Why WWII?

One of the reasons Hitler and the Nazi Party were elected into power was that they promised a return to a time of power and glory for the German people. He hoped to accomplish this through three basic foreign policy goals.

1. To repeal the humiliation and the military restriction of the Treaty of Versailles.

2. To unite all German speaking people into a greater German state.

3. To provide those German speaking peoples with enough lebensraum, or living space.

One of his first actions after being elected to power in 1933 was to build up the size and strength of the German army in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles.

In late 1933 Hitler announced a plan to draft soldiers into the German Army.

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, the French government, and the League of Nations, all did next to nothing to stop Germany from clearly violating the Treaty of Versailles. Neville Chamberlain

The U.S. was far too involved with overcoming the Great Depression for most people to care European affairs.

Regardless of the Depression, the vast majority of Americans did not want to get involved in another European war anyway.

As a result of this lack of action by the major western powers Hitler got the message. He could essentially do whatever he wanted.

The next goal Hitler had was to reunite all German speaking peoples.

Hitler simply invaded Austria and the Rhineland Hitler simply invaded Austria and the Rhineland. Britain and France began to protest as Hitler prepared to take Czechoslovakia.

Leaders of Britain, France, and Italy met with Hitler in Munich, Germany over the summer of 1938 to discuss German plans for Czechoslovakia.

At the Munich Conference, Britain and France once again gave in to Hitler’s demands and allowed him to annex the Czechs.

Why did Europe give into Hitler's demands?

Appeasement 1. European leaders wanted to avoid another war at all costs. 2. Fear of Communism. Until it was too late Britain and France were really more worried about Stalin than Hitler. 3. They took Hitler to be an honest man. When Hitler promised to only take over areas in which German speaking peoples lived, they believed him.

Appeasement At the Munich Conference Hitler promised that once he had taken Czechoslovakia he was through expanding. He lied.

Lebensraum By late 1938 Germany contained 85 Million people. Hitler wanted more land to adequately feed and care for his population. They needed more living space.

He found that living space in Poland He found that living space in Poland. Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact in August of 1939. Both agreed to not attack the other and that Germany and the Soviet Union would split Poland amongst themselves.

Hitler invaded Poland Sept. 1, 1939.

Having finally realized Hitler’s intentions for future European domination, Britain and France declared war on Germany in response to the Nazi invasion of Poland. WWII was on.

The question we need to answer is. . . What was the U.S. doing while all of this was going on?

Fin.