World Wars Compared

World Wars Compared What do you know? The Great War / World War I / The War to end all wars World War II – The European and Pacific Theaters What do you know about World War I and World War II? Create a chart of some kind showing World War I and World War II differences / similarities • Causes: • Sides of the war: • Characteristics/Key Events: • Results: You have 10 minutes. GO! Remember : Wars cause economic & social changes Remember: Wars have political results. British soldiers from India in WWI= Indian Independence? African-American tank corps in WWII= Civil Rights Movement? Remember: War has a significant impact on civilians & governments World Wars Compared An overview The Great War / World War I 1914-1918 U.S. directly involved: 1917-1918 World War II 1937 / 1939 to 1945 U.S. directly involved: 1941-1945 World War I - overview • Global conflict between the “Central Powers” and the “Allies.” • The first global modern war. World War I - overview • Central Powers: Germany, AustriaHungary, and the Ottoman Empire • Allies: France, Russia, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Belgium (and later the U.S.) and others World War II - overview • Global conflict between the “Axis Powers” and the “Allies.” Most extensive of all wars. World War II - overview • Axis Powers: Germany, Japan, and Italy • Allies: France, Great Britain, Soviet Union, the U.S. and others World Wars Compared CAUSES Causes of World War I (interpretations anyone?) The Environment for the Great War was created by • ALLIANCES In order to balance power and protect themselves, the nations of Europe were in alliances with other nations. War is in the air? • NATIONALISM Patriotism and loyalty were on the rise in Europe. • MILITARISM Industrialized nations were building up their militaries. The military and war was glorified. • INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION Nations now had the technology to mass produce war material in mass quantities. New technology led to more destructive weapons. • IMPERIALISM Tensions increased as nations competed for control of territory around the world. There were of course many other contributing factors to the outbreak of WWI, for example: List of Events:  1870-1871: Franco-Prussian War  1899-1900: Boer War  1900: German Navy Law  1905-6:First Moroccan Crisis  1908:Daily Telegraph article  1908-9:Bosnian Crisis  1911:Agadir Affair (Second Moroccan Crisis)  1912: First Balkan War  1913: Second Balkan War  These are examples of conflicts and increased tensions between major European powers prior to the outbreak of the First World War. Game on! • Assassination of Archduke of AustriaHungary by a Serbian nationalist. Game on! • Germany assured Austria-Hungary of full assistance in a war. • Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. • Russia declared war on AustriaHungary. • Germany declared war on Russia and France. • The Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia and the other Allies in hopes of regaining land it had lost. • Germany moved troops into Belgium to invade France. Belgians resisted. • Belgium and Great Britain declared war on Germany and the other Central Powers. • AUGUST, 1914 – The Great War began! WWI - “A Family Feud” Central Powers: • Wilhelm II - the Kaiser of Germany • Franz Joseph - the Emperor of AustriaHungary • Wilhelm II, Nicholas II, and George V were COUSINS • Albert was their SECOND COUSIN • Franz Joseph was their GREAT UNCLE ALSO: • Alexandra, Nicholas II’s wife, was a cousin of Wilhelm II, George V, and her husband Nicholas II. • She was a German princess. Allies: • Nicholas II - the Tsar of Russia • George V - King of England • Albert - King of Belgium “The War was decided in the first twenty days of fighting, and all that happened afterwards consisted in battles which, however formidable and devastating, were but desperate and vain appeals against the decision of Fate.” Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British statesman, writer. Preface to E. L. Spears, Liaison 1914 (1930). • Later Russia withdraws because of revolution/civil war in Russia • The U.S. joins the Allies because of the “Rape of Belgium,” German unrestricted submarine warfare, & Zimmerman telegram. World War II (same song, second verse?) The Environment for World War II was created by: • Resentment from the Treaty of Versailles – in the peace treaty that ended WWI, Germany was severely punished, and Italy & Japan didn’t gain the territory they thought they deserved. Environment for WAR: • Global Economic Depression – the most severe and widespread economic crisis of history took place in the 1930s. Environment for WAR: • It allowed leaders with radical ideas to gain a following in Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and elsewhere. • Other nations were preoccupied with their own problems. Environment for WAR: • Industrialization, militarism, and nationalism fueled the Nazi German, Japanese, Italian, (& Soviet Russia) desires for expansion. Aggressors March! • Germans moved into the Rhineland, annexed Austria, and part of Czechoslovakia. The Italians invaded Ethiopia The Japanese invaded China from Manchuria and then French Indochina Britain, France, and the U.S. did NOT want war again (economic, political, social reasons). World leaders and World Opinion included ideas that . . . • Germany was wronged in the Treaty of Versailles. Germans should be united. • Hitler is better than Stalin. Maybe they’ll destroy each other? • It’s a European problem / Asian problem. • War is being pushed by capitalists who want to make money. And then war came to them . . . • Japan invaded China in force in 1937. • Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939. • Nazi Germany and Italians invaded France and everywhere else they could. • Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 and everywhere else they could. Propaganda was used by all governments to secure support for the war. Right or Wrong? World Wars Compared WARFARE Both WARS • • • • Global conflicts with huge costs Mass production of mass destruction! New weapons and technology More men, more material, more victories. • TOTAL WAR World War I - Warfare • Trench warfare • Stalemate along the Western Front • War of attrition – neither side gaining ground but war casualties very high. • Tactics were old-school. World War I - Warfare • Chemical Weapons – mustard gas and chlorine gas • New Weapons of war – machine guns, airplanes, tanks, submarines, flamethrowers World War II Warfare • Fast moving air, sea, and land tactics – new school • Surprise attack and covert communications & operations World War II Warfare • Truly global approach to offensive operations World War II Warfare • Amphibious warfare (D-Day and Island Hopping) World War II Warfare • More new “weapons” World War II Warfare • No surrender? World War II Warfare • The Holocaust World Wars Compared RESULTS RESULTS of both WARS • Chaos and destruction – lives, property, economies, & governments • “Losers” lost territory and colonies • Maps redrawn 1914 1946 • Changed political structures – New governments took power – Expanded power of government • Christianity lost its influence in Western Europe. • Changed societies – Women and minorities pushed for changes • International organizations – League of Nations, UN, NATO, Warsaw Pact • New powers emerged – especially the U.S. • WAR! World War II and the Cold War? • New technology and inventions • Nationalism and Independence movements grow in European colonies – India, SE Asia, and Africa – Western superiority questioned Results of WWI • 1918 Influenza Pandemic • Chemical Weapons were outlawed. Results of WWI • Russian Revolutions Results of WWI • Germany punished (reparations) • Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and German Empire fell. • The Great Depression? Results of WWII • Trials for War Crimes • Movement of people after the war Results of WWII • U.S. prosperity . . . that lasted Results of WWII • Tension remained between Japan and China • The COLD WARTension increased between U.S. and U.S.S.R. • Arms race – nuclear weapons