1. Hitler takes over Europe
Beginning of WWII

2. Hitler’s Acts of Aggression
Enabling Act (1933)
Nuremburg Laws (1935)
Breaking the Treaty of Versailles (1936)
Kristallnacht (1938)
Establishment of Ghettos (1938)

3. Hitler’s Background

4. The Alter Hof in Munich: Adolf Hitler (1914)

5. Hitler in WWI; 1915

6. Munich Putsch; 1923 By 1923, Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party.
Used his influence to attempt to overthrow government, but failed….
In prison, he wrote Mein Kampf: an autobiography which outlined his political beliefs & goals (“my struggle”)

7. Mein Kampf Major Themes: German Nationalism
Racial Superiority/ Living Space
Enemies & Allies

8. Once Hitler was released from prison, the Nazi party became even more popular. By 1932, they gained control of Reichstag.

9. Hitler in Power January 1933: Named Chancellor of Germany
March 1933: Enabling Act gave him the power to make laws without government consent
June 1934: demanded military swear allegiance to him
August 1934: Hindenburg dies, Hitler abolishes title of President & declares himself the Führer , or supreme leader
Hitler is now the totalitarian dictator of Germany

10. Hindenburg’s Funeral

12. Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” - 1939

13. Hitler’s Aggression: Violation of Treaty of Versailles
1934: Suspended German reparations
1935: Military re-building
1936: German troops occupy Rhineland
In 1936, Hitler aligned with Mussolini.
This alliance created the Axis Powers.

15. Hitler’s Aggression: Expansion
In March 1938, Hitler proclaimed that Austria was part of Germany  sent troops to make it official.
In September 1938, Hitler occupied the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.
The Sudetenland had a large German population and Hitler justified his actions by saying:
“I was satisfying the wish of all Germans living there to become part of Germany”

17. Appeasement
Appeasement: giving in to the demands of a nation in the hope of maintaining peace.
Munich Conference: Britain and France agree to allow Hitler’s control of the Sudetenland if he promised to stay out of the rest of Czechoslovakia.
Make a prediction  Why do Britain and France agree to this?

19. Hitler’s Aggression: Expansion
March 1939: Hitler broke his promise and invaded Czechoslovakia.
In August 1939, Hitler signed the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact: which promised that neither country would attack the other
By securing his eastern border against Soviet attack, Hitler could focus on the rest of Europe.

22. Hitler’s Aggression: Start of WWII
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland.
Used blitzkrieg: “lightening war” – attack combining air and land forces.
Great Britain and France promised to defend Poland so they declared war on Germany.
Allies: Great Britain and France

26. Hitler Crushes Europe
In April 1940, Hitler used his powerful fighting tactics to capture Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
France was surrounded, but protected themselves using the Maginot Line.
Maginot Line: armed steel concrete bunkers built after WWI, stretching across the German border.
In May 1940, Hitler sent troops around the line.
France surrendered and sent their citizens to Britain.

29. German expansion by 1942

30. Battle of Britain
After Germany’s victories in Eastern Europe & France, there was only one major power left in western Europe to fight.
Great Britain.
September 1940: Battle of Britain- largest air assault in history.
German air force bombed British cities & industrial centers.
Great Britain’s Royal Air Force engaged German forces in defense of the nation.
Outcome:
Britain did not surrender - held their ground until help came from U.S.
Caused Hitler to break the Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin.
This set the stage for TOTAL WAR! Industrial and civilian centers became key targets of WWII

34. The Century, America’s Time: Over the Edge
This video covers the rise of Hitler and the causes of WWII.
As we watch, answer all the questions on the worksheet!

35. Homework: The Holocaust
“Once I really am in power, my first and foremost task will be the annihilation of the Jews. . . until all Germany has completely been cleansed of Jews.”
Adolf Hitler

36. Total Deaths: 9-11 Million