(GCP) WWII (1939-1945) Lesson
WWII (1939-1945) Lesson
Grievances from World War I's aftermath and economic havoc resulted in militarist responses from Japan, Germany and Italy. Japan attacked Manchuria in 1931 and politicians in the West responded with a collective shrug. In contrast to Japan's gradual shift towards the military, Germany's was abrupt. Adolf Hitler promised to restore Germany's once-impressive economic and military place in Europe and to eliminate the communist threat within its borders. In alliance with Italy, Germany assisted the fascist takeover of Spain. After only 20 years since the last devastating global conflict, the world went to war and second time in an even deadlier
affair. The aftermath of the war would see the map of Europe once again changed and the rise of two new superpowers, the US and the USSR, who opposed each other in the decades after WWII and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
WWII
World War II began when Germany led by Hitler invaded Poland, an action which was followed by the Soviet Union's invasion into eastern Poland and Finland. With that action France and Britain declared war on Germany. By summer of 1940 most of Europe had fallen to the German war machine, leaving only Great Britain to stand alone against the powerful nation. For six months Britain was subject to daily air raids (Battle of Britain). Despite Britain's pleadings, the United States chose to stay out of the European conflict and didn't get involved in the conflict until the Japanese (allied to Germany) bombed Pearl Harbor.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor resulted in the United States declaring war on Japan followed by Germany declaring war on the U.S. (ally of Japan). At this point in the war two fronts of conflict developed, the European Theatre and the Pacific Theatre.
The two major belligerents in the Pacific Theatre were the US and the Japanese, creating a two front war for the US. The Pacific Theatre was characterized by the military tactic of "island hopping", a strategy which called for the physical invasion and occupation of every other island in the South Pacific. These islands served as military bases which were critical for victory in the Pacific. When the US was able to control two outer islands the Japanese occupying the island in the middle would effectively be cut off. The Pacific war was a war on water and in the air therefore aircraft carriers and island bases were extremely important to ultimate victory.
In 1941 the Germans invaded the Soviet Union pushing the Soviets into the arms of the Allies. It is this action that many historians believe turned the tide of the war to the Allies. The "Big Three", the Soviet Union (Joseph Stalin), United States (Franklin Roosevelt), and Britain (Winston Churchill), dominated the allied forces. After the Allied invasions of Italy and Normandy the western Allies squeezed from the north and the Soviets marched from the east toward Germany ultimately to encircle Berlin. In April 1945 after it had become clear that Germany was lost, Hitler committed suicide enabling Germany to surrender. Tragically Franklin Roosevelt died (succeeded by Harry Truman) shortly after Hitler and was never able to see the end of the war in Europe (V-E Day).
One of the tragic legacies of this war was the German attempt to wipe out the entire Jewish race (genocide) through mass extermination. This plan was known as the Final Solution and was well on its way to success by using death camps. Through these camps some six million Jews had been murdered along with six million others who had been targeted by the Germans. The war in the Pacific ended in the summer of 1945 as a result of the United States dropping atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Be sure to read the summary over WWII, located below. Also review the Crash Course video over World War II.
Question to Consider
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