Path to WWII
- 1. PATH TO WAR
- 2. German Path to War Main Ideas - Hitler’s theory of racial domination laid the foundation for aggressive expansion of Germany - Needs more land for Aryan empire (lebensraum) - looks toward Soviet Union - Needs slave labor to build Third Reich - Turns to the Slavic people - Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles, forms new alliances, makes demands, and invades countries
- 3. Hitler violates the Treaty of Versailles Hitler Italy, Great Britain, and France • Condemned Hitler’s actions and warned • Begins military draft and no more but were busy with internal, has plans for air force economic problems and do nothing • Sent German troops into • France cannot act without Great Britain’s support who feels Hitler is only Rhineland acting in retaliation but decide to let it go and keep Hitler happy
- 4. APPEASEMENT • In an attempt to avoid war, little was done to stop Hitler. • The thought was…give him what he wants and he will be happy. video
- 5. Alliances with Germany Mussolini (Italy) Japan Austria • Wants to create a new •Makes alliance • Creates union with his Roman empire one month after native land (Anschluss) • Invades Ethiopia Italian alliance • Threatens to invade • Aligns with Germany • Forces chancellor to put after Great Britain and •Anti – Comintern Austrian Nazis in charge France are angry with Pact against of gov’t invasion Communism • New gov’t allows Hitler • With Hitler, sends and troops to enter support to Franco in • Annexed Austria to Spain Germany • Made alliance with • The West did NOTHING Germany called Rome- to stop this – further Berlin Axis APPEASEMENT
- 7. Demands and Appeasement • Goal: destroy Czechoslovakia • Demands to be given Sudetenland – Land were many Germans were already living – Said he would go to war if needed
- 8. Munich Conference • Munich Conference – Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy meet in Munich and made an agreement that met most of his demands – Hitler promises no more demands – Chamberlain says this is “peace for our time” and believes Hitler – Height of Appeasement Results: German troops are allowed to occupy Sudetenland, and Czechs are helpless without allies. Video
- 9. Winston Churchill • Member of Parliament • VERY suspicious of Hitler – does not trust him • When Chamberlain claims the Munich Conference has achieved “peace in our time” Churchill responds with: • “Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonor and they chose dishonor. They will have war.” • He will become PM in 1940
- 10. Hitler and European Powers • Hitler feels invincible • France and Great Britain and unstoppable – Realizes Hitler lied – Western Czech – Great Britain offers to • Invades and takes over protect Poland from Bohemia and Moravia Hitler’s demand of – Eastern Czech controlling Poland’s port • Slovakia becomes puppet – France and Great Britain state turn to Soviet Union and Stalin for assistance
- 11. Hitler Continues on His Path to War • Hitler – Believes Western powers will not step up to help Poland • Britain did promise to defend Poland if invaded – Does not want a two-front war if Great Britain and France do make an alliance with Soviet Union so he makes the alliance first • Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact – 2 nations promised not to attack each other – Hitler promises Stalin control of eastern Poland and Baltic states (SHOCKER: He was lying again) HippoCampus
- 13. Germany Invades Poland Blitzkrieg • World is shocked by Nonaggression Pact – Fear of war increases • Germany invades Poland – Blitzkrieg • Two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany Video Video 2
- 14. The least you need to know: • Hitler’s idea of the Aryan race being superior brought about WWII • Hitler wanted to expand east • Treaty of Versailles limited GER military power – Hitler ignored it • GB – policy of appeasement • Rome-Berlin Axis – Hitler & Mussolini • Hitler wanted Sudetenland • Chamberlain – “peace for our time” • Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression pact – no fighting btw USSR & GER – Gave GER chance to invade Poland