World War II Author: Brian Williams Consultant: Simon Adams US_001_Half_title.indd 1 12/04/17 3:55 pm Contents Senior editor Marie Greenwood Senior designer Ann Cannings 4 What led to World War II? US Editor Elizabeth Searcy US Senior editor Shannon Beatty 6 Rise of the Nazis Jacket coordinator Francesca Young Jacket designer Amy Keast, Suzena Sengupta Picture researcher Nishwan Rasool 8 The children escape Managing editor Laura Gilbert Managing art editor Diane Peyton Jones 10 War begins Pre-production producer Dragana Puvacic Producer Isabell Schart Art director Martin Wilson 12 Key players Publisher Sarah Larter Publishing director Sophie Mitchell 14 Living with the enemy Educational consultant Jacqueline Harris Designed, edited, and project-managed 16 Operation Dynamo for DK by Dynamo Ltd. First American Edition, 2017 18 Wartime women Published in the United States by DK Publishing 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 Copyright © 2017 Dorling Kindersley Limited 20 Battle of Britain DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC 17 18 19 20 21 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 001–299050–Sept/2017 22 Propaganda All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or 24 Wartime entertainment transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN 978-1-4654-6311-1 DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 [email protected] Printed and bound in China F A WORLD OF IDEAS: at SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW Ma n www.dk.com bo mb Winston Churchill Canteen m et 2 German h el US_002-003_Contents_Americanized.indd 2 05/06/2017 12:01 26 Battles at sea 48 D-day 28 Animal heroes 50 City bombings 30 Tanks into Russia 52 War ends in Europe 32 Airpower 54 Atomic bomb 34 The Holocaust 56 After the war 36 Anne Frank 58 World War II facts and figures 38 Desert warfare 60 Glossary 40 Growing up in the war 62 Index 42 Pearl Harbor 64 Acknowledgments 44 Wartime food R a di 46 Code breakers o Pop p y N azi eagle Spitfi r e Wartime poster 3 US_002-003_Contents_Americanized.indd 3 05/06/2017 11:59 What led to 1918 World War I ends World War I lasted from 1914 to 1918. Most of the fighting World War II? was in Europe and the Middle East. It is also called the Great War. Hitler’s rise to power after World War I paved the way for the largest, deadliest war in history. World War II lasted six years, and fighting spread throughout Europe into Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. 1935 New weapons 1933 Hitler comes to power Germany becomes more The German people vote for the Nazi powerful. The country begins Party and Adolf Hitler. Hitler vows to making new weapons, make Germany strong again after its including bomber planes. defeat in World War I. German army helmet German Dornier Do 17 bomber 1936 Germany on the move After World War I, German armed forces were not allowed in the Rhineland, a German region that bordered France. In March 1936, German troops re-enter it. German tanks The Germans tested tanks in secret. They tried out their new Panzers, such as this PzKw II tank, in mock (pretend) battles. 1939 World War II begins Europe had tried to avoid war by letting Hitler’s army grow and take over other countries. This approach failed, because Hitler wanted more. In September 1939, Germany invades Poland. 4 US_004-005_What_Led_to_WWII.indd 4 05/06/2017 11:59 1920s Money loses value The world struggles after the war. The same amount of money buys less and less each day. The Germans, who had lost the war, suffer most. Children playing with stacks of worthless Poppies German cash About 18 million people died in World War I. Today, people wear poppies to remember all those who have died in wars. 1930s No jobs, no money The money crisis leads to banks closing all over the world. Factories close, too. Many people lose their jobs. Jobless people marching in Swastika protest in New leaders promised better times. England Mussolini came to power in Italy. In Germany, Hitler made the swastika the flag of the new Nazi Party. 1937 Japan attacks China China is weak because of civil (internal) war. In July, Japan invades, seeing the chance to lead Asia and make a new empire. Rising sun flag of Japan ! WO W! Germany had no air force after 1918. New pilots 1938 Takeovers learned by Hitler makes Austria part of Germany. He also takes over part of flying gliders. Czechoslovakia (what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia). 5 US_004-005_What_Led_to_WWII.indd 5 05/06/2017 11:59 Rise of Hitler the Nazis Hitler became Germany’s leader in 1933. His National Socialist Party was also known as the Nazis. Difficult times followed World Hitler stopped War I. Germany had lost the war paying war damages and promised the and had to pay those who won. German people German money lost value, and new factories and roads. He also banks were forced to shut. formed a new Factories closed down. People lost army and air force. jobs and hope. They turned to the He talked about a new German Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, who empire, or promised to make Germany great. “Reich.” The Nazis punished anyone who spoke against them. They held huge rallies (public meetings) to whip up support. Bands played, banners waved, and soldiers and children marched. Hitler roused the crowds with fiery speeches. He promised Germany would rule Europe. Hitler’s ideas Hitler was born in Austria. He joined Germany’s army in World War I and became leader of the Nazi Party in 1921. In 1924, he went to prison where he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). His book blamed Jewish people and Communists for Germany’s problems. 6 US_006-007_Rise_of_Nazis.indd 6 05/06/2017 11:59 Nazi symbols The Nazis put their symbols everywhere, on flags, uniforms, buildings, and even schools. Their signs included this eagle and the swastika, an ancient cross. The Nazis used these emblems to show everyone who ruled Germany. Just seeing these symbols made many people proud, but they scared others. OLYMPICS Kristallnacht On November 9, 1938, Nazi gangs trashed The 1936 Olympic Games took place in Jewish shops and attacked and killed Berlin. The Nazis used the games to show many Jewish people. Nazis painted off. Crowds cheered every German winner. messages of hate on walls and doors. However, the star of the games was US They threw homemade bombs. They set athlete Jesse Owens. He won three gold shops on fire and smashed windows. medals, and Hitler walked out. Why? Shattered glass covered the streets. It was Owens was an African American. His called Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Glass.” success went against the Nazis' racist ideas. 7 US_006-007_Rise_of_Nazis.indd 7 12/04/17 3:56 pm Children bravely began life in a strange land. Kindertransport The children Kindertransport means “children’s transport” in German. It was an escape escape plan for Jewish children to flee to Britain. They traveled by train and ship. Many were scared, not knowing what awaited them. They found new After 1933, Jewish people lived in homes with British families. But many never saw their own families again. danger under Nazi rule. Many Jewish families sent their children away for safety. About 10,000 child refugees escaped to Britain. British children were also seeking shelter, because war seemed ever closer. They left city homes for the countryside as evacuees. Refugee children needed travel passes called visas. British helpers got these for them. 8 US_008-009_The_children_escape.indd 8 12/04/17 3:56 pm