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World History – WWII

World History – WWII

<br>Twelfth Lecture

<br>Twelfth Lecture

'''Outline of Lecture: '''

'''Outline of Lecture: '''

<br>I. Introduction

==Introduction==

This lecture focuses on World War II:  before, during and after.  No war in the history of the world had as big an impact as World War II.  We still feel some of its effects to this day, more than 60 years later.

This lecture focuses on World War II:  before, during and after.  No war in the history of the world had as big an impact as World War II.  We still feel some of its effects to this day, more than 60 years later.

'''II. The Rise of Fascism in Europe'''

==The Rise of Fascism in Europe==

The world in the early 1930s was suffering from the Great Depression.  This created discontent and encouraged change.  National governments were in place in Italy and Germany, but the people were not happy with them.

The world in the early 1930s was suffering from the Great Depression.  This created discontent and encouraged change.  National governments were in place in Italy and Germany, but the people were not happy with them.

Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Albania were also taken over by their own dictators.  The only democracy left in Eastern Europe in 1935 was Czechoslovakia.   

Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Albania were also taken over by their own dictators.  The only democracy left in Eastern Europe in 1935 was Czechoslovakia.   

'''III. World War II'''

==World War II==

Two nations – Germany and Japan – had built themselves into perfect fighting machines.  They lacked diversity in their populations, with the German people being almost completely of one Germanic ethnicity, and the Japanese population being almost completely of one Japanese ethnicity.  Both nations had become dominated by non-Christian belief systems.  In Germany the prevailing view among the elite was that there was, or should be, a master race that defeats all others.  In Japan, there was unyielding devotion to their warlord emperor, who they believed to be a god.

Two nations – Germany and Japan – had built themselves into perfect fighting machines.  They lacked diversity in their populations, with the German people being almost completely of one Germanic ethnicity, and the Japanese population being almost completely of one Japanese ethnicity.  Both nations had become dominated by non-Christian belief systems.  In Germany the prevailing view among the elite was that there was, or should be, a master race that defeats all others.  In Japan, there was unyielding devotion to their warlord emperor, who they believed to be a god.

Germany and Japan had no connection with each other, and were located on nearly opposite sides of the globe.  How does one explain that they rose to power and threatened the world at the same time?  Just as we saw unrelated peoples do similar things in ancient times, such as building structures that looked like ziggurats, we see the coincidence of Germany and Japan independently threatening the world at the same time.

Germany and Japan had no connection with each other, and were located on nearly opposite sides of the globe.  How does one explain that they rose to power and threatened the world at the same time?  Just as we saw unrelated peoples do similar things in ancient times, such as building structures that looked like ziggurats, we see the coincidence of Germany and Japan independently threatening the world at the same time.

'''A.  Aggression in the 1930s'''

===Aggression in the 1930s===

Japan’s feudal period had militaristic aspects, but in the 1920s Japan had a democratic government that signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact for peace.  But then the Great Depression hit Japan just like everywhere else, and the Japanese overthrew their democratic government and replaced it with a military regime.  Emperor Hirohito rose to power as a military ruler.

Japan’s feudal period had militaristic aspects, but in the 1920s Japan had a democratic government that signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact for peace.  But then the Great Depression hit Japan just like everywhere else, and the Japanese overthrew their democratic government and replaced it with a military regime.  Emperor Hirohito rose to power as a military ruler.

Hitler was about to make his big move.  He demanded that Poland give back a former German seaport known as Danzig.  Poland refused and prepared to defend against a German invasion with courageous soldiers on horses.  Poland obtained the support of Britain and France if Germany attacked.  Britain and France then turned to Stalin in the Soviet Union, but he double-crossed them.  Stalin secretly agreed with Hitler in August 1939 to divide Poland among themselves and not to attack each other.  Stalin also received a promise from Hitler that Stalin could annex Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.

Hitler was about to make his big move.  He demanded that Poland give back a former German seaport known as Danzig.  Poland refused and prepared to defend against a German invasion with courageous soldiers on horses.  Poland obtained the support of Britain and France if Germany attacked.  Britain and France then turned to Stalin in the Soviet Union, but he double-crossed them.  Stalin secretly agreed with Hitler in August 1939 to divide Poland among themselves and not to attack each other.  Stalin also received a promise from Hitler that Stalin could annex Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.

'''B. German Aggression in 1939-1940'''

===German Aggression in 1939-1940===

Hitler’s dictatorship, the Third Reich, was ready to begin conquering all of Europe.  He started with Poland based on Stalin’s promise not to interfere.  On September 1, 1939, Hitler launched a lightning-fast, massive attack (a “blitzkrieg”) against Poland.  A blitzkrieg combines bombing with a tank invasion.  Polish soldiers fought valiantly on horseback, but were crushed.  France and Britain declared war on Germany in two days, on September 3rd.  After destroying Warsaw, Poland, with the bombing and destruction of the Polish militia, Hitler annexed western Poland to Germany.   

Hitler’s dictatorship, the Third Reich, was ready to begin conquering all of Europe.  He started with Poland based on Stalin’s promise not to interfere.  On September 1, 1939, Hitler launched a lightning-fast, massive attack (a “blitzkrieg”) against Poland.  A blitzkrieg combines bombing with a tank invasion.  Polish soldiers fought valiantly on horseback, but were crushed.  France and Britain declared war on Germany in two days, on September 3rd.  After destroying Warsaw, Poland, with the bombing and destruction of the Polish militia, Hitler annexed western Poland to Germany.   

By the middle of 1940 a real world war had begun again.  On one side were the Axis Powers of Japan, Germany and Italy.  On the other side where the Allied Powers of Great Britain and its colonies (commonwealth) countries of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, France and its colonies, and potentially the United States and Soviet Union.

By the middle of 1940 a real world war had begun again.  On one side were the Axis Powers of Japan, Germany and Italy.  On the other side where the Allied Powers of Great Britain and its colonies (commonwealth) countries of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, France and its colonies, and potentially the United States and Soviet Union.

'''C. Hitler Takes Continental Europe'''

===Hitler Takes Continental Europe===

After taking Norway and Denmark, Hitler invaded and quickly conquered the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.  The Allies were outmanned and ill-equipped for the German tanks and air force.  The Allies retreated to Dunkirk, a harbor town on the northernmost tip of France, across the English Channel from England.  There they expected to be slaughtered by the advancing German forces.

After taking Norway and Denmark, Hitler invaded and quickly conquered the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.  The Allies were outmanned and ill-equipped for the German tanks and air force.  The Allies retreated to Dunkirk, a harbor town on the northernmost tip of France, across the English Channel from England.  There they expected to be slaughtered by the advancing German forces.

But the brilliant German Rommel, nicknamed “The Desert Fox,” brought a powerful German tank corps known as the Afrika Korps to the aid of the Italians.  He routed the British in Libya, who were then forced to retreat to Tobruk.

But the brilliant German Rommel, nicknamed “The Desert Fox,” brought a powerful German tank corps known as the Afrika Korps to the aid of the Italians.  He routed the British in Libya, who were then forced to retreat to Tobruk.

'''D. The Holocaust and “Final Solution”'''

===The Holocaust and “Final Solution”===

Adolf Hitler had blamed the Jewish people for Germany’s troubles and as early as 1933 there were Nazi-supported laws prohibiting Jews from holding official positions in government.  Hitler found it useful for his goals to have a scapegoat, and the Nazis made the Jewish people the scapegoats.  Other people, such as gypsies, also became scapegoats.  Nazis claimed to be returning to Germany tradition in part by particularly excluding Jews.  In 1935, Nazis passed Nuremberg Laws that prohibited Jewish people from owning property or even becoming German citizens.  Nazis also forced Jewish people to wear a bright yellow Star of David on their clothing, as a way of ostracizing them.

Adolf Hitler had blamed the Jewish people for Germany’s troubles and as early as 1933 there were Nazi-supported laws prohibiting Jews from holding official positions in government.  Hitler found it useful for his goals to have a scapegoat, and the Nazis made the Jewish people the scapegoats.  Other people, such as gypsies, also became scapegoats.  Nazis claimed to be returning to Germany tradition in part by particularly excluding Jews.  In 1935, Nazis passed Nuremberg Laws that prohibited Jewish people from owning property or even becoming German citizens.  Nazis also forced Jewish people to wear a bright yellow Star of David on their clothing, as a way of ostracizing them.

The “Angel of Death” in one of the worst extermination camps, Auschwitz, was Dr. Josef Mengele.  Mengele had obtained a PhD based on Darwinian evolution, and had written his dissertation thesis on racial differences among humans.  He supported and reinforced Nazi theories of racial superiority with phony research claims.  He was an ardent supporter of “survival of the fittest” and he performed cruel experiments on humans at the concentration camp in furtherance of the theory of evolution.  He attempted to prove that disease was the product of racial inferiority, and he would amputate healthy limbs and perform other cruel surgeries on prisoners.  Today Mengele is criticized by everyone, but supporters of the theory of evolution omit mentioning how much Mengele’s work was based on that theory.  Mengele was never punished for his crimes, and after the war he fled to Brazil, where decades later he drowned due to having a stroke while swimming.

The “Angel of Death” in one of the worst extermination camps, Auschwitz, was Dr. Josef Mengele.  Mengele had obtained a PhD based on Darwinian evolution, and had written his dissertation thesis on racial differences among humans.  He supported and reinforced Nazi theories of racial superiority with phony research claims.  He was an ardent supporter of “survival of the fittest” and he performed cruel experiments on humans at the concentration camp in furtherance of the theory of evolution.  He attempted to prove that disease was the product of racial inferiority, and he would amputate healthy limbs and perform other cruel surgeries on prisoners.  Today Mengele is criticized by everyone, but supporters of the theory of evolution omit mentioning how much Mengele’s work was based on that theory.  Mengele was never punished for his crimes, and after the war he fled to Brazil, where decades later he drowned due to having a stroke while swimming.

'''E. The Enigma'''

===The Enigma===

The Enigma was a portable cipher machine, roughly the size of a typewriter, which could encrypt and decrypt secret messages.  It used electro-mechanical rotors to convert a message to a secret code, and then another machine could decode that same message and reveal the original message.  This machine was commercially available beginning in the early 1920s.  The Nazi German military version generated codes widely thought to be unbreakable.  

The Enigma was a portable cipher machine, roughly the size of a typewriter, which could encrypt and decrypt secret messages.  It used electro-mechanical rotors to convert a message to a secret code, and then another machine could decode that same message and reveal the original message.  This machine was commercially available beginning in the early 1920s.  The Nazi German military version generated codes widely thought to be unbreakable.  

At the end of the war, Allied General Dwight Eisenhower said that Ultra was “decisive” to the Allied victory over Germany.  British Prime Minister Winston Churchill also declared, “It was thanks to Ultra that we won the war.”  The breaking of the German codes prevented it from completely blockading Britain with U-boats and enabled the Allied forces to make key strategic decisions throughout the war.  

At the end of the war, Allied General Dwight Eisenhower said that Ultra was “decisive” to the Allied victory over Germany.  British Prime Minister Winston Churchill also declared, “It was thanks to Ultra that we won the war.”  The breaking of the German codes prevented it from completely blockading Britain with U-boats and enabled the Allied forces to make key strategic decisions throughout the war.  

'''F. America Enters the War'''

===America Enters the War===

Throughout the 1930s, there was ambivalence in England and the United States about Hitler and the Nazis.  In America many people are of German descent, and Hitler was popular.  Time Magazine named him as “Man of the Year.”  On some college campuses, Hitler was voted the greatest leader.

Throughout the 1930s, there was ambivalence in England and the United States about Hitler and the Nazis.  In America many people are of German descent, and Hitler was popular.  Time Magazine named him as “Man of the Year.”  On some college campuses, Hitler was voted the greatest leader.

From northern Africa the Allies were able to invade Sicily in southern Italy, and oust Mussolini from power.  The Germans restored him to power, but on June 4, 1944 the Allies broke through to Rome and by April 1945 the Germans were evacuating Italy.  Mussolini was then found hiding in a truck.  He was promptly shot and hung in a public square in Milan.

From northern Africa the Allies were able to invade Sicily in southern Italy, and oust Mussolini from power.  The Germans restored him to power, but on June 4, 1944 the Allies broke through to Rome and by April 1945 the Germans were evacuating Italy.  Mussolini was then found hiding in a truck.  He was promptly shot and hung in a public square in Milan.

'''G. American Issues – Korematsu and the Manhattan Project'''

===American Issues – Korematsu and the Manhattan Project===

In the United States there were some American citizens of Japanese descent, particularly in California.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, fear and distrust about Japanese Americans arose.  Rumors of surprise Japanese attacks on the west coast of the United States became common, and some American officials feared spying by Japanese Americans.  The loyalty of American citizens of Japanese descent was doubted.

In the United States there were some American citizens of Japanese descent, particularly in California.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, fear and distrust about Japanese Americans arose.  Rumors of surprise Japanese attacks on the west coast of the United States became common, and some American officials feared spying by Japanese Americans.  The loyalty of American citizens of Japanese descent was doubted.

He had never met Winston Churchill or other world leaders, and soon he began to meet with them as Americans were looking for ways to wrap up the war.  In the summer of 1945 he received word from the Manhattan Project that the scientists had successfully built a few atomic bombs.  It would be up to President Truman to decide if and how to use the atomic bomb.

He had never met Winston Churchill or other world leaders, and soon he began to meet with them as Americans were looking for ways to wrap up the war.  In the summer of 1945 he received word from the Manhattan Project that the scientists had successfully built a few atomic bombs.  It would be up to President Truman to decide if and how to use the atomic bomb.

'''H. Victory'''

===H. Victory===

Just as the American soldiers had defeated Germany in World War I, the Americans did it again.  Operation Overlord was the code name for the massive challenge of retaking Continental Europe, liberating France from the Nazis, and conquering Germany itself.  It began on “D-Day”, June 6, 1944, with the largest invasion in the history of the world when the Allied forces did a surprise landing at Normandy, France.  There were so many ships and people in the ocean that it obscured the water below.  Germany killed many of the initial soldiers who hit the beaches, but the Americans overpowered them and started moving through France.  With America’s massive industrial capacity added to the Allies, they could now defeat the Axis Powers.

Just as the American soldiers had defeated Germany in World War I, the Americans did it again.  Operation Overlord was the code name for the massive challenge of retaking Continental Europe, liberating France from the Nazis, and conquering Germany itself.  It began on “D-Day”, June 6, 1944, with the largest invasion in the history of the world when the Allied forces did a surprise landing at Normandy, France.  There were so many ships and people in the ocean that it obscured the water below.  Germany killed many of the initial soldiers who hit the beaches, but the Americans overpowered them and started moving through France.  With America’s massive industrial capacity added to the Allies, they could now defeat the Axis Powers.

Truman approved the dropping the atomic bomb, and bombers named the Enola Gay carried out the mission on August 6, 1945 on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.  Truman bragged that he did not lose a night’s sleep over the decision.  Truman’s reaction to the news was troubling to some.  He was crossing the Atlantic on a ship and when the news reached him, he reportedly declared, “This is the greatest thing in history.”  According to a witness, Truman supposedly “raced about the ship to spread the news, insisting that he had never made a happier announcement. ‘We have won the gamble,’ he told the assembled and cheering crew.”  Japan, stunned, did not immediately surrender and some wonder whether it was given enough time to do so.  On August 9th, a second atomic bomb was dropped, this time on the city of Nagasaki.  Japan surrendered the next day, and World War II was over.

Truman approved the dropping the atomic bomb, and bombers named the Enola Gay carried out the mission on August 6, 1945 on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.  Truman bragged that he did not lose a night’s sleep over the decision.  Truman’s reaction to the news was troubling to some.  He was crossing the Atlantic on a ship and when the news reached him, he reportedly declared, “This is the greatest thing in history.”  According to a witness, Truman supposedly “raced about the ship to spread the news, insisting that he had never made a happier announcement. ‘We have won the gamble,’ he told the assembled and cheering crew.”  Japan, stunned, did not immediately surrender and some wonder whether it was given enough time to do so.  On August 9th, a second atomic bomb was dropped, this time on the city of Nagasaki.  Japan surrendered the next day, and World War II was over.

'''I. Postwar'''

==Postwar==

With 60 million dead from the war and many cities destroyed, there was much work to do to rebuild.  Famine and disease swept through the devastated areas of Europe.  European dominance and hegemony in the world was over.  Japan’s empire was conquered.  There needed to be fundamental changes in both Germany and Japan.

With 60 million dead from the war and many cities destroyed, there was much work to do to rebuild.  Famine and disease swept through the devastated areas of Europe.  European dominance and hegemony in the world was over.  Japan’s empire was conquered.  There needed to be fundamental changes in both Germany and Japan.

Large amounts of economic aid flowed to Europe.  The Marshall Plan (named after U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall) was passed by Congress in 1948 to offer money to European nations to rebuild.  Western Europe and Yugoslavia received vast aid from the Marshall Plan.

Large amounts of economic aid flowed to Europe.  The Marshall Plan (named after U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall) was passed by Congress in 1948 to offer money to European nations to rebuild.  Western Europe and Yugoslavia received vast aid from the Marshall Plan.

'''IV. Cold War'''

==Cold War==

The “Cold War” began at the end of World War II.  It was hostility between communism and capitalism, and between the Soviet Union and the United States.  It was “cold” because no shots were fired between the two large nations.  But it was very much a war.

The “Cold War” began at the end of World War II.  It was hostility between communism and capitalism, and between the Soviet Union and the United States.  It was “cold” because no shots were fired between the two large nations.  But it was very much a war.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on trial, and an embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, which the Soviets ultimately did.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

Americans developed a spy plane that could fly undetected at very high altitudes, called the “U-2”.  When one fell to the earth in Soviet territory in 1960, President Eisenhower arranged for his Administration official to deny that America was spying.  But the pilot disobeyed his orders to kill himself before being captured, and he was produced live in the Soviet Union for the television cameras!  The Soviets then put him on trial, and an embarrassed United States had to beg for his return, which the Soviets ultimately did.  It was never fully understood how the plane could have landed safely, and the pilot (Francis Gary Powers) died two decades later while operating a traffic helicopter.  The U-2 incident forced cancellation of a meeting between President Eisenhower and the aggressive Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

'''V. China'''

==China==

The Japanese devastated China during World War II.  The Nationalist Chinese led by Jiang Jieshi received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong (also known as “Mao-Tse-tung”).  After the war, the communists (from the northwest) attempted to conquer the Nationalists (from the southwest).  Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949.  Due to many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949.  Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China.  Jiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and renamed it the Republic of China (Taiwan), which the United States supported.  By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists.  Fear gripped the free world.

The Japanese devastated China during World War II.  The Nationalist Chinese led by Jiang Jieshi received aid from the United States to fight against the Japanese, but in reality they needed that money to prepare for civil war against the communists led by Mao Zedong (also known as “Mao-Tse-tung”).  After the war, the communists (from the northwest) attempted to conquer the Nationalists (from the southwest).  Civil war raged from 1946 to 1949.  Due to many desertions by soldiers from the Nationalist army to the communists, Mao prevailed by October 1949.  Mao had promised land for the peasants and renamed the country the People’s Republic of China.  Jiang fled with Nationalists to the island of Formosa, and renamed it the Republic of China (Taiwan), which the United States supported.  By February 1950, the communists in the Soviet Union signed a friendship pact with the Chinese communists.  Fear gripped the free world.

Finally Mao Zedong died in 1976, and Deng Xiaoping gained control over the radicals and ended the Cultural Revolution.

Finally Mao Zedong died in 1976, and Deng Xiaoping gained control over the radicals and ended the Cultural Revolution.

'''VI. Korean War'''

==Korean War==

The Cold War broke out into a real war in 1950 between communist North Korea and free South Korea.  The North Koreans invaded across the 38th parallel into South Korea, which petitioned the United Nations for help.  The Soviet Union at the time was boycotting its seat in the Security Council due to a decision to seat Taiwan, and thus it lacked a veto for the decision by the United Nations to send an international force to South Korea under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.  But the international force was ineffective in blocking the advancing, well-trained communist soldiers from North Korea.

The Cold War broke out into a real war in 1950 between communist North Korea and free South Korea.  The North Koreans invaded across the 38th parallel into South Korea, which petitioned the United Nations for help.  The Soviet Union at the time was boycotting its seat in the Security Council due to a decision to seat Taiwan, and thus it lacked a veto for the decision by the United Nations to send an international force to South Korea under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.  But the international force was ineffective in blocking the advancing, well-trained communist soldiers from North Korea.