Alliances WW2

Alliances in WW2

The Rise of Dictatorships 

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Depression lead to collapse of European economies People desperate for change Dictators start to seize power and throw out the elected leaders.

Communist Soviet Union 

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In 1924, the Soviet Union was established as a Communist Nation led by a dictator Joseph Stalin. By 1939, Stalin had established a centralized totalitarian government in which individuals have no rights and the government suppresses all opposition. Germany & USSR sign a nonaggression pact and agree to split up Poland “For the good of the people of course”

Fascist Italy 

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Benito Mussolini establishes a fascist regime in Italy. Fascism was a new political movement that consisted of a strong, centralized government headed by a power dictator.

Mussolini dreamed of making Italy the great power of the world.

Nazi Germany 

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Like fascism, Nazism was based on extreme nationalism and national expansion. In Hitler’s view, Germansespecially blue-eyed, blonde haired “Aryans”- formed a “master race” that was destined to rule the world.

By 1932, more than 6 million Germans were unemployed. Many of these desperate people turned to Hitler as their last hope.

Militarist Gain Control of Japan 

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Nationalistic military leaders in Japan were trying to take control of their government. These leaders shared Hitler’s belief in the need for expansionmilitary attack the Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931.

The success of this invasion put the Japanese military firmly in control of Japan’s government.

Hideki Tojo Prime Minister of Japan

Democracies doing their thing…

Alliances before WWII Begins 

There were 2 alliances that formed before WWII:

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Allied Powers: France, Britain & Commonwealth

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Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan

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The Soviet Union and the United States claimed neutrality

Japan Attacks the U.S. 

On December 7th, 1941 Japan made a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor military base in Hawaii.

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The next day Roosevelt declared war against Japan.

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3 days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

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New alliance- GBR, France, USA & Commonwealth

USSR joins the Allies 

June 1941 Hitler ignores the non-aggression pact and invades USSR- Operation Barbarosa

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USSR joins the allies

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Hitler has a war on 2 fronts