1. Hitler’s Baby Steps to Third Reich
Rhineland 1936 (western part of Germany): violates Versailles Treaty
Austria 1938
Sudetenland 1938 (western Czechoslovakia): agreed at Munich Conference
appeasement: giving into someone’s demands (France and Britain give into Germany)
Czechoslavakia

2. Hitler’s bigger steps Poland Sept. 1,1939
Germany signs nonaggression pact with U.S.S.R. in exchange for splitting Poland
Britain and France declare war on Germany = beginning of World War II

3. Lightning War Blitzkrieg: Poland defeated in one month
Norway and Denmark defeated to keep shipping open for iron ore
Germany goes through Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
France defeated by end of June: French and British evacuate to Britain

5. Britain Hangs Tough
Hitler thought Britain would negotiate peace after France surrendered
Churchill and the British people were brave and defiant
Battle of Britain
German air force v. British air force: bombing of London v. bombing of Berlin
More German planes but British had radar (could detect German planes and shoot them)

6. Battle of Britain

7. America declares War Japan invaded northern China
U.S. freezes Japanese assets and cuts of trade
U.S. attacked at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

8. U.S. and Europe
Roosevelt and Churchill meet before Pearl Harbor to discuss goals for war: Atlantic Charter
Forms the basis for the United Nations

9. Diversity in Armed Forces
Native Americans- code talkers
African Americans- segregated
Japanese Americans- after 1943
Women- served in all areas except combat

10. North Africa
Eisenhower (U.S.) and British troops meet up and trap the “desert fox” (Rommel- German)- surrender
Churchill and Roosevelt decide on only “unconditional surrender” of enemies

11. Italy Patton (U.S.) captures Sicily (Italy) and Mussolini overthrown
German troops resist even after capture of Rome, finally stop in Northern Italy
190,000 Americans and 500,000 Germans dead

12. Soviet Union 1941 Germany attacks U.S.S.R.
“scorched earth policy”: destroy everything useful to the enemy as retreat
Stalin wants aid which U.S. does not give until 1942
U.S.S.R. wants allies to attack in west to distract Germany, U.S. decides to attack Italy instead
Battle of Stalingrad: U.S.S.R. uses weather to attack and surround army, turning point of war in east