The Road to World War II On your own copy of this picture, add labels to explain what the cartoonist suggests Hitler is doing? Who are the other people in this picture and what does the cartoonist think of them?

Major Causes of World War II Treaty of Versailles Rise of fascism in Italy Japanese expansionism Economic depression Anti- communism AppeasementMilitarismNationalism Rise of Hitler

Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims 1.To abolish the Treaty of Versailles, especially: - Tiny armed forces, - Rhineland demilitarised, - Anschluss with Austria forbidden, - Germans forced to live in Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland) and Poland (including Danzig). Saarland under League of Nations control. The Treaty was a constant reminder to the Germans of their humiliation in World War I. Hitler did not believe that the German army had lost the war, and he was determined to make Germany great again. 2.To expand German territory The German population was growing. Hitler said that the German nation needed more Lebensraum (‘living space’). He was determined to get Lebensraum by conquering land in eastern Europe. 3.To defeat Communism The Nazis were Fascists: the exact opposite of the Communists who ruled Russia. Hitler was determined to destroy Communism, and this meant a war with Russia

Hitler’s geopolitical objectives

Source A The Versailles Treaty is worthless. 60 million German hearts and minds are on fire with anger and shame. They will cry out ‘ We want war! ’ Mein Kampf (a book written by Hitler in 1924). Source B It will be the duty of German foreign policy to get large spaces to feed and house the growing population of Germany. Destiny points us towards Russia. Hitler, Mein Kampf (1924).

Aggressive Fascism/Militarism The Manchurian Crisis of 1931 clearly showed the growth of militarism in Asia. The Abysinnia Crisis was a clear example of how fascism was becoming increasingly aggressive.

January 1933: Hitler became Chancellor of Germany

: Hitler immediately ordered a programme of rearming Germany Hitler visits a factory and is enthusiastically greeted. Many Germans were grateful for jobs after the misery of he depression years. This rearmament was in direct contravention of the Treaty of Versailles.

The Saar Plebiscite The Saarland had been under League of Nations control since the end of WW1 The Saarland had been under League of Nations control since the end of WW1 France had demanded coal from the region during the Versailles negotiations. France had demanded coal from the region during the Versailles negotiations. In a plebiscite in 1935 the people of the Saar voted to return to German rule. In a plebiscite in 1935 the people of the Saar voted to return to German rule.

March 1936: German troops marched into the Rhineland The Rhineland was a region of Germany that was ‘demilitarised’ after the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was not allowed to have troops in the region. Hitler’s actions showed how he was willing to directly challenge the treaty.

Spanish Civil War Nationalist and republican groups battle each other for control of Spain from 1936 to Nationalist and republican groups battle each other for control of Spain from 1936 to Hitler and Mussolini provide huge support to Franco, the Nationalist leader. Hitler and Mussolini provide huge support to Franco, the Nationalist leader.

The Anti-Comintern Pact Over the years 1936/37 Germany, Japan and Italy signed a series of agreements that came to be known as the Anti- Comintern Pact. The purpose of the pact was to form an alliance of nations that opposed the spread of communism. It was a direct challenge to Stalin and Russia.

March 1938: Nazi Germany annexed Austria Again, this went against the terms of the Treaty of Versailles which banned Germany from uniting with Austria. However, the arrival of German troops was met with great enthusiasm by many Austrian people.

March 1939: Germany invaded Czechoslovakia Hitler had ordered the occupation of a part of Czechoslovakia known as the Sudetenland (in October 1938). Many hoped that that this would be the last conquest of the Nazis. However, in March 1939, he ordered his troops to take over the remainder of Czechoslovakia. This was the first aggressive step that suggested that a war in Europe would soon begin.

Munich Agreement In 1938 the British government began to fear the rearmed and continuously expanding Germany. Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister of Britain flew to Berlin to meet Hitler and negotiate an agreement to end the possibility of war. Hitler completely charmed Chamberlain and convinced him that his interests for expansion ended in Czechoslovakia. They agreed that Germany would annex Czechoslovakia and not touch Poland. Chamberlain returned to London proclaiming that he had ‘achieved peace in our time’. The Munich agreement is the most obvious example of appeasement.

Hitler and Stalin (the Russian leader) signed a ‘non- aggression pact’. Molotov-Rippentorp Pact. They promised that neither country would attack the other in the event of war. As part of the deal, Hitler promised Stalin part of Poland, which he planned to invade soon. Stalin had initially asked for an alliance with Brtiain. August 1939: Germany and Russia signed a non-aggression pact This photo shows the Russian foreign minister signing the pact, whilst Stalin stands smiling in the background

The non-aggression pact was surprising. Hitler and Stalin were seen as natural enemies. When Hitler talked of taking over new land for Germany, many thought that he meant Russia. Hitler also hated Communism, the form of government in Russia Hitler Stalin

But, the pact allowed Germany to march into Poland without fear of an attack from Russia. On 3 rd September 1939, Germany invaded Poland and started a War with Britain and France. September 1939: Germany invaded Poland German troops marching into Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

May 1940: Germany turned west and invaded France and the Netherlands In May 1940, Germany used Blitzkrieg tactics to attack France and the Netherlands. British troops were forced to retreat from the beaches of Dunkirk in northern France. British troops were forced to retreat from the beaches of Dunkirk in northern France. Captured British troops, May 1940

By June 1940, France had surrendered to the Germans Britain now stood alone as the last remaining enemy of Hitler’s Germany in Western Europe. Adolf Hitler tours Paris after his successful invasion.

September 1940-May 1941: the Blitz For the following nine months, the German air force (Luftwaffe) launched repeated bombing raids on British towns and cities. This was known as the BLITZ and was an attempt to bomb Britain into submission.

Operation Barbarossa, June 1941 But in May, 1941, Hitler ordered a change of tactics. He decided to halt the bombing of Britain and launch an attack against Russia. He betrayed Stalin and ignored the promises he had made. This was a bold move that would prove to be an important turning point in the War.

Tasks Firstly, use the timeline to indicate the order of events on your World War II maps. Then answer the following questions: 1) In what ways did Hitler ignore the Treaty of Versailles? 2) At what stage do you think other countries should have attempted to stop Hitler by using force? Why do you think they did not? 3) How was Hitler able to take over Western Europe so quickly? 4) Why did he create problems for the German army by deciding to invade Russia?