German Aggression

Europe, 1935

The Rise of Hitler (Review) Adolf Hitler –Beginnings WWI Veteran –Hates Treaty of Versailles –Nazi Party Tries to overthrow Weimar Republic gov’t in –Writes Mein Kampf in prison –Der Fuhrer 1933, Appointed Chancellor 1934, Reichstag Fire –Hitler becomes dictator –Lebenstraum “Living Space”

Germany Re-arms! Starting in 1935, Hitler begins re-arming secretly Against Versailles Treaty Also builds “autobahn” October “Axis Powers” –Hitler signs treaty with Benito Mussolini “An axis between two great cities, Berlin, and Rome.” Against Versailles Treaty –No secret alliances!

WWII, The Preview Revolution in Spain, 1936 –A socialist group seized power in 1936 elections. “Republicans” –General Francisco Franco led army in revolt against new gov’t “Nationalists” (Fascist/Totalitarian) –Germany backs Nationalists –Soviets back Republicans Nationalists win –Francisco Franco, a dictator, takes power Sympathetic to Germany

Guernica -Pablo Picasso

Violating Versailles March 1936, Hitler remilitarizes the Rhineland. –Violation of Versailles Treaty! March 1938, Hitler moves troops into Austria. –Anschluss = Union of Germany and Austria March 1938, Hitler threatens to annex Sudetenland. –Industrial, resource rich area of Czech.

Munich Conference September 1938, European powers meet to avoid another war. –Adolf Hitler (Germany) –Neville Chamberlain (Britain) –Benito Mussolini (Italy) –Edouard Daladier (France) What two countries are notably absent? –Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia

Munich Pact (1938) –Germany can have Sudetenland as long as they leave the rest of Czechoslovakia alone. Appeasement –Giving in to demands. –Refusal to comply with these demands may lead to war! Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia less than 6 months later. –Britain and France do not declare war. Munich Pact “I believe it is ‘peace for our time.’ Go home and get a nice quiet sleep.”

The Non-Aggression Pact Why does Hitler want to sign a treaty with the Soviet Union? August, 1939 –Hitler signs “Non-Aggression Pact” with Soviets Plan to divide up Eastern Europe

Blitzkrieg! Sept 1 st, 1939 –Hitler Attacks Poland Poland, Britain, France declare war –Blitzkrieg “Lightning war”

France Braces For War “Sitzkrieg” “Phony War” “Bore War” “Twilight War” –No intense fighting from October 1939 to April 1940 British and French mobilize. –Maginot Line Along border with Germany –Underground rails, heavy artillery, thick bunkers

Invasion of France April 1940 –Blitzkrieg on Norway, Denmark. May 1940 –Blitzkrieg on Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg. France –Germans mostly go around Maginot Line –Advance across northern France to English Channel. Splits British/Northern French and Southern French troops.

Fall of France Dunkirk –British/Northern French troops flee across English Channel 340,000 troops June 1940 –French gov’t flees Paris, escapes to London –Italy declares war on France –Hitler captures Paris Vichy France –Germany occupies northern 3/5 of France –Southern France becomes “Vichy” France Support Nazi Regime