Introduction and Beginning of WWII 1935-1941

Europe Moves Toward War In 1933 Hitler will become Chancellor of Germany in 1934 the President of Germany will die and Hitler will declare himself Fuhrer (leader) Hitler will immediately begin to break the treaty of Versailles In 1934 Hitler will begin to rearm increasing it military to 600,000 starting an Air Force (Luftwaffe) and a Navy In 1935 Hitler will re-occupy the Rhineland in another violation of the treaty, Britain and France will do nothing, not wanting another war

Fascism The idea that nothing is more important to a person than the state (country) The first fascist leader was the Italian Dictator Benito Mousilini who took control of Italy in the 1920’s A person has a place in society, is told what to do and obeys There is no freedom of speech, everyone is expected to conform to the new order This is enforced by secret police punishments are harsh Always have a dictator Fascist countries always look to “reviving” older ideas (The Roman Empire etc) and use these symbols to unite people behind their cause

Hitler Takes Land In 1938 Hitler will pressure Austria to be Annexed Later in 1938 Hitler will demand the German districts of Czechoslovakia. In October Britain, France, Germany agreed to give Germany the districts in the Munich Agreement. The Prime Minister of Britain Neville Chamberlain said that this would bring “Peace in our time” and Hitler promised to ask for no more land Hitler will take all of Czechoslovakia

Appeasement As Hitler took more and more land Britain and France did nothing, this was known as Appeasement Br. And Fr. Didn’t want to do anything because they did not want another war with Germany France also thought that it was safe because it had built the Maginot Line

Final Straw In 1936 Hitler, Mussolini, and Emperor Hirohito of Japan will create the Axis Powers an alliance to help each other in war In 1938 Hitler will sign a Non Aggression pact with Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, in a secret part to the treaty, Hitler and Stalin agree to divide Poland With all of this in place Hitler will demand the Polish Corridor, the area between Germany and East Prussia When Britain and France finally say no it is too late Germany has rearmed and now has allies On September 1 1939 Germany will invade Western Poland while the Soviet Union will invade Eastern Poland, Britain and France will declare war on Germany

Poland Germany will use a new tactic called the Blitzkrieg (lightning war) This will be tanks moving in quickly to destroy the enemy while infantry follows to take land. During this the German Air Force will bomb anything that is of use to the enemy This is very effective against Poland by October 1 Germany and the Soviets had conquered Poland Also during this time Germany conquered Holland and Norway, Belgium, Greece

France Although France will declare war on September 11 1939 they will do nothing to help Poland, safe behind the Maginot Line they waited during a time known as the Phony War However on May 10 1940 Germany will invade France unexpectedly through Belgium going around France’s Defenses The French and British Troops were forced to fall back until they were evacuated to Britain By June 1940 France had been conquered

America Reacts America in the 1930’s and 40’s was Isolationist we wanted the world to leave us alone The U.S. passed 4 Neutrality acts: The Neutrality Act of 1935, 36, 37, 39 The first 3 said we would not trade with any nation at war or give them loans or credit The Neutrality act of 1939 offered nations supplies on a Cash and Carry policy Cash and carry said that nations had to pay cash and come pick up the goods themselves Because of the swift fall of France and Poland and fears Germany would invade Britain, in 1941the U.S. will sign the Lend-Lease act providing war material to the Allied Powers

Battle of Britain Also during 1940 there will be the Battle of Britain in which Germany tried to bomb Britain to surrender, they will use their U-Boats to blockade Britain and their planes to bomb all of Britain especially London

Operation Barbarossa Hitler was unable to invade Britain or force them to surrender So Hitler will turn on the man he hated most, Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin Germany will invade the Soviet Union and by the end of 1941 had conquered much territory and surrounded all three major soviet cities

The War in Asia Since 1931 Japan had been conquering China and continued to do so throughout the war When war was declared with Britain and France they began to conquer their territories as well However in response to this the U.S. will issue an Oil and Steel embargo which will threaten Japan’s war production