Europe in Flames

Opener

• When is it alright for a nation to go to War? Under what circumstances does a country or people have the right to defend themselves?

Rise of Fascism

• Axis Powers– Germany– Italy– Japan

• Fascism driven by– Political/Economic

problems Post WWI – People wanted strong

leaders

What is Fascism

• Military Dictatorship• Racist Ultranationalistic• Partnership with

business to control market

Benito Mussolini of Italy

• Prime Minister of Italy

• Anti-Communist/ Nationalistic

• Blackshirts -paramilitary group

Il Duce

• 1925, led Fascismo single-party state

• Came from fasces, (Latin) A bundle of rods bound around an axe

• A Roman symbol of authority and strength

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Adolf Hitler of Germany

• Blamed Communists Foreign Powers

• Believed Jews controlled world’s finances

• Brownshirts or Schutzstaffel (SS)

National Socialist (Nazi) Party• Attracted the unemployed• Won seats in Germany’s Parliament

(Reichstag)• Hitler named chancellor • Communists blamed for Reichstag fire

– Hitler takes dictatorial power– Police state crushes opposition

• Sources of Power:– Nationalistic theatrics, ceremony

and patriotism– bankrolled by militant

industrialists– supported by army /secret police

Hitler’s Plans

• Reunite the German-speaking people

• Rearm Germany• Crush Jewish power• Expand Germany’s

land “Lebensraum”

Japanese Imperialism

• Emperor Hirohito living god

• Warrior code indoctrinated soldier and society

• Militaristic Nationalists led by Hideki Tojo

• Invade China and SE Asia to to gain resources

Fight for China

• 1937 Japanese invade China

• Takes Beijing, all major Chinese cities

• Japanese sink US ship- Panay

• FDR gave loans to Chinese Nationalists

• Began export ban to Japan

American Neutrality 1935

• Italy Invades Ethiopia• Neutrality Act – Barred sale of arms to

all belligerents• Oil not part of

embargo – sales to Italy triple

FDR and American Isolationism

• “America actively engages in the search for peace,”

• Recommended “quarantining” the aggressors

• acknowledging without identifying them

Appeasement 1938• March: Germany annexes

Austria (Anschluss)• September: German

demands Sudetenland, German part of Czechoslovakia

• Munich- Britain / France accept demands – pressed Czechs give up

land• 1939: Hitler takes rest of

Czechoslovakia

WWII 1939

• Hitler demanded City of Gdansk

• Germany/Soviet Union non-aggression pact

• September 1: Germany Invades Poland

• France/Britain declare war on Germany

• FDR didn’t have votes to overturn neutrality

Nazi Onslaught• Blitzkrieg “lightning war”

– Coordinated attack Infantry, Artillery, Tanks and Airplanes

• Germany defeats– Denmark– Norway– The Netherlands– Belgium– France

• Allied armies retreat• British escape at Dunkirk

Roosevelt’s Stopgap• Cash and Carry: Allies can

buy US arms / transport themselves

• Italy joins Germany • Roosevelt freezes assets to

prevent Germans from using • FDR sells the British

“surplus” American arms• Trades American destroyers

to British for Caribbean bases

Taking a Stand

• Congress approved Lend-Lease Act - $781 Billion (2012)

• Four Freedom speech • Atlantic Charter

outlining war aims• Shoot on Sight

AIR RAID PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NOT A DRILL

• Two Japanese air attacks– US loses 19 ships– 292 aircraft – 2,403 Americans,

military and civilian, had been killed

– 1,178 wounded• Roosevelt asks Congress

for a Declaration of War

Closer

• Would you ever choose to go to war? Under what circumstances would you be willing to fight on behalf of your country?