World War II

Part 2

The Axis Powers Advance

A Global BattlegroundGermany’s invasion of Poland triggered World War II. In time, Italy, Japan, and six other nations would join Germany to form the Axis Powers. Opposing them were the Allies. Before the war was over, the Allies included Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and 45 other countries.

World War II was truly a global conflict. Armies fought in cities and villages around the world and on the great oceans. It was the most destructive war in human history. Many millions of people were killed. When it finally ended, cities across Europe and Asia lay in ruins.

Nazis Overrun Europe• When the Nazis

attacked Poland, they did so with a “blitzkrieg” or lightning war.

• The Soviet Union seized Eastern Poland and other nations in the east.

• In 1940, German forces crushed Denmark, Norway, Holland, and Belgium.

• German forces marched into France, and Italy attacked from the south.

• Britain sent forces to help defend the French, but they were quickly overpowered.

• At Dunkirk, a French port, the allied soldiers were trapped and faced a dangerous situation.

• The British sent every available ship in the nation to rescue 338,000 soldiers.

• With little resistance, the Germans rolled into Paris, and on June 22, 1940 the French had to surrender.

Britain Fights on AloneThe new British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, told the people all he had to offer was, “blood, toil, tears, and sweat”. He said:

“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER.”

During the Battle of Britain, German planes pounded London and other major cities. British fighter pilots used a new device called radar, and gunned down almost 2,000 enemy planes.

By late 1940, after several months of bombing, Hitler gave up his plans for invading Britain. However, his forces occupied most of Europe.

Citizens of London take refuge in the city’s subway system during “The Blitz” of

1940.

American Neutrality• The U.S. remained neutral although the

majority of people rooted for the allies.

• Isolationists did all they could to keep us out of the conflict.

• A “cash and carry” plan was developed. The allies had to pay cash for all supplies and haul them on their own ships.

• We also lent Britain 50 old destroyers in exchange for leases on military bases.

More money was approved for military buildup of the army and naval forces. Isolationists did not like it, but many people worried that if Britain fell, Hitler would control the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1940, FDR broke tradition by running for a third term. Some in his own party even warned against it. FDR used Lincoln’s quote of “Don’t swap horses in mid-stream”, meaning now was not a good time to change leadership. He won a clear victory.

The Arsenal of Democracy• By late 1940,

Britain desperately needs supplies.

• Isolationists resist Roosevelt’s ideas for aiding Britain.

• The “Lend-Lease Act” was passed in March of 1941.

• The U.S. could loan or sell items to any country we thought was vital to our defense.

• Roosevelt called for four freedoms: Speech, Worship, From Want, and From Fear.

• Airplanes, tanks, guns, and ammo went to Britain on British ships.

• American warships followed as far as Iceland.

• In June of 1941, Hitler broke his pact, and invaded the Soviet Union.

• Although we weren’t fond of Stalin’s regime, we aided them too.

• Roosevelt and Churchill met in August 1941 to set up the Atlantic Charter, and made post-war plans.

Japan Expands in AsiaRoosevelt felt the Japanese were just as dangerous as the Germans. Japan had seized Holland’s and France’s Asian colonies, and had signed an alliance with Germany and Italy in September of 1940.

The U.S. stopped selling oil and scrap metal to the Japanese. In November 1941, talks to solve problems in the Pacific were not successful.

Disaster at Pearl Harbor• In a surprise sneak attack on Sunday

morning, December 7, 1941, the Japanese struck at the United States.

• In under 2 hours, they sank or destroyed 19 American ships, destroyed nearly 200 planes, and killed 2,400 people.

• Fortunately, two of our aircraft carriers were out to sea during the attack.

• The American people were shocked.

The next day, FDR asked Congress to declare war:

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan…No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might will win this through to absolute victory.”

War is DeclaredCongress swiftly approved a declaration of war. Three days later, Germany and Italy, Japan’s allies, declared war on the United States. The fighting had been raging for two years, but was now going to get worse.

Pearl Harbor had shocked the American people into taking action. Now even the isolationists were on board.