What is this about?
What were some similarities and differences in the way each government conducted the war?
- WWII lasted from 1939 to 1945
- Once again governments engaged in total war and mobilized all their resources and population
- Also used nationalism to get people to support the war effort
- “We must defeat the fascist/communist governments!”
- New stuff like atomic bomb
Japan and Imperialist Policies
- In Japan, the military had effective control over the government
- This military had grand imperialist ambitions and would end up starting WWII in the Pacific
- However Japan faced economic problems due to its invasions
- Its occupation of China led to the US sanctioning Japan
- As Japan’s economy was dependent on American oil and scrap, sanctions threatened Japan’s plans of military domination
- It planned to get the US to submit with military force
Germany’s Early Victories and Challenges
- Embarked on strategy called blitzkrieg (lightning war) in order to rapidly acquire territory
- Used tanks and the air force for the speed
- Nazis successfully got Poland (at least the half that they were entitled to under the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact)
- Emboldened by the success of Poland, Germany invades and consolidates France, Denmark, Norway in its empire
- Capital of Nazi-occupied France was Vichy
British-American Relations
- British, fearing it would be next in Germany’s campaign of conquest, asked the US support
- Roosevelt agreed to support Britain and both countries signed the Destroyers-for-Bases Agreement in 1940
- In 1941 the two countries signed the Lend-Lease Act, which officially ended the US’ neutrality as the act said US would lend war materials to Britain
- Atlantic Charter signed in 1941 laid out the basic goals for a post-war world
- restoration of self-government to those deprived of it, the abandonment of the use of force, and the disarmament of aggressor nations
The Battle of Britain
- In Europe, Britain was the last major power left against Nazis
- In July 1940, Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe (German air force) to continuously bomb British cities to wear them down
- British civilians withstood these attacks for months and were able to prevail
- British planes and radar were able to destroy German aircraft faster than they can be replaced
- By 1941 Hitler indefinitely postponed the invasion of Britain
War on the Soviet Union
- After failing to invade Britain, Hitler turned east to the Soviet Union
- Goal was to create the living space
- This put pressure off Britain
- Initially Nazis were successful but suffered greatly from the harsh Russian winters
- At Siege of Leningrad, Soviets defeated Nazis in city of Leningrad
Japan Overreaches
- Japan experiences rapid victories in Pacific
- Launched surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, destroying much of the US naval fleet
- Japan thought US, after Pearl Harbor, would wish to settle things diplomatically and submit to Japan
- Instead, US isolationism sentiments disappeared overnight; public opinion demanded retaliation against Japan
- US declares war on Japan, then a few days later Germany too declares war
- Made WWII truly a global war
Colonial Armies
- Allied colonies also provided troops for the war effort
- Ex: Indian Army fought in North Africa and against the Japanese in Southeast Asia
Home Fronts
- Both WWI and WWII were total wars
- Most countries mobilized all their resources, including their civilian population
- US had strongest industrial sector in the world and also their factories operated without the threat of military attack
- Hence US was able to ramp up production for war stuff, like tanks, ammunition
- Women also found more opportunities
- US promoted “Rosie the Riveter”
- Germany however, took a different approach: they used forced labor instead of mobilizing all available citizens
- Some of this forced labor came from concentration camps
- Japan took pride in not using women in the war effort
- “While the enemy is using women, we are considerate of family life and won’t use them”
The Tide Turns in the European Theater
- US joined Britain and USSR in war effort in 1941
- Battle of El Alamein in Egypt was one of the first indisputable victories of the Allies against the Axis powers
- Also boosted war morale
- Battle of Stalingrad where Soviets defeated Nazi forces
- Tide shifts from Axis powers to the Allies
The Tide Turns in the Pacific Theater
- Battle of Midway in 1942 marks turning point of the war that starts to favor the US
- Allied forces in Pacific used strategy of island-hopping
- Allies attack islands where Japanese authority was weak and get closer and closer to Japan
- Technology also critical to Allies’ success
- Aircraft carriers are ships that allowed planes to take off and land
- Submarines also used to damage Japanese navy fleet
The Last Years of the War
- Italy and Mussolini first fall
- June 6, 1944 = D-Day
- Allied forces land in Normandy and start campaign to liberate France
- Allied air raids began to systematically destroy Germany’s infrastructure
- Soviets able to expand up until Berlin
Victory in Europe
- Hitler commits suicide in 1945
- Mussolini killed two days before Hitler’s suicide
- May 8, 1945 marked official end of WWII, and became known as V-E Day
Victory over Japan
- Although stuff like island-hopping was successful in reducing Japan’s influence, that didn’t make them surrender
- Truman orders to dropping of two atomic bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima in order to get the Japanese to surrender
- Japan surrendered unconditionally on August 14, 1945
Consequences of World War II
- Deadliest war in human history
- Set the context for the fierce rivalry between US and USSR coming up
- Also changed how people thought about racism, colonial empires, and international relations