Germany: Background to World War II The Path to War Germany: Background to World War II

Vocabulary Appeasement Isolationism Anschluss Sudetenland Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact Lebensraum Munich Conference

Hitler’s Ideas Only the Aryans were capable of building a great civilization. Germany required Lebensraum More land in order to support a larger population & more power. The answer was to take over the USSR. German peasants would re-settle the area. The Slavic people would be used as slaves.

Creation of the Axis Powers Hitler believed most western nations to be weak. He looked for strong allies to help in the fight against the Soviet Union. Germany, Italy, & Japan formed the Axis Alliance Agreed to fight the Soviets and not interfere with each other's territorial expansion.

Fascist rise to power Italy Japan Germany The Axis Powers

Hitler ignores the Treaty of Versailles Germany stopped paying reparations Hitler created a new air force A military draft expands Germany’s army from 100,000 to 550,000 troops He sends troops into the de-militarized Rhineland

Western Powers Reaction Great Britain began a policy known as Appeasement that was followed by other European countries. Appeasement is the belief that if a country satisfied the demands of unhappy neighbors, stability and peace would be achieved The U.S. adopted isolationism A policy that kept the U.S. from alliances and economic agreements with outside nations

Hitler continued to take over pieces of Europe Hitler achieved Anschluss (union) with his native land of Austria. He used threats and scare tactics The Sudetenland was invaded by Germany An area in NW Czechoslovakia The Czechs turned for help to the British and French.

The Reichstag after Anschluss

Munich Conference Britain, France, Italy & Germany meet in Munich Germany. Hitler claimed “The Sudetenland is the last territorial claim I shall make in Europe”. Hitler was allowed to take the Sudetenland if he left the rest of Czechoslovakia alone. The Czechs weren’t invited but they had to agree with the terms. In 6 months Germany controlled all of Czechoslovakia

Europe finally reacted to Germany’s advances Hitler demanded the independent port-city of Danzig. Hitler’s true intentions were clear. France & England state they will go to war if Hitler attempts to take it Hitler didn’t want to fight a 2-front war between England, France, & the USSR. Hitler gets Joseph Stalin, to sign the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact.

Signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

Final Plan Hitler knew he would eventually invade the USSR, but with Stalin on his side for the moment, he was free to invade Poland. On September 1, 1939 German forces invaded Poland. Two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany. World War II has now officially begun.

Nazis Invade Poland

Recap Hitler’s Plans Reactions of the West Nazi takeover War Begins Lebensraum, Axis Alliance, Treaty of Versailles Reactions of the West Appeasement & Isolationism Nazi takeover Austria, Czechoslovakia, Munich Conference War Begins Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact, Invasion of Poland