Main Topic: World War II

This graphic organizer is an example of how I would like you to complete your
graphic organizer assignments. I would grade this work “A++.” You do not
have to fill out this chart as much as I did, but you DO need to include a lot of
detail in your answers. This will be a lot of work, so be mindful of your time.

You may use the following materials to find the answers:

 A History of Modern Europe: From the Renaissance to the Present
(2010, 3rd Ed.) by John Merriman.
 A History of Modern Germany: 1800 to the Present (2012, 2nd Ed.) by
Martin Kitchen
 Nazi Ideology and the Holocaust (2007) by the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum
 “Costs of the war: Killed, wounded, prisoners, or missing”, Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II/Costs-of-the-war

If you choose to use different sources, go over them with me so we can make
sure they are legitimate sources. You must list them at the end of the organizer.

*Wikipedia MAY be acceptable, but clear it with me first.

Questions Axis Powers Allied Powers

(Germany, Italy, Japan)
1. What were the  Nazi Germany started the war because 
reasons for starting or they wanted to expand and control
joining the war? territories that were ethnically Germanic
to strengthen the “Aryan race.” Hitler
wanted to conquer Europe with the
intent of growing the “Aryan race” and
show its supposed superiority. Japan and 
Italy officially joined Nazi Germany in
the war with the Tripartite Act in 1940.
 In the years before the war, Japan had
already been terrorizing China and other
Asian territories. Japan’s aim was to
replace the US as the dominant Pacific
power. Japan joined Nazi Germany to 
support their own self-interests and
ambitions in Asia and the Pacific.
 Italy joined Nazi Germany when the
(Great Britain, France,
Soviet Union, United
States)
When Germany invaded Poland in
September 1939, both France and
Great Britain were obligated to step
in and defend Poland from the
German invasion and declared war
on Nazi Germany.
The Soviet Union was initially
allied with the Axis Powers through
the Non-Aggression Pact. However,
after Germany invaded the Soviet
Union in June 1940, the Soviet
Union joined with the Allied
Powers.
The United States joined the war in
December 1941 after the Japanese
Imperial Army bombed Pearl
Harbor. The United States felt that

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 defeat of France was apparent. Mussolini
hoped that by joining Hitler, he would be
able to secure territories in Africa for
resources and begin a new Roman
Empire in Europe. Mussolini thought the
war would be over quickly when he
joined with Nazi Germany and that he
would share in the spoils.
2. How did the Hitler thought that the other leaders at the
appeasement of Hitler Munich Conference would not give in to his
at the Munich demands of annexing Czechoslovakia and
Conference of 1938 the Sudetenland. He hoped for a quick and
affect both sides? easy way start to the war of his dreams.
What was the Because Hitler received his demands, he
outcome? was left wanting.
3. How did the  Germany was in between France and the
location of these Soviet Union. Hitler wanted to avoid a
Powers affect their two-front war, so he attacked France
activity in the war? quickly in the hopes that He would only
Why was geography a need to worry about the Soviet Union
major factor? forces. When France was liberated,
Germany really had no chance of
winning the war because they were
surrounded by Allied troops. Germany’s
mountain ranges and forests did little to
stop the Allies’ progress.
 Japan’s location as an island in the
Pacific Ocean meant that it was far from
the action in Central Europe. The
Imperial Army mostly focused on
fighting in the Pacific rather than in
Europe. Although Japan was linked with
Nazi Germany, they focused more on
controlling Asian territories and fighting
the United States than actively engaging
in combat on the European mainland.
 Italy did participate in the fighting in
Europe, but their main focus was Africa.
Italy defended its territories in Northern
Africa from the Allies and fought for
control of the Suez Canal, which would
have given the Axis Powers plenty of
resources for the war effort. Italy’s
location on the Mediterranean Sea meant
that they also fought in the
Mediterranean against British forces.
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the Japanese would continue to
attack if they were not met with
resistance.
Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain
and Edouard Daladier of France gave in
to Hitler’s demands with the hope that it
would avoid another war. The main
goal of these leaders was to appease
Hitler so he would not start a European
war similar to World War I. The
appeasement did not work, and Hitler
started the war anyway.
 Great Britain provided a strong
naval presence during the war. The
navy was able to blockade important
rivers during the war to prevent
resources from getting to Germany
and the other Axis Powers. Britain’s
proximity to the European mainland
also meant that they were able to
fight on land as well. The Royal Air
Force helped organize the different
air forces of the other Allied
Powers.
 Although France was invaded and
occupied by Nazi Germany for the
first four years of the war, the
French were able to provide soldiers
on land. The location of France on
the coast of Europe was also very
important for the Allied D Day
invasion in June 1944. With Britain
and France in Western Europe, they
were able to provide a front against
Germany.
 The Soviet Union provided a
massive amount of foot soldiers that
fought Hitler’s forces in Eastern
Europe. This provided another front
against the German Army.
 The United States had an important
location being between Japan and
Europe. The United States Army
 was able to fight on two different
fronts: the Pacific and the European
mainland. The US mostly used air
and land forces against the Axis
Powers in Europe. The US Army
used air, land, and naval forces
against the Japanese Imperial Army.

4. List the main  Germany: Political 

Great Britain: Political
political and military -Adolf Hitler, Dictator of Germany -King George VI, sovereign of the
leaders of the war and -Joseph Goebbels, Minister of British Commonwealth
why they were Propaganda -Winston Churchill, Prime Minister
important. -Heinrich Himmler, architect of the Final
of the United Kingdom
Solution  Great Britain: Military
 Germany: Military -Charles Portal, Chief of Air Staff
-Adolf Hitler, Commander-in-chief of -Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial
the German forces General Staff
-Hermann Goering, Commander-in-chief -Arthur “Bomber” Harris, Planner
of the Luftwaffe of Strategic bombing
-Erich Raeder, Grand Admiral of the -Andrew Cunningham, Commander
German Navy of the Fleet
 Japan: Political  France: Political
-Hirohito, Emperor of Japan -Charles de Gaulle, leader of the
 Japan: Military Provisional Government of the
-Hideki Tojo, General of the Imperial French Republic
Army  France: Military
-Osami Nagano, Chief of the Navy -Charles de Gaulle, leader of the
General Staff French Army
 Italy: Political  Soviet Union: Political
-Victor Emmanuel III, King of  Soviet Union: Military
Italy/Emperor of the Italian Empire -Georgy Zhukov, General and
-Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Marshal of the Soviet Union
Italy -Ivan Isakov, Admiral of the Fleet
 Italy: Military of the Soviet Union
-Victor Emmanuel III, Supreme  United States: Political
Commander of the Italian Royal navy  United States: Military
-Ugo Cavallero, Head of the Italian -George Marshall, Chief of Staff of
Royal Army the United States Army
-Arturo Riccardi, Head of the Italian -Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme
Royal Navy Allied Commander
-Rino Corso Fougier, Chief of Staff of -Ernest King, Chief of Naval
the Italian Air Force Operations
-Henry Arnold, Chief of Staff of the
United States Air Force
5a. For Axis: How and The Nazis began discriminating against the Although there was proof that Jews
when did the Nazis Jews when Hitler became Chancellor of were being murdered by Nazis in
begin attacking the Germany in 1933. He enacted laws that were concentration camps in Germany and
Jews? Explain how prejudiced against Jews and severely Poland, many refused to believe that it
these attacks turned restricted the rights of anyone who had was actually happening. The Allied

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into the Final “Jewish blood.” Nazi propaganda was made Powers knew that the systematic murder
Solution. to brainwash regular German citizens into of Jews was underway in Germany, but
believing that Jews were evil and dangerous feared that giving it too much publicity
5b. For Allied: Were to ethnic Germans. In the later 1930s, would mean a public outcry to turn the
there any responses Hitler’s SS and the Gestapo would attack war effort towards saving the Jews and
from the Allies to the Jewish businesses, homes, and synagogues. not stopping Hitler.
news or reports of Kristallnacht was the last public pogrom
Jews being held in because ordinary German citizens were
labor camps and uncomfortable with seeing the harm done to
concentration camps? Jews, but most were afraid to stand up to the
Nazis. The Nazi Party then decided that they
should hide the deaths of Jews and began
deporting Jews to concentration camps. Jews
suffered through horrible treatment at these
camps. Depending on the camp, Jews could
be put to work in hard conditions or sent
directly to the gas chambers. The systematic
murder of Jews came to be known as the
Final Solution.

6. What were the The estimated war casualties for the Axis The estimated war casualties for the
human costs of the Powers are as follows: Allied Powers are as follows:
war?  Germany:  Great Britain:
-Civilian: 780,000 -Civilian: 92,673
-Military: 3,500,000 -Military: 373,372
-Jews killed by Nazi Germany:  France:
6,200,000 -Civilian: 350,000
 Italy: -Military: 213,324
-Civilian:152,941  Soviet Union:
-Military: 242,232  -Civilian: 7,000,000
 Japan: -Military: 11,000,000
-Civilian: 672,000  United States:
-Military:1,300,000 -Civilian: 6,000
-Military: 292,131