📍Topic 7.7: Conducting World War II

📖 AMSCO p.511 - p.517

Main Idea

Key Timeline

Image Courtesy of Riya

Things to Know

Japan and Imperialist Policies

• Japan, under military control, sought imperialist expansion in the early 20th century.
  • The Mukden Incident in 1931 and the creation of Manchukuo marked the initial steps in Japan's expansionist agenda.
• The ambition was to establish a "New Order in East Asia," targeting Southeast Asia for territorial gains.
  • Economic sanctions by the U.S., imposed due to Japan's occupation of China, led to strategic planning and heightened tensions.

Germany’s Early Victories and Challenges

• Hitler's blitzkrieg strategy swiftly conquered Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, and France.
  • Conquered nations were divided, and a pro-Nazi regime was established in Vichy, France.
• The Battle of Britain witnessed relentless German air raids; Churchill famously termed it Britain's "finest hour."
  • Germany's initial success in the Soviet Union faced challenges in the harsh Russian winter.

Japan Overreaches

• Japan achieved rapid victories in the Pacific, culminating in a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
  • Expansion included the Philippines, Dutch East Indies, British Malaya, and Burma.
• The U.S. abandoned its isolationist stance, joining the fight against Japanese aggression.
  • Japan faced challenges on the home front, marked by optimism and confusion in handling the war effort.

Home Fronts

• World War II saw the mobilization of all resources, including civilian populations, in a total war effort.
  • The U.S. industrial sector played a crucial role, with significant contributions from women in the workforce.
• Germany relied on forced labor, including concentration camps, while Japan presented an optimistic but confused war effort.
  • Collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Britain through agreements like Destroyers-for-Bases and the Lend-Lease Act strengthened the Allied cause.

The Tide Turns in the European Theater

• Allies faced challenges in North Africa with Rommel's threat and a successful Soviet counteroffensive in Stalingrad.
  • Momentum shifted in 1942 with victories at El Alamein and Stalingrad, marking a turning point.
• Despite German control in Western Europe, the Allies gained strategic advantages against the Nazis.

The Tide Turns in the Pacific Theater

• Crucial victories in 1942, including the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway.
  • The island-hopping strategy involved slowly advancing through the Philippines.
• Technological advancements, particularly in aircraft carriers, played a crucial role in the Pacific Theater.

The Last Years of the War

• Italy was identified as a weak point, leading to the fall of Mussolini and the recapture of Rome.
  • D-Day (June 6, 1944) marked a significant Allied invasion and the liberation of Paris.
• The Battle of the Bulge, Allied air raids, and the Rhine River crossing signaled Germany's inevitable defeat.
  • On the Eastern Front, Soviet forces advanced rapidly, ultimately leading to Hitler's suicide and Germany's surrender in May 1945.

Consequences of World War II

• The war resulted in approximately 75 million deaths, impacting global perspectives profoundly.
  • Changes in attitudes towards racism, colonial empires, and international relations were significant.
• The aftermath set the stage for the ideological battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Terms to Remember