Leading up to the war

Appeasement Giving someone what they want in order to avoid conflict and to keep peace The League of Nations (original United Nations) is more concerned with the worldwide Great Depression than with Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin or Tojo invading other countries. The League of Nations give these dictators what they wanted in order to avoid another World War. This included giving world dictators territories that they wanted and not interfering when Germany went against the Treaty of Versailles

Great Purge (1934-1938) Great Purge 1934-38:The cruel reign of Josef Stalin as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was probably the bleakest period in Russia’s history. During this time, millions of ordinary Russian Citizens died in exile or in one of the many Gulag’s (labor camps) set up to accommodate countless prisoners, the vast majority of whom were incarcerated for no other reason than the fact that their views differed to that of their leader. The Great Purge removed all of Stalin’s  opposition from power.  About 1.2 million Russian citizens were killed.

Adolf Hitler   At the end of WWI Hitler was a jobless ex-soldier drifting around Germany. 1919 Hitler joined the National Socialist German Workers’ party (Nazi Party). Hitler quickly became the leader of the Nazi party because of his abilities as a powerful public speaker and organizer. Hitler promised to bring Germany out of the economic depression. In his book Mein Kampf, he explained the beliefs of the Nazi Party.

Elements of Nazism 1. Hitler wanted to unite all German-speaking people in a great German empire (3rd Reich=1000 year empire). 2. Hitler wanted to make Germany larger in size in order to compete with Russia (Lebensraum=living space). 3. Hitler wanted to enforce racial “purification”. In his views Germans – especially blue-eyed, blond-haired “Aryans” formed the “master race” or the ideal German, destined to rule the world. Jews, Slavs, and all nonwhites were deemed “inferior races” and should be eliminated.

Nazi Takeover in Germany The Great Depression helped the Nazis come to power. By 1932 roughly 6 million Germans were unemployed. Many unemployed men joined Hitler’s private army, the Storm Troopers. Out of desperation the German people turned to Hitler and Nazism as their last hope. By the end of 1932 The Nazis had become the strongest political party in Germany. In January 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany. Once in power Hitler dismantled the Weimar Republic. In its place Hitler established the Third Reich (the Third German Empire).  

Japan Nationalistic military leaders (militarists) in Japan were trying to take control of the imperial government. Hideki Tojo was appointed to be the Prime Minister of Japan.  Tojo took control of the military and control of the government. These leaders were interested in expanding Japans boarders to provide more living space for the growing Japanese population. 1931 the militarists launched a surprise attack on China. The militarists quickly seized control of the Chinese province of Manchuria. The League of Nations condemned Japans actions. In response Japan quit the League of Nations. The successful invasion of Manchuria put the militarists firmly in control of Japan’s government.

Events Leading to War In 1933 Hitler pulled Germany out of the League of Nations. Why? Because he intends to start a war! In 1935 Mussolini invades and takes over Ethiopia. Why? Oil fields and following same game plan as the Old Roman Empire. Also in 1935 Hitler massively builds up his military. In 1936 Hitler attacks and takes over the Rhineland, an area of land between France and Germany, with orders to retreat if the French retaliated. Hitler wanted to unite all German speaking people under 1 flag. The French didn’t want to involve themselves so Hitler concluded that if he attacked Eastern Europe the French would continue to no get involved. He was right.

Spain Turns Fascist (1936) 1936, Francisco Franco, leads a group of Spanish army officers in a rebellion against the Spanish republic, beginning the Spanish Civil War. The Western democracies remained neutral and Franco won the war. In 1939, Spain is established as a totalitarian fascist government under the control of Dictator Francisco Franco.

Invasion of Austria Austria’s people favored unification with Germany because the people are German. On March 12th, 1938, German troops marched into German speaking Austria unopposed. The next day Germany announced that the union with Austria was complete.   The United States, the League of Nation, and rest of the world did nothing to protest or stop Germany.

Invasion of Czechoslovakia About 3 million German-speaking people lived in the western border regions of Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland). Hitler wanted it to unite all German speaking people into 1 country AND to provide more living space for Germany. Hitler’s Excuse: Czech’s were abusing the Germans there. Hitler promises Britain and France that the Sudetenland is his “last territorial demand.” In an attempt to avoid war, France, Britain, and Germany signed the Munich Pact on September 30, 1938. The Munich Agreement/Pact: turned the Sudetenland over to Germany without a single shot being fired.   

Invasion of Czechoslovakia In Britain, Winston Churchill viewed the signing of the Munich Pact as an adoption of appeasement. Appeasement: Giving someone something they want in order to keep the peace. Churchill warned that Hitler would not stop at the Sudetenland. On March 15, 1939, German troops invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia and quickly took it over.

Invasion of Poland The majority of Poland’s population was German speaking. Hitler’s excuse: German Poles were being mistreated. August 23, 1939 Stalin and Hitler sign the Nonaggression Pact. Germany and the Soviet Union commit to not attack each other. With the dangers of a two-front war eliminated German Invaded Poland. The Soviet Union and Germany split Poland in half. Germany takes the Western half and the Soviets take the Eastern half.

Blitzkrieg in Poland September 1, 1939 Germany launched it Blitzkrieg in Poland. Blitzkrieg (lightning war): Used advances in military technology, such as fast tanks and more powerful aircraft, to secure the air and ground with the Air Force. The ground troops come in afterwards to secure the cities. WAR DECLARED: September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Major fighting in Poland was over in 3 weeks.

Invasion of the Baltic States The Soviet Union also invaded Poland from the east, seizing what was left of Poland. After occupying eastern Poland, Stalin began annexing the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (The area taken away from the Soviets in the Treaty of Versailles). In late 1939, Stalin sent the Soviet army into Finland. After 3 months of fighting the Finns surrendered.

Other Major Invasions April 9, 1940, Hitler launched a surprise invasion of Denmark and Norway. Hitler planned to use these countries to build bases from which he could easily strike Great Britain. Hitler next invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, all of which were overrun and in German control by the end of May, 1940.

The Fall of France Only takes 6 weeks for Hitler to conquer France. Hitler attacks France by going through the Ardennes forest in Northern France and attacking Paris from the North. The Italians attack France and Paris from the south This German offensive in France trapped almost 400,000 British and French soldiers along the beaches of France. The nearly 330,000 British, French, and Belgian troops were evacuated to Britain by boat. June 22, 1940 France surrendered. Germany occupied northern France, setting up a Nazi-controlled government.

The Battle of Britain Germany launched an air war on Britain in the summer of 1940. Luftwaffe (German air force) began making bombing runs over Britain. Every night for two months roughly 2,000 German planes bombed London, and the rest of Britain. Britain installed a new piece of technology (radar) on every British air plane. Radar saved the British from being defeated by Hitler. One night the RAF (British Air force) shot down 185 German planes. Hitler eventually called off the invasion of Britain.

The Battle of Britain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt0eVyS0_3M&t=40s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0KBaiiykas

Americans Cling to Isolationism Isolationism impacted Presidents Roosevelt’s foreign policy. 1933 U.S. officially recognized the Soviet Union and exchanged ambassadors. Policy of nonintervention in Latin America/withdrew armed forces stationed there. Reciprocal trade Agreement Act: lowered trade barriers by giving the president the power to make trade agreements with other nations. 1935 Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts in an effort to keep the U.S. out of future wars. The acts outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at war or nations engaged in civil war.

Neutrality Breaks Down President Roosevelt found it impossible to remain neutral. President Roosevelt found ways around Neutrality. In July 1937 Japan launched a new attack on China. Japan had not formally declared war against China. Roosevelt claimed there was no need to enforce the Neutrality Acts. The United States continued sending arms and supplies to China.