
World War II • World War II • Dictators ruling Europe • Hitler in Germany • Mussolini in Italy • Stalin in Russia
Europe on the brink of war (AGAIN) 1933- Germany has rearmed and rebuilt their industry 1936- Germany and Italy allied forming Axis Power alliance 1936 Japan and Germany agree to work together to stop spread of Communism
Germanys’ aggression in Europe • Germany annexed Austria
France and Great Britain took no action • Another violation of Treaty of Versailles • What might have happened if they took some action against the aggression?
World War II • Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia • Hitler believed it was part of Germany
3 million Germans lived thereHitler threatened to invade Sudetenland to protect German citizens from harm.
France and Great Britain take action • Is it a military confrontation? • No • 1938 Munich Conference September 29, 1938
Britain and France agreed to allow Hitler and Germany to annex the Sudetenland Was this a good decision?
Appeasement • Policy of accepting demands of an aggressor in an attempt to avoid war
Neville Chamberlain • “Peace in our Time”
France would not protect Czechoslovakia • March 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia and Lithuania • Mussolini invaded Albania
Stage is set for war • Britain and France prepare • Hitler aware of the problem of a two front war signs a • NON AGRESSION PACT • With Stalin and Russia
Germany and Russia started secret talks while Germany was negotiating with Great Britain and France. • Terms of Non Aggression pact: • Will not attack each other • Will remain neutral if either is attacked
What was not announced to the world: Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide parts of Eastern Europe Germany – Western Poland Soviets - Eastern Poland, Baltic countries
WORLD WAR II What advantage did Germany gain from the Neutrality of Russia?
WORLD WAR II • Invasion of Poland • Port city of Danzig • Was under joint Polish and German control
WORLD WAR II • September 1, 1939 annexed city • At same time massive attack on Poland • Air • Land • Blitzkrieg
WORLD WAR II • Luftwaffe German Air Force • Bombed Poland • Land forces invaded Poland • Luftwaffe destroyed all of Poland’s old aircrafts • Disrupted railroads
WORLD WAR II • Poland fell in three weeks
WORLD WAR II • Britain reacts
WORLD WAR II • German Aircraft • Stukas Bombed Poland Airfields
WORLD WAR II • Britain and France honored agreement to protect Poland • September 3, 1939 Britain and France declare war on Germany after Germany refused to answer ultimatum from England
WORLD WAR IIWAR EXPANDS • Hitler’s invasion of Poland introduced new warfare • Blitzkrieg (Lightning war) • Great speed along with Great force
WORLD WAR II • Poland surrendered within a month • Elsewhere in Europe there was troop movement • But little else
WORLD WAR II • Blockades but not much fighting • On western front • Newspaper dubbed it “Phony War” • There was hope that war could be avoided
WORLD WAR II • Soviets then invaded Eastern Poland • Poland again disappeared from map • Soviets then attacked Finland
WORLD WAR II • Finland fought hard but fell to the Soviets in 1940 • Next on Germany attack list was Norway and Denmark • They fell to Germany in a single day