World War II - Class Notes

1. What Was World War II?

World War II (WWII) was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world’s
nations, including all of the great powers. It was the deadliest and most widespread war in history, with
significant impacts on political, economic, and social structures worldwide. The war primarily involved
two opposing military alliances: the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers.

2. Causes of World War II

Several factors contributed to the outbreak of WWII, which included unresolved issues from World War I
and growing tensions in the 1930s.

A. Treaty of Versailles (1919)

 The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, imposed harsh reparations and territorial
losses on Germany. This created resentment and economic hardship, fueling nationalism and
militarism.

B. Rise of Totalitarian Regimes

 Adolf Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and Emperor Hirohito in Japan led
authoritarian regimes that promoted militarism, expansionism, and aggressive nationalism.

C. Appeasement

 Western powers, notably Britain and France, followed a policy of appeasement, giving in to
some of the demands of aggressive powers in hopes of avoiding war. This allowed Germany to
annex Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia without facing military consequences.

D. Expansionism and Aggression

 Germany invaded Poland in 1939, marking the beginning of the war.

 Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935.

 Japan had already invaded Manchuria in 1931 and later attacked China.

E. Failure of the League of Nations

 The League of Nations, established after World War I to maintain peace, was ineffective in
preventing aggression by totalitarian regimes due to its lack of enforcement power.

3. Major Players in WWII

A. The Axis Powers:

 Germany: Led by Adolf Hitler, Germany sought to dominate Europe and establish the "Third
Reich."

 Italy: Led by Benito Mussolini, Italy aimed to create a new Roman Empire.
  Japan: Led by Emperor Hirohito and military leaders, Japan sought to expand its empire across
Asia and the Pacific.

B. The Allied Powers:

 United States: Led by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (later Harry S. Truman), the U.S. became a
key player after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

 Soviet Union: Led by Joseph Stalin, the USSR initially signed a non-aggression pact with
Germany but joined the Allies after Germany invaded in 1941.

 United Kingdom: Led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill after 1940, Britain stood firm against
Nazi Germany from the start of the war.

 China: Led by Chiang Kai-shek, China was attacked by Japan and became a major Allied power in
the war.

 France: Initially one of the Allies, France fell to Germany in 1940 but had a government-in-exile
led by Charles de Gaulle.

4. Key Events of World War II

A. Invasion of Poland (1939)

 September 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland, triggering the start of WWII. In response, Britain
and France declared war on Germany.

B. The Fall of France (1940)

 Germany launched a blitzkrieg (lightning war) in 1940 and quickly defeated France, occupying
much of the country. The government fled to Britain, and France became divided into occupied
and Vichy regions.

C. Battle of Britain (1940)

 The Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom successfully repelled Germany’s aerial assault,
preventing a German invasion of Britain.

D. Operation Barbarossa (1941)

 June 22, 1941: Germany launched a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union
initially suffered significant losses, but the war on the Eastern Front became a turning point.

E. Pearl Harbor Attack (1941)

 December 7, 1941: Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, leading the
United States to formally enter the war against Japan, Germany, and Italy.

F. The Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)

 One of the deadliest battles in history, the Soviet victory at Stalingrad marked the turning of the
tide on the Eastern Front against Germany.
G. D-Day (1944)

 June 6, 1944: The Allies launched Operation Overlord, a massive invasion of German-occupied
France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe.

H. The Pacific Theater:

 Battle of Midway (1942): A decisive naval battle in the Pacific that shifted the balance of naval
power in favor of the Allies.

 Island Hopping Campaign: The U.S. pursued a strategy of capturing key islands in the Pacific,
advancing toward Japan.

I. The Atomic Bomb (1945)

 The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6) and
Nagasaki (August 9), leading to Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945.

5. End of the War

A. Germany’s Surrender (May 7, 1945)

 May 7, 1945: Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces. This marked the end of the war
in Europe (VE Day - Victory in Europe).

B. The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences

 Allied leaders met to discuss the post-war world. The Yalta Conference (February 1945) and
Potsdam Conference (July 1945) set the groundwork for the division of Germany and the
establishment of the United Nations.

C. Japan’s Surrender (September 2, 1945)

 After the atomic bombings and Soviet invasion of Manchuria, Japan formally surrendered aboard
the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, marking the end of WWII.

6. Major Consequences of World War II

 Human Losses: An estimated 70-85 million people died, including civilians and military
personnel. The Holocaust led to the systematic murder of 6 million Jews by Nazi Germany.

 Global Power Shift: The United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two superpowers,
leading to the Cold War.

 United Nations: The United Nations (UN) was created in 1945 to promote international
cooperation and prevent future conflicts.

 Division of Germany: Germany was divided into East and West Germany, which became Cold
War rivals.

 Decolonization: WWII accelerated the process of decolonization, leading to the independence of

many nations in Asia and Africa.
  Technological Advances: WWII saw significant advances in military technology, including radar,
jet engines, and nuclear weapons.

7. Key Terms to Remember

 Blitzkrieg: A military strategy of rapid, overwhelming force.

 Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan.

 Allied Powers: United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, China, France.

 Holocaust: The systematic genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany.

 D-Day (Normandy Invasion): The Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944.

 Atomic Bomb: The U.S. dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s
surrender.

8. Key Figures in World War II

 Adolf Hitler: Leader of Nazi Germany, responsible for the outbreak of WWII and the Holocaust.

 Winston Churchill: Prime Minister of the UK, known for his leadership during the war.

 Franklin D. Roosevelt: U.S. President during most of the war, played a major role in the Allied
victory.

 Joseph Stalin: Leader of the Soviet Union, played a crucial role in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

 Emperor Hirohito: The figurehead of Japan, under whose reign Japan became a major Axis
power.