1. Ch 19, Sec 2: WWII Begins

2. Europe Gives in to Hitler to Avoid War
3 reasons:
1. European leaders did not want another world war
2. Believed Hitler’s ideas of unifying all German speaking people was reasonable
3. Nazis would stop once they got some extra land

3. Hitler takes Austria
Hitler needed food, supplies, soldiers, and govt jobs
Called the Anschluss or unification
Both had a common culture/language

4. Fight for Czechoslovakia
Hitler wanted to take over Czechoslovakia for the Sudentenland
The Czechs were allied with France and Russia
Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met in 1938 to make the decision
Czechoslovakia was given to Hitler

5. Appeasement
The idea that you can make people happy by giving into their demands
Hitler’s demands were met but he just wanted more land
Attacked/took over Czechoslovakia and Slovakia

7. Hitler turns to Poland Wanted the port of Danzig
90% German
Taken from Germany after WWI
Wanted train access and highways to East Prussia
Britain/France agreed to back up Poland
Poland refused to give in to Germany

8. Poland is attacked
Germany signed a pact with Russia to stop a war on 2 fronts
Sept 1, 1939 both countries attacked Poland
Britain/France declare war on Germany

9. Blitzkrieg Lightening War German warfare
Move fast with lots of troops, tanks, and airplanes
Poland was defeated by Oct 5, 1939

10. French response to war
Created the Maginot Line after WWI between France/Germany
French waited to be attacked but never was
Cost Poland their freedom

11. Norway and Denmark to France
Germany did not want the British to block iron shipments from Sweden
Once Germany controlled both countries, they could move on France
Britain/France had their troops in the wrong part of Belgium (trapped) allowing Hitler’s tanks to go right into France

13. Trapped at Dunkirk
British/French troops stuck at the French port of Dunkirk
Germany allowed them 3 days to evacuate without attack
850 ships rescued 338,000 troops
French/British supplies/guns had to be left at the port
France surrendered to Hitler

15. Hitler to Britain Britain was not led by Winston Churchill
Refused to give in to Hitler’s demands
Germany tried to attack Britain by sea-failed
Couldn’t get their army across the English Channel
Germany forced to the air assault

16. Battle of Britain: Fall 1940
Started with German planes sinking British ships
German bombers also hit London
Civilian target/accident???
Britain responded by bombing Berlin
Germany responded by continuing bombing raids on British cities
British invention “radar” allowed citizens to hide in tunnels before the bombings began
Germany gave up the attack on Britain