Cause: Outcome: Treaty of Versailles Economic Depression Germany had to accept guilt for the war, pay reparations, lost territory and was prohibited from having a large military Economic Depression Whole world was hit- trading was reduced, businesses closed, prices fall, banks fail, unemployment rises looking for a strong leader Germany’s Militarism Hitler immediately began SECRETLY building up Germany’s army and weapons, moving into the Rhineland-no one was prepared to go to war. Hitler made alliances with Italy and Japan Failure of Appeasement Britain and France- thinking the TOV was unfair Munich Agreement Invasion of Poland Failure of the League of Nations Not all countries were joined No army to prevent military aggression Japan’s Militarism Japan needed natural resources Invaded China-China asked for help but LON did nothing Felt their expansion could be threatened by US = attack on Pearl Harbor

Germany, Italy, and Japan Great Britain, France, Soviet Union (AFTER its entry in June 1941), United States (AFTER its entry in 1941) and China Germany, Italy, and Japan Allies VS Axis

Invasion of Poland September 1939 German tanks and troop trucks rolled across the Polish Border At the same time, German aircrafts and artillery began a heartless bombing of the capital- Warsaw Following the invasion- September 3rd France and Great Britain declare war on Germany Poland falls before any country can take any military action Annexed western half of Poland- large German population

Blitzkrieg- “Lightening war” First test of German’s newest military strategy Fast moving airplanes and tanks followed by massive infantry forces  take enemy defense by surprise and quickly overwhelm

Stalin Meets on Eastern Side September 17th – Soviets troops occupy the eastern half of Poland Stalin annexed countries to the north of Poland Finland resisted- Soviets not prepared for winter fighting- MISTAKE! Soviets struggled to make progress through deep snow With sheer force of numbers, by March 1940 Stalin forced the Finns to accept his surrender terms

Battle of Britain With France falling, Great Britain stood alone Winston Churchill- British Prime Minister Never will give up Hitler had his eyes on Great Britain- 1. knock out the Royal Air Force 2. land more than 250,000 soldiers on England’s shores Summer of 1940- German air forces begin bombing Great Britain Radar – can tell the number, speed and direction of incoming warplanes Enigma- German code-making machine smuggled into Great Britain enabled the British to decode German secret messages

Can Hitler be Stopped? Avoiding RAF attacks, Germany gave up daylight raids in October 1940 to begin night bombing As soon as sunset would occur, sirens filled the air as Londoners fled to the subways which served as air-raid shelters Battle lasted until May 10, 1941 Hitler decided to call off his attacks Changed his focus to the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe Crucial Lesson to Allies: HITLERS ATTACKS CAN BE BLOCKED!

Fall of France May 1940- Hitler sweeps through Belgium and the Netherlands- part of strategy to strike at France Sent troops through northern France- heavily wooded area reaching the northern coast in 10 days Joined troops in Belgium=trapping the allied forces around the northern French city of Lille Outnumbered, outgunned and pounded from the air, Allies retreated to beaches of Dunkirk- trapped with backs to seas

France Falls Sailed back and forth from Great Britain to Dunkirk Great Britain set out to rescue the army sent Royal navy ships, motor boats, fishing boats all joined the fight Sailed back and forth from Great Britain to Dunkirk Resistance in France starts to crumble Germans had taken Paris French leaders surrendered on June 22, 1940 German took control of northern part of the country Charles de Gaulle- set up a government-in-exile in London  goal was to reconquer France France Falls