1. Chapter 16 Section 2 Notes Hitler’s Goal Lebenstraum to begin a 3rd Reich

2. 1st Step = Add Austria
The country of Austria was created at the end of WWI
Most people living there were Germans
Wanted to be unified with Germany
Occurred on March 13th, No fighting.
U.S. and League of Nations did nothing
A German soldier warmly received in Austria

3. 2nd Step = Add Sudetenland
Mountainous area along border of Germany in Western Czechoslovakia
a lot of German speaking people
Uses media to get public behind military action
Says the Czech govt. is abusing these people
Hitler announces his intention to occupy it
Czech govt. doesn’t want to give it up
Potential problem with France & England
Hitler agrees to a meeting

4. Munich Agreement Hitler & Mussolini meet with leaders of
France (Daladier) and England (Chamberlain)
Occurred in German city
promises to not add any more land after this.
The 2 men agree to not take any action.
Neither country wants to mess with Hitler
Sudedenland added on Sept. 30th, 1938.
No fighting.
Example of appeasement
Giving up principles to keep out of war
Winston Churchill
future Prime Minister of England
opposed this. N E V I L

5. Churchill’s Quote:
“Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonor. They chose dishonor. They will get war soon.”

6. 3rd Step = Add rest of Czechoslovakia
Hitler broke Munich Agreement
Occurred less than 6 months later
No fighting.
France & England feel stupid
War is inevitable… just a matter of time
German troops march in to Czechoslovakia

7. 4th Step = Add Poland A lot of German speaking people here
Used press like he did with Sudetenland to get support
Different from 1st 3 steps. Why?
Hitler realized this would probably cause war
Poland is a big country and could fight back
England & France had alliance with Poland
Soviets would think they were next
Didn’t want to fight a 2 front war like in WWI
Anti-Polish
Propaganda
In Germany
Before the
Invasion

8. Nonaggression pact with Russia
Signed on Aug. 23rd, 1939
Hitler and Stalin sign
Agreed to never attack each other
Germany agreed to divide country of Poland with Russia after invasion

9. Invasion of Poland (Sep. 1st 1939)
Used Blitzkrieg (lightening war) tactics to surprise enemy
Luftwaffe (air force) drops a bunch of bombs all over the country
targets cities, rails, airfields
Tanks deployed at same time in coordinated attack
England & France declare war Sept. 3rd, 1939
This is official start of WWII
Not enough time to mobilize armies to help Poland
Germany defeats Poland in less than a month
Adds Western half
Eastern half goes to Soviet Union

10. 5th Step = Phony War (waiting game)
French and British troops waited for invasion at Maginot Line
Trenches and forts inside France’s eastern border
German troops waited at Siegfried Line
Same thing a couple miles inside German border, parallel M. Line
For the better part of 6 months (late 1939 – mid 1940), both sides stayed in their trenches, occasionally bombed the other, but didn't engage in any major conflicts.

11. Soviet Union adds more land
Already had added part of Poland
Adds Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania)
Minimal resistance. Permission from Germany (n-a pact)
Adds part of Finland too
More resistance – battle lasts 4 months. Soviets look bad. Germany notices
Way more detail on website. Part of why other Allies didn’t like Soviets

12. 6th Step = Add Denmark and Norway
Denmark surrendered on 1st day of battle (April 7th, 1940)
Norway took roughly 2 months to fall
Used as bases for future invasion of England

13. 7th Step = add Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg
Began Early May, Lasts a couple weeks
Why? = to go around strong parts of Maginot Line
England and France thought Ardennes Mountains would be impassable by German tanks
They were wrong

14. 8th Step = Add France
German tanks and planes push forward and surround British, French, and Belgium troops at Dunkirk
Over 300,000 retreat across the English Channel by boat
Important for recapturing France 4 years later
German forces push from the north to the south
Italy enters the war and invades France from the south, pushing northward
France officially controlled by Germany (June 22nd, 1940)
Charles de Gaulle
Takes control of French govt. after retreat to England
Fall of Belgium, Netherlands, Dunkirk, and France

15. Retreating from Dunkirk

16. The Fall of Paris

17. 9th Step = Attempt to add England
Winston Churchill in charge now (May, 1940)
Battle of Britain
German & British navies battle in English Channel
About evenly matched
German & British air forces battle (mostly over England)
Lots of damage to cities, especially London

18. People staying in subway tunnels during bombing

19. Much of England destroyed Bombing and Fires Constant for Several Months

20. Royal Air Force uses radar (new) to eventually gain advantage
Hitler calls off full scale invasion by end of October
Planes still bomb England though
Some bombing to German cities too
More later when U.S. and Russia involved