World War II and the Shoah

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1 World War II and the Shoah
Unit 2. The new Thirty Years' War Ch. 6 World War II and the Shoah S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

2 The war begins On September 1, 1939 Germany declares war on Poland. It claims to be targeting the free city of Danzig France and Britain intervene, declaring war on Germany Germany pursues a Blitzkrieg, occupied territories undergo a forced Germanization policy The Red Army occupies Eastern Poland (Katyn massacre), as well as Bielorussia, Ukraine and the Baltic states S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

3 France's defeat The German army occupies Belgium, the Netherlands,
Denmark and Norway In May 1940 the German troops cross the Ardennes France's defensive system (Maginot Line) is ineffective De Gaulle forms a government in exile Germany occupies Northern France, the South is ruled by Pétain's collaborationist government S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

4 Occupied Europe and Britain
Occupied countries in Western Europe enjoy some form of self-government. No such option is offered to Eastern Europe In summer 1940 Germany bombs England preparing for the invasion, but the RAF wins the battle of England Britain receives economic support from the US S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

5 Europe in summer 1940 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

6 Italy enters the war Given the weakness of its army, Italy does not
enter the war together with Germany Italy declares war on France and Britain only when the war seems to be ending. It obtains only a few territories On September 27, 1940 Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact Italian initiatives in the Mediterranean and North Africa fail; German intervention and support are decisive S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

7 The war in Africa S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

8 Germany attacks the USSR
Hitler attacks the USSR, which is taken by surprise (they had signed a non-aggression pact) Operation Barbarossa is successful at the beginning To resist, the Soviets make life impossible for the Germans and move their factories to the East The Germans treat the civilians very harshly, even non-Communist and non-Russian citizens join the Resistance S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

9 The USSR is invaded S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

10 Japan's victories Japan occupies Eastern China in 1937-1938
It conquests the Philippines, Indonesia, Indochina, Burma, Malaysia and Thailand It signs a non-aggression pact with the USSR It attacks the US in Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1942 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

11 The conquests of the Axis
S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

12 The German occupation policy
Nazi Germany seeks to build its “living space” at the expense of the inhabitants of occupied territories If their race is deemed good enough, citizens are Germanized Otherwise they are expelled and replaced by Germans In the Western occupied countries the economy and society are not overturned S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

13 The support for Nazism The Nazi system builds upon and
promotes widespread feelings Mistrust of democracy Ethnic self-determination Antisemitism Racism They are not shared only by the Germans, several other countries and citizens support them S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

14 The Final Solution Shoah Nazi Germany decides to
physically eliminate the Jews Extermination camps Initially in Germany, then also in the occupied countries Not only the Jews are exterminated, also gypsies, gays, ill and disabled people S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

15 Collaborators to the Shoah
Some people in the occupied countries take part in the extermination of the Jews. They are not made feel responsible for their collaboration The extermination of the Jews turns out to be detrimental for the economy Authorities in the occupied countries often take part in the persecution of the Jews in order to please the occupiers S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

16 The US enters the war After the Pearl Harbor attack the US declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy Weapons production increases, as well as supplies to Britain China joins the Allies, it receives support from the US and the USSR S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

17 The Pacific War S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

18 The Allies' comeback Battle of Midway (June 1942) Japan is defeated
by the US, the Americans start to expand in the Pacific region Battle of El Alamein (November 1942) Britain wins on Italy and Germany, the Allies start to conquer Africa Battle of Stalingrad ( ) Germany is defeated by the Soviets, it starts to withdraw S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

19 Italy after September 8 The war implies military defeats, rationing and strikes for Italy On July 25, 1943 the Grand Council of Fascism forces Mussolini to resign, they seek an armistice with the Allies On September 8 Badoglio announces the armistice, Italy is occupied by the Germans Italy is divided in two: in the South Badoglio's government is close to the Allies; in the North the Republic of Salò is ruled by Mussolini and allied with Germany S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

20 The war in Italy S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

21 The Resistance After September 8 the partisans organize to counter the German occupation and the Republic of Salò: Garibaldi brigades (communists) Giustizia e Libertà brigades (socialist-liberal) Matteotti brigades (socialists) They form in a spontaneous way, then they start to coordinate and they are recognized by the Allies The Resistance is a patriotic war a civil war a class war S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

22 War ends in Europe At the Tehran Conference Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill approve the Normandy landings, which would open a new front in Europe In Italy the Allies move from the Gustav Line to the Gothic Line Insurrection takes place in Northern Italy on April 25, Mussolini is shot on April 28 Germany is defeated, Hitler commits suicide. At the Potsdam Conference the Allies divide Germany in four occupation zones (USSR, US, Britain, France) S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

23 Nuremberg and Japan's surrender
Nazi leaders go on trial in Nuremberg; some of them manage to escape Some killings and lynchings take place in Italy and France. Most Fascists and collaborationists retain their professional and social status Japan surrenders after the dropping of two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016