WW2 Begins

Appeasement If you give a mouse a cookie…… Alliances are made – Axis – Germany, Italy, and later Japan Allies – Soviet Union, U.S., Britain, and France Munich Conference – Meeting between Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain (PM of GB) and Daladier from France to concede or give to Hitler the Sudetenland. (Allied leaders appeared weak to Hitler. Appeasement – Britain, France, Russia, and the U.S. all allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland (in Czechoslovakia). Hitler promised to stop German expansion there.

World War 2 Begins Hitler then realizing that the Allies would not be ready to stop him if he continued to take land, took the rest of Czechoslovakia. The allies then begin to realize that Hitler is going to do more than right the wrongs from the Treaty of Versailles; and begin mobilizing. The U.S. again promised weapons and supplies to their allies, but still wanted to stay neutral. Meanwhile…(In Asia) Japanese ships off the coast of China began attacking U.S. gunships (Panay). Still many Americans wanted to stay out of war. Back in Europe – Hitler occupied Czechoslovakia and then set his sights on Poland. Poland refused. Italian troops begin invading Albania right next to Poland.

World War 2 Begins Britain and France draw a line – If Hitler invades Poland, they will go to war with Germany. Hitler’s secret plan – He signed a contract with Stalin in the Soviet Union. The non-aggression pact – agreement by Hitler and Stalin on August 23,1939 not to attack each other in war. In return, the Soviet Union would get some of Poland once Hitler took it. This play took a crucial ally away from Britain and France. September 1st, 1939, Hitler invades Poland. September 3rd, 1939, Britain and France declare war on Germany. The U.S. amended the neutrality act, and allowed countries to buy our weapons, but they had to be shipped on their own vessels. (Lusitania)

The Election of 1940 FDR running against Wendell Willkie. FDR promised as long as it was within his power we stay out of war. (Sound Familiar) He wins an unprecedented 3rd term. He also knew that we wouldn’t be able to stay neutral much longer. The Lend-Lease act – Made supplies readily available for Britain, but Britain had to pay for them as they went. (Installment plan) Hitler continued his war on Poland and the surrounding countries. Blitzkrieg – “lightning war” Hit the enemy so fast and hard, they can’t even fight back for the most part.

The Fall of France…Again Hitler Moves toward the Maginot line along the French Border with Germany. Hitler continued his Blitz of Poland and France and took France in 16 weeks or (4 months) Hitler set up a puppet government in France, but there were still some French resistance fighters in France fighting guerilla style battles with Hitler’s troops. In 1940 – Britain elects a new Prime Minister – Winston Churchill. He begins to rally the British as the last remaining superpower to stand against Germany. Hitler began bombing the British coast day and night to demoralize them. The RAF, or British Royal Air force flew day and night to combat the enemy.

Tensions in the Atlantic By 1941 – German U-Boats again were having a hey-day sinking supply ships from the Atlantic to Britain. FDR and Churchill meet secretly off of Newfoundland, and agreed to the Atlantic Charter – neither country would pursue territorial expansion during war. It also said that each nation should choose their form of government, and aggressor states should be disarmed, and all countries should work together to end fear and poverty. June 1941 – Hitler breaks the non-aggression pact with Stalin and invades the Soviet Union. The soviets were unprepared and took heavy losses. Germany goes deep into the heart of Russia.

A Day Which Will Live in Infamy October 1941 – Hideki Tojo becomes prime minister of Japan. He made a diversion by sending a Japanese peace seeking group to Washington asking for the U.S. to unfreeze it’s assets and resupply Japan. The U.S. had decoded Japanese messages planning a strike on the U.S. They knew an attack was coming, but not when or where. Shortly before 8:00am on December 7th, 1941, The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. About 20 warships and 200 planes were destroyed. About 2400 Americans were killed, (1,103 killed when the USS Arizona sunk) December 8th, 1941, The U.S. Declares War on the Axis powers and enters WW2.