The War in Europe Appeasement Aggression Hitler Makes

The War in Europe Appeasement & Aggression

Hitler Makes a Move n 1933: Hitler removes Germany from the League of Nations

Hitler Makes a Move n 1935: Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles –Massive arms buildup –Occupation of the Rhineland

Hitler Makes a Move n League of Nations does NOTHING!

Hitler Makes a Move n 1937: Hitler met with top military advisors

Hitler Makes a Move n Wanted the land of neighboring nations n Austria & Czechoslovakia n Risky move…why?

Hitler Makes a Move n Austria: –Initially formed after World War I –Population: 6 million –Majority of population was German

Hitler Makes a Move n Czechoslovakia: –Sudetenland; western border region of Czechoslovakia – 3 million German-speaking people in region

Hitler Makes a Move n 1 st target: Austria n Most Austrians supported unification with Germany n 1938: Germany entered Austria; faced NO opposition n Official union

Hitler Makes a Move n Czechoslovakia & Sudetenland: n Hitler’s goal annexation; more land & natural resources

Hitler Makes a Move n Claimed that Sudeten Germans were being abused by the Czechs Hitler’s justification for the annexation

Hitler Makes a Move n The Munich Agreement: –France & Great Britain –Allowed Hitler to have Czechoslovakia as it was his “last territorial demand”

Hitler Makes a Move n Chamberlin (Great Britain’s Prime Minister) believes peace has been made n Not peace, but APPEASEMENT; giving in to avoid war

Hitler has Lied? !? ! n Hitler goes back on his word… WANTS MORE LAND! n Next…on to Poland… n Large German-speaking population n Hitler accuses the Polish of abusing Germans

Hitler Keeps on Moving n What could happen if Hitler attacked Poland? n Hitler’s Predicament?

Hitler Keeps on Moving n Attack on Poland had the potential to: –Spur conflict between Germany & Soviet Union –Provoke war with France & Great Britain who had promised to protect Poland

Hitler Keeps on Moving n Was Hitler bluffing? ? n Big Problem? ? n Two-Front War. . ?

Hitler Keeps on Moving n Germany & Soviet Union: n Nonaggression Pact (1939) –Signed by Hitler & Stalin –Surprising move on Stalin’s part – WHY?

Hitler Keeps on Moving n Hitler & Stalin also signed a secret pact promising to divide Poland evenly

Hitler Keeps on Moving n Hitler invades Poland & utilized Blitzkrieg, or “lightning war” n Sudden & massive attack that combines air and ground forces

World War II Begins n France & Great Britain declare war on Germany n Hitler takes most of Western Poland; Stalin invades from the east & takes over n World War II has begun…

U. S. Response n Neutrality… n Pressing for peace n Planning for war