1. The Beginning of World War II
Axis Aggression
The Beginning of World War II

2. Germany Expands Treaty of Versailles 1919 damages German economy
Adolf Hitler rises to power
Believes in expansionism - “lebensraum”
Restore German glory

3. Rebuilding German Military
Hitler becomes chancellor, 1933
Secretly builds up military
When unchallenged, announces plan openly
Claims goal is to prevent spread of communism
Sends forces to Rhineland, 1936
French and British complain, but do nothing
Why does Hitler need to build up the military is secret?
Rhineland = Germany territory bordering France
Hitler claims that he was reacting to French-Soviet military agreement

4. Annexing Austria, 1938 German speaking country Many Nazi supporters
Hitler demands Anschluss
Austria gives in
Europeans are eager to avoid war and Hitler takes this as his “in”
Hitler was born in Austria
Demand made early 1938
Originally Austria resists, but they eventually give up (March)

5. Crisis Grows Large German-speaking population in Czechoslovakia
Czechs prepare for war, believe France will join
France and Great Britain practice appeasement
Edouard Daladier and Neville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill
Appeasement - giving in to aggression in order to avoid war
How did the British and French respond to Germany’s expansion and aggression? Appeasement

6. The Axis Forms Totalitarian governments unite
Anti-Comintern Pact, 1936
Germany and Japan
Prevent spread of communism
Oppose USSR
Italy joins, 1937
Military alliance, pledge aid in event of war, 1939
Military force to achieve goals
Do not care about opinions of other countries

7. Spanish Civil War Nationalists (Fascists) Republicans
Supported by Germany and Italy
Leader = Francisco Franco
Republicans
Supported by USSR

8. Hitler and Stalin, 1939 Stalin feels threatened by German expansion
Stalin did not feel he could count on British and French support
Secretly negotiates with German instead
Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Fascism = nationalistic political movement
Communism = international change and classless society
Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact
Each side promises not to attack the other
Allowed for German aggression against other countries
Highlights which Eastern European countries will belong to Germany v. USSR
British and French are shocked
With whom did Hitler seek alliances in the late 1930s? Japan, Italy, and Soviet Union

9. Invasion of Poland, 1939 September 1 Blitzkrieg
Polish air force destroyed
September 3
Britain and France declare war on Germany = Allied forces
Germany wins and plans to attack France
Lightening war - air attacks along with fast-moving tanks and mobile artillery followed by soldiers
Polish soldiers hardly trained compared to Germans
Polish land has no natural barriers to blitzkrieg tactics
British and French are useless at this point

10. Attack on France, 1940 May 10 June 22 = French surrender
Netherlands and Belgium - Allies cannot defend
Ardennes - little resistance
Dunkirk - heroic rescue
June 22 = French surrender
Spring 1940 Germans capture Denmark and Norway - access to the Atlantic Ocean
Ardennes = forrest between Belgium and France
French army was not defending, did not think anyone would attack
Dunkirk
Location trapped Allied troops retreat to
Allied military saves 300,000 soldiers and bring to Great Britain
Vichy control - French officials that supported Hitler
Charles de Gaulle

12. Battle for Britain Churchill is new prime minister
August - October 1940
Germans send planes over English Channel
Hitler wants to destroy British Royal Air Force
British have radar technology
London Blitz
Hitler gives up plan of invasion
Radar technology allows Great Britain to protect themselves against German air attacks

14. Invasion of the Soviet Union
June 1941, Hitler breaks nonaggression pact
Sends 3 million German troops to Soviet Union
Goals = Leningrad and Moscow
Not reached before Soviet winter
Winter allowed Soviets time to rebuild
Soviet troops were massive, but did not have the modern technology of Germany
With what event did the war begin? Invasion of Poland, followed by the massing of German troops on its western border

15. Focus Questions In what ways did Germany expand in the late 1930s?
What alliances did Axis nations make in the 1930s?
How did the war begin?
What were the causes and effects of Japan’s attack on the United States?