World War II: Total War and Strategies

Introduction to Total War

• Definition: Total war requires mobilization of a country's entire population, military, and civilian.
• Both military and civilians considered legitimate targets.
• WWII shared Total War DNA with WWI but on a larger, more devastating scale.

Immediate Cause of WWII

• Key Event: Hitler's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.
• Hitler's Goal: Acquire living space ("Lebensraum") for Germans.
• Britain and France initially followed appeasement policies.
• Invasion of Poland prompted the Western powers to respond.

Major Alliances

• Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan.
  • Commonality: Fascism.
• Allied Powers: Britain, France, Soviet Union, United States.
  • Soviets initially allied with Germany (Non-aggression pact) but joined Allies after Germany invaded Soviet Union.
  • U.S. joined after Pearl Harbor attack by Japan in 1941.

War Mobilization Strategies

• Propaganda: Used to provoke nationalism and demonize enemies.
• Ideologies:
  • Fascism: Focused on state glorification and militarization (Germany, Italy, Japan).
    • Utilized conquered peoples for labor (e.g., labor camps).
  • Communism: Soviet Union under Stalin.
    • Emphasized industrialization and collectivization.
  • Democracy: Britain under Churchill.
    • Relied on persuasion and cooperation, promised welfare state expansion.

Repression of Freedoms

• Occurred in varying degrees across fascist, communist, and democratic nations.
• U.S.: Internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans post-Pearl Harbor.
• Germany: Jews and others forced into ghettos and later concentration camps.

New Strategies and Technologies

• Blitzkrieg: Developed by Germany.
  • Combined air assault and rapid infantry movement.
  • Made trench warfare obsolete.
• Firebombing: Used by Allies.
  • Aimed to start fires in urban areas.
  • Notable targets: Dresden (Germany) and Tokyo (Japan).
• Atomic Bomb: Developed by the U.S.
  • Used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender.

Conclusion

• The Allied Powers ultimately prevailed.
• WWII marked by unthinkable destruction and death.
• Despite the hopes for peace, armed conflicts continued post-WWII.