Revision Causes of WW2

Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?

“The Big Picture” The steps to war, 1919-1939

In 1933 Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany In 1933 Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. Between 1933 and 1939 he made moves which made war more likely. Versailles &

Versailles &

Versailles League

Versailles League

Rearmament Versailles League

Rearmament Versailles League

Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Invasion of Poland, September 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Invasion of Poland, September 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Invasion of Poland, September 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Invasion of Poland, September 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Invasion of Poland, September 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

WAR Invasion of Poland, September 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1939 Sudetenland taken 1938 Union with Austria 1938 WAR Rome-Berlin Axis Pact Rhineland Rearmament Versailles League

Causes which built up over time… Long Term Causes League failure Versailles

right atmosphere for war League failure = + Versailles right atmosphere for war

+ + + = Versailles League Appeasement Hitler almost certain war!

Long term Hitler’s leadership and aims The failure of the League of Nations The Treaty of Versailles The isolation of the USA British Appeasement The failure to achieve disarmament

I had 4 major foreign policy aims. So what did Hitler want? I had 4 major foreign policy aims.

To unite German speaking people by uniting with Austria. To reverse the Treaty of Versailles by taking back the land Germany lost. To achieve Lebensraum (living space) for the German people by expanding eastwards. To re-arm Germany by increasing the Germany army and building an airforce.

How did the Treaty of Versailles help cause WW2? It created bitterness in Germany. It helped Hitler come to power because he promised the German people that he would reverse it. It gave Hitler his foreign policy aims.

How did the failure of the League of Nations help cause WW2? It failed to keep peace. It failed miserably in Manchuria and Abyssinia and so set an example to Hitler. It showed that Britain and France would do almost anything to prevent war. Hitler learnt many lessons from all this.

What was Hitler’s attitude to the Treaty of Versailles? [4] unfair – it took away land, reduced the military and blamed Germany for causing the war which led to reparations; humiliated Germany because of French desire for revenge; it needed to be reversed to restore pride in Germany

Missing words economic depression Manchuria weak/useless/slow Mussolini Abyssinia remilitarised the Rhineland Stresa Britain, France, Italy Hitler and Mussolini

Chronology The Treaty of Versailles 1919 Japanese invasion of Manchuria 1931 Hitler comes to power 1933 Hitler begins to re-arm Germany 1934 The remilitarisation of the Rhineland 1936 The Rome-Berlin Axis 1936 Neville Chamberlain – appeasement 1937 The Austrian Anschluss 1938 The Munich Conference Sept 1938 Hitler gains the Sudetenland Sept 1938 The invasion of Czechoslovakia March 1939 The Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939 The invasion of Poland Sept 1939

Event – Versailles treaty Helped Hitler come to power because it gave him his foreign policy aims – he could set about reversing it which helped cause the war because it led to Appeasement.

Event – Appeasement Helped cause war because it made Hitler more confident. By letting him take various lands, he became convinced that Britain and France would not stop him.

Event – Manchuria With Abyssinia, it showed Hitler how powerless the League of Nations was. Therefore he had nothing to worry about. He could do what he wanted.

Event – The Nazi-Soviet Pact Helped cause war because the agreement sealed the fate of Poland. By making a deal with the Soviets, Hitler avoided a war on two fronts.

Event – invasion of Poland Started the war because Hitler had gone too far for Britain and France. They stood up to him finally.

Appeasement - FOR gave Britain time to re-arm a strong Germany was a barrier to Communism British people did not want war Hitler’s first demands were not unreasonable.

Appeasement - AGAINST naïve – Hitler had always made his aims clear It put war off, it did not prevent it. It encouraged Hitler to be more aggressive. It made Germany stronger.

Anyone got any good ideas about where we should take over now?

Which country should be most worried now?

I want the pink land! Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia)

‘Why?’, you ask!

Most of Czechoslovakia’s industry 3 million German speakers main defences 3 million German speakers

Why did Hitler’s demands make a war in Europe more likely? He was not just reversing the Treaty of Versailles. He was aggressively threatening another country. This was new; he had become more confident.

Neville Chamberlain flew over to Germany To meet Hitler

Hitler stepped up his demands and the Czechs refused to agree Then Chamberlain met Hitler again. It looked like war! Hitler stepped up his demands and the Czechs refused to agree

So Mussolini called an emergency meeting at Munich in October 1938 Hitler Chamberlain Mussolini The Czech leader was not invited Daladier (France) Neither was Stalin (leader of Russia)

THE MUNICH CONFERENCE Poor old Benes had to sit outside

What do you think was agreed at Munich?

You can have the Sudetenland, old chap!

So long as that’s it, you rascal! Cheers, Nev. I promise that Britain and Germany will never go to war!!

The Munich Agreement Hitler could take the Sudetenland Britain and Germany would never go to war.

Neville Chamberlain returned home to a hero’s welcome!!

‘God bless you Mr Chamberlain A popular song from 1938: ‘God bless you Mr Chamberlain We’re all mighty proud of you, You look so swell holding your umbrella, All the world loves a wonderful fella So carry on Mr Chamberlain, You know we’re all with you, And when we shout, ‘God Bless You Mr Chamberlain’, Our hats go off to you!’

The Invasion of Poland Step 9

On 1st September 1939, Germany invaded Poland.

Hitler used Blitzkreig tactics Infantry Air attack tanks

Blitzkreig = lightning war using combined forces of air bombing, troops and tanks

The Nazis invaded from the west. The Russians invaded from the east.

Remember, Hitler had made a deal to split Poland with Russia. The Nazi-Soviet Pact

Poland

Timeline of events 1939 August – Nazi-Soviet Pact signed 1st September – Hitler invaded Poland 2nd September – British ultimatum sent 3rd September – Britain declared war

Why did Hitler invade Poland? To get more living space (Lebensraum) The Polish Corridor was taken away from Germany at Versailles. There were German speaking people in Poland. I thought I could get away with it. I had before!

Why did Hitler invade Poland? Reverse the Treaty of Versailles Living Space (Lebensraum) German people in Poland Appeasement

Why did the Nazi-Soviet Pact make war inevitable? It stopped Hitler having to fight a war on two fronts if Britain attacked in the west. It allowed Hitler to take most of Poland with little effort.

Neville Chamberlain Chamberlain sent the Nazis an ultimatum (warning with a threat). Hitler ignored it. Chamberlain declared war on Germany. France followed.

Exam Technique Practice – What is the message of this cartoon?

Hitler, scared, much smaller. Mars the God of War Hitler, scared, much smaller. Hitler did not expect a big war. He has gambled too much.

5 mins M D K The message of the cartoon is… I know this because in My own knowledge tells me that… D K

Explain why Germany invaded Poland in 1939? (9) 10 mins Explain why Germany invaded Poland in 1939? (9) You need to explain at least two reasons in detail. Try to explain three to be on the safe side. Nev's tip Don’t just identify the reasons, explain them!

A writing frame to help Finally, Hitler invaded Poland because… There were several reasons why Hitler invaded Poland. Firstly, Hitler intended to break the Treaty of Versailles….. Another reason was…