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Little History Monster
 Beginning of WWII Summary
The totalitarian governments that formed during the 1920s and 1930s were intent on expanding their empires. They began
advancing into surrounding territories. Many world leaders wanted to avoid war, so they did little, or nothing at all. Yet the military
aggression of dictators would become impossible to ignore, leading to a new world war. Germany, Italy, Japan, and six other
nations formed the Axis powers. They were opposed by the Allies, which by the end of the war, included Britain, France, the Soviet
Union, the United States and 46 other countries.
Japan invaded China in 1937, capturing northern and central China. Japanese troops brutally murdered thousands of Chinese troops
and civilians. President Franklin Roosevelt gave a speech denouncing Japan’s actions, but the U.S. remained neutral. In 1938,
Adolf Hitler and Germany seized Austria, then later that year captured the Sudetenland and the western part of Czechoslovakia.
Hoping to avoid warfare, Britain and France attempted to negotiate a peaceful solution. Germany was allowed to retain the
territories they had recently taken over, as long as they did not seek additional areas. This practice of giving in to aggression in
order to avoid war is known as appeasement. The appeasement policy failed. Nazi Germany seized the rest of Czechoslovakia the
next year. Britain and France realized that they must take a firm stance against Nazi aggression.
World War II officially began on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland using blitzkrieg tactics. Blitzkrieg, or lighting
war, was a new tactic that involved overwhelming the opponent with amazing speed and efficiency by concentrating superior
manpower into a specific area and penetrating deeply into enemy territory. As Germany invaded western Poland, the Soviet Union
attacked eastern Poland. Germany and the Soviet Union had signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact before the invasion, in which the two
dictators agreed not to attack each other. Britain and France had alliances with Poland and declared war on Germany, however,
Poland was unable to withstand German planes and tanks from the west and Soviet troops from the east. By early October, Poland
was defeated. The country was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union.
In the spring of 1940, German armies continued to advance in Europe, capturing Denmark and Norway. On May 10, 1940, the
Battle of France began. German troops overran Holland and Belgium and charged into France. In support of Germany, Italy - led
by Benito Mussolini - invaded southern France. British troops arrived to help France, but British and French units were
overpowered by the Germans. British troops were forced to retreat to Dunkirk, a French port on the English Channel. Fleeing
soldiers had to wait to be evacuated by ship back to Britain. German armies marched through France, and captured Paris, the French
capital. France surrendered on June 22, 1940. It was a sudden and humiliating defeat that shocked the world. The battle was
significant because after France surrendered, Great Britain was left alone to face Hitler and the Axis powers.
In the summer of 1940, Germany turned its sights on Great Britain. Hitler planned a massive invasion by land and sea, but he knew
that the Luftwaffe, Germany’s air force, would have to defeat Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) to gain air superiority first. The
Battle of Britain began on July 10, 1940. It was the first battle to be fought completely in the air. Germany relentlessly bombed
London and other British cities, resulting in thousands of deaths. Encouraged by their courageous Prime Minister, Winston
Churchill, the British people suffered through unspeakable bombing raids. Germany bombed Great Britain for 57 days straight,
however the British refused to surrender. Britain’s Royal Air Force maintained air superiority, gunning down nearly 2,000 German
planes. By October 1940, Hitler gave up his planned invasion of Britain. It was the first major defeat of the war for Hitler.
As most of the world rushed towards war, the United States remained reluctant to become involved in another European conflict. As
a growing number of democracies became threatened by totalitarian dictators, President Roosevelt suggested America lend supplies
to Britain. In March 1941, Congress approved the Lend-Lease Act, which allowed sales or loans of war materials to Allied
countries. The United States sent airplanes, tanks, guns, and ammunition to Great Britain and other Allied nations. Then, in June
1941, Hitler launched a surprise invasion on his ally – the Soviet Union. The largest invasion force in history aimed to take over the
Soviet Union’s land and oil reserves. The leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, joined the Allied powers in the fight against
Hitler. President Roosevelt and Congress agreed to extend the Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union.
As Germany advanced across Europe, Japan - under the leadership of dictator Hideki Tojo - was advancing in Asia. Japan is an
island nation, and did not have access to iron, rubber, and oil – supplies essential to their war efforts. As a result, Japanese forces
began occupying neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to meet their demand for resources. The United States
attempted to halt Japanese aggression by refusing to sell oil and scrap metal to Japan. Instead, U.S.-Japanese relations continued to
worsen. With negotiations stalled, Japan began planning a secret attack on the United States.
On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which contained most of the
American Pacific fleet. Japanese planes sank or seriously damaged 19 American ships, destroyed almost 200 planes, and killed
about 2,400 people. Japanese leaders hoped the gamble would deliver a knockout blow to America, forcing the United States to ask
for peace immediately. Instead, they united Americans in their determination to fight. America could no longer remain neutral.
Congress approved President Roosevelt’s request for a declaration of war against Japan on December 8, 1941. Within a few days,
Germany and Italy responded by declaring war on the United States. America was thrust into the largest global conflict in history.
Little History Monster 2019
 Beginning of WWII summary Questions

1. Complete the following charts. Name: ________________________________

Major Allied Powers Major Axis Powers
Great Britain

Soviet Union Italy

Franklin D. Roosevelt Hideki Tojo

2. What is appeasement? Why did it fail?

3. Complete the following chart.

Battle Date it Began Key Events and Details

Invasion of Poland

Battle of France

July 10, 1940

4. What is blitzkrieg warfare? Why do you think it was effective during World War II?

5. What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Why did it end?

6. Complete the following chart.

What was it? When did it begin? Why did it occur?

The Lend-
Lease Act

7. Circle statements that are correct. Mark an X over statements that are NOT correct.
The Battle of Britain Most Americans
By the end of the war The invasion of France was attacked
was the first battle to opposed entering the
there were 50 Allied Poland was the official by Germany and the
be fought completely war after the attack on
nations. beginning of WWII. Soviet Union.
in the air. Pearl Harbor.
8. Why did Japan invade neighboring countries? How did America attempt to halt Japanese aggression?

Little History Monster 2019

 Beginning of WWII summary Questions

1. Complete the following charts. Name: __________ANSWER KEY___________

Major Allied Powers Major Axis Powers
Great Britain Winston Churchill Germany Adolf Hitler

Soviet Union Joseph Stalin Italy Benito Mussolini

United States Franklin D. Roosevelt Japan Hideki Tojo

2. What is appeasement? Why did it fail?

This practice of giving in to aggression in order to avoid war is known as appeasement. It failed because Hitler continued to invade
other countries.

3. Complete the following chart.

Battle Date it Began Key Events and Details
Answer will vary, however the following are key details:
-It was the official beginning of the war
Invasion of Poland Sept. 1, 1939 -Germany and the Soviet Union invaded and conquered Poland, dividing the country between
them.

Answer will vary, however the following are key details:

Battle of France May 10, 1940 -Germany and Italy invaded France
-France fell and was conquered, leaving Britain alone to face Germany

Answer will vary, however the following are key details:

Battle of Britain July 10, 1940 -1st battle fought completely in the air
-First defeat of the war for Germany
4. What is blitzkrieg warfare? Why do you think it was so effective during World War II?
Blitzkrieg, or lighting war, was a new tactic that involved overwhelming the opponent with amazing speed and efficiency by
concentrating superior manpower into a specific area and penetrating deeply into enemy territory. Answers will vary for the
second part, however, in general the tactic overwhelmed troops before they could mount a defense, which was the opposite of
how countries fought in WWI.
5. What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Why did it end?
The Nazi-Soviet Pact was an agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union not to attack each other. It ended because
Germany invaded the Soviet Union, forcing the Soviet Union to join the Allied powers.

6. Complete the following chart.

What was it? When did it begin? Why did it occur?

The Lend-Lease Act allowed America to sale It occurred because Roosevelt and
The Lend-
or lease military weapons and supplies to March 1941 other leaders were concerned about
Lease Act Allied countries. fascism.

7. Circle statements that are correct. Mark an X over statements that are NOT correct.
The Battle of Britain Most Americans
By the end of the war The invasion of France was attacked
was the first battle to opposed entering the
there were 50 Allied Poland was the official by Germany and the
be fought completely war after the attack on
nations. beginning of WWII. Soviet Union.
in the air. Pearl Harbor.
8. Why did Japan invade neighboring countries? How did America attempt to halt Japanese aggression?
Japan invaded neighboring countries in order to gain access to iron, rubber, and oil – supplies essential for war. The United States
attempted to halt Japanese aggression by refusing to sell oil and scrap metal to Japan.

Little History Monster 2019