World War II was the largest war in human history, involving countries around the globe from 1939 to 1945. It resulted in between 45-60 million deaths. The war had several causes, including the outcome of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, the policy of appeasement, and the rise of totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany and fascist Italy under Hitler and Mussolini. The war began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.

1. World War II Notes

2. What was WWII? Largest war in human history. Involved countries, colonies, and territories around the entire world. By the end, between 45-60 million were dead. Perhaps even more. It lasted from 1939 until 1945.

3. Causes W WI and the Treaty of Versailles A ppeasement R ise of Totalitarianism

4. WWI and the Treaty of Versailles Germany lost land to surrounding nations War reparations Allies collect $ to pay back war debts to US Germans are bankrupt, embarrassed, guilt ridden, and angry. Desperate people turn to desperate leaders Hitler clear vision and knows who to blame for “our troubles.”

5. Appeasement Giving someone something to make them happy and leave you alone. Hitler demanded land that wasn’t Germany’s and others just gave it to him. Parts of Austria and Czechoslovakia. Nations were trying to prevent war…it didn’t work. (Isolationism) Appeasement just showed Hitler that he could do whatever he wanted.

6. “Peace in Our Time!” says British Prime Minister, Chamberlain.

7. Rise of Totalitarianism A system in which the state and its leader have nearly TOTAL control. Individual rights are not viewed as important as the needs of the nation. No right to vote No free speech Government controlled economy Often a police state

8. Totalitarianism USSR : Communist Dictatorship Germany & Italy : Fascist Dictatorship Japan : Military Dictatorship

9. Adolf Hitler-Germany Hideki Tojo - Japan Benito Mussolini-Italy Josef Stalin-USSR

10. What is Fascism? Political belief that says the individual is less important than the nation. Glorifies violence, believes it is needed to “prove” strength of a people. Uses nationalism and racism. Dictatorships. Italy and then Germany became fascist. Later Spain after it’s Civil War.

13. How did WWII start? Germany invaded Poland to get lebensraum

14. What did Hitler Want ? Militarism - soon after becoming chancellor he begins rearming Germany breaking the Treaty of Versailles Rhineland- moves troops into the Rhineland territory again breaking the Treaty of Versailles Lebensraum - “living space” Austria - annexed peacefully in 1938 Sudetenland – territory in Czechoslovakia Given to Germany by Great Britain and France Hitler then invades the rest of Czechoslovakia On to Poland

15. How did WWII start? Germany invaded Poland. Allies declare war on Germany. Germany then invades France, Belgium, etc. Then Hitler invades Russia. Germans use “blitzkrieg” to overwhelm other armies. Blitzkrieg means “lightening war” in German. Surround with tanks and troops in trucks.

16. Who was on each side? Axis Powers Germany Italy Japan Allied Powers Great Britain Soviet Union United States, late France Surrendered to Germany in 1940 after 6 weeks China

19. What about the Pacific War? The US (mostly) fought the Japanese. December 7, 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to sink US ships there. Two hours = most US navy destroyed and 2,000 sailors killed Japan surrenders after US drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

25. Role of Women and Minorities Rosie the Riveter Dr. Charles Drew, plasma and bloodmobiles

26. Japanese Internment in US Executive Order 9066, signed by president FDR 1942 110,000 Japanese Americans arrested without warrant or hearing and resettled in camps for duration of war years 1989, US acknowledges it did wrong and pays survivors and families $1.6 billion

29. How did WWII end in Europe? Operation Overlord- Allied invasion of France. Also called D-Day. Within a month 1 million Allied troops were stationed in Europe. Germany is surrounded with the USSR to the east Germany surrenders in 1945 after Hitler commits suicide.

34. How did WWII end in Europe? Allies divide Germany up between them. This helps start the Cold War. Trials are held in Nuremberg,Germany (and Japan) to try the people responsible for the war. Many are executed and jailed for war crimes. UNITED NATIONS is formed

35. What was the Holocaust? Nazi plan to kill all Jews. Why? Hitler’s provided a to Germany’s problems 6 million Jews murdered in camps in Europe. 40% 5 million others ( gypsies, mentally ill, homosexuals) Total of 11 million exterminated What is genocide? Purposely trying to exterminate an entire group of people (ethnic, religious, racial). Armenians 2/3 1915, 1923 East Timorese 1/3 1975-1982 Rwanda 1/5 100days in 1994

36. West Germany East Germany

37. Post War Both Germany and Japan are occupied Marshall Plan, US plan to rebuild Europe with billions of dollars of loans from US Named after US Secretary of State George Marshall Helps US economy and control by US of European, Middle East, and parts of Asian economic growth US and Soviets emerge as chief world powers – set stage for Cold War

38. Quick Facts War Costs US Debt 1940 - $9 Billion US Debt 1945 - $98 Billion WWII cost $330 billion – 10 times the cost of WWI & equivalent to all previous federal spending since 1776

39. Losses of the Major Wartime Powers in WWII, 1939-1945 Germany 4.5 million military 2 million civilian Japan 2 million military 350,000 civilians Italy 400,000 military 100,000 civilian China 2.5 million military 7.4 million civilians USSR 10 million military 10 million civilians Great Britain 300,000 military 50,000 civilians France 250,000 military 350,000 civilian United States 274,000 military