1. WWII Begins

2. Path to War 1935 Hitler begins to defy the Treaty of Versailles
Began rebuilding the German Air Force and started a military draft
Both were in direct violation of the Treaty
Instead of enforcing the Treaty---European leaders tried to negotiate with Hitler

3. Why make a deal with Hitler?
Wanted to avoid a repeat of the bloodshed of WWI
Thought most of Hitler’s demands were reasonable
Assumed that the Nazis would be more interested in peace once they gain more land

4. Uniting German People
1937 Hitler called for the unification of all German-speaking people
Including those living in Austria and Czechoslovakia

5. 1938 Hitler threatened to invade Austria unless Nazis were place in high ranking government positions
Hitler sent troops into Austria in March

6. The Munich Crisis Hitler next moved his attention to the Sudetenland
Area in Czechoslovakia where they spoke German
Czechs did not want to give up the Sudetenland
France threatened to fight Germany if it attacked Czechoslovakia, with Soviet Union aid

8. Munich Conference
Representatives from Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met to decide the fate of Czechoslovakia
Sept Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demands
Appeasement
Czechoslovakia was told to give up the Sudetenland or fight Germany on it’s own

9. Hitler Demands Danzig
Hitler demands Danzig to be returned to German control
Danzig--- 90% German city in Poland
France and Britain now realized that war was inevitable
March 31, if Poland goes to war to defend themselves against Germany, Britain and France would help

10. The Nazi-Soviet Pact Nonaggression Pact between German and the USSR
Secret part of the deal was the Germany and USSR would divide Poland between them

11. The War Begins Sept. 1, 1939---Germany invades Poland
Sept. 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany
WWII had officially began

12. Poland fights hard, but is defeated in about a month (Oct. 5, 1939)
Blitzkrieg was just too much for the Polish military, who were greatly out gunned

13. The Fall of France France waited for Germany to attack them
Hitler tricked French and English soldiers– trapping them in Belgium
Germany had taken all French ports except one– Dunkirk
For some unknown reason Hitler delayed his attack on Dunkirk

14. English were dead in the water!!

15. Miracle at Dunkirk
This delay allowed over 338,000 British and French troops evacuate
Ships from all over northern Europe helped save the soldiers
English lost most of there supplies but were happy not to lose all their soldiers
June 22, Hitler accepts France’s surrender

16. Britain Remains Defiant
Hitler expected England to surrender after France
Winston Churchill had other plans
Convinces the English people that they will NEVER surrender

17. Whenever Germany would try and ship soldiers over to England the Air Force would sink the ships
Germany had to first defeat the British Royal Air Force

18. Battle of Britain
Aug Germany launched an all air battle against England
Aug. 23, German planes accidentally bombed London
Aug. 24, English planes bombed Berlin
Air raids began

19. Germany began bombing London almost every night
Hitler wanted to terrorize England into surrender
England had developed radar--- great help to the out numbered English Air Force
Oct. 12, 1940 Hitler canceled his invasion of England