March 28-April 1

Monday - NO SCHOOL!!!!

Tuesday - I took notes on Mr Bruns' powerpoint on Italy.

Displeased with Treaty of Versailles
- didn't get as much land as they wanted
League of Nations
- became member in 1919 withdrew in 1937
March on Rome
- October 1922
- march by Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party
- won
- took over Italy
King Victor Emmanuel
- didn't fight Mussolini's take over
- wanted to avoid a civil war
- wanted to keep communists out of Italy
Established Fascism
- government led by a strong dictator
- Stresses strong nationalism, militarism, and imperialism
- Uses intimidation to get what they want
Italy's goals
- new Roman Empire
- Make the Mediterranean an "Italian Lake"
- Take African colonies
- Take Southeastern Europe
Reasons for LossingImpact
- Italy was not militarily prepared to fight a prolonged war
  - Germany had to constantly bail Italy out
- Italian Troops were spread thin
- People of Italy were not prepared/motivated to fight
  - forced to fight
- Italy was a weak country
- $94 billion dollars
- millions of casualties

Wednesday - France presented today.

France

Allied Powers
- France, Poland, Great Britain in 1939
- France & Great Britain vs. Germany
French Leaders
- Charles de Gaulle
  - French soldier in World War 1
  - Exiled leader in World War 2
  - President of Fifth Republic, position held until 1969
  - Dedicated patriot/didn't accept French surrender to Germany in 1940
  - Organized soldiers from French colonies to fight alongside the allied troops
  - Leader of Free French
- Marshal Petain (aka Philippe Petain)
  - April 24, 1856 - July 23, 1951
  - Born to a family of farmers
  - National hero for his victory at the Battle of Verdun in WW1
  - French General
  - 58 when he became a general
  - Accepted defeat to Germany
  - Leader of Vichy French
  - Brought to trial in France for his behavior after 1940
  - Condemned to death in August 1945, reduced to life sentence by Charles de Gaulle
  - Died in prison fortress
- Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
  - Free French Generals
  - Fought to reclaim France
  - Fought in North Africa
  - Nickname King John
- Maxime Weygand
  - Chief-Commander of French Army
  - May 20, 1940 till France surrender
  - Partly Collaborated with Vichy French Government
  - Loyalties belonged to who was winning
- Maurice Gamelin
  - Chief-Commander of French Army
  - Free French General
  - scape goat for loss of France
- Francois Darlan
  - Vichy General
  - Admiral of French naval forces
  - Made deal with Allies
    - the Vichy soldiers were to attack the Germans
    - got off easier
- Alphonse Juin
  - Vichy General
    - Captured during Battle of France
    - Released by Vichy France in 1941
    - Commander in North Africa
      - until Operation Torch
    - 1942 resisted Germans and Italians
      - Allies had arrived

Major Events Prior to War
- Munich Agreement - Western Betrayal
- France and Belgium Occupied the Ruhr - Germany failed to pay $ from Treaty of Versailles
- London Naval Treaties - 1930 and 1936
- Arms race after WW1
Battle
- Battle of France
  - May 20, 1940 - June 25, 1940
- Tunisia Campaign
- Operation Torch
- Operation Venezia
  - May 26, 1942 - ???
Impacts
- Weaken Military
- Weak economy
- Colonies Independence
Home Front & Propaganda
- Vichy French Propaganda
  - Pro-Nazi
- Free French Propaganda
  - Anti-Nazi
Before the War
- 2nd Largest European Power
- Global Depression
- No place to deal w/ Germans in 30's

Thursday - I continued notes on France and we watched a video on Great Britain.

Friday - Mr. Bruns did his powerpoint and my group did ours on the Soviet Union.

Great Britain

Role
- Appeasement at Munich
- Declared war on Germany
  - after German invasion of Poland
- Last Allied country standing
- Batle of Britain - "We shall never surrender" - Churchill
  - Royal Air Force
- Great Britain served as a base for US and Free French forces
- D-Day invasion strting point
- Received the most Lend-Lease aid from US
  - food
  - weapons
  - medical supplies
- Lost the "most powerful country in the world" status after WW2
- Helped fight in Africa

Blogs

March 28-April 1

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