L1:World War Two Begins Agenda Objectives: 1.To understand Nazi foreign policy between To understand reactions to Nazi foreign policy between To understand the outbreak of World War Two Schedule: 1.Lecture & Discussion Homework: None

Our Story Begins… The story of World War Two begins back in the Nazi Regime. We know that Hitler set about revitalizing the German economy as soon as he came to power in 1933 Much of this revitalization came from rearmament in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Not surprisingly, with all of this military strength, Hitler used for a militaristic foreign policy.

Nazi Foreign Policy Vision: Make the German Reich the Sole World Power 1.Incorporate ethnic Germans (volksdeutsche) living outside German borders into the Reich Some of this would be a reincorporation of people lost from the Treaty of Versailles; some new incorporation 2.Dominate Western Europe through war Drive out “ethnically inferior” Jews 3.Obtain lebensraum in Eastern Europe Drive out “ethnically inferior” Jews Enslave “ethnically inferior” Slavs Eliminate bolshevism

Nazi Foreign Policy Plan: 1.Part 1: Rearmament Overcome the military restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles 2.Part 2: Isolate Germany Withdraw from the League of Nations 3.Part 3: Form International Alliances/Agreements 4.Part 4: Build the volksdeustche Incorporate Germany-speaking territories into the Reich (using force if needed) 5.Part 5: Use war to dominate Western Europe & Gain lebensraum in the East

Part 1: Rearmament

Part 2: Isolate Germany Hitler voluntarily withdraws Germany from the League of Nations. –Why? Believed that the organization was promoting an international atmosphere that was hostile to Germany Believed that the organization was unfairly promoting Germany disarmament Believed that Germany needed to go it alone as the single most powerful nation in the world

Part 3: Form International Alliances/Agreements Anti-Comintern Pact 1935 (Japan) –Anti-Communist Pact between Germany and Japan –Directed against the Comintern Pact of Steel 1939 (Italy) –Military and political alliance between Italy and Germany Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 (USSR) –Non-agression pact signed between Germany and the Soviet Union

Part 4: Build the Volksdeutsche

Occupation of the Rhineland 1936 Hitler ordered German troops into the demilitarized zone in the Rhineland in violation of the Treaty of Versailles The occupation was done with very little military force, the troops entering on bicycles, and could have easily been stopped However, Britain and France did not seek to stop Hitler. –Why?

Atmosphere of Appeasement What is appeasement? –“The policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and compromise, thereby avoiding the resort to an armed conflict which would be expensive, bloody, and possibly dangerous.” –Kennedy, Paul M. Strategy and Diplomacy, : Eight Studies. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1983.

Atmosphere of Appeasement Appeasement was a foreign policy followed by the British government in 1930 under the direction of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Aim of appeasement was to negotiate with aggressive foreign powers in order to prevent war? Why do you think Chamberlin may have endorsed appeasement?

Why Did Chamberlain Endorse Appeasement? Legacy of World War One – Desire to Avoid another war Belief that the Treaty of Versailles was a flawed document and should be renegotiated –Violated the self-determination of nations –Imposed terms that were too harsh on Germany Believed some of Germany’s concerns with the Treaty of Versailles were legitimate Believed that communism was more dangerous to global peace than Nazism

Appeasement and a Totalitarian World The word appeasement has become synonymous with weakness and cowardice. –Many post-war historians denounced appeasement as an irrationally optimistic (hence naïve or dumb) strategy pursued by a weak politician who was afraid to stand up to an intimidating dictator. However, is it possible that Chamberlain’s appeasement, was not naivety, but rather a manifestation of the growing pessimism settling over an increasingly totalitarian world? –“Appeasement was a mood of fear…pessimistic in its belief that Nazism was there to stay and, however horrible it might be, should be accepted as a way of life with which Britain ought to deal.” Gilbert, Martin. The Roots of Appeasement. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, What is your take on the policy of appeasement?

Anschluss 1938 Hitler next looked to incorporate Austria into the Reich Under pressure form both Austrian and German Nazis to merge, the Austrian chancellor decided to hold a vote on the issue Before they could vote the Austrian Nazi Party launched a coup and handed Austria over to the Germans After the coup the Nazis held a plebiscite and claimed that 99% of Austrians supported Anschluss Italy, France, and Britain condemned the union, but took no action

Invasion of Sudetenland 1938 Nazis next set their sights on invade the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia In an attempt to avoid war, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain asked to meet with Hitler

The Munich Pact British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler in 1938 following Hitler’s threat to invade the Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia along the German border. Chamberlain promised that he would not stop Hitler from invading in the Sudetenland so long as Hitler signed a peace treaty between the United Kingdom and Germany. Hitler agreed. Following their meeting, Chamberlain returned to Britain boasting that he had achieve “peace for our time.”

Hitler Invades Czechoslovakia 1938 Only 6 months after their agreement, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France warned Hitler that any further acts of aggression would result in war. How do you think Hitler felt about this threat?

Hitler Invades Poland 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union launch a joint invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 Britain and France declare war on Germany following Germany’s invasion of Poland. World War Two begins!!!!

The Nazi Blitzkrieg Germany struck with speed and power and engaged in blitzkrieg warfare. –Blitzkrieg = lightning war –Columns of tanks supported by planes and infantry Blitzkrieg video – The German air force, Luftwaffe, destroyed Polish planes on the ground, attacked tanks, bombed Warsaw, and terrorized the population. In less than one month, on September 27, 1939, Poland surrendered.

Nazis Now Begin Western Expansion Hitler had launched a successful eastern conquest of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland--the beginning of his dream for a German empire. Now it was time to look west. Invasion and Occupation of Denmark and Norway (April 1940) –Denmark surrenders in 2 hours –Norway falls in a matter of days Invasion and Occupation of Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg (May 1940)

Hitler Plans to Invade France Hitler next looked to France. Following WWI, France adopted a defensive military policy to protect themselves from being invaded in the event of another war with Germany.