OVERVIEW OF WORLD WAR II
The 1930's was a time plagued by the economic depression that put many were out of work and opened a door to rapid inflation, the decrease in the worth of money. The depression allowed for the rise of extremist parties. These political figures seemed to have the answer to the country’s issues and since many people were desperate for a solution to their social and economic problems, they put the extremists in power.
One such extremist leader was Adolf Hitler. He built a fascist state in Germany that had many countries fearing peace in Europe. He was willing to go against any of the Treaty of Versaille’s rules to create a great German Empire once again. He befriended another fascist leader, of whom his ideas came from, Benito Mussolini, Italy’s dictator.
Europe was not the only continent struggling. In Asia, Japan was eager to take over more lands and wanted even more resources under their control. Its goal was to take over China and Southeast Asia.
In North America, the United States was temporarily unaffected by the conflicts taking place two oceans away from it yet as the war began to unfold, America found itself being tangled into it, eventually entering the war.
Though no war was officially declared until 1939, Japan, Germany and Italy had begun to build their armies. It was to their advantage that their enemies were struggling with the effects of the economic depression. They used this to threaten the vulnerable countries. The attitudes were not the same everywhere. The United States maintained its peace and its citizens did not want to be involved in another international conflict. Many people were too busy dealing with the Depression to have time to think about another war. For this reason, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Acts to keep The United States in a safe zone. Yet, by 1939, as Italy, Germany and Japan continued to grow their military, the United States began to fear that if a war would occur, they would not be prepared and be heavily disadvantaged.
Germany and Japan were able to build their armies in the 1930s more than ever before. Their economies began to revolve around the military and both had powerful airforces. Eventually Italy, Germany and Japan were able to compete with the military of the United States. The United States only had its navy to keep them ahead of the remaining of the countries.
In Japan’s case, the country was being pressured by ultranationalists who wanted Japan to seize the Chinese province of Manchuria. Soon, the military began to take over Japan’s government and the army became the main priority. It grew in navy, aircraft and battleships. By 1937, the country entered a war with China. When the United States and Britain interfered in Japan’s plans of expansion in Southeast Asia, it began to rigorously prepare its military for future events with other countries.
Across the oceans, the United States brought back its policy of isolation. Its military was no longer a priority and decreased heavily. In the two decades since the end of World War Two its strength was weakened. Even with signs of war appearing in Europe, it made no attempts at preparing its army. It no longer held a high ranking, with the exception of its navy, which remained a force to reckon with.
For Italy, it had been deceived by the Allied Powers in World War One in order for it to join their side. Being promised land and not receiving it, Italy was seeking ways to gain the lands and therefore, welcomed the rise of its fascist leader, Benito Mussolini. Though it is much smaller than the United States, as it prepared for war, its army was even larger than that of the United States. Italy was seeking revenge.
Towards the end of the 1930s, events were beginning to unfold. Japan moved towards French Indo-China while Italy invaded Ethiopia. Austria was annexed into Germany and soon so was Czechoslovakia. It was only a matter of moments before war was declared.
When Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939, Britain and France, Poland’s allies, declared war on Germany. During the beginning of the war, the favor was in the Axis’s - Germany, Italy and Japan-favour. They were able to defeat the French, take over Poland and the British were soon standing alone to fight the Germans in Europe yet German made a crucial mistake. Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June of 1941, which forced Germany to fight on two fronts. All this before the United States entered the War.
Japan soon attacked the United States on Pearl Harbor after putting restrictions on the resources that could enter Japan. After Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. The World was now at war.
One such extremist leader was Adolf Hitler. He built a fascist state in Germany that had many countries fearing peace in Europe. He was willing to go against any of the Treaty of Versaille’s rules to create a great German Empire once again. He befriended another fascist leader, of whom his ideas came from, Benito Mussolini, Italy’s dictator.
Europe was not the only continent struggling. In Asia, Japan was eager to take over more lands and wanted even more resources under their control. Its goal was to take over China and Southeast Asia.
In North America, the United States was temporarily unaffected by the conflicts taking place two oceans away from it yet as the war began to unfold, America found itself being tangled into it, eventually entering the war.
Though no war was officially declared until 1939, Japan, Germany and Italy had begun to build their armies. It was to their advantage that their enemies were struggling with the effects of the economic depression. They used this to threaten the vulnerable countries. The attitudes were not the same everywhere. The United States maintained its peace and its citizens did not want to be involved in another international conflict. Many people were too busy dealing with the Depression to have time to think about another war. For this reason, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Acts to keep The United States in a safe zone. Yet, by 1939, as Italy, Germany and Japan continued to grow their military, the United States began to fear that if a war would occur, they would not be prepared and be heavily disadvantaged.
Germany and Japan were able to build their armies in the 1930s more than ever before. Their economies began to revolve around the military and both had powerful airforces. Eventually Italy, Germany and Japan were able to compete with the military of the United States. The United States only had its navy to keep them ahead of the remaining of the countries.
In Japan’s case, the country was being pressured by ultranationalists who wanted Japan to seize the Chinese province of Manchuria. Soon, the military began to take over Japan’s government and the army became the main priority. It grew in navy, aircraft and battleships. By 1937, the country entered a war with China. When the United States and Britain interfered in Japan’s plans of expansion in Southeast Asia, it began to rigorously prepare its military for future events with other countries.
Across the oceans, the United States brought back its policy of isolation. Its military was no longer a priority and decreased heavily. In the two decades since the end of World War Two its strength was weakened. Even with signs of war appearing in Europe, it made no attempts at preparing its army. It no longer held a high ranking, with the exception of its navy, which remained a force to reckon with.
For Italy, it had been deceived by the Allied Powers in World War One in order for it to join their side. Being promised land and not receiving it, Italy was seeking ways to gain the lands and therefore, welcomed the rise of its fascist leader, Benito Mussolini. Though it is much smaller than the United States, as it prepared for war, its army was even larger than that of the United States. Italy was seeking revenge.
Towards the end of the 1930s, events were beginning to unfold. Japan moved towards French Indo-China while Italy invaded Ethiopia. Austria was annexed into Germany and soon so was Czechoslovakia. It was only a matter of moments before war was declared.
When Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939, Britain and France, Poland’s allies, declared war on Germany. During the beginning of the war, the favor was in the Axis’s - Germany, Italy and Japan-favour. They were able to defeat the French, take over Poland and the British were soon standing alone to fight the Germans in Europe yet German made a crucial mistake. Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June of 1941, which forced Germany to fight on two fronts. All this before the United States entered the War.
Japan soon attacked the United States on Pearl Harbor after putting restrictions on the resources that could enter Japan. After Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. The World was now at war.