Aim: Did WWII have to happen? Do Now: What do you know about WWII? What do you want to know? RS 1, 2, 7, 8 WS 1, 4, 7

The “Beginning” of WWII 1936 Hitler marched 22,000 German troops into the Rhineland, in a direct breach of the Treaty of Versailles. German foreign minister Hermann Goering engineered a "plea" for German assistance from inside the Austrian government. March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria. Hitler announced his Anschluss (the annexation of Austria) and a plebiscite was held April 10 with 99.7% approval for the union of Germany and Austria. Hmmmm….

The “Beginning” Continued… C) Hitler next wanted to annex the German Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Benito Mussolini and French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier, and Hitler met on September 29. Britain and France pursued a policy of appeasement; agreed to cede the Sudetenland in exchange for guarantees Germany would demand no further territory. German troops crossed into the Sudetenland October 1st. Surprised by the weakness of Britain and France, Hitler was spurred on to acquire additional territory with little fear of reprisal. “However much we may sympathize with a small nation confronted by a big and powerful neighbors, we cannot in all circumstances undertake to involve the whole British Empire in a war simply on her account.” British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain

The “Beginning” Continued… D) September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. *Historians consider this the beginning of WWII.* Hitler used the blitzkrieg strategy: intensive bombing early on to destroy the enemy’s air capacity, railroads, and communication lines, followed by a massive land invasion. E) The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was signed August 23, 1939.

Warsaw, Poland 1939

The Bismarck 1939 Feb 14, 1939, the 823-foot Bismarck was launched as a symbol of the rebirth of the German navy. However, Britain closely guarded ocean routes from Germany to the Atlantic, and only U-boats moved freely through the war zone. May 1941, the order was given for the Bismarck to break out into the Atlantic. May 24, two British battleships intercepted it near Iceland. The Bismarck escaped, but leaking fuel it fled for occupied France. May 26, it was sighted and crippled by British aircraft, and on May 27, three British warships finished it off.

Summary Questions How did WWII begin in Europe? What was the Anschluss? Who followed the policy of appeasement and why? Do you agree with this policy? What was the Nazi-Soviet Non-Agression Pact? If you were Stalin, why would you have signed it? Would you have trusted Hitler? If you were Hitler, why would you have signed it? Would you have trusted Stalin? Why did the US not join the war officially yet? 5. Was WWII just a continuation of WWI?

Key Vocabulary Anschluss Appeasement Hermann Goering National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazis) Rhineland Sudentenland The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact