The Beginning of World War II Axis Aggression The Beginning of World War II

Germany Expands Treaty of Versailles 1919 damages German economy Adolf Hitler rises to power Believes in expansionism - “lebensraum” Restore German glory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hQfVZr6L6I

Rebuilding German Military Hitler becomes chancellor, 1933 Secretly builds up military When unchallenged, announces plan openly Claims goal is to prevent spread of communism Sends forces to Rhineland, 1936 French and British complain, but do nothing Why does Hitler need to build up the military is secret? Rhineland = Germany territory bordering France Hitler claims that he was reacting to French-Soviet military agreement

Annexing Austria, 1938 German speaking country Many Nazi supporters Hitler demands Anschluss Austria gives in Europeans are eager to avoid war and Hitler takes this as his “in” Hitler was born in Austria Demand made early 1938 Originally Austria resists, but they eventually give up (March) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t75ldUNc2Xw

Crisis Grows Large German-speaking population in Czechoslovakia Czechs prepare for war, believe France will join France and Great Britain practice appeasement Edouard Daladier and Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill Appeasement - giving in to aggression in order to avoid war How did the British and French respond to Germany’s expansion and aggression? Appeasement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skvw5BqTEO0

The Axis Forms Totalitarian governments unite Anti-Comintern Pact, 1936 Germany and Japan Prevent spread of communism Oppose USSR Italy joins, 1937 Military alliance, pledge aid in event of war, 1939 Military force to achieve goals Do not care about opinions of other countries

Spanish Civil War Nationalists (Fascists) Republicans Supported by Germany and Italy Leader = Francisco Franco Republicans Supported by USSR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX_-faiNTVU

Hitler and Stalin, 1939 Stalin feels threatened by German expansion Stalin did not feel he could count on British and French support Secretly negotiates with German instead Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact Fascism = nationalistic political movement Communism = international change and classless society Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact Each side promises not to attack the other Allowed for German aggression against other countries Highlights which Eastern European countries will belong to Germany v. USSR British and French are shocked With whom did Hitler seek alliances in the late 1930s? Japan, Italy, and Soviet Union http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPpQ0MNm4go

Invasion of Poland, 1939 September 1 Blitzkrieg Polish air force destroyed September 3 Britain and France declare war on Germany = Allied forces Germany wins and plans to attack France Lightening war - air attacks along with fast-moving tanks and mobile artillery followed by soldiers Polish soldiers hardly trained compared to Germans Polish land has no natural barriers to blitzkrieg tactics British and French are useless at this point http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NBESyRDe3c

Attack on France, 1940 May 10 June 22 = French surrender Netherlands and Belgium - Allies cannot defend Ardennes - little resistance Dunkirk - heroic rescue June 22 = French surrender Spring 1940 Germans capture Denmark and Norway - access to the Atlantic Ocean Ardennes = forrest between Belgium and France French army was not defending, did not think anyone would attack Dunkirk Location trapped Allied troops retreat to Allied military saves 300,000 soldiers and bring to Great Britain Vichy control - French officials that supported Hitler Charles de Gaulle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--EYHxZu5yU

Battle for Britain Churchill is new prime minister August - October 1940 Germans send planes over English Channel Hitler wants to destroy British Royal Air Force British have radar technology London Blitz Hitler gives up plan of invasion Radar technology allows Great Britain to protect themselves against German air attacks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m34qk_jU3kQ

Invasion of the Soviet Union June 1941, Hitler breaks nonaggression pact Sends 3 million German troops to Soviet Union Goals = Leningrad and Moscow Not reached before Soviet winter Winter allowed Soviets time to rebuild Soviet troops were massive, but did not have the modern technology of Germany With what event did the war begin? Invasion of Poland, followed by the massing of German troops on its western border http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn0V6_92EBA http://brokenworld.wikispaces.com/16.1+Hitler's+Lightning+War

Focus Questions In what ways did Germany expand in the late 1930s? What alliances did Axis nations make in the 1930s? How did the war begin? What were the causes and effects of Japan’s attack on the United States?