World War II Overall: Lasts 2,174 days Around 61 million dead overall 27,600 lives per day 1,150 per hour 19 every minute 1 every 3 seconds

Hitler’s Buildup to War Hitler gains power slowly [Recall Hitler Rise to Power] Nazis secretly begin to rearm ~ direct violation of Treaty of Versailles Democracy is disappearing Elected in ‘33, dictator by ’34 (Kristallnacht is in 1938) Hitler/Mussolini treaty creates Axis (1936) [Japan will join later] Hitler wants more territory—east Hitler takes the Rhineland (1936)

Hitler gets Aggressive Why did Great Britain and France not react to Hitler’s violation of the Treaty of Versailles? -Remember many thought it was too harsh on Germany -WWI was costly and leaders were reluctant to challenge Hitler So then in 1938, Hitler sends troops into Austria (after Chancellor refuses to surrender) -Britain and France protest this, but Hitler says this is of no concern to anyone but Germany Few months later, Hitler demands Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia…  Allies respond with appeasement—give in to avoid war appeasement

Appeasement

Munich Pact Hitler and Mussolini met with Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister) and Edouard Daladier (French president) France and Britain were unprepared for conflict France had treaty to defend Czech, so gave up Sudetenland to Hitler Chamberlain: “There will be peace in our time.” ~ British crowds cheered his return

Nazi Expansion

Broken Promises… (Don’t trust a mad man!) Hitler had ‘promised’ Sudetenland was all he wanted… Winston Churchill (member of British Parliament; will become Prime Minister of Britain in 1940) knew Hitler wasn’t going to stop Head of British navy resigns March 1939 Hitler occupies western half of Czech and gave rest of country to his allies; Italy invades and occupies Albania Britain and France give-up appeasement and prepare for war; pledge support to Poland

One ‘little’ problem…

Two Mad Men Should not Trust Each other either…. Remember Nazi Germany & Soviet Union are enemies But strength in numbers… Stalin did not believe Hitler wanted Soviet Union So they sign a ten-year Nonaggression Pact in 1939 Now Germany is safe from Soviet invasion from east. They divided up independent states of Eastern Europe.

War Begins? 1939 Invasion of Poland Blitzkrieg (“lighting war”) – surprise, fast, concentrated air & land attack Poland falls in just one month - imposed German laws, imprisoned and murdered Jews - Stalin seized eastern Poland

Nap Time? »After Poland fell, there was a quiet period British and French held back troops American press called the lack of combat the ‘Phony war’/Sitzkrieg (“sit-down war”) German troops just waited for several months Key to France’s defense… MAGINOT LINE

Maginot Line Provided massive string for fortification along France’s border with Germany. Problem: only protected part of French border that faced Germany; could attack through Belgium and guns only pointed east, so if Germans got around…France would be out of luck.

Nap Over Facts: -Luxembourg 1 day -Netherlands 5 days -Belgium took less than 3 weeks April 1940 Hitler attacks Denmark and Norway Next attack Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg

Fall of France and Beyond? Blitzkrieg into France cuts off British army Maginot Line a failure German’s drive west divides British and French troops Troops in the North retreat to coastal city of Dunkirk - Greatest rescue in history takes place for nine days

Dunkirk

FALL OF FRANCE May-June Invasion of France End of June Germany has conquered France Surrender terms allow Germany to have 3/5 of France French gov’t supervises the vacation resort of Vichy—zone becomes known as Vichy France [regime has 40% of southern France] ~ collaborated with Germany Invasion of Britain planned; Churchill (now Prime Minister) prepares Britain’s defense “Wolfpacks” start to block shipping

What should America do? Our army is 17 th in the world in power (behind Romania) Coastal defenses not tested since WWI Not enough air defenses for a single city! 6 medium tanks produced in 1939 According to War Department, war would take 10 years and over 200 divisions We had 5 active divisions Germany had 136, and invade Russia with 200 divisions! Wolfpacks are deadly – One convoy in 1940 had 13/40 ships sunk despite an escort of 77 warships