his views, but at the same time
the nation they came from was
without a doubt the Soviet Union.
H
The 3 Turning Point Battles
• In 1942; the war was reaching its pinnacle.
• The Allies and the Axis had been in a fierce
struggle since 1939 and now a few key battles
were coming up that would decide the course of
the war in North Africa, the Pacific Campaign, and
the Russian front.
H
North Africa: El
Alamein
• El Alamein was the decisive battle
in the North African campaign.
Erwin Rommel and Bernard
Montgomery met at the small train
station to decide the fate of the
campaign.
• This section of the world was vital
since the Axis forces wanted to find
a way to get to the rich oil fields of
the Middle East while cutting the
British off from their colonies.
• Interactive battle map below
(picture)
<Click
<me!
Result: Led to Allied victory in
campaign
H
Pacific
Theatre:
Midway
Result: Allied halt of
Japanese advance
• The battle of Midway was the planned invasion of
the American held Midway island by the Imperial
Japanese Navy.
• The battle however turned into a “Who can find who
first” game of aircraft carriers. The US won.
• Although out-numbered and outgunned, the US
Navy defeated the Japanese by sinking 3 out of 4
carriers while only losing one of their own.
H
• The City was originally named
Volgograd until Stalin renamed it
mid-battle to inspire the troops. It
became a personal debacle
between Hitler and Stalin himself
for control of the city.
• The city was not really important
besides what lay beyond it: the
bread basket of the current day
Ukraine and then deeper into the
heart of Russian and a step closer
to Hitler’s goal: Moscow.
Eastern Front:
Stalingrad
H
Result: Destruction of Axis moral
3 Turning Point Battles Quiz
Question 1
• Which of these battles was the only one in which
the Americans actually fought in it?
A. Midway
B. Stalingrad
C. El Alamein
H
You got it!
• Although the Americans participated slightly in North
Africa, at El Alamein they were the main Allied force that
defeated the IJN at the Battle of Midway.
H
Nice Try
• The Americans did give the Russians planes, trucks, and
other equipment however they did not fight in the battle of
Stalingrad. That was all the Russians.
H
Nope
• El Alamein was not the right battle; although it is certain
that the Americans did give the British and her allies large
amounts of equipment.
H
3 Turning Point Battles Quiz
Question 2
• Which of these battles occurred at a location
that had no real strategic value, but instead
became a personal issue between two leaders?
A. El Alamein
B. Midway
C. Stalingrad
H
Errrrrrrrrrrrr
• El Alamein was a small location and didn’t have any real
value however there was no personal matter between the
leaders of the countries that fought there.
H
Not it
• Midway had a lot of strategic value due to its “mid”
location in the pacific ocean between Japan and the United
States; hence the name.
H
That’s It
• At Stalingrad, the Russians and the Germans fought each
other over control of a city that’s only true value was a
name that was put on it. It became a personal matter
between Hitler and Stalin to hold or gain control of the city.
H
3 Turning Point Battles Quiz
Question 3
• Which of these battles would lead to the ending
of a campaign and the start of the Italian theatre
of war?
A. El Alamein
B. Stalingrad
C. Midway
H
Great Job!
• El Alamein led to the entire collapse of the North African
front; and with Operation Torch (The American invasion of
western Africa) the Axis powers were pinned into a corner
and were forced to retreat.
H
Not it
• Stalingrad led to the eventually defeat at Kursk and then
the battle pushed its way all the way into German held
territory and eventually Berlin.
H
Definitely no
• Midway wasn’t even on the same side of the world as Italy.
So it couldn’t be that one, try again.
H
The Participating Countries
H
World War II
Overlook Map
The Axis Powers
The Allied Powers
The following is a world map depicting the
locations of countries, their interests, and
major battles over the course of the war.
• http://teacherworld.com/lessonflowchart.ht
ml
Panzerlied Lyrics
Whether it storms or snows,
Whether the sun smiles upon us,
The day glowing hot
Or the night freezing cold.
Dusty are our faces,
But happy we're at heart,
We're at heart,
As our tank roars,
In the stormwind along.
With thundering engines,
Fast like the lightning,
Towards the enemy,
Within our armoured tank.
Ahead of our comrades,
In battle we stand alone,
Yes, we stand alone,
That's how we thrust deep,
Into the enemy ranks.
When before us,
An enemy tank appears,
Full throttle is given
And we close in on the enemy!
What does then our life matter
For the army of our state?
And if we're left in the gutter,
By disloyal luck some day,
And if we don't return,
Back to our homeland again,
If a bullet strikes us down,
If fate calls upon us,
Yes, to the army of our state?
To die for Germany,
Is our highest honour.
With obstacles and mines
The foe blocks our path,
We laugh at them
And pass them by.
And before us threaten his guns,
Half-hidden in the yellow sand,
Yes, calls on us,
Then our tank will be,
A hero's grave to us!
Yes, in the yellow sand,
We find a path for ourselves,
That no one else has found.
H
United States’ National Anthem Lyrics
Oh, say can you see, by
the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight's last
gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and
bright stars, through the
perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we
watched, were so gallantly
streaming.
And the rockets' red glare,
the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the
night that our flag was still
there.
O say, does that starspangled banner yet wave
for the land of the free and
the home of the brave!
H
USSR’s National Anthem Lyrics
Russia — our sacred stronghold,
Russia — our beloved country.
A mighty will, a great glory —
Your heritage for all time!
Be glorious, our free Fatherland,
Ancient union of brotherly nations,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Be glorious, country! We take pride in
you!
From the southern seas to the polar
Region
Spread our forests and our fields.
You are the only one in the world! You
are the only one of a kind —
Native land protected by God!
A broad expanse for dreams and for lives
Is opened to us by the coming years.
Our devotion to our Fatherland gives us
strength.
So it was, so it is, and so it will always
be!
H
Great Britain’s National Anthem Lyrics
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and Glorious,
Long to reign over us;
God save the Queen!
O Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies
And make them fall;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
Oh, save us all!
Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign;
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen!
Not in this land alone,
But be God's mercies known,
From shore to shore!
Lord make the nations see,
That men should brothers be,
And form one family,
The wide world over
From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Queen!
O'er her thine arm extend,
For Britain's sake defend,
Our mother, prince, and friend,
God save the Queen!
In love's endearments fond,
In wedlock's holy bond,
Blest be our Queen.
In her blest progeny,
We future Monarchs see,
Of England bold and free,
God save the Queen!
Lord let wars' tempest cease;
Fold the whole world in peace
Under thy wings.
Make all the nations one;
All hearts beneath the sun;
Till Thou shalt reign alone;
Great King of Kings.
H
Germany’s National Anthem Lyrics
(WW2)
The flag high! The ranks tightly
closed! SA marches with a
brave, firm pace. Comrades
whom Red Front and Reaction
shot dead March in spirit within
our ranks. [Make] The street
free for the brown battalions;
[Make] The street free for the
SA man! Already millions are
looking to the swastika, full of
hope; The day of freedom and
bread is dawning. Chargealert
has sounded for the last time!
We are all prepared for the
fight/We are all willing to fight!
Soon Hitler-flags will flutter
over all barricades. Our
servitude will not last much
longer now! The flag high! The
ranks tightly closed! SA
marches with a calm, firm
pace. Comrades whom Red
Front and Reaction shot dead
March in spirit within our ranks.
H
Italy’s National Anthem Lyrics (WW2)
•
Italian brothers,
Italy has arisen,
With Scipio's helmet
binding her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God has made her
The slave of Rome.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!
•
We for centuries
Have been downtrodden and
derided,
Because we are not a
people,
Because we are divided.
Let one flag, one hope
Bring us together;
The hour has struck
For us to join forces.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us unite and love one
another;
For union and love
Reveal to peoples
The way of the Lord
Let us swear to free
Our native soil;
If we are united under God,
Who can conquer us?
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!
From the Alps to Sicily,
Everywhere it is Legnano;
Every man has the heart
and hand of Ferruccio.
The children of Italy
Are all called Balilla;
Every trumpet blast
Sounds the (Sicilian)
Vespers.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!
•
Mercenary swords
Are feeble reeds,
And the Austrian eagle
Has lost his plumes.
This eagle that drunk the
blood
of Italy and Poland,
together with the Cossack,
But this has burned his gut.
Let us gather in legions,
Ready to die!
Italy has called!
H
Japan’s National Anthem Lyrics (WW2)
• Thousands of years of
happy reign be thine;
Rule on, my lord, till what
are pebbles now
By age united to mighty
rocks shall grow
Who's venerable sides
the moss doth line.
H
Boogie Woogie Bugel Boy Lyrics
•
He was a famous trumpet man from out Chicago
way
He had a boogie style that no one else could play
He was the top man at his craft
But then his number came up and he was gone with
the draft
He's in the army now, a-blowin' reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B
They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam
It really brought him down because he couldn't jam
The captain seemed to understand
Because the next day the cap' went out and drafted
a band
And now the company jumps when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B
A-toot, a-toot, a-toot-diddelyada-toot
He blows it eight-to-the-bar, in boogie rhythm
He can't blow a note unless the bass and guitar is
playin' with 'im
He makes the company jump when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B
He was some boogie woogie bugle boy of Company
B
And when he plays the boogie woogie bugle he was
busy as a "bzzz" bee
And when he plays he makes the company jump
eight-to-the-bar
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B
Toot toot toot-diddelyada, Toot-diddelyada, toot-toot
He blows it eight-to-the-bar
He can't blow a note if the bass and guitar isn't with 'im
ha-ha-hand the company jumps when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B
He puts the boys to sleep with boogie every night
And wakes 'em up the same way in the early bright
They clap their hands and stamp their feet
Because they know how he plays when someone gives
him a beat
He really breaks it up when he plays reveille
He's boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B
Dat-da da-do-do da-dup
Dat-da da-do-do da-dup
Dat-da da-do-do da-dup
Dat-da da-do-do da-dup
ha-ha-hand the company jumps when he plays reveille
He's the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B
H