1. After WWI, the treaty of Versailles, left many countries poor and stripped of lands. 2. People began to look for hope in the words of these men because they were in a economic depression.
At the Nye Conference (1934), it was determined that the main push for the US entering WWI came from arms manufactures. Europe refused to pay America back loans. This increased America’s reasons for staying out of the events in Europe.
Japan invaded Manchuria Italy invaded Ethiopia Hitler’s military occupied the Rhineland (demilitarized by Treaty of Versailles—WWI)
Neville Chamberlain (GB Prime Minister) met with Hitler and Mussolini and offered a compromise—take no more of Czechoslovakia. This became known as the Policy of Appeasement. Hitler violated this policy and invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. This was the Munich Conference.
The Nazi-Soviet Pact was signed between Germany and the Soviet Union promising that they would never attack each other. This created a problem when Germany invaded Poland, the USSR’s neighbor.
Germany invades Poland— World War II begins! 1. September 1, Germany & USSR invade Poland. 2. September 3, 1939— Great Britain and France declare war On Germany (WWII starts).
“Blitzkrieg: German soldiers being parachuted into Holland - May 10, 1940”
In April 1940 the quiet time of the war exploded into action. Hitler launched a series of blitzkrieg. Norway and and Denmark both fell. Germany had overrun the Netherlands and Belgium. Germany along with Italy forced France to surrender.
The Maginot Line was a defensive for France against an invasion of Germany. The Maginot Line was established after World War I. The line showed to be little use in 1940 when Germany invaded France for the third time.
Fall of France
The Battle of Britain —after the fall of France in 1940, Britain stood alone against Germany. Three factors that helped the British win the Battle of Britain were: (1) breaking the German code—use of the Ultra, (2) the invention and use of the radar, and (3) royal Air Force
1. Neutrality Act of 1935 & 1936 —prevented Americans from sending arms to nations at war. Neutrality Act of 1937— permitted trade with belligerent nations only on a “cash and carry” basis. Munitions were embargoed. This policy became known as the Cash & Carry Policy. Lend-Lease Act —the United States decided to give weapons & materials to Great Britain and later USSR and let them pay later. “If your neighbors house is on fire, you help them put it out”— FDR quote (March 1941).
Japanese resumed war on China in The United States and Japan had strong differences over China. Japan demanded that the USA cut off all aid to the forces of General Chiang Kai-Shek in China. The United States refused to do this and further demanded that the Japanese withdraw all troops in China Japan has two opinions: (1) withdraw from China or (2) go to war with the United States. The militaristic government of Japan headed by General Tojo chose to go to war with the United States. The United States knew that the Japanese were planning an attack somewhere.
The U. S. froze all Japanese assets in the United States and refused to sell them oil, gasoline, steel, iron and machine tools. Japan signed an alliance with Germany and Italy in Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, December 8, 1941, the USA declared war on Japan and entered WWII. On December 11, 1941, Italy and Germany declared war on United States.
Jews, disabled people, homosexuals, and Slavic people were the inferior. Needed exterminated 1935-Nuremburg Laws-took citizenship from Jewish Germans and banned marriage between Jews and other Germans. Kristallnacht-Nov 9.-anti-Jewish violence Began placing Jews in ghettos and taken to camps. The SS St. Louis- 930 Jewish passengers die while trying to escape the “final solution”
Jan 20, 1942, Wannsee Conference- Nazis make plans to round up all Jews and place them in concentration camps. The healthy would work. The old, sick, young would be taken to extermination camps. Auschwitz- housed over 100, ,000 people killed daily in gas chambers.