Chapter 11 A World in Flames

Lesson 1 The Origins of World War II

The Rise of Dictators

 Treaty of Versailles and the global economic depression contributed to the rise of antidemocratic
gov.

Mussolini and Fascism in Italy

 Benito Mussolini founded the Italian Fascist movement. Fascism is aggressive nationalism.
 Fascism was strongly anticommunist. After the Russian Revolution many feared communist ideas
and labor unions would bring down their gov.
 Mussolini used this fear to strengthen his power – promising to return Italy to its former Roman
glory.
 Blackshirts, a fascist militia, supported Mussolini.
 The king was persuaded to appoint Mussolini as premier. Once in office Mussolini took the title Il
Duce.

Stalin Takes Over the Soviet Union

 Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Communist Party, created the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic
(USSR) in 1922 and the party created a one-party rule, suppressed individual liberties, and
punished opponents.
 Joseph Stalin came to power in 1924 and became a dictator in 1926.
 Five-Year Plan – steel production rose but wages dropped and family farms became collectives
(gov. owned).
 1932-33 10 mill die of starvation.
 Gulags, concentration camps used to imprison political enemies. (15-20 mill died under Stalin’s
rule)

Hitler and Nazi Germany

 Hitler became the leader of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazi Party), which
called for Germany to expand its territory and to reject the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The
party was anti-Semitic.
 Hitler wrote Mein Kampf while imprisoned for attempting to seize power in Munich. This
declaration claimed that Germans belonged to a master race called Aryans. Hitler blamed Jews for
the world’s problems and the German defeat in WWI.
 Hitler changed tactics: get Nazis elected to the Reichstag (lower house) and by 1932 they
controlled the Reichstag. Hitler was appointed Chancellor.
 Storm troopers began intimidating voters and Hitler was given dictatorial powers. In 1934 he
became president and gave himself the title of Der Fuhrer.

Militarists Control Japan

 Japan has fascist and militaristic movements taking hold before WWII begins.
 Japan has to import nearly all resources made worse by the depression and raised tariffs.
 Japan was destined to rule East Asia. Military leaders argue that seizing territory was the only
way to obtain the resources necessary.
  Under Minister of War Hideki Tojo Japan invades Manchuria in Sep. of 1931 (ignoring government
orders). Japanese troops sweep through China, and in 1937 the destruction of the Nanking (Rape
of Nanking).
 In 1941 Tojo became prime minister.

World War II Begins

 In 1935 Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles. Germany began building an air force and a military
draft that would greatly expand its army.
 Negotiations with Hitler – all German-speaking regions should be united.

The Austrian Anschluss

 Hitler threatened to invade Austria and Czechoslovakia unless Nazis in those areas were given gov
positions. Fearful Austria’s Chancellor gives in, but puts the matter of unification to a vote and
Hitler marches into Austria in March of 1937.

The Munich Crisis

 The Czech’s resisted Germany’s demands and France threatened to fight if Germany attacked
Czechoslovakia. (Soviet Union and Great Britain also pledged support)
 Munich Conference (GB, France, Italy, and Germany) – GB and France agreed to Hitler’s demands
1. Czechoslovakia had to give up Sudetenland or fight Germany alone, this became known as the
appeasement.
 This failed when in Mar of 1939 Germany sent troops and divided the country taking Czech lands
as a German protectorate.

Hitler Demands Danzig

 Hitler demands Danzig, a part of Poland since WWI. Hitler also requested a highway and railroad
across the Polish Corridor.
 Great Britain and France announce that if Poland fought they would help.
 Hitler prepares army for invasion and negotiates with Soviet Union.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact

 Although ideologically opposed they decided to join (Soviets hoping for the destruction of the
capitalists nations and Nazi to be free to engage in war) forces and split Poland. This non-
aggressive agreement was violated when Germany invades the Soviet Union in 1941.

The Invasion of Poland and the Fall of France

 Sep. 1939 Germany invaded Poland. Two days later GB and France declared war on Germany.
WWII begins.
 Germans use a new type of warfare called blitzkrieg, or “lightening war” which used massed tanks
and waves of aircraft and paratroopers to break through and encircle enemy positions.
 Oct. Germans defeat Polish army.
 On May 1940 Germany attacks the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In order to get around
the Maginot Line (created by France as a barrier between Germany and France during 1930 is
response to WWI) Germany goes through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
 Germany army breaks through French lines.

The Miracle at Dunkirk

  German troops advance toward the English Channel but stop their pursuit before reaching
Dunkirk allowing the allied forces to escape.
 Less than three weeks later France surrendered allowing Germany to set up a puppet gov.
 Charles de Gaulle led the Free French resistance from Algiers.

Britain Remains Defiant

 June 1940 Prime Minister Winston Churchill vows never to surrender.

 Hitler orders the air force to attack British ships.
 Battle of Britain – in Aug and Sep. the British Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe fight. Attacks on
London and Berlin escalate the fighting but the Germans cancel their planned invasion of GB.

Lesson 2 From Neutrality to War

American Neutrality

 During the Depression European nations announced they would not repay their wartime debts.
 Americans support isolationism.

The Nye Committee

 Nye investigated allegations that business had influenced the war effort to make profits from arms
manufacturing during WWI.

Legislating Neutrality

 Neutrality Act of 1935 made it illegal for the Americans to sell arms to countries at war.
 1936 civil war broke out in Spain and a second neutrality act was passed banning the sale of arms
to either side in a civil war.
 Germany, Italy, and Japan became known as the Axis Powers.
 Neutrality Act of 1937 – all nonmilitary items must be “cash and carry” – countries had to send
their own ships and pay in cash. Loans were not allowed.

Roosevelt’s Internationalism

 Roosevelt does not agree with neutrality acts and when Japan invaded China he authorized the
sale of weapons to China.

Neutrality Tested
 Neutrality Act of 1939 permitted the sale of weapons on “cash and carry” basis.
 Britain asked for old destroyers and Roosevelt used a loophole (no sale) to send 50 ships to
Britain in exchange for American use of British bases in the Atlantic.
 1940 Roosevelt’s reelection he listed the Four Freedoms (freedom of speech, freedom of worship,
freedom from want, and freedom from fear)

The Lend-Lease Act

 The act was passed by a wide margin and allowed the United States to lend or lease arms to any
country vital to its defense. First Great Britain then extended to Soviet Union – any country
against Nazis.
 Roosevelt used the Lend-Lease to get around the restrictions of the Neutrality Acts.
A Hemispheric Defense Zone

 German submarines attacked British ships. Roosevelt declared that the entire western half of the
Atlantic was part of the Western Hemisphere and ordered U.S. Navy to patrol and reveal German
locations.

The Atlantic Charter

 Aug. 1941 Roosevelt and Churchill met near Newfoundland and committed both nations to a
postwar world of democracy, nonaggression, free trade, economic advancement, and freedom of
the seas which became known as the Atlantic Charter.
 In early Sep., a German submarine fired on an American destroyer that had radioed the subs
position to GB. American ships were to “shoot-on-sight” German subs.
 Germans sink the Reuben James killing 100 sailors.

Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor

American Embargoes Japan

 GB’s colonies were vulnerable to Japanese expansion and in July 1940 US restricted the sale of
strategic materials resulting in Japan signing an alliance with the Axis Powers.
 1941 US sent lend-lease aid to China, but this didn’t stop Japan and by July 1941 they entered
Indochina threatening GB.
 US froze Japanese assets and reduced oil sales and Gen Douglas MacArthur was sent to build
American defense in the Philippines.
 Japan decided to seize GB and Dutch colonies as well as Philippines and planned to attack the fleet
at Pearl Harbor.

Surprise Attack

 US intelligence did not decipher the Japanese message correctly and did not know that Pearl
Harbor was a target.
 Dec 7, 1941 the surprise attack left PH devastated – 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers, 4 other
vessels were sunk or damaged and over 180 aircraft and 2,403 killed and 1,178 injured.
 The day Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war – 82 – 0 (Senate) and 388 – 1 (HofR) voted in
favor.

Germany Declares War

 US military strategy – viewed Germany as bigger threat but fought Japan with US Navy.
 Germany thought US would primarily fight Japan and be defeated and Japan would aid Germany
against the Soviet Union – Germany and Italy declared war on US.

Lesson 3 The Holocaust

Nazi Persecution of the Jews

 Germans killed nearly 6 million Jews, known as The Holocaust. Hitler blamed Jews for many
things, including Germany’s defeat during WWI.

The Nuremburg Laws

  Passed Sep 1935, the laws took citizenship away from Jewish Germans and banned marriage
between Jews and other Germans. Jews were banned from holding public office or voting. Jews
were compelled to adopt “Jewish” names. A red J marked their passports.
 By mid 1936 at least half of Germany’s Jews were jobless because they couldn’t be civil servants,
journalists, or farmers.
 1938 Jews were also banned from practicing law and medicine and owning businesses.

Kristallnacht

 Nov 7, 1938 and angry Jewish refugee shot and killed a German diplomat.
 Angered Hitler had his minister of propaganda, Gobbles, stage attacks against Jews. The violence
that erupted became known as Krstallnacht, or “night of broken glass.” More than 90 Jews were
dead, 100s injured, 7,500 businesses and 100s of synagogues destroyed.
 Following this night the Gestapo, the gov’s secret police, arrested 30,000 Jewish men and the state
collected the insurance money owed to the Jews.

Jewish Refugees Try to Flee

 Between 1933 – 1939 about 250,000 Jews escaped Nazi Germany.

Limits on Jewish Immigration

 By 1938 the US consulate had applications for than 100,000 visas. Jews also asked other countries
but most never received them and they were trapped.
 Nazi law prohibited Jews from leaving with more than $4 and US immigration laws forbade the US
from allowing any one to enter who could become a charge of the gov.
 US laws also had fixed quotas and the laws made no exceptions for refugees or victims of
persecution.

International Response
 Several countries could not take Germany’s Jews because they had quotas.
 In 1939 many ships packed with Jews with forged visas but were denied entrance to many
countries including US.

The St. Louis Affair

 May 1939, the SS St. Louis entered the harbor in Havana, Cuba with 930 Jewish refugees on board.
They were denied entrance to Cuba and then for several days the ship circled off the coast of
Florida. Eventually the ship returned to Europe where many Jews disembarked in France,
Belgium, Holland, and GB. Many of these people died in concentration camps.

The Final Solution

 Jan 1942 Nazi leaders met at Wannsee Conference to coordinate the Final Solution.
 The elderly, sick, and young children were sent to extermination camps.

Concentration Camps

 First built in 1933 for political opponents they were built all over Europe, mostly in Eastern
Europe.
 Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps were they would work until exhaustion,
disease, or malnutrition caused their deaths.
 Buchenwald was one of the largest labor camps.

Extermination Camps
 Majority in Poland
 Chelmno, Auschwitz, Treblinka
 Gas chambers could kill 2,000 people at a time and 12,000 per day.
 1,600,000 killed in Auschwitz (1,300,000 were Jews)
 Healthy prisoners were used for slave labor. Children, sick, mothers, and elderly went
immediately to gas chambers.