Captured the rest of Czechoslovakia; made alliances with Italy and the Soviet Union; invaded Poland. Ch. 23 Sec. 2 Bellringer How did Germany’s actions in 1939 trigger the start of World War II? Where did German forces turn after overrunning Poland in 1939? What developments increased tensions between the U.S. and Japan in East Asia? Western Europe. Military alliance with Germany and Italy, takeover of French Indochina.

Europe Erupts in War Section 2

The Main Idea Far from being satisfied by the actions of France and Great Britain, Germany turned to force and triggered the start of World War II.

Hitler’s Actions in 1939 Winston Churchill Which British Leader publicly condemned Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement? Hitler’s Actions in 1939 Winston Churchill Czechoslovakia In March Hitler sent troops into what remained of Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia fell without putting up a fight. Chamberlain finally realized that Hitler could not be trusted. Appeasement had failed. Alliances Established a pact with Italy Established a nonaggression pact with Stalin’s Soviet Union. Stalin agreed not to stop Hitler’s expansion and Hitler agreed not to attack Stalin. This pact shocked many in Europe. Why did the German-Soviet pact shock Europe? British and French expected Stalin to join them against Germany. Do you think Stalin’s pact with Germany provided better security for the Soviet Union? Yes, gave Soviets some protection and time to prepare for possible war, they did not know if they could rely on France and Britain. No, making a pact with a country that has already broken treaty agreements provides no security.

SOVIET UNION DECLARES NEUTRALITY Poland also had a large German Speaking population and in the spring of 1939 Hitler began to say how the Germans were being mistreated. Many people thought that Hitler could not do this because if he did he would risk starting war with France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. His luck held when Stalin signed a Nonaggression pact with Germany.

Poland Blitzkrieg On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. The German method of attack known as blitzkrieg, or lightning war, was made possible by technological advances. The development of tanks that could move rapidly; the use of airplanes, bombs, and paratroopers; and coordinated radio communication allowed German troops to make rapid offensive moves that overwhelmed other European countries. The blitzkrieg was successful in the early years of the war but was ineffective in later years, as the Allies began to use tanks and planes in a similar manner. Poland On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. The German military used the blitzkrieg, or “lightening war.” Poland fought back to no avail. By the end of the month, Poland was in German hands.

BLITZKRIEG IN POLAND September 1, 1939 German Warplanes roared over Poland. Their targets were military bases, airfields, railroads, and cities. At the same time German Tanks rolled across Poland destroying everything in their path. They were trying their new military strategy called blitzkrieg or lighting war. The tactic used a surprise attack that could quickly crush all opposition to the army. Britain and France Declared war on September 3, 1939. Blitzkrieg worked really well because by the time France and Britain could get into the fighting Poland had already been conquered. By the end of the month Poland ceased to exist—and WWII had begun.

German Forces Turn to the West On September 3, 1939, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. They became known as the Allies. The Allies did not attack Germany. Instead, they decided to wait for Germany to make its next move. They believed that Germany’s army would grow weak trying to invade France. Germany made plans to invade France through the Ardennes Forest. This was rugged terrain and the French army concentrated their defenses elsewhere. For example, the famed Maginot Line was to the south of the Ardennes.

THE PHONY WAR What might have happened in Western Eruope if the Allies had attacked Hitler in 1939 or early 1940? For the next few months no one made any type of move. The French would sit on their line called the Maginot Line and the Germans sat at their line called the Siegfried line. Germans called it the sitzkrieg (sitting war). The silence was broken not by the Germanys, French, or British but by the Soviets. They started to take land that they had lost in the First World War. They wanted back the areas of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Also they wanted Finland back. It took 3 months of winter fighting to take back Finland. Might have been able to save some European countries from Nazi control; might have lost even more troops and equipment.

German Forces Turn to the West April 1940 Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway. This improved Germany’s access to the Atlantic. Both countries fell with little resistance. By April Hitler started to take action. Hitler launched a surprise invasion of Denmark and Norway. Then he turned his blitzkrieg against the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg and had them overrun by May. June 1940 France surrendered to Germany and Italy. The unoccupied part of France was known as Vichy France. Many French leaders, including Charles de Gaulle, fled to Great Britain to organize resistance to German and Vichy control of France. May 1940 Germans invaded France. Germans conquered the Netherlands and stormed into Belgium. Belgian, British, and French troops tried to stop the Germans in Belgium. By early June the Germans had trapped hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers at the French port of Dunkirk. Meanwhile, German forces attacked France through the Ardennes. The Maginot Line had been bypassed.

THE FALL OF FRANCE Then the Germans broke through the Ardennes and came into France. The French and British were pounded from the air and by German Tanks. They were pushed back to the beaches at Dunkirk. The British started to Ferry soldiers across the English Channel into Britain. 330,000 soldiers were taken across the English Channel and into Britain.

THE FALL OF FRANCE A few days later Italy entered the war and attacked France from the South. Paris would fall in June of 1940. Charles de Gaulle fled to England where he setup a government in exile. He said, “France has lost a battle, but France has not lost the war.”

Battle of Britain Germany’s 1st plan was to destroy the RAF or Royal Air force. Using the new technology of Radar the British were able to avoid the destruction of the RAF. The RAF started to inflict heavy damage on the German Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe started to bomb London. The goal was to terrorize the people and get them to lose their will to fight. Hitler had failed to invade and take over England.

Increasing Tensions in East Asia 1934 Japan began expanding its naval forces despite promises made at the Washington Navel Conference. 1936 Japan signed an anticommunism pact with Germany. 1937 Japan began a war against China. 1940 Japan formed a military alliance with Germany and Italy. These nations were known as the Axis Powers. 1941 Japan moved to take control of French Indochina, which threatened American interests. President Roosevelt tried to reason with General Hideki Tojo, the minister of war who took control of the country in October of 1941. But the time for compromise was over.