Road to WWII

Benito Mussolini 1920’s Benito Mussolini established the 1 st European Fascist movements. Unruly and rebellious child, expelled from school for stabbing a fellow classmate Worked as an elementary teacher Expelled from the Socialist party, made his own party: Fascist party

Rise of Stalin Known as “man of steel” Greatest mass murderers in history Used post as general secretary to gain control of the communist party. Set five year plans to change Russia into a agricultural into an industrial state. Pitiful conditions for people because of lack of government reform

Hitler and His Views Core of his ideas was racism. Extreme nationalist Wanted to participate in politics, understood the use of propaganda Joined National Socialist German Worker’s party, or known as Nazi In jail, he wrote Mien Kampf, (My Struggle)

II. Rise of Nazism Nazis would have to gain political power by competing with others for votes. He expanded the party to all parts of Germany, by 1929, it had 800,000 members Hitler promised to create a new Germany –His appeals: National pride National honor Traditional militarism This struck an emotional chord with the people

III. Victory of Nazism 1933, 2/3 of Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, allowing to ignore the Constitution for 4 years Hitler was named dictator by an appointed parliament All political parties except Nazi’s were abolished Concentration camps were used for those against the regime.

IV. The Nazi State Hitler wanted a totalitarian state Wanted a super race- Aryans Thought Germans were true descendants and leaders of the Aryans and would create an empire like the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire of 1871 To gain this, terror was used

V. Life Under Nazi Rule The SS were used to maintain order They had 2 principles: terror and ideology Mass demonstrations and spectacles were used to gain excitement and support All churches, schools were brought under Nazi control

V. Life Under Nazi Control In 1935, Nuremburg Laws were created –Excluded Jews from German citizenship and forbade marriages between Jews and German Citizens. –Jews were required to wear yellow Stars of David and carry identification cards saying they were Jewish

I. German Path to War Hitler wanted his great, ideal civilization Wanted to take over the Soviet Union, to resettle with German peasants created new Air Force Began a military draft Allies warned against any other aggressive movements, it was in violation of the Treaty of Versailles

I. German Path to War Sent troops to the Rhineland, France had the option to use force to prevent this, must have Great Britain's support. Great Britain used policy of appeasement If European states satisfied the reasonable demands of the dissatisfied powers, this would ensure stability and peace.

II. Demands and Appeasement Prime Minister Chamberlain and Hitler met at the Munich Conference to discuss, Hitler's actions. Hitler promised he wouldn’t make any more aggressive demands. Chamberlain believed him.

III. Great Britain and France React Hitler thought they were too weak to fight Great Britain saw threat to Poland GB started to negotiate with Stalin This would mean a 2 front war for Germany August 23, 1939 Germany and Soviets signed a non-aggression pact, would not attack each other Treaty would allow attack of Poland September 1- Germany invaded Poland Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany.

Danzig and the Polish Corridor After the Czechoslovakia, Hitler wanted Poland. Why? – Danzig, a seaport city that was 90% German – Germany lost this after WWI so that Poland would have access to the sea. If Hitler invaded Poland, Great Britain and France would declare war on Germany. Hitler prepared to invade and started to negotiate with the USSR;

ww2 begins WWII BEGINS IN EUROPE GERMANY INVADES POLANDSEPT. 1, 1939, GERMANY INVADES POLAND….. WWIITHIS BEGINS WWII… GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE DECLARE WAR ON GERMANY! GERMANY INVADES POLANDSEPT. 1, 1939, GERMANY INVADES POLAND….. WWIITHIS BEGINS WWII… GREAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE DECLARE WAR ON GERMANY!

If he had to fight the British and French he did not want to fight the Soviets, too.If he had to fight the British and French he did not want to fight the Soviets, too. Hitler and Stalin sign a non-aggression pact and divide Poland.Hitler and Stalin sign a non-aggression pact and divide Poland. If he had to fight the British and French he did not want to fight the Soviets, too.If he had to fight the British and French he did not want to fight the Soviets, too. Hitler and Stalin sign a non-aggression pact and divide Poland.Hitler and Stalin sign a non-aggression pact and divide Poland.

Munich Conference

September 17, Russia invades Eastern Poland. September 17, Russia invades Eastern Poland. Polish officers are slaughtered by Stalin's NKVD (KGB) in 1940, Katyn Forest Massacre. Polish officers are slaughtered by Stalin's NKVD (KGB) in 1940, Katyn Forest Massacre. September & October, Soviet troops occupy Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Finland resists Stalin's demands. September & October, Soviet troops occupy Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Finland resists Stalin's demands. November The Soviet Union attacks Finland. Finland holds out at first, but November The Soviet Union attacks Finland. Finland holds out at first, but Outnumbered 5 to 1 they surrender in March. Finland keeps its independence, but gives up territory to Stalin. Outnumbered 5 to 1 they surrender in March. Finland keeps its independence, but gives up territory to Stalin.

Map in 1942

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis: The Tripartite Pact--Sept., 1940

The goal of the Axis Powers was to rule the world….. The world would “rotate” around them. The Axis believed democratic nations were weak. And they would conquer them as a “knife slices through butter”. The goal of the Axis Powers was to rule the world….. The world would “rotate” around them. The Axis believed democratic nations were weak. And they would conquer them as a “knife slices through butter”.

Europe at War Hitler stunned Europe with his speed and efficiency of Germany’s attack with Poland. Used a new style of warfare- blitzkrieg or “lightening war” Forces broke quickly through enemy lines, making it easy to take over. September 28, 1939 Soviet Union and Germany divided Poland

Battle of Britain Despite early victories for Hitler, to be successful he must gain control of the air. August German Air Force launched a major offensive. German planes bombed British air and naval bases, communication centers and war industries. British fought back. –Had effective radar system Germans began bombing cities, Hitler hoped to break British moral. British built up their air force and were able to come back, Because of huge losses, Hitler postponed the invasion indefinitely.

BLITZKREIG GERMAN MILITARY TACTICS OR “LIGHTING WAR” The key to blitzkrieg is … SURPRISE! It is designed to attack many different targets with overwhelming numbers so as to simply devastate the enemy.

BLITZKREIG Attack with the Luftwaffe (Airforce) –Fighters (air superiority) –Stuka (Dive bombers) –Bombers Destroy Communications (radio…) Destroy Transportation (bridges, RR) Destroy Military Targets (bases, supply) Step One

BLITZKREIG PANZERSNext come the PANZERS (tanks) Hitler’s military designers had developed extremely advanced tanks. Their tanks were light years ahead. Advance very quickly, and destroy any remaining targets that the Luftwaffe had left behind. (Comm, Trans, Military) Step Two

BLITZKREIG Finally come the infantry They had been training for several years and these troops were VERY ready. Hitler’s troops were already battle experienced b/c of the Spanish Civil War. Their job was to MOP UP anything left. Step Three

BLITZKREIG The Blitzkrieg was a style of battle, that had never been seen before. It was extremely successful, it was so overwhelming that no one had a defense to it. When other nations saw this attack they were not sure if Hitler was THAT good, or was Poland THAT bad…… Conclusion

Cartoonist shows how Hitler walked through Europe unopposed. blitzkriegHitler’s “blitzkrieg” military tactics made his armies near impossible to stop.

1940: Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Netherlands and France

Hitler crushes France in June 1940 Hitler’s last enemy was Great Britain, who along with France had been defeated at the battle of Dunkirk Battle of Britain, largest air battle ever fought in the history of warfare. July to November 1940 and was won by the Royal Air Force (RAF or British Air Force). First major German loss in WWII and forced Hitler to change his strategy British people fought for their country and a possible Nazi invasion (Operation Sea Lion). Hitler wanted to gain air supremacy. Britain

Now Britain Is All Alone! Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The “Lion of England”

"What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin, upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization, upon it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institution and our Empire." Britain WINSTON CHURCHILL JUNE FROM HIS "FINEST HOUR" SPEECH

The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. Britain WINSTON CHURCHILL JUNE FROM HIS "FINEST HOUR" SPEECH

But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Britain WINSTON CHURCHILL JUNE FROM HIS "FINEST HOUR" SPEECH

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour." Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour." Britain WINSTON CHURCHILL JUNE FROM HIS "FINEST HOUR" SPEECH

Britain

Battle of Britain – the “Blitz”

The London “Tube”: Air Raid Shelters during the Blitz

The Royal Air Force

Britain London’s Casualties 43,000 Killed 51,000 Seriously injured 88,000 Slightly injured Nearly 500 (RAF) pilots and aircrew had been killed, 500 wounded and 915 aircraft were destroyed. NazisThe once undefeated Luftwaffe (Nazis) had been beaten and lost 1733 aircraft and crews in the process. Their immortality (RAF) was guaranteed when Churchill in a speech made on the 20th August said "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".

Germany Soviet Union British Italy