Unit 5: WORLD WAR 2
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Today’s opening lesson will check what you already
know about World War 2. We will also take notes
about “World-Wide Conditions after World War 1 that
Led to World War 2”
You need pen or pencil and blank paper.
World War 2 Opener; Part 1
 Whad’ya
 1.
Know?
Work around the room talking with people
around you. Ask them about what THEY know
about WW2. Add their knowledge to YOUR
knowledge and fill out your post-it notes telling
what you ALREADY know about WW2.
 2. After filling out post-it notes, be prepared to
share and categorize your knowledge.
 Think about categories like… People, place,
concepts, events, weapons, results, etc. Even
movies and video games can be shared.
World War 2 Opener; Part 2.
 Who
are you…?
 Looking
at the pictures of famous
figures from World War 2, how many
can you and your friends recognize?
General Dwight Eisenhower;
Commander of all Allied Forces in
Europe; Later Elected U.S. President
Power
Benito Mussolini; Il Dulce
Fascist Dictator of Italy; Axis Power
Winston Churchill; The English Bulldog
Prime Minister of England; Held off Nazi
Luftwaffe with Morale building speeches.
Joseph Stalin; “Iron Joe”
Communist Dictator of Soviet Union; Allied with
America and England during WW2.
America’s #1 enemy later during the Cold War
Hideki Tojo:
Prime Minister and leader of Imperial
Japanese Military during WW2
Douglas MacArthur:
Leader of America’s Pacific
Military during WW2
Franklin Delano Roosevelt; FDR
American President from 1932-1945.
Leader who proclaimed need to fight for “4
Freedoms” during WW2
General Bernard Montgomery
Major British military General during WW2.
Erwin Rommel: “The Desert Fox”
Brilliant German military General. We are
fortunate that he was not in charge.
Adolf Hitler: Fuhrer
Ruthless Nazi leader; Author of “Mein
Kampf” and leader who sought Genocide
with the Holocaust of the Jewish people.
J.D. Bates; aka “Stud”
Your favorite history teacher EVER!
“World-Wide Conditions following
World War 1 that led to World War 2”
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Lecture Notes
*Use your own lined paper to create a 4-box grid.
 *At the top, title your notes;
“World-Wide Conditions following
World War 1 that led to World War 2”
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 *Label each box… and copy notes that
#1. “Normalcy”, Depression, & CHAOS
#2. Fascist Italy & Nazi Germany
#3. Communistic Dictatorship in The Soviet Union
#4. Militaristic & Nationalistic Japan
follow.
#1. “Normalcy”, Depression, &
CHAOS
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Following World War 1 devastation, people
wanted to return to “Normalcy”
America did, for a time… then The Great
Depression started.
In other areas, especially War-torn Europe, a
“Return to Normalcy” was not possible.
Death, poverty, hunger, and weak post-war
governments led to CHAOS in much of
Europe.
#2. Fascist Italy
& Nazi Germany
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The Treaty of Versailles that “ended” World War 1
was HARSHLY punishing, especially to Germany.
Italy also felt betrayed. Italy was NOT given the land
they had been promised at the end of WW1.
Germany had to Take Blame for WW1, pay $$$ for
the war, have land taken away, and had their
military stripped down.
During the chaos and strife of World-Wide
conditions of the 1920’s-1930’s…
Benito Mussolini begins his RISE to power in Italy.
Adolf Hitler starts his German Nazi takeover.
#3. Communistic Dictatorship in
The Soviet Union
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1917…Russia Leaves World War 1 due to trouble in
Russia (domestic strife)
1917…The Bolsheviks/Communists take over with
Vladimir Lenin offering “Peace, Land, Bread”.
1920’s…RESTRUCTURING…Agricultural Russia
CHANGES to Industrial Soviet Union. Monarchy to
Communistic Dictatorship.
1926…Joseph Stalin takes over after a power
struggle. Ruthless leader who continues
restructure, and kills ALL who oppose him.
#4. Militaristic &
Nationalistic Japan
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Japan is a small, island nation. Nationalism has
always been very high. During 1920’s, Japan’s
policy became “Modernize and Industrialize”.
Japan does not HAVE natural resources industry
requires.
“Fear of Encirclement” … Other, large, powerful,
modern nations dominate the geographic region.
This “encirclement” leads Japan to build up and
develop their MILITARY in order to conquer other
territory for raw materials.
1931…Attach on northern Chino province of
Manchuria.
#4. Militaristic &
Nationalistic Japan
#4. Militaristic &
Nationalistic Japan