2. Who's Who of WWII

Slide 1:

Who’s Who of World War II

Slide 2:

Lesson Objectives Identify the leaders who contributed to the events of World War II. Describe the importance behind each leader.

Slide 3:

U.S. President from 1932-1945. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he stated that December 7, 1941 was a date which would live in infamy. Franklin D. Roosevelt He worked closely with Allies, Winston Churchill (U.K.), and Joseph Stalin (U.S.S.R.). Died in office in April 1945 .

Slide 5:

Harry S. Truman President of the U.S. from 1945-1953. During his weeks as Vice President, he received no briefing on the Manhattan Project or the unfolding difficulties with the Soviet Union. A fter consultations with his cabinet, he ordered atomic bombs dropped on two Japanese cities devoted to war work. In 1945, he witnessed the signing of the charter of the United Nations - established to preserve peace.

Slide 6:

Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1937-1940. He appeased Adolf Hitler by signing the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding part of Czechoslovakia to Hitler. Neville Chamberlain In 1940, Chamberlain was forced to resign, after Germany invaded the Netherlands, Belgium & France. He was succeeded by Winston Churchill.

Slide 7:

Winston Churchill Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1940-1945 and again from 1951-1955. His speeches were a great inspiration to the embattled Allied forces. He worked closely with Allies, Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S.), and Joseph Stalin (U.S.S.R.). Like Adolf Hitler, he too had served in the First World War.

Slide 8:

Leader of the USSR from 1922–1953. In 1941, Hitler broke the Pact that the Nazis had with Stalin by attacking the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. Joseph Stalin It was his relentless defense of Stalingrad that turned the tide of World War II in favor of the Allies. Under his leadership, the Soviet Union went on to become one of two post World War II superpowers.

Slide 9:

Charles de Gaulle He was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. During the German invasion of France, he escaped to Great Britain. From the U.K., he gave a famous radio address urging the French people to resist Nazi Germany.

Slide 10:

Hideki Tojo Prime Minister of Japan from 1941-1944 and general in the Imperial Japanese Army. He ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1945, he shot himself in the chest just before he was arrested by the U.S. Military. He was nursed back to health, tried as a war criminal, and executed in December 1948.

Slide 12:

Francisco Franco Dictator of Spain from 1936-1975. He upheld a policy of neutrality, but assisted Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on a small scale (Supplies & volunteer soldiers). He supplied Nazi Germany with a list of 6,000 Jews in Spain, for the "Final Solution". After Hitler failed to lure Franco to the Axis side, Hitler stated that he would rather have some teeth extracted than to have to deal further with Franco.

Slide 13:

Benito Mussolini Leader of Italy from 1922-1943. A founders of Italian fascism . Political philosophy which places the importance of the nation over the people. Inspired by Mussolini’s accomplishments, Hitler signed a treaty with Italy. After the Allied invasion of Italy, Italian partisans captured, executed, and publicly hung him upside down.

Slide 14:

Displaying Mussolini’s Corpse

Slide 15:

Adolf Hitler From our discussion in class, what do you recall about his rise to power?